By The Thirst Team

Summit County is the place to celebrate Colorado distilleries, and Denver’s Five Points is the place to party this week. Read on for details.

Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival

The Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival runs Friday through Sunday. Friday events include a morning hike, an espresso martini and Italian amaro class at 2 p.m. Friday, a five-course spirits pairing dinner at the Hearthstone at 6 p.m., and a Star Wars cocktail flight at the Dark Arts Room.

The highlight of the festival is the Still on the Hill grand tasting from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Riverwalk Center. Attendees can meet distillers, sample spirits and cocktails, and vote for their favorite. Food from local restaurants and bluegrass music by the Local Folk Band are also on tap.

Other Saturday events include a Breckenridge history walk, a world rum workshop, a glass etching class and an after-party at Tavern Underground. On Sunday, Breckenridge Distillery hosts a behind the scenes tour, and various restaurants host hangover brunches.

Finally, many Breck-area restaurants will donate a portion of proceeds from Oct. 7 to 13 to a local scholarship fund.

Woods Boss block party

Woods Boss Brewing will host a community block party on Saturday at California and 22nd streets in Denver, with beer releases, live music, a vendor market and more. The event helps highlight Five Points neighborhood businesses and raise money for Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado.

Spangalang jazz show

Corner 3 will play a show on Friday night at Spangalang Brewery, also in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood. The jazz trio is Ben Weirich (keyboards, synths), Alex Trujillo (guitar), and Gregg Ziemba (drums), and their show willl pay homage to the rich legacy of jazz in Five Points. Tickets are free, but advance reservations are available and recommended.

Carboy harvest party

The Littleton outpost of Carboy Winery hosts a harvest party on Saturday, with live music by Cousin Curtiss, tacos from executive chef Scott Hybbeneth, barrel and library wine tastings, wine cocktails, games and more. TenMile hard cider, Cold Vines wine seltzers and sangria wine slushies also will be available.

Pueblo Oktoberfest

Walter’s Brewery hosts the second annual Pueblo Oktoberfest on Friday and Saturday, with live music, food trucks, games, a Märzen tapping and more. A portion of the proceeds benefit the CSU-Pueblo International Program.

Ecotoberfest

Louisville hosts a sustainability festival on Saturday, and Crystal Springs Brewing Company, Gravity Brewing and Acreage by Stem Ciders will pour drinks in the beer garden. Ecotoberfest also includes no-cost small electronics recycling, a sustainable maker's market, an EV and e-bike showcase, Halloween costume exchange, pumpkin patch, food trucks, face painting and live music by Guerilla Fanfare Brass Band and Ninety Percent 90s.

Ironton Harvest Fest

Ironton Distillery in Denver hosts a harvest festival on Saturday, with seasonal food and drink specials, bottle discounts and free tasters, as well as live music from Ghost Town Drifters, a pumpkin patch, spooky crafts from Crafty Chassis, and a “Hocus Pocus” screening. Costumes are encouraged, and prizes will be awarded for best costumes.

Ballmer Peak Harvest Festival

Ballmer Peak Distilling in Lakewood also hosts a harvest festival Saturday, with carnival games, music, a boozy bake-off (sign up here) and live music from The One and Only Jon Ham.

Biketoberfest

Pikes Peak Harley-Davidson will co-host Biketoberfest from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Red Leg Brewing in Colorado Springs. Cost is $20 to enter a bike in the bike show, including a Red Leg pint and a chance at the Best in Show trophy. Proceeds benefit 22 Until None, a national organization dedicated to preventing veteran suicides.

As always, please send us your events and announcements. We’re happy to share them. And enjoy your Colorado craft libations responsibly.