Category Archives: Denver

*Colorado Weekend* – July 24-26, 2009

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Arapahoe County Fair – July 22-26, Aurora.

Collegiate Peaks Music Festival 2009 – July 24-26, Buena Vista.

Carbondale Mountain Fair – July 24-26 , Carbondale.

Old Town Showdown – July 25-26, Colorado Springs.

Crested Butte Land Trust Wine and Food Festival – July 23-26, Crested Butte.

Colorado Dragon Boat Festival – July 25-26, Denver.

Fiesta Days – July 23-26, Durango.

Eagle Championship Ranch Rodeo – July 24-26, Eagle.

Empire’s 2nd Annual Art Walk – July 25, Empire.

Evergreen Jazz Festival – July 24-26, Evergreen.

Breckenridge Adventure Xstream Adventure Race –  July 25, Frisco.

‘Vettes on the Rockies – July 26, Frisco.

Golden Buffalo Bill Days – July 24-26, Golden.

Mesa County Fair – July 21-26, Grand Junction.

Greeley Arts Picnic – July 25-26, Greeley.

Keystone Mountain Art Gathering – July 23-26, Keystone.

Bent County Fair & Rodeo – July 25-Aug. 1, Las Animas.

Crowley County Days – July 25, Ordway.

Telluride Americana Music Weekend – July 23-25, Telluride.

Alpine Artaffair – July 25-26, Winter Park.

Winter Park Jazz – July 25-26, Winter Park.

3rd Annual Protecting the American Dream Bike Rally – July 24-26, Woodland Park.

*Colorado Weekend* – July 17-19, 2009

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Fee-Free Weekend –  National park entrance fees will be waived at eight Colorado parks and monuments.

Aspen Arts Festival – July 18-19, Aspen. Free event with 170 exhibitors offering jewelry, pottery, sculpture, glass, ceramics, paintings, prints in Wagner Park.

Kidspree – July 18-19, Aurora.

Downtown Boulder’s Artfair – July 18-19, Boulder

Breckenridge Beer Festival – July 18, Breckenridge.

Cheyenne Wells Tumbleweed Festival – July 18-19, Cheyenne Wells.

Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb – July 19, Colorado Springs.

Orthodox Food Festival and Old Globeville Days – July 18-19, Denver. Sample foods from Russia, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine, Eritrea, Greece and Mexico at the 6th annual festival in Argo Park. Includes music, dance, arts, tours of
historical landmark Orthodox church.

Copper-Penny Horse Show – July 17-19, Estes Park.

2009 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships – July 16-19, Granby. Thousands of amateur and professional mountain bikers compete on the terrain of SolVista Bike Park, SolVista Basin at Granby Ranch.

Cattlemen Days – Through July 19, Gunnison. Ten days of events wrap-up with a parade, rodeo, cowboy church and draft house pull.

Pagosa Springs Renaissance and Pirate Festival – July 18-19, Pagosa Springs.

Logger Days Festival – July 17-19, South Fork.

High Country Kitchen and Garden Tour – July 18, Steamboat Springs. Event benefits the Strings Music Festival, tour 6 kitchens and 7 high altitude gardens, 10am-4pm.

Fat Tire Classic – July 18-19, Winter Park. Family-friendly pledge event benefiting the National Sports Center for the Disabled and the Mile High Chapter of the American Red Cross.

