Remember when we used to gather and celebrate? Yeah, we can do that again. Festivals are back, and there are plenty of old favorites and some new additions to the scene. Here are 11 festivals in Colorado Springs you should put on your calendar now and get ready to celebrate through the summer and fall.
MeadowGrass Music Festival
May 27-29, 2022
La Foret, Black Forest
When the big yellow tent goes up in Black Forest, you know festival season has officially begun. The region’s premier music fest always boasts an eclectic lineup of emerging local and national acts that you just might see headlining Red Rocks a few years down the road. Camping, a beer garden, yoga sessions, a kid zone and more family-friendly activities all help to make MeadowGrass a local favorite. Read more about this year’s artist lineup and highlights in “Music and More at the MeadowGrass Festival.”
Territory Days
May 28-30
Old Colorado City
Put on your Old West best and hit the streets of Old Colorado City for Colorado’s largest street fest. The popular Memorial Day weekend gathering has been happening for more than 45 years. You’ll find live music, food, craft vendors, gold panning, a mechanical bull, kids play area, a Cowboy Church service, toy train rides, live blacksmithing, period costumed characters, live birds of prey, native American dancers, beer gardens and more. The original pioneers wouldn’t believe all the options in the Colorado Territory’s original capitol.
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Manitou Springs Colorado Wine Festival
June 4
Memorial Park, Manitou Springs
Sample wines from 30 Colorado wineries as you stroll through Manitou’s Memorial Park. Enjoy live music by Roma Ransom, the Westside Rhythm Kings and more, plus plenty of food and gift vendors. It’s a great way to kick off summer in Manitou.
Locals Only Fest
June 4
The Garden
There’s a brand new party downtown. This one-day music festival is bringing a prime lineup of six local artists to the patio watering hole: the Garden. Dance along or kick back with locally made beer, wine, spirits, sodas and more, while the onstage soundtrack is provided by Roma Ransom, Mallory Ferraro, Cody McEntyre, Joe Johnson, the Barefoot Family Caravan and Hickabee. Of course, there will be food trucks, and the official beer sponsor is Pikes Peak Brewing. Here’s to living local!
Green Box Arts Festival
June 18 – July 4
Green Mountain Falls
Each summer the tiny hamlet of Green Mountain Falls comes alive with world-class art, and this year’s Green Box festival will be bigger than ever. The headline exhibit is the opening of the much-anticipated Skyspace by world-renowned artist James Turrell. The experiential work of light and sky is the first in Colorado and the only one in the world built into a mountainside. New York’s celebrated Ballet Hispánico will perform multiple times as part of the two-week event’s 50-plus performances, events, concerts and classes.
SoCo Still Fest
June 25
The Alexander
Craft spirits lovers have reason to celebrate thanks to the brand-new SoCo Still Fest. Hosted by the Colorado Spirits Collective and Blackhat Distillery, this inaugural gathering will feature a wide variety of craft spirits from Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico. Expect food vendors, live music and all you can sample from a long list of the Rocky Mountains’ finest distillers.
Rocky Mountain State Games
July 22-24 and 29-31
All over Olympic City USA
Colorado’s largest sports festival draws more than 10,000 athletes to compete in more than 32 sports. This year adds some new competitions, including cornhole, the 719 Ride (cycling 71.9 miles), DriTri, 3v3 soccer and a Splash N Dash youth aquathon (swim and run). Other competitions range from badminton to disc golf, lacrosse, cricket, pickleball and spikeball to weightlifting and many more. Anyone can join, at least with a little training.
Donkey Derby Day
Aug. 13
Downtown Cripple Creek
Head to the other side of Pikes Peak to be inspired by the historic town’s resident donkey herd, believed to be the distant relatives of the original mining donkeys of the Gold Rush days. The street festival includes donkey races, live music, a beer tent, food vendors and a parade. And you can always try your luck in the local casinos.
Pikes Peak APEX
Sept. 22-25
America the Beautiful Park and local trails
This one’s for the mountain bikers — and now runners. This world-class mountain bike challenge draws pros and amateurs for four days of riding on some of the area’s best trails. You can also participate in single days on the bike and now in 5K, 10K and 46K trail runs. The final day welcomes the entire community to the finish line for the APEX Outdoor Festival & Expo in America the Beautiful Park, where you’ll find food trucks, a beer garden and more fun.
Colorado Springs Intertribal Powwow
Sept. 24
Rock Ledge Ranch
Celebrate and honor Native American history and culture in the Pikes Peak region. This traditional powwow gathers American Indians from many tribes for a day of dancing, singing, drumming and reuniting. Everyone is welcome to join the colorful festivities and experience Native food, such as Navajo tacos and fry bread, plus art, jewelry, live wolf and birds of prey exhibits, children’s activities and more.
Blues on the Mesa
Oct. 1
Gold Hill Mesa
Blues on the Mesa gives music lovers one last chance to get out and shake it before the autumn leaves are all shaken down for the season. Blues fans might appreciate the seasoned chops of the lineup’s national talent, but any music or festival fan will savor the day-long scene in the grassy, natural amphitheater at Gold Hill Mesa. This year’s lineup features stellar talent, including Mojomama, Lionel Young Band, Hazel Miller & The Collective, Bob Margolin with the Delta Sonics, and King Solomon Hicks. Get ready to wail.
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Music and More at the MeadowGrass Music Festival
