This year, summer officially runs from June 20 through September 19, which means that Denver will see approximately 70 days of sunshine. While that won’t quite live up to the PR-spin that the railroads used to attract visitors in the late 1800s, it is more than enough to lure the locals to step outside and soak up the sun.

While Colorado boasts plenty of outdoor recreational opportunities, local festivals showcase the culture, food, and fun of community gatherings. So slather on that sunscreen, put on a hat and head out to these area events. The DCPA will have a presence at Denver Pride, the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival and several concerts at the Denver Botanic Gardens, so stop by and say “hi.”

Denver Botanic Gardens Summer Concert Series

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS CONCERTS

Select evenings June 20-Aug 15  |  1007 York St., Denver

While not a festival per se, the crowds, music, and booths — including one from the DCPA — might tell you otherwise. Produced in partnership with Swallow Hill Music, the Denver Botanic Gardens Summer Concert Series invites guests to stroll through the gardens before the show. Limited tickets remain to this popular summer tradition.

DENVER PRIDE

June 22 & 23  |  Civic Center Park, Denver

Denver Pride 2023

Produced by The Center on Colfax, Denver Pride is a two-day event complete with a 5K walk-run-roll-shashay race, 14-block parade and a festival filled with performances, food, booths and joy! This year marks the 50^th anniversary of PRIDE, a celebration of Denver’s LGBTQ+ community. Grab your rainbow flag and join the party!

CHERRY CREEK ARTS FESTIVAL

July 5-7  |  Cherry Creek North, Denver

While you won’t see the DCPA booth at this event, you will see our fellow SCFD colleagues who host this annual art show. Extraordinary artwork from more than 250 artists will be centerstage before a background of food, music and kids activities. While admission is free, get ready to be tempted to head home with a masterpiece.

COLORADO BLACK ARTS FESTIVAL

Colorado Black Arts Festival

July 12-14  |  Denver City Park West, Denver

The 38^th annual Colorado Black Arts Festival returns to Denver City Park West. Originally created to showcase the talents of Black visual and performing artists in the area, the event now draws more than 60,000 individuals who gather to celebrate Colorado’s African diaspora arts and culture.

COLORADO DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL

July 27 & 28  |  Sloan’s Lake, Denver

With more than 200,000 participants in 2023, it’s easy to believe that the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival is the largest of its kind in the nation. The event was started in 2001 to raise awareness of growing and diverse Asian communities in Colorado. The free event features the ancient Chinese sport of dragon boat racing whereby individuals paddle a boat decorated to resemble a dragon to the beat of a drummer.