*Colorado Weekend* – July 10-12, 2009

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  • Aspen Antiques & Fine Arts Fair – Aspen, July 9-12. Forty exhibitors from around the world showcase fine antiques, paintings, jewelry and objets d’art at Aspen Ice Garden.
  • Blue Columbine
  • Crested Butte Wild Flower Festival – Crested Butte, July 6-12. Enjoy a rich variety of wildflowers and butterflies while hiking, birding, biking or 4×4 touring. Classes include art, all levels of photograph, medicinal with botanical ingredients, cooking with wild flowers and yoga.
  • Four Corners Gem & Mineral Show – Durango, July 10-12. Three  days of lapidary demonstrations, jewelry, jewelry making equipment, gold panning, gems, minerals, fossils and beads.
  • Estes Park Rooftop Rodeo – Estes Park, July 7-12. 83rd annual PRCA rodeo includes saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, bare-back and bull riding and barrel racing. Plus a Western parade or Behind the Chutes Tours.
  • Fort Collins Jazz Experience – Fort Collins, July 9-11. Downtown Sessions Free Festival Day – July 11th with 14 live jazz groups. Al Jarreau and Ramsey Lewis Trio – ticketed events at Lincoln Center.
  • Colorado Railroad Museum – Golden, July 11-12 . 50th anniversary celebration at the museum dedicated to Colorado railroading heritage, includes an unusual train parade.
  • Wooden Boat Show – Grand Lake, July 11. Enjoy the craftsmanship of historical boat building and see the classics.
  • Cattlemen’s Days – Gunnison, June 10-19.  Colorado’s oldest and longest running rodeo and horseshows. More than a week of dances, horse racing, parade, carnival and BBQ in addition to rodeos and livestock shows.
  • Uncorked Mountain Wine Festival – Keystone, July 11-12. Wine tastings, seminars, pairing dinners plus jazz music.
  • Colorado Irish Festival – Littleton, July 10-12. All things Irish at Clement Park – food, music, merchandise, dance, culture village and Gaelic sports.
  • Boil ‘n Boogie – Mead, July 11. Eighth annual Cajun crawfish boil, six-hour concert, children’s games, and crafts.
  • San Luis Valley Folk Arts and Fiber Festival – Monte Vista, July 10-12. Demonstrations, vendors, workshops and contest in celebration of handmade and traditional arts.
  • Colorado Brewer’s Rendezvous – Salida, July 11. Specialty Colorado craft brewers at the 13th annual event in downtown Salida’s Riverside Park.
  • Snowmass SkateMass – Snowmass village, July 11. Skateboard event  and competition at the new Snowmass village Skate Park.
  • Steamboat Balloons Hot Air Balloon Rodeo and Art in the Park  – Steamboat Springs, July 11-12. Over 40 balloons launch each morning during the 29th annual balloon rodeo at Bald Eagle Lake. The 35th annual summer art show in Lincoln Park is Steamboats largest art and craft festival.
  • Telluride Yoga Festival – Telluride, July 10-12. Friday sunset Kirtan, workshops, meditations and yoga dance presentation.
  • Insectival! – Westminister, July 11-12. The Butterfly Pavillion explores wonders and mysteries of the insect world.
  • Winter Park Music Festival – Winter Park, July 11. National, regional and local live music in Hideaway Park. Free, but ticket required.

 

On Going Colorado Summer Events

*Colorado Weekend* – June26-28, 2009

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Bikes, Brews, Blossoms and Bulls

Accompanied by Lots of Music

Welcome web visitor – I’m on the road in the Pacific Northwest, the laptop is in for repairs in Spokane and I’m trying to get this out from a motel business center. No details this week, if something sounds interesting or you’re going to be in the aBikers near Crested Butterea click on the link for more information. Enjoy the weekend!

*Colorado Weekend* – June 19-21, 2009

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Bikes, Boats, Cars and More Cars

Father’s Day weekend seems filled with modes of transport. Cars reign supreme in Grand Junction, Holyoke, Steamboat Springs and Walsenburg. Pedal in Breckenridge, Colorado Springs and Salida. Competitions focus on outhouse races in Breckenridge and tractor pulls in Simla.Pack Mule Sculpture in Breckenridge

