1. Downtown Denver Arts Festival
Date: Friday, May 24 - Sunday, May 26, 2013
Location: Denver Performing Arts Complex
Cost: Free admission.
What: The Downtown Denver Arts Festival celebrates its 15th year of featuring Colorado artists over Memorial Day weekend. This year, the festival will be held in the Denver Performing Arts Complex instead of the Denver Pavilions.
More: Photos from the Downtown Denver Arts Festival
2. Capitol Hill People's Fair
Date: Saturday, June 1 - Sunday, June 2, 2013
Location: Civic Center Park, Denver
Cost: Free admission.
What: The largest of all summer festivals in Denver, the People's Fair began in 1971, sponsored by the Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods. The festival features arts and crafts, live music, and food and drink vendors.
More: Photos from the Capitol Hill People's Fair
3. Denver Chalk Art Festival
Date: Saturday, June 1 - Sunday, June 2, 2013
Location: Larimer Square, Denver
Cost: Free admission.
What: Denver artists invade Larimer Square to create temporary masterpieces on city sidewalks. More than 200 artists will compete in the street festival.
More: Photos from the Denver Chalk Art Festival
4. Colorado Renaissance Festival
Date: Weekends from Saturday, June 15 - Sunday, Augut 4, 2013
Location: Larkspur, CO (30 min. south of Denver)
Cost: $18.95 for adults, $8 for children ages 5 to 12 and free for children under the age of 5.
What: Huzzah! Travel back in time to the Renaissance with medieval entertainment, crafts and food. Costumes are optional for children and adults.
More: Photos from the Colorado Renaissance Festival
5. Denver Greek Festival
Date: Friday, June 14 - Sunday, June 16, 2013
Location: 4610 E. Alameda Ave.
Cost: Gate admission has yet to be announced for 2013. Seniors over the age of 65 and children under the age of 12 receive free admission.
What: The Denver Greek Festival, held in the parking lot of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral on Alameda, features gyros, dancing and crafts.
More: Photos from the Denver Greek Festival
6. Denver PrideFest
Date: Saturday, June 15 - Sunday, June 16, 2013
Location: Civic Center Park, Denver
Cost: Free admission.
What: The PrideFest parade celebrates the diversity of the GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered) community in the Mile High City. The Denver PrideFest is one of the ten largest in the U.S.
7. Cherry Creek Arts Festival
Date: Friday, July 5 - Sunday, July 6, 2013
Location: Cherry Creek North, Denver
Cost: Free admission.
What: The fine arts festival comes to Cherry Creek every Fourth of July weekend. Cherry Creek also features arts and crafts activities for kids.
More: Photos from the Cherry Creek Arts Festival
8. Colorado Black Arts Festival
Date: Friday, July 12 - Sunday, July 14, 2013
Location: City Park West, Denver
Cost: Free admission, but a gate donation is welcomed.
What: The Colorado Black Arts Festival features drum and drill team competitions, parades, music and art exhibits. The festival used to be called the Denver Black Arts Festival, but was renamed to reflect its statewide focus.
9. Colorado Irish Festival
Date: Friday, July 12 - Sunday, July 14, 2013
Location: Clement Park, Littleton
Cost: Gate admission has yet to be announced for 2013. Children under the age of 12 receive free admission. Students, seniors and military receive a discount.
What: Slainte! The Colorado Irish Festival celebrates the Emerald Isle in the Mile High City. Irish music, dancing and entertainment are featured, as well as food and drink from local vendors
More: Photos from the Colorado Irish Festival
10. Colorado Dragon Boat Festival
Date: Saturday, July 27 - Sunday, July 28, 2013
Location: Sloan's Lake Park, Denver
Cost: Free admission.
What: Wooden dragon boats race across Sloan's Lake in the Dragon Boat Festival honoring Asian culture. Live music, Asian food and arts and crafts are also part of the festival.
More: Photos from the Dragon Boat Festival
11. Golden Fine Arts Festival
Date: Saturday, August 17 - Sunday, August 18, 2013
Location: 11th St. and Arapahoe St., Golden
Cost: Free admission.
What: Visit the arts festival from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. both days in historic Golden. Don't miss the free horse-drawn carriage rides for children and adults alike.
12. Taste of Colorado
Date: Friday, Aug. 30 - Monday, Sept. 2, 2013
Location: Civic Center Park
Cost: Free admission. Food tickets are $5 for a strip of eight.
What: Food lovers converge on the Mile High City's annual event at Civic Center Park. Denver's finest restaurants offer bite-size samples of their wares at the festival.
More: Photos from A Taste of Colorado
Editor's Note: The Rocky Mountain Balloon Festival was suspended in 2010.
