2023-12-14 04:28:54
Colorado’s arts, culture, cuisine and history come to life with a multitude of annual traditions and events. From observing the soaring cranes of the San Luis Valley to wandering the booths of a German market in the heart of downtown Denver, there are so many ways to appreciate our state. Here are some tips to help you experience a few of our events to the fullest. 1 Monte Vista Crane Festival What better way to immerse yourself in Colorado’s majesty than observing birds with 6-foot wingspans dot the sky in front of the snowcapped San Juan Mountains? March’s Monte Vista Crane Festival is an event-filled adventure, with craft and nature fairs, crane tours, movie screenings and excursions into the Blanca Wetlands, where you’ll learn more about the flourishing marsh’s wildlife. Beyond the wild wonder of the cranes, you’ll also see elk, ducks, geese and more in the ponds at Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge. If you’re looking for an all-encompassing San Luis Valley trip, 40 miles east of Monte Vista are the golden-brown desert hills of the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Tips for a great experience: Bring your binoculars to admire these flying fauna from a safe distance and prep for all weather conditions, from rain to sunshine. 2 Colorado Shakespeare Festival June through August, one of northern Colorado’s most iconic spectacles thrives within the University of Colorado’s stone-walled outdoor auditorium: The Colorado Shakespeare Festival in Boulder. No matter your experience with Shakespeare, enter the amphitheater’s arched doorway with an open mind and prepare to see classic plays innovatively flipped on their heads. Sit beneath summer’s twinkling stars to witness comedies and tragedies from one of the most prominent playwrights of all time. These performances often spill off the stage and into the crowd, transporting you to the Elizabethan era. While you’re there, wander around to find other versatile entertainment, from pop-up Shakespeare-merch vendors to small violin performances and photo ops with the Flatirons as your backdrop. Tips for a great experience: Boulder’s wealth of food and drink choices in such close proximity means you can’t go wrong looking for a meal before the show. For the ultimate picnic dinner, get that meal to go and bring a blanket or pillow to the performance to supplement the chair you’ll receive. Need to reserve a wheelchair-accessible spot? Call ahead and they’ll save you one. 3 Caveman Music Festival near Weston Teeming with spacious grassland, quaint ranches and tree-spotted alpine views, southern Colorado offers a Labor Day weekend bursting with lively mountain-town recreation at the Caveman Music Festival. Bring friends or family to Monument Lake Resort and embrace summer’s close with back-to-back concerts, local food and Weston’s blue-hued peaks. Ready for an all-inclusive good time? Purchase the Caveman Package, which grants three-day access to the resort’s campsites and on-site parking. Sip down some hoppy suds and jam to your favorite country, acoustic, folk and blues artists. And the weekend promises more than just stellar live tunes — you can also ride the gentle waves of the resort’s rippling waters on a paddleboard, dip your fishing line beneath the surface or set up camp nearby and listen to singing crickets among the deep-green pines. Tips for a great experience: If you’re looking to get out on the lake, it’s easy to rent water equipment from the festival ahead of time, including canoes, fishing pontoons and 14-passenger leisure motorboats. 4 Colorado Mountain Winefest Palisade is home to towering mesas, the winding Colorado River and acres of vineyards, so it’s only natural that the Colorado Mountain Winefest shines here. Each September, more than 50 regional wineries congregate on Riverbend Park’s lawn to top off your glass with wine and celebrations of their craft. There’s no better way to enjoy wine than pairing it with something tantalizing — look out for a smoky baked brie and tart fig jam alongside a raspberry rosé from a Colorado winery. Or take an e-bike tour to savor the bold fruits of Palisade vineyards while surveying sherbet sunsets above striped plateaus. Swoop your dance partner around to live music or smash grapes with your bare feet in a barrel as you munch on handmade macarons from local vendors. Tips for a great experience: This late-summer bash is fun- and sun-filled, so make sure you apply adequate amounts of high-SPF sunscreen throughout the day, and find shade when you can to stay energized. 5 Denver Christkindlmarket Toast more than 20 years of one of the only authentic German markets in Colorado, spanning from Civic Center Park to the 16th Street Mall late November through late December. Stroll through booths of sparkling lights, dip fluffy pretzels into beer cheese, crunch roasted nuts and visit biergarten booths for fizzy delights after snapping photos with Weihnachtsmann (that’s Santa Claus). This quintessentially Bavarian winter scene is the perfect way to appreciate Denver, as well as authentic German cuisine and culture. The dreamiest pics for your next holiday card will be found with red and green lights strung around trees in the background as you soak up the joy of the holiday season. Tips for a great experience: Come hungry, dress in layers for this outdoor affair and bring your bestie to make a night of it! STAY HYDRATED One thing’s for sure at Colorado’s high-elevation events and festivals: You’ll need more water than you do at lower altitudes — as much as twice what you’d normally drink. Fill up that reusable bottle to stay hydrated, and also apply sunscreen to protect your skin in our sunny altitudes! Want more? Visit Colorado.com/Events
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