  • Gold Strike Festival – Arvada, June 20-21. The 8th annual celebration of Lewis Ralston’s 1850 discovery of gold in Ralston Creek with kid and pet parades, activities and live music.
  • Kingdom Days – Breckenridge, June 20-21. Gather a team, build an outhouse, then push or pull it to the finish line in Breckenridge this weekend. Part of the 1859 gold boom the Kingdom of Breckenridge parties with gold panning, historic sites and mine tours, Wild West gun fights on Main Street and activities for all ages.
  • Starlight Spectacular! – Colorado Springs, June 20, 11:5Garden of the Gods Formations9 pm. Bike the night away on this non-competitive ride that begins and finishes at the Garden of the Gods Visitor and  Nature Center. Routes for all ages and abilities range from 14-25 miles through downtown Colorado Springs, Old Colorado City and Garden of the Gods. Proceeds benefit the Trails and Open Space Coalition.
  • Denver Juneteenth Celebration – Denver, June 20. Denver’s Five Points Neighborhood commemorate the day that Texas slaves learned they were free with a 9am parade and festival from 10am-6pm.
  • Greek Festival – Denver, June 19-21. One of Denver’s largest and longest running  ethnic festivals features traditional Greek music, folk dancing and tons of good food. Events include a Greek boutique and tours of the Assumption Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Don’t miss the homemade desserts including baklava.
  • Highlands Street Fair – Denver, June 20. The Highlands neighborhood in Northwest Denver parties at the 27th annual free street fair from 10am to dusk. Enjoy three stages of live music, classic car show, kids fun zone, 150 vendor booths plus food and drink.
  • Day Out with Thomas – Durango, June 19-21. Take a ride on a full-sized Thomas the Tank Engine on the Durango and Silverton rails. Every young railroader’s favorite engine is the star this weekend. Meet Mr. Topham Hatt, listen to music and storytellers.
  • Teddy Bear Picnic – Estes Park, June 20. Teddy bears and their human companions will gather Saturday for the 25th annual Teddy Bear Picnic at Estes Ark.
  • Colorado BBQ Challenge – Frisco, June 19-20. Sixty teams compete in th2 16th annual event sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society. Cooking demonstrations by grillmaster Troy Black and Southern Living magazine.
  • Fort Collins Irish Festival – Fort Collins, June 20-21. Enjoy the luck of the Irish in Fort Collins this weekend with Irish culture, history, dance, music, music, music and plenty of Guinness.
  • Motorcycle at Gateway Western Colorado Vintage Motorcycle Club Rally – Gateway, June 20. First annual (?) at the stunning Gateway Canyon Resort and Auto Museum.
  • Strawberry Days – Glenwood Springs, June 19-21. Colorado’s oldest community festival, 112-years-old, includes carnival, entertainment, parade, pie eating contest and ice cream social.
  • Car Show – Auto Fest 2009 – Grand Junction, June 20-21. 34th annual exhibit of foreign, domestic, antique, classic, custom, rod, motorcycles, tractors and trucks in Lincoln Park. Friday evening Cruise Night.
  • Dandelion Daze – Holyoke, June 19-20. Auto show, Grease Lightning parade, rockin’ the oldies, antique auction and NASCAR simulator Friday night and Saturday.
  • Gold Rush Music Festival – Idaho Springs, June 20-21. Three bands play each day, each a different style – jazz, rock, big band, swing, country, oldies – all part of the year long 150th anniversary celebration.
  • New Belgium FIBArk – Salida, June 18-21. America’s oldest and boldest whitewater festival in its 61st year with events from international competitors to pancake breakfast, carnival to mountain bike races.
  • Simla Days – Simla, June 19-21. From Friday night dinner to Sunday services in the park this is a busy weekend in Simla. Saturday starts with pancake breakfast and ends with Dance @ Dusk.
  • Rocky Mountain Mustang Roundup – Steamboat Springs, June 18-21. 21st annual roundup of Mustangs – the automobile variety. Friday autocross and Saturday Show n’ Shine with 450 Mustangs lining Lincoln Avenue.
  • Telluride from Gondola Telluride Bluegrass Festival – Telluride, June 18-21. Hugh festival weekend in Telluride’s summer of festivals. Ten thousand fill venues all over the mountain valley.
  • The Black Diamond Jubilee – Walsenburg, June 19-21. Recall when coal was king in this southern Colorado region. Events include classic car show, baseball tournament, vendor booths and Sunday pancake breakfast.

