FRIDAY SUNDAY
Watch the sunset over the mountains accompanied by music from top headliners. It is the long-awaited opening weekend of the 8,000-seat Ford Amphitheatre in north Colorado Springs, 95 Spectrum Loop. It kicks off with three nights of One Republic and then The Beach Boys, Lauren Daigle, Walker Hayes, Primus, For King and Country, Pentatonix and many others. There is plenty of parking, except in adjacent neighborhoods, and convenient shuttles are available. Concerts and tickets: fordamphitheater.live.
THURSDAY
A treat for taco lovers: The best taco festival featuring competitive tastings from 50 restaurants and taquerias vying for creative, traditional and vegetarian asada BBQ classics – topped with tequila cocktails. 10th annual event at Westminster City Park, 10455 N. Sheridan Blvd., 6-10 p.m., starting at $89. denver.toptaco.com
FRIDAY, AUGUST 18
Year 96 for Littleton’s Western Welcome Week Action-packed festivities starting Friday. Thirty events in 10 days. The city invites you to enjoy this year’s theme “Celebrate the Arts”. Art shows, pancake breakfast, drone show, concerts, stock horse stampede, duck race, car show, fishing contest, BBQ and of course a big parade on August 17th. westernwelcomeweek.org and on Facebook. On Sunday Pancake Stampede 5K at Hudson Gardens at 8 a.m., $10+, before the Littleton Pancake Breakfast. hudsongardens.org/event/pancake-stampede-5k
SUNDAY
A popular day for baseball: the 20th Annual Colorado Rockies Faith Day when the Rockies take on the Atlanta Braves at 1:10 p.m., followed by a concert by a Dove Award winner. Grammy winner Zach Williams headlines the postgame music. For groups of 20 or more, call 303-ROCKIES. Tickets $19-$80 mlb.com/rockies/tickets/specials/themes/faith-day
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25
These are the dream days to view the newest homes in the area. 2024 Denver Parade of Homes, with prices ranging from $205,000 to $2.19 million. Custom-built homes from 27 builders throughout the Denver metro area down to Castle Rock. Six “dream homes” cost more than $1.3 million each. The featured community of Sterling Ranch has a neighborhood of homes from seven builders. A free tour is offered by HBA of Metro Denver, noon to 5 p.m., Thursdays through Sundays. Self-guided tour map, paradeofhomesdenver.com
SATURDAY
A festival of the arts that RiNo Summer Art Market is a fun afternoon of creative family activities in the River North Art District, 1900 35th St. Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Screen print your own tote bag and take a cyanotype printing workshop. Story time for the kids, English at noon, Spanish at 12:30 p.m. Live music from local musicians, local art, food and beer. rinoartdistrict.org/do/art-market-aug2024
SATURDAY SUNDAY
Watch for reports on the Alexander Mountain Fire for updated information on the status of Loveland’s traditional Sculpture in the park Weekend, the 40th annual. Scheduled to open at 9:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, select works will join the 178 stunning permanent sculptures in the Benson Garden in the outdoor exhibit. sculptureinthepark.org
THURSDAY SUNDAY
#1 of 2 places to eat in Buena Vista Contin-Tail Gem, Mineral and Fossil Exhibitionhas been drawing crowds for 40 years, offering a full weekend of more than “100 gem, mineral, fossil, fossils, handcrafted jewelry, stone cutting and rock dealers.” Thursday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Buena Vista Rodeo Grounds. Dealers from across the country. The name Contin-Tail is a combination of Continental Divide and Tailgate. bvrockshow.com.
SATURDAY
Puppies have their own day downtown in honor of National Dog Month. You can Bark around the block at Dairy Block and The Maven, Saturday, noon to 3 p.m., 1800 Wazee. Dogs can pose for their caricatures, get a treat from the Pup Cup from Denver Milk Market, enjoy brunch treats at Kachina Cantina and do other fun things. dairyblock.com/events/celebrate-national-dog-month
FRIDAY SATURDAY
Show off your cornhole skills, listen to music, drink a cold beer and try a Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned BBQ contest at Alamosa’s Cole Park. And a Bloody Mary showdown, too. It’s Beat the Heat BBQ & Brews Time. slvbeattheheat.com
SATURDAY
Historic aircraft will take off and land and there will be an opportunity to experience some of them up close. SilverWest AirFest. Also festival music and vendors. 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Butler Field, SilverWest Airport, Westcliffe; visitwetmountainvalley.com.
SATURDAY SUNDAY
Curated works by national artists fill the Fillmore Plaza in Cherry Creek North for the second time Smash Fine Art Festival of the summer, Saturday and Sunday. Stroll through the festival to the sounds of live acoustic music. 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. cherrycreeknorth.com/things-to-do/ccn-signature-events/cherry-creek-north-in-bloom/smash-fine-arts-festival
SATURDAY
Boulder Taco Fest is a wild combination of, yes, tacos, but also tequila, piñatas, music, a 5K run, lucha libre wrestling and costume contests. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., 1001 Arapahoe Ave. bouldertacofest.com
SUNDAY
A busy Sunday at Stanley Market Place in Aurora with the Stanley Summer Music SeriesLocal produce, activities for the little ones, splash pool, vendors, cocktails and food. 11am-3pm on the lawn. stanleymarketplace.com/stanley-events.
THURSDAY SUNDAY
The Boulder County Fair, an oldie, but a goodie since 1869 with a long tradition of farming and ranching, 4-H and animals, is taking place this weekend at the fairgrounds, 9595 Nelson Road, Longmont. Concerts by Colorado bands. Rodeo and Demo Derby. Schedule at bouldercountyfair.org
