Boulder's Classic Spring & Summer Festivals

Why not plan a festivacation in Boulder? (A festivacation is when you're so excited about a festival or event that you plan a whole vacation around it!) Summer in Boulder is teeming with amazing festivals, the perfect excuse to get to this pretty town at the foot of the Rocky Mountains — and stay awhile.

Music | Arts & Culture | Sports & Movement | Family | Food

Music Festivals

Boulder Bach presents Sonic Alchemy

April 8, 2023
A celebration of Bach’s music alongside contemporaries and later composers. The Sonic Alchemy trio reunites in a program that compares and contrasts the mystical Byzantine influence in the music of Arvo Pärt with Mozart’s music from the European Enlightenment.

Bluebird Music Festival

April 29-30, 2023
All-star lineup in a historic theater. Ben Harper, Watchhouse (previously Mandolin Orange), Shovels & Rope, Haley Heynderickx and more headline this festival with solo, acoustic performances inside the stunning Macky Auditorium.

Bluebird Music Festival

Colorado MahlerFest

May 17-21, 2023
Passionate musicians honoring a legend. A celebration of the great composer Gustav Mahler during a week-long festival, culminating in two orchestral performances of one of Mahler’s major symphonic works.

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Bands on the Bricks

TBA, 2023
Oldies to alternative and everything in between. Boulder County's premier outdoor summer concert series takes place in the heart of the city on the bricks of the one-and-only Pearl Street Mall, complete with a large outdoor beer/margarita/wine garden.

Bands on the Bricks Boulder

Boulder Jewish Festival

June 4, 2023
A celebration of Jewish arts and culture. Enjoy a full day of festivities, including bands and performances, a Jewish food festival, a curated marketplace showcasing fine art and family-friendly activities. Open to everyone as an opportunity to connect and learn.

Boulder Comedy Festival

June 21-25, 2023
Nationally touring comics and local up-and-comers. Comedians featured on Comedy Central, Netflix and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert come together with festival winners and local comedians to create a sea of hilarity at a couple of popular Boulder venues.

Colorado Music Festival

June 29-August 6, 2023
Classical music greats, historic locale. This internationally acclaimed, six-week summer festival is held at the historic Chautauqua Auditorium, showcasing an orchestra of professional classical musicians from all over the world.

Colorado Brazil Fest

TBA, 2023
Celebrating Brazilian music, dance and culture. Boulder Samba School hosts this lively festival, one of the largest in the nation, featuring high-energy performances and educational music programs at the Boulder Bandshell.

Dead & Company

July 1-3, 2023
A fan favorite with historic roots. This summer Dead & Company (comprised of members of the Grateful Dead plus John Mayer) will return for a final series of performances at the University of Colorado's iconic Folsom Field, a venue frequented by the Grateful Dead in the 70s. Join deadheads from across the world as they gather in Boulder for three nights of unforgettable performances before the band hangs up its jams.

Dead & Company Concert at Folsom Field

Chautauqua Summer Series

July-Sept. 2023
Big names, small venue. Summer brings the kickoff to Chautauqua’s series featuring concerts, silent movies, theater, dance, forums, and family events — all beside the stunning Flatirons.

Arts & Culture Festivals

BOCO International Flamenco Festival

April 4-6, 2023
Masterclasses and performances. The Dairy Arts Center hosts BOCO International Flamenco Festival — three days packed with beginning bulerías Flamenco dance workshops and performances by the legendary Antonio Canales, Pastora Galvan and Dorantes.

Boulder Startup Week

May 15-19, 2023
Fresh tech and entrepreneurial ideas. Startup Week brings innovators and the community together with 200 events throughout the free, five-day lineup.

Arts in the Park at the Bandshell

June 2-July 29, 2023
Vibrant performances in open air. Taking place at the Glenn Huntington Bandshell in Boulder’s Civic Area, this year's Arts in the Park will showcase talent from the Boulder Ballet, Boulder Symphony and Boulder Opera in four performances through June and July.

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Boulder County Pride Week

June 11-17, 2023
See you at Pride? Whether you’re looking for something the whole family can take part in or a more 21+ experience, there's something for everyone at Boulder County Pride Week. Sign up for teen art classes, adult networking events, music, trivia, dancing and more.

Colorado Shakespeare Festival

June 11-August 13, 2023
The bard under the stars. Each summer, several plays are performed in the historic Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre and in the indoor University Theatre on the University of Colorado's campus.

Boulder Fine Art Street Festival

July 8-9, 2023
Handmade fine art in an open-air setting. This vibrant outdoor art festival returns to Twenty Ninth Street this July, featuring local and national artists and crafters.

Boulder Environmental / Nature / Outdoors Film Festival

July 13-16, 2023
Environmental awareness through storytelling. Watch documentary features, short films, Q&As and interviews online or at the Dairy Drive-In at the Dairy Arts Center.

Boulder Plein Air Festival

TBA, 2023
Painters inspired by the outdoors. A week-long celebration welcoming artists of any skill level to make art en plein air in and around Boulder, with the opportunity to exhibit and sell their works.

Community Roots Art Festival (CRAFt)

TBA, 2023
Highlighting Black, Indigenous and brown self-identified artists. Head to VisionQuest Brewing for one special day of local artwork, performances, giveaways and tasty treats.

NoBo First Fridays

6-9pm every first Friday of the month
Local artists in action. Embark on a free self-guided tour of artists’ studios and creative businesses in the NoBo Art District. Stroll through the area and meet painters, sculptors, photographers and more. Be sure to check the map to see which studios are open and when.

NoBo Art District First Friday

Pearl Street Arts Fest

July 14-16, 2023
Creative souls on display. Tents line downtown Boulder's Pearl Street for this juried celebration of visual arts — from whimsical and modern sculptures to traditional watercolors, oil paintings and more.

Tube to Work Day

TBA, 2023
Wild on the water. Boulderites don their best business attire and hit the creek in this yearly tubing tradition. The event starts at Eben G. Fine Park, but you can catch the view of the hilarious action (e.g. spectators dangling breakfast from atop bridges for tubers to grab) anywhere along the creek near downtown.

Tube to Work Day

Sports & Movement Events

IRONMAN 70.3 Boulder

June 10, 2023
Insanely epic athletes. This "half Ironman" takes place at the Boulder Reservoir with a spectacular Rocky Mountain backdrop. The event has been an athlete favorite for over a decade and is one of the fastest IRONMAN events to sell out each year.

Boulder Sunrise Triathlon

June 25, 2023
A race with a view. Grab a coffee and get up and at 'em as athletes from all over the region bike, run, and swim on the scenic Boulder Reservoir.

Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance Festival

July 31-August 12, 2023
High-flying choreography. Experience the joy of dancing in the air, for beginners through advanced aerial dancers. Two weeks of classes, lectures/demonstrations, informal discussions and performances.

Hanuman Festival

July 13-16, 2023
Yoga in a scenic setting. This celebration of yoga and music features world-class yoga instructors, live music, inspirational experiences and community building.

Family-Friendly Events

Tulip Fairy & Elf Festival

April 23, 2023
Unbearably cute kiddos in costume. The Tulip Fairy and hundreds of tiny fairies and elves wake up 15,000+ tulips with a parade and festival on Pearl Street in historic downtown.

Boulder Creek Festival

May 26-29, 2023
Boulder's creekside family festival. Food, art, performances, bazaar, carnival rides and much more — all beside the beautiful Boulder Creek.

Food Festivals

First Sip

April 26-30, 2023
Toast to Boulder's beverage scene. Celebrate with drink specials at several local restaurants, unique pairing and tasting opportunities and a variety of intimate events all weekend long.