Denver summer festival season kicks off with the Downtown Denver Arts Festival over Memorial Day weekend, and continues until the Taste of Colorado over Labor Day Weekend. The People's Fair in June draws large crowds to Civic Center Park, and there are also several festivals that celebrate Denver's ethnic heritage.
1. Downtown Denver Arts Festival
Date: Friday, May 22 - Monday, May 25, 2009Location: Denver Pavilions, Downtown Denver
Cost: Free admission.
What: The Downtown Denver Arts Festival celebrates its 11th year of featuring Colorado artists over Memorial Day weekend.
2. Capitol Hill People's Fair
Date: Saturday, June 6 - Sunday, June 7, 2009Location: 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.
3. Colorado Renaissance Festival
Date: Weekends from June 13 - August 2, 2008Location: Larkspur, CO (30 min. south of Denver)
Cost: $17.95 for adults, $8 for children 5-12.
What: Huzzah! Travel back in time to the Renaissance with medieval entertainment, crafts and food. Costumes are optional for children and adults.
4. Denver Greek Festival
Date: Friday, June 19 - Sunday, June 21, 2009Location: 4610 E. Alameda Ave.
Cost: Admission prices TBA.
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
5. Denver PrideFest
Date: Saturday, June 27 - Sunday, June 28, 2009Location: 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.
6. Cherry Creek Arts Festival
Date: Friday, July 3 - Sunday, July 5, 2009Location: 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
7. Denver Black Arts Festival
Date: Friday, July 10 - Sunday, July 12, 2009Location: City Park West, Denver
Cost: Free admission (but $1 gate donation welcomed.)
What: "Arts Purpose" is the theme of the 23rd-annual Black Arts Festival, which features drum and drill team competitions, parades, music and art exhibits.
8. Colorado Dragon Boat Festival
Date: Saturday, July 25 - Sunday, July 26, 2009Location: Sloan's Lake Park, Denver
Cost: Free admission.
What: Wooden dragon boats race across Sloan's Lake in the 2009 festival honoring Asian culture. Live music and Asian food are also featured in the festival honoring a Chinese poet.
More: Photos from the Dragon Boat Festival
9. Golden Fine Arts Festival
Date: Saturday, August 15 - Sunday, August 16, 2009Location: 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.
10. Rocky Mountain Balloon Festival
Date: Friday, August 28 - Sunday, August 30, 2009Location: Chatfield State Park, Littleton
Cost: Free admission, but there is a $7 entrance fee to Chatfield.
What: Hot air balloons lift off from 6:30 a.m. - 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday for early morning enthusiasts. Festival goers can also enjoy local musical acts and exhibits all day long in the 10th-annual festival.
11. Taste of Colorado
Date: Friday, Sept. 4 - Monday Sept. 7, 2009Location: 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.
