By Steve Graham
Get Out of Town is our weekly roundup of recommended events across Colorado, focusing outside of Denver, to help everyone enjoy the entire state. For Denver happenings (and more), check out our events calendar.
A lot of the action this week is in southwest Colorado, but there’s plenty of good stuff in other spots as well.
Paralympic Day
The Paris Paralympic Games opens today, and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum will host Paralympic Day on Saturday, with live coverage on the 40-foot LED wall, demonstrations, opportunities to meet athletes and training service puppies, and more.
Four Corners Folk Festival
The Four Corners Folk Festival comes to Pagosa Springs Friday to Sunday.
The Jeremy Garrett Band headlines Friday. Ozomatli, the Drew Emmitt Band and Stillhouse Junkies top the lineup on Saturday. Sam Bush, Tophouse and Sunny War close out the festival on Sunday.
The event also includes workshops and late-night sets (bring layers and expect chilly nights in Pagosa). Camping is available, as are a couple of spa resorts for more luxury accommodations.
Four Corners Motorcycle Rally
Also in southwest Colorado, the 31st Four Corners Motorcycle Rally comes to Durango and Ignacio this weekend, with live music, motorcycle giveaways, stunt shows, racing, bike shows and more from Thursday through Sunday.
A highlight for many riders is the mass ascent of the Million Dollar Highway, a scenic and thrilling series of hairpin turns from Durango to Silverton. There also are Hill Climb races up a ski slope, flat track races, a rodeo, a poker run and a fundraising and awareness ride for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Task Force of Colorado.
Telluride Film Festival
The 51st annual Telluride Film Festival runs Friday through Monday. The event brings major films and big stars, without the hype and intensity of a Sundance or Cannes.
The festival program is famously not revealed in advance, but classic favorites including “Blue Velvet,” “Juno” and “Slumdog Millionaire” all debuted at the festival.
Legendary New York Times film critic A.O. Scott has said he loves the festival’s democratic and laid back vibe “There are no prizes, and therefore no juries; no market, no press screenings, no red carpets or paparazzi photo calls.” he said. “The ethos is open and egalitarian.”
Breckenridge Hogfest
Rocky Mountain Events hosts a celebration of bacon and bourbon this weekend in Breckenridge, with a VIP pairing dinner on Friday, a grand tasting on Saturday and a Sunday brunch.
VIP packages are available for sampling rare and premium bourbons from Pappy Van Winkle and William Larue. The John Truscelli Band and others will play live music during the festival.
South Fork Alder Ass Race
The next event on the Western Pack Burro Racing Ass-Ociation’s calendar starts at 10 a.m. Saturday in Brown’s Park in South Fork. The race has two distances: a 3-mile mini course and an 11-mile standard course.
Manitou Springs Art Festival
The Commonwheel Artists Co-Op hosts its 50th annual art festival on Saturday and Sunday in Manitou Springs, with live music, food, kids’ activities and a diverse range of jury-selected artists. Admission is free.
As always, please send us your events and announcements. We’re happy to share them. If they don’t fit in the Get Out of Town column, we will add them to our events calendar. And enjoy your Colorado craft libations responsibly.