2024 Annual September Festivals in Colorado

September is a special time to bid farewell to summer and embrace the arrival of fall, which begins on Sunday morning, September 22nd, 2024. This season is filled with exciting events, offering plenty of opportunities to celebrate. It’s an ideal time in the Rockies for festivals and gatherings, such as the Colorado State Fair.

Many of the most popular events center around beer or wine, featuring a robust lineup of Oktoberfests and brew festivals. Other notable events include the Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival and the Colorado Mountain Winefest. By mid-month, as the leaves begin to change, it’s also the perfect time to take a scenic drive and enjoy the vibrant fall colors.

Here’s a chronological overview of the top annual September events in Colorado:

Mind Blown Telluride

• Date: Fridays and Saturday Nights
• Address: Telluride
• About: Taking place at The Peaks Resort & Spa, Ty Gallenbeck puts on a 75-minute magic performance that makes guests question the known.

Civic Center EATS

• Date: Wednesday and Thursday, early May to mid October 2024
• Address: Denver
• About: Civic Center EATS is a one-stop shop for some of the best food on wheels in the Mile High City. Located in Denver’s Civic Center Park, there will be about 10 to 15 food trucks selling a myriad of delicious meals.

Highlands Farmers Market

• Date: Sundays, May 19 – October 13, 2024
• Address: Highland Square, 32nd Avenue, Denver
• About: Great farmer’s market with handcrafted goods and locally grown produce. Go hungry because there is plenty of homemade food for sale, fresh and ready to eat.

Colorado State Fair & Rodeo

• Date: Fri-Mon, August 23 – September 2, 2024
• Address: Pueblo
• About: This widely popular eleven-day event is in its 152nd year, with parades, live music, rodeos, carnival, livestock, horse show, and hundreds of vendors selling everything from Indian tacos to handcrafted jewelry.

Four Corners Motorcycle Rally

• Date: Thur-Sun, August 29–September 1, 2024
• Address: Durango
• About: The annual Four Corners Motorcycle Rally features live bands, poker runs, a Harley Davidson Giveaway, an Indian Scout Giveaway, and other festivities.

Telluride Film Festival

• Date: Thur-Mon, August 29-September 2, 2024
• Address: Telluride
• About: One of the top film festivals in the U.S., now in its 51st year.

Four Corners Folk Festival

• Date: Fri-Sun, August 30-September 1, 2024
• Address: Pagosa Springs
• About: Highlights for the 27th annual Folk Fest include food vendors, a beer garden, live folk music, and kids’ entertainment. Many people camp at the event on Reservoir Hill or a satellite spot, with campsites available for tents and RVs for a fee.

Caveman Music Festival

• Date: Fri-Sun, August 30-September 1, 2024
• Address: Monument Lake Resort, Weston
• About: Three-day concert weekend over Labor Day, featuring 20+ musical acts. Tent camp, bring the trailer, or rent a room in the lodge or rustic cabin.

Breckenridge Gathering at the Great Divide Art Festival

• Date: Sat-Mon,August 31-September 2, 2024
• Address: Downtown Breckenridge
• About: Ranked as one of the top 200 festivals in the U.S. by Sunshine Artists, this fine arts fest offers free admission over Labor Day weekend.

Labor Day Lift Off

• Date: Sat-Mon, August 31-September 2, 2024
• Address: Colorado Springs
• About: A colorful event that will have you looking toward the sky, Colorado Springs’s Labor Day Lift Off is great for the entire family. Taking place over 3 days, guests can watch as approximately 60 hot air balloons float around the city.

La Junta Tarantula Migration

• Date: September – early October
• Address: La Junta
• About: Each year, from September through early October, the Oklahoma brown tarantula comes out with a procession of male counterparts on a mission to find a mate. La Junta also hosts a festival in October to celebrate this unique occasion.

Ouray County Rodeo

• Date: Sun, September 1, 2024
• Address: Ridgway
• About: Two days of Western heritage with a parade, fair, and BBQ, held at the Ouray County 4H Events Center & Fairgrounds. The rodeo is held a month later over Labor Day weekend.

Denver Food + Wine Festival

• Date: Wed-Sat, September 4-7, 2024
• Address: Denver
• About: An extravagant multi-day culinary festival celebrating everything delicious to eat and drink, for those 21+, that benefits the Colorado Restaurant Foundation.

