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Start Making Plans: Outdoor Festivals Returning To Colorado This Summer

(CBS4) - We are seeing a return of more large-scale outdoor events in Colorado, and festivals in particular. Here's some help in making plans as we return to a semblance of normal as COVID restrictions ease, although dates have changed for some of them.

Juneteenth
Denver: June 19, 20
Juneteenth promises to be back on the street in the historic Five Points neighborhood. Denver has made Juneteenth an official city holiday and this is one of the largest celebrations of the end of slavery in our nation. The event will still be socially distanced, meaning a limited number of vendors. Organizers are also promising plenty of music.
facebook.com/JuneteenthMusicFestival/

PrideFest 2021
Denver: June 26, 27
PrideFest made the decision to make a permanent move to the fourth weekend of June last year so it no longer conflicts with Juneteenth. The festival promotes the heritage and culture of the LGBTQ+ community and is the largest such celebration in the Rocky Mountain Region. Expect the return of the parade, a political rally, family entertainment and a 5K run.
denverpride.org/2021-announcement/

Colorado Renaissance Festival
Larkspur: Weekends July 3 - August 22
The Colorado Renaissance Festival is pushing its opening weekend back a few weekends, opening in time for the 4th of July. It's promising to return its kingdom full of jousting, feasting and shows to Larkspur. The faire has worked with the city of Larkspur to monitor conditions and is still working on its themes for the weekends.
coloradorenaissance.com

Central City Opera at Hudson Gardens
Littleton: Performances throughout the month of July
Due to health concerns, the performers from the Central City Opera won't be singing inside the historic opera house in Central City in the summer of 2021, but they will perform outdoors at Hudson Gardens in Littleton, where attendees can be socially distanced. Visit centralcityopera.org to purchase tickets to either Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel and Verdi's thriller Rigoletto. You can also learn about smaller open air performances that will be offered in the Opera House Gardens in Central City.

Colorado Music Festival at the Chautauqua Auditorium
Boulder: July 1 - Aug. 7
If you're a classical music fan, there will be 22 different concerts performed this summer at the historic Chautauqua Auditorium in Boulder as part of the Colorado Music Festival. It's likely that due to health concerns, there will be a limit on the number of orchestra members allowed onstage together. Pandemic health related restrictions will also be in place for those in the audience, including a mask-wearing requirement. Go to coloradomusicfestival.org for tickets.

Cheyenne Frontier Days
Cheyenne: July 23 - August 1
It's not exactly Colorado but it's not too far across the northern border. Cheyenne Frontier Days is celebrating 125 years this summer. The rodeo returns along with a full slate of concerts including Eric Church and Blake Shelton. The organizers are working with state and local guidelines to make sure visitors stay safe and have lots of fun for all the events including the carnival.
www.cfdrodeo.com

Day of Rock
Denver: August
Amp The Future usually presents Day of Rock at the end of May but is pushing it to August this year just so more guests can enjoy the event safely. It's a free one-day music festival on the 16th Street Mall. Amp the Cause supports a number of nonprofits in our community. It is still in the planning stages.
denverdayofrock.com

Colorado State Fair
Pueblo: August 27 - September 6
The Colorado State Fair plans to be back on its game this year with a full carnival and all the fun fair food you can eat. The rodeo returns as well a full lineup of concerts including George Thorogood and Nelly.
coloradostatefair.com

Cherry Creek Arts Festival
Denver: September 4, 5, 6
This tradition 4th of July event is moving to Labor Day weekend this year. The Cherry Creek Arts Festival is also heading a few blocks south out of Cherry Creek North to the creek area on the south side of the Cherry Creek Shopping Center. That gives vendors more space to spread out making it easier for visitors to socially distance.
cherrycreekartsfestival.org

A Taste of Colorado - September 4,5 & 6 labor day
Denver: September 4, 5, 6
The Downtown Denver Partnership says it's thrilled to bring A Taste Of Colorado back this Labor Day Weekend. It's working on a new format so we can all celebrate Colorado's best music, food, drinks, art and more.
www.atasteofcolorado.com

Colorado Dragon Boat Festival
Denver: September 25, 26
Organizers of the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival made the decision early to move the festival to September instead of July. The festival will return to Sloan's Lake Park to celebrate dragon boat racing, culture, arts and food. This is the largest dragon boat festival in North America.
www.cdbf.org

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