COME TO LIFE / 2019 Calendar of Events & Festivals DA VINCI ALIVE MARCH 1–AUG. 25 GREAT AMERICAN BEER FESTIVAL OCT. 3–5 Sample from thousands of beers and meet the brewers during Great American Beer Festival at Colorado Convention Center. 303-892-1505, visitdenver.com Inventor, artist, scientist, anatomist, engi-neer, architect, sculptor, philosopher. Experience true genius and plunge into his world! 303-892-1505, visitdenver. com ANIMAS VALLEY BALLOON RALLY OCT. 18–20 Take in Colorado’s stunning BIGFOOT DAYS APRIL 12–13 Two days RED ROCKS SUMMER CONCERT SERIES APRIL 1–OCT. 31 See a show under the stars at the awe-inspiring Red Rocks Amphitheatre, flanked by enormous red sandstone rock formations. Check out the concert schedule — get your tickets early. 303-892-1505, visitdenver.com CLAUDE MONET: THE TRUTH OF NATURE OCT. 20, 2019–FEB. 2, 2020 Denver will fall colors from above at the Animas Valley Balloon Rally. This family-friendly event features morning mass ascensions and nighttime balloon glows. animasvalleyballoonrally.com be the sole US venue for this exhibition featuring more than 100 paintings span-ning Monet’s entire career. visitdenver.com vibrant art districts during First Friday Art Walks and experience Denver’s museums for free during Night at the Museums. 303-892-1505, denverarts week.com THE POLAR EXPRESS™ MID-NOV. 2019–EARLY JAN. 2020 Based on the full of fun dedicated to Big Foot lore. Including a themed dinner with a talk and Q&A from a world-famous Big Foot expert, a 5K run, live bands, entertain-ment, vendors, food and more! estesparkeventscomplex.com/ bigfoot-days.html There’s non-stop, rip-roarin’ cowboy action in store for rodeo fans at Estes Park’s annual Rooftop Rodeo. It has been recognized as the best small rodeo in the nation. visitestespark. com/events-calendar/special-events/ rooftop-rodeo DENVER POP CULTURE CON MAY 31–JUNE 2 This 3-day, family-friendly DENVER ARTS WEEK NOV. 1–9 Discover award-winning book, the story of a child’s Christmas Eve journey comes alive on board this historic steam train to the North Pole! Visit our website for specific dates. 970-247-2733, 888-872-4607, durangotrain.com ESTES PARK ROOFTOP RODEO JULY 5–10 convention features the best in comics, popular sci-fi and fantasy TV shows, movies, cosplay, toys, gaming and celebrity panel presentations. 303-892-1505, visitdenver.com PrideFest, a 2-day celebration of Denver’s LGBTQ community that includes family activities, live music, a festive parade, dancing and entertain-ment. 303-892-1505, visitdenver.com Cherry Creek Arts Festival is a world-class and award-winning celebration of the visual, culinary and performing arts. Meet and talk with international juried visual artists! 303-892-1505, visitdenver.com and explore a world of good, clean and fair food for all, with the energy of a street-food festival, the rigor of an aca-demic conference and the inspiration of a cultural exchange. 303-892-1505, visitdenver.com ESTES PARK ESTES PARK WINTER FESTIVAL JAN. 19–20 Celebrate the winter season in Estes Park! Taste award-winning chili at the chili cook-off, dance to great music, enjoy family activities and sip a variety of Colorado beer and wine. visitestes park.com/winter-fest FINE ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL SEPT. 14–15 For more than 40 years the PRIDEFEST JUNE 15–JUNE 16 Discover DURANGO SNOWDOWN DURANGO JAN. 30– FEB. 3 The original “cabin fever reliever,” Snowdown is Colorado’s premier winter celebration! Don your best costume and get in on the fun with 4 full days of events. snowdown.org Fine Arts Guild of the Rockies has spon-sored the Fine Arts & Crafts Festival, a juried show providing outstanding artists with a venue to showcase their work. 970-699-1509, fineartsguild.org CHERRY CREEK ARTS FESTIVAL JULY 5–7 ESTES PARK WINE & CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL FEB. 9 Sample sweets from ROCKY MOUNTAIN CRAFT SPIRITS FESTIVAL OCT. 26 The Rocky Mountain DURANGO WINE EXPERIENCE MAY 1–5 SLOW FOOD NATIONS JULY 19–21 Taste Celebrate food and wine in Durango! Experience 3 delicious days of seminars, wine dinners and unique tastings featur-ing hundreds of wineries, artisan spirits and craft beers. 970-946-2408, durangowine.com the region’s finest chocolatiers, taste pours from a variety of wineries and enjoy a romantic weekend in beauti-ful Estes Park! visitestespark.com/ events-calendar/special-events/ wine-chocolate-fest region is home to a booming craft spirits industry. Distillers and consumers of fine spirits are invited to celebrate this craft at a tasting festival. visitestespark. com/events-calendar/special-events/ rocky-mountain-craft-spirits-festival MUSIC IN THE MOUNTAINS FESTIVAL JULY 6–28 An exceptional summer ESTES PARK WHISKEY WARM UP MARCH 2 The Whiskey Warm Up cele-CATCH THE GLOW PARADE & CELEBRATION NOV. 22 Celebrate class ical music festival with musicians of the highest caliber. See unbelievable performances in a variety of spectacu-lar venues. 970-385-6820, musicinthe mountains.com brates the winter tradition of warming up from the inside out. Layer up to sip on selections of Colorado whiskeys from a variety of distilleries. visitestespark. com/events-calendar/special-events/ whiskeywarmup the holidays in festive, fun Estes Park! Enjoy visits with Santa, pony rides and carolers downtown. The parade features floats, music and thousands of twinkling lights. visitestespark. com/events-calendar/special-events/ catch-the-glow-holiday-parade Plan your getaway to some of Colorado’s far-off places. Dozens of itineraries steer you to special places to eat, see, do and stay, as well as ideas for supporting our state’s natural beauty. COLORADO.COM/FIELDGUIDE 20 / 1-800-COLORADO
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2019: Page 20
