Colorado hosts numerous exciting events during springtime, and May is the unofficial kick-off to summer month. There are a lot of festivals to choose from, including concerts, fairs, rodeos, food fests, and plenty of chances for craft beer.
May brings warm weather and an end to the snow. Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer with festivities across the start. Fun events include the Downtown Denver Arts Festival and the Mountain Film In Telluride.
Here’s a look at the top annual May events in Colorado, in chronological order:
2025 Annual May Festivals in Colorado
Cañon City Music & Blossom Festival
- Date: Wed-Sun, April 30 – May 4, 2025
- Address: Cañon City
- About: Long-running music festival featuring a parade, rodeo, and carnival. High school, middle school, and junior high school bands from across the country compete in Concert Band, Jazz Band, Parade, and Orchestra categories.
Fruita Fat Tire Festival
- Date: Friday-Sunday, May 2-4, 2025
- Where: Fruita
- About: Four-day celebration of mountain biking featuring seminars, competitions, and a giant expo, now in its 29th year.
HESTIVAL
- Date: Friday-Sunday, May 2-4, 2025
- Address: Hotchkiss
- About: A 3-day camping event that offers a myriad of activities including excursions, live music, hiking, and mountain biking. Great for the family, dogs included, guests will enjoy camping under the stars, sipping cider, listening to live music, and spending time in nature.
Fort Lupton Heritage Fair
- Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025
- Where: South Platte Valley Historic Park, Fort Lupton
- About: A full day of historic reenactments is held over the first Saturday in May.
Estes Park Duck Race Festival
- Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025
- Address: Estes Park
- About: “Adopt” a little rubber duck and race it down the Fall River in support of over 60 Estes Valley charities. Bond Park comes alive with family games and live music. In addition to the duck race, vendors in downtown Estes Park will be having a sidewalk sale on Saturday and Sunday.
TheBigWonderful
- Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025
- Address: Denver
- About: Celebrating the Kentucky Derby and Cinco De Mayo, TheBigWonderful features over 100 local makers, live music on two stages, a VIP program, and a lot of Colorado craft food and beverages.
Mini Derby at Sky View Farm
- Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025
- Address: Castle Rock
- About: The 5th annual Colorado Non-Profit Mini Derby hosts a Kentucky Derby watch party at Sky View Farm from 1 to 5 pm. Watch mini horses race around the track and pick your winner. There will be a couple of auctions and a raffle as well.
Royal Gorge Rodeo
- Date: Saturday-Sunday, May 3-4, 2025
- Address: Cañon City
- About: Founded in 1872, this is Colorado’s longest continuously running rodeo, held as part of the aforementioned Cañon City Music & Blossom Festival.
Cinco de Mayo Festival
- Date: Saturday-Sunday, May 3-4, 2025
- Address: Civic Center Park, Denver
- About: 36th Cinco de Mayo celebration with music, dancing, food, and festivities.
Chalk Vines & Lines
- Date: Saturday-Sunday, May 3-4, 2025
- Address: Aurora
- About: Chalk Lines & Vines is an annual 21+ event that takes place in Aurora’s Arapahoe County Fairgrounds where guests can sample over a dozen wineries, live entertainment, and chalk art.
Colorado Governor’s Art Show
- Date: Saturday-Saturday, May 3-June 14, 2025
- Address: Fifth and Lincoln Ave, Loveland
- About: This is one of the biggest juried art shows in the state for only Colorado artists, heading into its 34th year.
South Pearl Farmers’ Market
- Date: Sundays | May 4 – November 9, 2025
- Address: Pearl Street & East Arkansas Avenue, Denver
- About: This is one of the top Denver area farmers’ markets that has been happening since 2001. They keep the produce and fare as local and fresh as possible.
Denver Fashion Week
- Date: Saturday-Sunday, May 10-18, 2025
- Address: RiNo Art District, Denver
- About: Showcasing emerging, local, and national designers, the 9-day Denver Fashion Show includes daily shows that embody different themes ranging from kids’ couture to sustainability.
