Boulder Events and Festivals
(Boulder, Colorado - CO, USA)
There are so many wonderful events held within the city of Boulder, and whilst some celebrate the rich heritage found within this part of Colorado, other festivals are complete one-offs. Some of the biggest Boulder festivals attract crowds of literally thousands, being held at venues such as the University of Colorado and its Mary Rippon Theater, at the Chautauqua Auditorium, around the Pearl Street Mall, and at the nearby Hughes Stadium, which is located on South Overland Trail in the neighboring city of Fort Collins.
The summer months are when the most noteworthy events are staged, with things to do virtually each week. Highlights include the Bolder Boulder in May, and the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, which is held at the end of June and throughout July, finishing in August. However, the crowds at the Boulder Creek Festival each May take some beating and this popular event now sees an overall attendance of over 100,000 people
Boulder Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015
January
- Polar Bear Club Ice Plunge - January 1st, a chance to start the New Year with a different, when many brave locals jump into the freezing waters of the Boulder Reservoir, off North 51st Street, watched by cheering crowds
February
- Boulder International Film Festival - mid-February, various international movie screenings take place at venues around Pearl Street
March
- Frozen Dead Guy Days Festival - early March, a weird and slightly eerie event, based around the science of cryogenics. Frozen Dead Guy Days is held nearby, at the Nederland Area Chamber of Commerce and other venues around Nederland, off Highway 119
April
- Conference on World Affairs - mid-April, lasting five days and held annually at the University of Colorado, during the second week each April. Expect debates and discussions, and the opportunity to see some celebrities from the world of literature and poetry
May
- Bolder Boulder - late May, a leading running race, attracting staggering numbers of competitors, which regularly exceed more than 40,000 in total, watched by even more cheering spectators. This long-distance race is 10 km / 6 miles and ends up at the Folsom Field. This is a really fun day out, when a very friendly atmosphere unites the entire city
- Boulder Creek Festival - Memorial Day weekend, established in the late 1980s and attending by crowds of literally thousands, who come to enjoy live entertainment, art shows, market fairs, music, amusement rides, and the famed Rubber Duck Race along the Creek
June
- Summerfest - early June, family fun for everyone at the Boulder History Museum on Euclid Avenue, where events range from rock climbing and mountain biking, to live music, demonstrations and various sporting events
- Jewish Festival - mid-June, all aspects of local Jewish culture are celebrated at the Pearl Street Mall and the Boulder County Courthouse, with Jewish-style food, costumes, dancing and games for all ages
- Colorado Shakespeare Festival - late June to mid-August, held for more than 50 years and regarded as one of North America's most important Shakespearean festivals. Very plays are performed, a number of which take place outdoors at the acclaimed Mary Rippon Theater. Worth noting, this event sells out quickly
- Colorado Music Festival - late June to early August, staged at the Chautauqua Auditorium on Baseline Road, known for its classical music symphonies, written by leading composers of the past
- Boulder Food and Wine Festival - late June at Broadway, held each year in June in aid of charity and including wine tasting, fine dining and plenty of live entertainment
- Rhythm on th Rails Concert Series - Thursday evenings from June to early September held at Whistle Stop Park in Niwot, with live music, food stalls and local traders stands
- Twenty Ninth Street Live! Concert Series - live music on Saturday nights outdoors at the Twenty Ninth Street Mall from mid-June to early September
July
- Independence Day / 4th of July All-American Music - early July, Independence Day celebrations are held all around the city, with this All-American Music open-air concert staged at the Pearl Street Mall, outside of the county courthouse and being completely free of charge to everyone
- Downtown Boulder Art Fair - late July, a popular arts festival with talent contests, food-eating competitions, local businesses, art exhibitions and prize giving
August
- Boulder County Fair - early August, located on the city's outskirts and offering a distinctive cowboy flair, with rodeo activities, tractor pulls, pig racing, salsa dancing, scarecrows and a lively procession through Longmont
- Rocky Mountain Tea Festival - early August at the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse, a two-day event relating to tea-drinking throughout the world, with tea parties, a Teddy Bear picnic for children, and traders selling some very different flavors of tea, along with colorful teapots
- Aerial Dance Festival - early August, a two-week celebration of dancing, at the Dairy Center for the Arts on Walnut Street, with dancing displays, workshops and lectures
- Boulder International Fringe Festival - mid-August on Pearl Street, incorporating a successful mixture of puppet shows, concerts, dancing demonstrations, story telling, movies and all kinds of different entertainment, lasting 12 days in total and always proving to be a crowd pleaser
- Boulder Asian Festival - mid-August, based at the Pearl Street Mall and offering the chance to learn more about different ethnic groups, with live music, dancing, tasty delicacies to try, and displays of martial arts
- Boulder Creek Hometown Fair - late August / early September, an event completely free of charge and held at the Boulder Public Library Lawn, on the Canyon Boulevard. Various arts and crafts will be far sale here, created by local artisans. Look out for the food court, the beer garden, and the Great Zucchini Race, which features both classic and vintage cars
September
- Chili Iinferno Cook-Off - part of the Hometown Fair held in early September, citizens as well as regional restaurants compete in a variety of chili categories, which are judged by local celebrity judges
- Longmont Oktoberfest - a three day event at Roosevelt Park in early September, featuring the produce of local brewers as well as live
music, craft displays and attractions for children
- Toofy Film Fest - mid-September, an independent film festival, showcasing many unusual films and documentaries, which are often accompanied by beer, before being following by live music. The Toofy Film Fest is staged each year at the Boulder Theater on 14th Street
- Boulder Backroads Marathon - mid-September, something for lovers of road racing, with no more than 750 runners in total competing during this marathon. The Rocky Mountains provide a particularly splendid backdrop, while the marathon often uses some rather rural roads and trails, starting on North 51st Street
October
- Downtown Boulder Fall Festival - late-September / early October, a leading Oktoberfest with a range of events, held over a period of three days around the Pearl Street Mall. Expect to find concerts, parties, food stalls, freshly brewed Colorado beer, and fairground rides for children
November
- Boulder Adventure Film Festival and Dirt Days - early November, an inspiring selection of independent films covering many different topics, together with 'Wild Earth' events, with Dirt Day including mountain challenges, food, live music and various outdoor activities, attracting around 5,000 people each year
December
- Lights of December Parade - early December, Yuletide celebrations come in the form of choir concerts, marching bands, processions of decorated floats and various lighting of trees. Based around Pearl Street and 15th Street