31. Rocky Mountain Folk Festival
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (800) 624-2422
Description: Sixties folk legend Arlo Guthrie is among those who have performed at this mid-August festival; others include Bruce Hornsby, Patty Larkin, and Cliff Eberhardt. It’s sponsored by Planet Bluegrass, the same folks who host the RockyGrass Bluegrass Festival and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. These events are organized in a less-than-formal manner, attracting many families who camp in the surrounding area. In recent years a three-day pass was $90.
32. Ecoarts
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (303) 449-2128
Description: The year 2008 marked the third season of this three-week festival which focuses on current understandings in climate science and a sustainable future. The event features lectures, art exhibits, dance recitals, and tours. It’s an interesting and entertaining way to bring attention to these subjects. A tour of the Ponnequin Wind Farm in Weld County was part of the series in 2008.
33. Louisville Fall Festival And Labor Day Parade
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (303) 666-5747
Description: Louisville’s Labor Day parade, one of Colorado’s largest, attracts more than 25,000 people. The Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend feature an art fair, carnival, music, and pancake breakfast. The Monday parade includes pets, the King Soopers Shopping Cart Drill Team, marching bands, and antique cars. The parade down Main Street starts at 10 a.m.
34. Boulder Creek Hometown Fair And Harvest Festival
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (303) 449-3825
Description: Held for the first time in 1998, this Labor Day weekend event is hosted by the same folks who produce the Boulder Creek Festival in May. With old-fashioned flair the event offers a chili cookoff, the Great Zucchini Race, hayrides, a speakers’ corner, arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, and a dance hall. Hours are Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Monday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
35. Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Description: You’ll find kilts and caboodles of festivities at this festival, the biggest event of Estes Park’s year. It’s a celebration of Celtic heritage held the first weekend after Labor Day. Naturally bagpipes play a large part in the festival and bagpipers take center stage for the weekend parade. (See our Estes Park chapter for more information.)
36. Cause For Paws Walk-A-Thon
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (303) 442-4030
Address: 2323 55th Street
Description: More than 1,000 people and their dogs participate in the annual event, which helps fund the Humane Society’s programs. The mid-September walk meanders along a 3-mile route through downtown Boulder, follows the Boulder Creek Path along a 4-mile route, and returns along the same route to a People and Pet Fair. There’s also a 5K Doggie Dash and pancake breakfast.
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
38. Walker Ranch Living History
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (303) 441-3950
Description: The last two weekends in September, blacksmiths pound a ringing “whang” on red-hot iron while the bellows release a throaty sigh. Sunbonnet-clad women prepare victuals at a potbellied stove. They’re volunteers, trained by Boulder County Parks and Open Space to live the old-fashioned way for a few days. The ranch is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and has free everything, from watching the horses plow to sampling the homemade bread and hand-churned butter. This gorgeous area frequently has brilliant mountain bluebirds. The ranch is on the left, 7.5 miles west of Chautauqua Park, up Flagstaff Road.
39. Boulder Fall Festival
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (303) 449-3774
Description: Loosely styled after a European Oktoberfest, this celebration in late September has become a primo showcase for local and visiting craftsmen. It still includes flowing beer—though now more microbrews than German brews—plus bands, carnival rides, lots of food, and a petting zoo for the kids. It runs 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
40. Celebrate Lafayette
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (303) 926-4352
Description: A street fair, free pancake breakfast and live entertainment mark this one-day celebration of Lafayette. In 2008 the event also featured an expo called “Living Green: A Commitment to a Sustainable Environment.”
41. Band Day
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (303) 492-6584
Description: An autumn regular for more than five decades, Band Day brings stirring high school bands from across the state to compete at Folsom Field. This event is free.
42. Munchkin Masquerade
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (303) 449-3774
Description: On the afternoon of Halloween, approximately 2,000 costumed kids traipse through downtown, on the Pearl St. Mall between 11th and 15th, with their parents and stop at “treat stops” for goodies. The parade runs from 2 to 5 p.m.
43. Souper Bowlder Promotion
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (303) 443-3683
Address: 1421 Pearl Street
Description: Hundreds of ceramic soup bowls donated by professional potters sell at this benefit for the Boulder County Mental Health Center and Boulder Shelter for the Homeless. Dried soup mixes from the Women’s Bean Project (a workforce of otherwise unemployed women) are also offered.
44. Boulder Potters’ Guild Show And Sale
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Address: 2108 55th Street
Description: Here’s a chance to purchase tasteful, handcrafted holiday gifts at reasonable prices. This mid-November show and sale runs 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. There is no admission fee, and the kids can snack on delicious treats while you browse. This popular show has been held in several different locations in recent years, so call ahead or visit their Web site for directions.
45. Nutcracker Ballet
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (303) 492-8423
Description: The Boulder Philharmonic teams up with the Boulder Ballet for four packed performances of this favorite family ballet during Thanksgiving weekend. Everything’s magic when local children play the mice, and rising local stars portray Clara and her prince. During intermission, kids can peek in the orchestra pit, where friendly musicians demonstrate instruments such as the celesta, which makes those little tinkly bell sounds for the Sugar Plum Fairy. Single tickets range from $10 to $50, with discounts for students and children.