A Taste of Colorado at ¡Viva! Streets Denver
- Date: Tuesdays, TBD 2025
- Address: Civic Center Park, Denver
- About: Four free Sunday festivals held throughout the summer in collaboration with Viva Streets Denver featuring lots of great local food, arts & crafts booths, and live music, now in its 43rd year.
Civic Center EATS
- Date: Wednesday and Thursday, early May to mid October, 2025
- Address: Denver
- About: Civic Center EATS is a one-stop shop for some of the best food on wheels you can find in the Mile High City. Located in Denver’s Civic Center Park, there will be about 10 to 15 food trucks selling a myriad of delicious meals.
Rifle Rendevous Festival
- Date: TBD 2025 (last event: May 16-19, 2024)
- Address: Rifle
- About: 28th year of Western fun, complete with a carnival, car show, live music, and vendors.
Bloomin’ Beats
- Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025
- Address: Bohn Park, Lyons
- About: Free concert held in Bohn Park from 1 to 3 pm. It happens one day per month from March to May.
Highlands Farmers Market
- Date: Sundays | May 18 – October 12, 2025
- Address: Highland Square, 32nd Avenue, Denver
- About: Great farmer’s market with handcrafted goods and locally grown produce. Don’t go hungry because there is plenty of homemade food for sale, fresh and ready to eat.
Mountainfilm In Telluride
- Date: Thur-Mon, May 22-26, 2025
- Address: Telluride
- About: Film festival held since 1979 in downtown Telluride, making it one of the longest-running in America.
Grand Old West Days
- Date: Thur-Mon, May 22-26, 2025
- Address: Craig
- About: Old West cultural festival that takes place over the Memorial Day Weekend at several locations: Fairgrounds, Downtown, and Cedar Mountain. Activities include a horse show, parade, carnival, live music, food, and games.
Iron Horse Bicycle Classic
- Date: Fri-Sun, May 23-25, 2025
- Address: Durango-Silverton
- About: Historic bike race against the Durango and Silverton train, now in its 53rd year.
Rocky Mountain Stamp Show
- Date: Fri-Sun, May 23-25, 2025
- Address: Aurora
- About: This weekend of stamp collecting attracts buyers and sellers from around the country to the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds.
Denver Arts Festival
- Date: Saturday-Sunday, May 24-25, 2025
- Address: Denver
- About: 26th annual arts fest showcasing fine art from Colorado and national artists.
Durango Blues Train
- Date: Thur-Sat, May 29-31, 2025 | August 21-23, 2025
- Address: Durango
- About: Attend one of two weekends on an epic, one-of-a-kind blues train, roundtrip from Durango to Silverton.
Park Hill Art Festival
- Date: TBD 2025 (last event: Friday-Sunday, May 31-June 2, 2024)
- Address: Park Hill Masonic Lodge grounds, Denver
- About: This weekend of fine arts and crafts showcases the works of more than 100 artists from all over.
Mike the Headless Chicken Festival
- Date: Friday-Saturday, May 30-31, 2025
- Address: Fruita
- About: Two days of honoring the late headless chicken named Mike. Events include a 5k race, poultry show, disc golf tourney, and car show.
Kids Adventure Games
- Date: Saturday, May 31, 2025
- Address: Highline Lake State Park, Fruita
- About: The only multi-city adventure race for children ages 6-14 that is tailored to the natural landscape of the host city.
Friends of Raymer Car Show
- Date: Saturday, May 31, 2025
- Address: New Raymer
- About: 9th annual car, truck, motorcycle, and tractor show in the small town of Raymer. Boasting music, food, and a cornhole tournament, all proceeds are used to restore the town’s historic buildings.
Animas River Days
- Date: Saturday-Sunday, May 31-June 1, 2025
- Address: Santa Rita Park, Durango
- About: Weekend celebration on the Animas River through the Whitewater Park. Festivities include kayak, raft, and SUP races, all capped off by a wild river parade with a viewing party from the park.
Mile High International Pastel Exhibition
- Date: TBD 2025 or cancelled indefinitely
- Address: Curtis Center for the Arts, Greenwood Village
- About: Taking place at Greenwood Village’s Curtis Center for the Arts and showcasing nearly 100 pastel paintings, the Mile High International Pastel Exhibition is for those who love art.
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