Colorado Cultural Calendar
Colorado is famous for its mountainous and rocky terrain; in fact, the state has so many mountains that it actually accounts for 75 percent of the land in the United States over 10,000 feet above sea level. The home of the rodeo, Colorado, is also filled with great museums, great music, and phenomenal food, as you’ll see from its rich cultural calendar this summer. Here are must-see events in Colorado.
Art | Byers-Evans House
June 6 – August 30
Before it was a museum, Byers-Evans House housed two prominent Denver families; remains one of the cities most historical landmarks. It was originally built in 1883 and, after falling into disrepair, was restored from 1912 to 1924. This summer the museum is hosting A Handful of Dust, which runs from June 6 to August 30. The exhibition will present the works of Allen Birnbach, a well-known photographer and documentary maker. This is a very special exhibit, full of history and beautiful images too.
Byers-Evans House, 1310 Bannock St, Denver, CO, USA; +1 303 620 4933
Art | Reflections of Japan
July 6 – September 21
The full title of this exhibit is a bit of a mouthful, but At the Mirror: Reflections of Japan in 20th Century Prints, is still a must see for art lovers in Colorado. The prints on display allow visitors to explore a range of techniques and styles as they evolve through a hundred years of work. All the pieces will be creations painted with woodblock prints, with dates ranging from 1901 to 2001, will not only monitor the change in styles and techniques, but will also show how the development of Japan came to be over the course of the 20th century.
Denver Art Museum, 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy, Denver, CO, USA; +1 720 865 5000
Culture | Crested Butte Wildflower Festival
7 – 13 July
The Crested Butte Wild Flower festival is essentially an adventure through the natural outback of Colorado. Crested Butte is a small Colorado town that sits in the midst of some of the best wildflower fields in the United States. The festival’s weekly program of events includes everything revelers could want from an outdoor party – hikes, bike rides and 4 × 4 tours are available throughout the week, while festival goers track down some of the best spots of flowering in the area. Then, in the evening, it’s time to kick back and relax in the beautiful scenic city, and partake in the beer that made Colorado’s breweries famous.
Crested Butte Wildflower Festival, 409 2 Crested Butte, CO, USA; +1 970 349 2571
Culture | Colorado State Festival
August 22 – September 1
The Colorado State Festival is, of course, a celebration of all things Colorado. It takes place in Pueblo, one of the oldest cities in the state, and offers a whole range of music, dancing and more. Held in the last week of August, the show embodies everything it means to be ‘Colorado’; in addition to music, food and dance, the festival also features a rodeo which, like the site of the first rodeo, is particularly well suited. So for those who want to fully immerse themselves in the mountainous state, there won’t be many warmer welcomes than at the state fair – a real must-visit.
Colorado State Festival, 1001 Beulah Ave. Pueblo, CO, USA; +1 719 561 8484
Culture | Colorado Balloon Classic
August 30th
This year’s Colorado Balloon Classic, based on the theme of making life more colorful, will take place in the beautiful memorial park, not far from Pikes Peak, the mountain that inspired Katherine Lee Bates’ American the Beautiful. The festival will feature all the best inflatable fun: in addition to balloon rides and themed entertainment, the program also includes a night glow, where hundreds of hot air balloons will light up the surrounding area just as the sun begins to dip beneath horizon. Simply perfect.
Colorado Balloon Classic, 328 Bonfoy Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA; +1 719 471 4833
Art | Leanin ‘Tree Museum of Western Art
in progress
Located in Boulder, Colorado, the Leanin ‘Tree Museum of Western Art exhibits the private art collection of Ed Trumble, founder and president of Leanin’ Tree (for the uninitiated, Leanin ‘Tree is a greetings publisher art cards). Leanin ‘Tree was originally established in 1949, while Ed remains the founder and president of the company, his four children run the day-to-day running of things and have remained a family business ever since. In addition to an outdoor sculpture garden, the museum and gallery features a plethora of works of art depicting life on the old frontier. There are more than 200 paintings, accompanied by 150 sculptures.
Leanin ‘Tree Museum of Western Art, 6055 Longbow Dr, Boulder, CO, USA; +1 303 530 1442