Meeker Classic Sheepdog Championship Trials

• Date: Wed-Sun, September 4-8, 2024
• Address: Meeker
• About: Five days of sheepdog herding competition held annually in September, celebrating its 36th year.

Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival

• Date: Fri-Sun, September 6-8, 2024
• Address: Estes Park
• About: Known as Scotfest, this three-day celebration, now in its 47th year, features large bagpipe marching bands, the Estes Tattoo, and the Longs Peak Concert. Highlights include live music, regional food, jousting tournaments, Highland dance, and local merchants.

Denver Mineral, Fossil, Gem, and Jewelry Show

• Date: Fri-Sun, September 6-15, 2024
• Address: National Western Complex, Denver
• About:  Spend a day strolling through miles of tables and booths where 500+ dealers from all over the country come to sell their products and share the beautiful world of geo.

Rist Canyon Mountain Festival

• Date: Saturday, September 7, 2024
• Address: Bellvue
• About: Held annually on the first Saturday after Labor Day and featuring live entertainment, food trucks, vendors, and activities for kids, this festival helps to raise funds for the fire department

San Luis Valley Potato Festival

• Date: Saturday, September 7, 2024
• Address: Monte Vista
• About: Colorado’s San Luis Valley produces some of the finest potatoes around. Celebrate this starchy root vegetable at the annual SLV Potato Festival.

Steamboat OktoberWest

• Dates: Saturday, September 7, 2024
• Address: Steamboat Springs
• About: Over 30 brewers come to Steamboat’s mountain village for this 15th annual Octoberwest. Enjoy craft beer, live music, and a beef cook-off.

Colorado Artfest at Castle Rock

• Date: Sat-Sun, September 7-8, 2024
• Address: Castle Rock
• About: More than 110 artists ascend into Castle Rock for this annual fine arts fest.

Arapahoe County 5k Trail Run

• Date: Thursday, September 12, 2024
• Address: Centennial
• About: An all-age event with proceeds benefiting the Arapahoe County Open Spaces, participants will follow the Cherry Creek Regional Trail before enjoying food from Famous Dave’s and drinks from Launchpad Brewery.

Southern Ute Tribal Fair & Powwow

• Date: Fri-Sun, September 13-15, 2024
• Address: Sky Ute Fairgrounds, Ignacio
• About: A grand celebration of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe in Ignacio, Colorado. Held since 1920, the excitement of gathering as a tribe and sharing traditions, food, and camaraderie has always been a highlight of each September.

Telluride Blues & Brews Festival

• Date: Fri-Sun, September 13-15, 2024
• Address: Town Park, Telluride
• About: In its 30th year, this popular event features world-class blues music and great local food.

High Peaks Music Festival

• Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024
• Address: Westcliffe
• About: 14th annual festival showcasing the Valley’s top musical acts, held at the Feed Store Park and Amphitheatre.

Palmer Lake Wine Festival

• Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024
• Address: Palmer Lake
• About: A one-day festival boasting samples from 25 wineries in a gorgeous outdoor setting.

TEDxBoulder

• Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024
• Address: Boulder
• About: TEDx event held in Boulder at the Chautauqua Auditorium. It features more than a dozen speakers and performers giving inspirational and thought-provoking performances.

Pawtoberfest

• Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024
• Address: Colorado Springs
• About: Annual festival with craft beer, cocktails, food vendors, and a 2-mile dog walk that benefits the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region.

Loveland Stone Age Fair

• Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024
• Address: Loveland
• About: Sponsored by the Loveland Archaeological Society, the fair features displays of prehistoric artifacts, skills demonstrations, and lectures by archaeologists.

Handmade In Colorado Expo: Downtown Denver

• Date: Saturday – Sunday, September 14 – 15, 2024
• Address: Wynkoop Plaza at Union Station
• About: 17th annual art event held over four weekends at four different venues around the state, showcasing various creations from Colorado artists.

The 13th Floor Haunted House

• Date: Select days, mid September to early November 2024
• Address: Denver
• About: The 13th Floor Haunted House is Denver’s legendary and most horrifying Halloween event. If a night of fright is on your agenda, this is the place for you.

Aspen Filmfest

• Date: Tuesday-Sunday, September 17-22, 2024
• Address: Aspen
• About: Aspen Film’s flagship event, the 45th annual Filmfest, showcases narrative and documentary features, along with international independent films.

