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Colorado's 13 Best Summer Food Festivals

Submitted by alison on Tue, 04/22/2014 - 10:45am

Whether you’ve got a hankering for barbeque, a soft spot for high end cuisine or you just want to try something new, Colorado is the place for food festivals in the summer.  Throughout the summer months, a variety of events take place celebrating everything food and frequently featuring pairings with wine, beer or liquor. If you’re planning a Colorado summer vacation, be sure to look up local food festivals and plan a day to enjoy a taste of local (or exotic) cuisine. Here are 13 of the top food festivals taking place this summer:

1. Taste of Durango

Where: Durango, CO
When: May 18
What: A showcase of the best of Durango's dining as well as their world-class microbreweries, this one-day event also provides live entertainment in downtown Durango.
Website

2. Holy Smoke BBQ Showdown

Where: Cañon City, CO
When: May 30-31
What: The 7th annual Showdown will feature a full lineup of live music and fun family events in addition to killer barbeque by over 30 vendors.
Website

3. World Food Fest

Where: Colorado Springs, CO
When: June 1
What: "Taste your way around the world" with everything from sushi and Indian food to Mexican and BBQ in addition to shopping artisan goods.
Website

4. Frisco BBQ Challenge

Where: Frisco, CO
When: June 12-14
What: Top smokers from around the country compete and showcase their skills on Main Street in Frisco. Try everything from traditional ribs and brisket to smoked seafood and veggies.
Website

5. Savor Steamboat

Where: Steamboat Springs, CO
When: June 14
What: In just its second year, Savor Steamboat combines live bluegrass with amazing cuisine and a celebration of local ranching in a laid back afternoon event.
Website

6. Taste of Crested Butte

Where: Crested Butte, CO
When: June 14-21
What: An event that highlights the best of Crested Butte's restaurants, the week culminates in a progressive dinner with featured cocktails and pairings.
Website

7. Aspen Food & Wine Classic

Where: Aspen, CO
When: June 20-22
What: Some of the top chefs and food personalities in the country show up in Aspen for the seminars, Grand Tastings and events at the Aspen Food & Wine Classic.
Website

8. Crested Butte Wine & Food Festival

Where: Crested Butte, CO
When: July 10-13
What: Highlighting fine wine in conjunction with Crested Butte's dining scene, the event includes wine seminars and a celebrity chef dinner.
Website

9. Orthodox Food Festival 

Where: Denver, CO
When: July 19-20
What: A celebration of the unique ethnic cuisines of countries that are home to the Orthodox Church, including Greek, Mexican, Russian, and Eastern European as well as art displays and live performance.
Website

10. Beat the Heat BBQ, Brews & Chili Challenge

Where: Alamosa, CO
When: August 1-2
What: The name pretty much says it all: great barbeque, cold beer, and fresh roasted green chiles combine for a fun and quirky event.
Website

11. Palisade Peach Festival

Where: Palisade, CO
When: August 14-17
What: A celebration of the local peach harvest, the long running event draws upwards of 14,000 people for fresh peaches, peach products and live entertainment.
Website

12. Mesa Verde Country Food, Wine & Art Festival

Where: Cortez, CO
When: August 22-24
What: This harvest celebration includes a 4-course Winemaker's dinner, wine tastings, live music, and local produced food items like cheeses and preserves.
Website

13. A Taste of Colorado

Where: Denver, CO
When: August 29-September 1
What: Live music, events for kids, an arts and crafts marketplace, and, of course, great food. Over 50 local restaurants come together to showcase their offerings in tastings and full meals.
Website


View a MAP of all 13 festivals here.

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