Bob at Palouse Falls State Park

Happy Father’s Day to fathers everywhere, especially to Bob – hubby and father of our three sons.

*Colorado Weekend* – June 12-14, 2009

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Blues, Brews and Birthday Cake

Run a marathon, pet a llama or down a beer in Estes Park. Celebrate the sesquicentennial in Golden, climb a wall in Denver and feast in Fort Collins.

  • Fiesta Aurora – Aurora, June 14. Celebrate Latino culture with music, dance, art and food at Fletcher Plaza on East Colfax.
  • Climbing wall National Get Outdoors Day – Denver, June 13. Take the President’s Physical Fitness Challenge, introduce kids to new outdoor activities, learn to plan inexpensive family outings at Denver City Park. Free.
  • Estes Park Marathon – Estes Park, June 14. Run at altitude – the Estes Park Marathon is the highest paved route marathon in the country. There’s also a half-marathon, 10k, 5k and children’s fun run in the shadow of Rocky Mountain National Park.
  • Estes Park Wool Market – Estes Park, June 13-14. From on the hoof to off the loom one of the largest all-natural fiber markets in North America is in its 19th year. Workshops, demonstrations, vendors and competitions for sheep, llama, alpaca, and Cashmere & Angora goat and children’s tent with hands-on activities – something for everyone.
  • Rocky Mountain Brewfest – Estes Park, June 13. Beers from Colorado Craft Brewers and live music.
  • Taste of Fort Collins – Fort Collins, June 13-14. Food from local Northern Colorado restaurants, music, and eclectic array of fine art with proceeds benefit Special Olympics Larimer County and Kiwanis Club International. Wear off some of the eats with a 5k run/walk.
  • High Plains Disc Golf Tournament – Fort Morgan, June 13-14. Watch for low flying objects at two days of competition for professional and amateur disc golf players.
  • Welcom to Golden Arch 150th Anniversary Celebration Golden’s – Golden, June 12. Friday night is one big anniversary party in Golden, a parade steps off down Washington Avenue at 6:30, history themed games and concert by the Jefferson Symphony Orchestra in Lions Park. Thousands of slices of birthday cake and ice cream served before a laser light show after dark. Free.
  • Golden’s Wild West Auto Roundup – Golden, June 13. More than 200 vintage and muscle cars, hot rods and street rods, trucks, original stock and race cars line Washington Avenue for the 18th Annual Auto Roundup. Lots of other activities downtown and on Clear Creek.
  • Greeley Blues Jam – Greeley, June 12-13. Greeley gets the blues two days in June, downtown on Friday – free, Island Grove Park on Saturday, ticketed event with kids 12 and under free.
  • Colorado Renaissance Festival – Larkspur, June 13-14. Harken back to the 16th century with a day at this 33rd annual popular festival. Music, games, entertainment, crafts and food – including turkey legs. Open Saturdays and Sundays until August 2.
  • Old Spanish Trail Music Festival – Monte Vista, June 13. Highlights the music of peoples living along the old Spanish Trail – country, folk, jazz, pop, rock ‘n roll, and Spanish. Held in Chapman Park with artisans, craftsmen and food vendors.
  • Palisade Bluegrass Poster Palisade Bluegrass ‘n Roots Music Festival – Palisade, June 12-14. Acoustic music on the banks of the Colorado River with on-site camping, jam sessions, workshops, artisan demonstrations for adults and children. Of course there’s local wines, micro-brews and food.
  • Parker Country Festival – Parker, June 12-14. Three days of carnival, food, crafts and free music plus a Saturday morning parade in downtown Parker.
  • Silver Cliff Heritage and Mining Days – Silver Cliff, June 13-14. Join in celebrating 150 years of mining in Colorado. Kids can pan for gold, race their stick horses or join the scavenger hunt.