Breck Film Festival

• Date: Thur-Sun, September 19-22, 2024
• Address: Breckenridge
• About: The 44th annual festival features a variety of independent films, premieres, receptions, educational programs, and retrospectives; 70+ films, parties, and forums.

Monte Vista 3rd Friday Art Walk

• Date: Friday, September 20, 2024
• Address: Monte Vista
• About: Those who love art and music should head to downtown Monte Vista this summer for the 3rd Friday Art Walk. Taking place in different forms year-round, during the warmer months a portion of Adams St. will be blocked off for artists, musicians, and vendors.

Colorfest Balloon Rally

• When: Fri-Sun, September 20-22, 2024
• Where: Pagosa Springs
• What: 37th anniversary of high-flying fun, held annually since 1986. The Passport to Pagosa Food & Wine Fest kicks off the festivities on Friday night with international wine and food pairings, followed by a 5k run and two mass ascensions.

Chile & Frijoles Festival

• Date: Fri-Sun, September 20-22, 2024
• Address: Pueblo
• About: Annual three-day pepper party held the third weekend after Labor Day. Farmers sell more than 50,000 pounds of peppers, including the Mirasol, a native to the Pueblo region.

Colorado Mountain Winefest

• Date: Saturday, September 21, 2024
• Address: Riverbend Park, Palisade
• About: Dozens of local wineries attend Colorado’s premier wine festival, now in its 32nd season. There are interactive seminars, demos, live entertainment, fantastic food, unlimited wine samples, and plenty of vino for sale.

Lake City Uncorked Wine & Music Festival

• Date: Saturday, September 21, 2024
• Address: Lake City
• About: Music and wine festival in one of Colorado’s most picturesque and remote towns.

Luvin Arms Gala

• Date: Saturday, September 21, 2024
• Address: Erie
• About: An annual gala to raise donations for the Luvin Arms Animal Sanctuary that features a live auction, cocktail hour, and vegan dinner.

Durango Autumn Arts Festival

• Date: Sat-Sun, September 21-22, 2024
• Address: Downtown Durango
• About: Discover a weekend of arts and crafts on Second Avenue in downtown Durango. Explore the various booths selling their handmade goods among the fall colors.

Telluride Autumn Classic

• Date: Thur-Sat, September 26-28, 2024
• Address: Telluride
• About: A 3-day mountain event celebrating everything an automobile, motorcycle, and airplane enthusiast could ever dream of.

Elk Fest

• Date: Sat-Sun, September 28-29, 2024
• Address: Bond Park, Estes Park
• About: Fall festival celebrating the annual elk “rut”. Events include a Mountain Man Rendezvous, Native American music and dancing, a bugling contest, elk seminars, and exhibits, as well as food and craft vendors. There’s also an elk-viewing bus.

Handmade In Colorado Expo: Glenwood Springs

• Date: Saturday-Sunday, September 28-29, 2024
• Address: 7th St. & Bethel Plaza, Glenwood Springs
• About: 17th annual art event held over four weekends at four different venues around the state, showcasing various creations from Colorado artists.

Rocky Mountain Pinball Showdown

• Date: TBD 2024
• Address: Denver
• About: The ultimate pinball and gamer festival returns for its 20th year in 2024. Attend one or all three days and play all the games you can, no quarters are needed.

Parker Oktoberfest

• Date: TBD 2024 or cancelled indefinitely
• Address: O’Brien Park, Parker
• About: Annual event with German music, dancers, Biergarten with Paulaner beers, Miss Oktoberfest contest, and an obstacle course, bungee tramp & a slide for kids.

Rocky Mountain Rambler Fun-Fest

• Date: TBD or cancelled indefinitely
• Address: Victor
• About:  An annual event where visitors can drink beer, listen to music, and check out the Ramblers and teams that will be heading through the Pikes Peak area for the RMR 500, testing their cars and picking up trash along the way.

ThirtyFest

• Date: TBD or cancelled indefinitely
• Address: Aurora
• About: Lively beer festival centered around about thirty participating breweries benefitting Water For People. It’s held outside the Stanley Market, so expect plenty of top-notch food, live music, and fun festivities.

Sundown Colorado

• Date: TBD or cancelled indefinitely
• Address: Quad at Auraria Campus, Denver
• About: Denver’s first sober music festival that focuses on mindfulness, wellness, and connecting through music.