Celebrate flowers, blues music, rodeo, Pride and much more all over the state
By Steve Graham
Joe Bonamassa called Eric Gales “one of the best if not the best guitarist in the world today.” And he is one of the lesser-known names in the Blues from the Top Music Festival lineup. The festival runs from Friday through Sunday in Winter Park, and also brings Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, Charlie Musselwhite, Canned Heat and many more. One-day tickets and three-day passes are still available, and kids 12 and under are free with an adult ticket.
Click here for details on more of the best Colorado music festivals this summer.
The 13th annual Colorado Lavender Festival runs from Friday through Sunday in Palisade.
The signature event is a festival with vendors, seminars, workshops and more all day Saturday in Riverbend Park. Advance tickets cost $5.
There also will be guided farm tours with lunch (ticketed event) on Friday, and open farm tours and store visits on Sunday.
Also, Meadery of the Rockies (a sister company of Talon Wines) will release its first lavender honey wine, which was three years in the making. In conjunction with the festival, Talon Wines at the Meadery will host a launch day open house from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with vendors, complimentary tastings and more.
The 2024 Brush Rodeo comes to northeast Colorado next week. The festival starts Tuesday with a Western art show, trick riders and rodeo events. Wednesday is Pioneer night, with more rodeo fun, including mutton bustin’ and a balloon scramble.
The main event is next Thursday, July 4, with a pancake breakfast, Independence Day parade, live music, more rodeo action and a fireworks show.
Pride Month finishes strong with Manitou Pridefest on Saturday, with a parade at 10 a.m., followed by rainbow market, drag performances, prizes and more in Soda Springs Park.
Excuse the personal plug for this one.
There are charity races and events virtually every weekend in Colorado. I’ve done a few, but I keep coming back to Bike MS. The bike ride raises millions of dollars for a great cause (the National Multiple Sclerosis Society), and it is really fun and inspiring. When I’m getting cocky about riding 150-plus miles in a weekend, I see someone biking in an “I ride with MS” jersey, meaning they push through the challenges of multiple sclerosis. That kind of willpower puts me back in my place, while pushing me to raise more money and ride harder.
There are also shorter routes, including a one-day 32-mile loop, as well as plenty of volunteer opportunities for non-cyclists. The main ride starts and ends in Westminster, but the party is on Saturday afternoon at the CSU campus in Fort Collins, with live music, food, drinks and all kinds of fun in the team tents (go Team Left Hand).
Watch our Facebook and Instagram pages for live updates from the ride this weekend.
Save the date for the Evergreen Summerfest
The Center for the Arts Evergreen hosts Summerfest on July 20 and 21 at Buchanan Park. It is an art festival with more than 100 booths, as well as live music, food trucks, family activities and more. We are very excited to sponsor the beer and cocktail garden this year. Stay tuned for details on a great giveaway at the event, and come say hello at our booth.
As always, please send us your events and announcements. We’re happy to share them. And enjoy your Colorado craft libations responsibly.