Governor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion – Denver, Colorado

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First Saturday – Free Family Day

The first Saturday of each month during the summer the gates to Colorado’s Governor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion swing open to the public for a themed free family day. Because July 4th falls on Saturday the July event is scheduled for the second Saturday. Events run from 11am to 2pm.

  • June 6 – Discovering Colorado’s Rich Asian HeritageGovernors Resident from the South
    • Colorado’s Asian community comes to celebrate with dancing, music, painting and more.

 

  • July 11 – President Abraham Lincoln’s Bicentennial Governor's Mansion Side 2
    • One of our nation’s greatest presidents visits the Governor’s Residence along with soldiers and singers from the Civil War.

 

  •   August 1 – Bent’s Fort: Colorado’s Frontier Melting Pot
    • Step back to the 1830s, meet the diverse people who visited Bent’s Fort and helped forge Colorado’s future.

 Carriage House - Governor's Residence

The special events are held at the newly renovated Carriage House. Free open house tours of the mansion are offered every Saturday in June, July and August from 11am-2pm. Free guided tours on Tuesdays in June, July and August from 1-2pm. 

 

Go;vernor's Residence at the Boettcher Mansion
Go;vernor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion

Colorado Gold Rush – Denver International Airport, Colorado

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 Colorado Gold Rush

150th Anniversary Exhibit

1859 – “Gold is found everywhere, and you can make your fortune.”

The word was out, gold had been found near the confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River – near the center of present day Denver, Colorado. The rush was on to head to the hills in search of wealth producing veins of the precious metal. "Pikes Peak or Bust" became the rallying cry for prospectors with a serious case of gold fever.

Now through August 2009 an exhibit along the walkway to concoDIA Gold Rushurse A at Denver International Airport commemorates the sesquicentennial of the Colorado Gold Rush. Books and maps show supply lists and routes followed by hopeful emigrants. Letters and diaries detail successes and failures, longing and love, sorrow and humor. Photographs record changes in the land and the men and women who gave birth to Denver and Colorado.

The exhibition is located between the main terminal and concourse A, before the security screening area, making it accessible for everyone visiting the airport. Passing through Denver, seeing someone off or picking up an arriving passenger at DIA, take time to discover the story of Colorado’s Gold Rush.

Denver International Airport - Colorado
Denver International Airport – Colorado

*Colorado Weekend* – May 23-25, 2009

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 Colorado Events, Festivals and Happenings

Memorial Day Weekend 2009

I’m adding a new feature on Where To Go – Travel USA. Throughout the summer I plan to post a few special events, festivals or happenings around the state of Colorado for the upcoming weekend.

Memorial Day Weekend kicks off with events all around the state – art, sports, outdoor recreation, history and beer gain attention this weekend. Get out and have some fun.

Colorado
Colorado

*Update II* – Perfect Landing Restaurant – Centennial, Colorado

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Awesome Addition

Yes, we did go to the Perfect Landing at Centennial Airport this week after my friend told me they added a prime rib dinner to their $10 Awesome Anniversary Specials. This week we went late after an art show reception; it’s a different feel with the lights of the city instead of the setting sun.

We both indulged with the prime rib, Bob ordered an end cut and even after 8pm they Filet Special - Perfect Landing were able to fulfill that request. Plus, they were cooked exactly as ordered and served with au jus and a creamy horseradish sauce. The luscious creamy mashed potatoes and a mixture of fresh green and wax beans accompanied the meat.

We started with a grilled Caesar salad and right out of the oven crusty bread. To no one’s surprise we ended with a slice of key lime pie. Good, but not quite as tart this week. I like the tartness; that’s what makes it key lime in my mind.                    Perfect Landing – Filet Special         Salad and pie an additional $5/each.

On the piano, Boogie Bob’s selections are a bit mellower at 8pm than at 5:30pm.

When You Go: Check out an earlier blog for details on the $10 Awesome Anniversary Special running through May.