Head out across the state to celebrate sheepdogs, tarantulas, tomatoes and chiles, and enjoy other events
By the Thirst Team
Welcome to our roundup of the best events across Colorado this month. Check out our September performing arts preview here, and read on for other happenings all over the state. For more, check out our events calendar.
THIS WEEKSheepdog championships and lamb festival in Meeker today through Sunday
The Meeker Classic sheepherding competition draws national and international competitors.
Dogs are sent 600 yards to fetch sheep and bring them into a controlled area while working them quietly and safely through a set of obstacles. Handlers guide the dogs with a series of commands, demonstrating practical working skills for a farm or ranch.
The festival also includes a culinary and cultural lamb festival, art show, craft fair, dog agility contests, demonstrations and more.
OktoberWest in Steamboat Friday and Saturday
The Yampa Valley welcomes fall with the OktoberWest each year. In addition to beer, there is an annual beef cook-off, lawn game competitions and a vendor market. Friday brings a downtown beer stroll, which raises money for the Young Professionals Network.
On Saturday, the beer garden opens at 2 p.m. (or 1 p.m. for VIPs). Games packages also are available for $250 for four teammates for all four games.
Tomato Festival in Fort Lupton Friday and Saturday
Fort Lupton celebrates harvest season with a tomato festival and Trapper Days. The event opens Friday with a street dance and live music. Saturday events include a pancake breakfast, parade, live lucha libre wrestling and music, car show and petting zoo.
Frisco fall festival and art show Friday and Saturday
Local and regional artists will showcase and sell a wide variety of work at the Arts at Altitude show and sale in Frisco on Friday and Saturday.
Saturday also brings the Frisco Fall Fest, with live music from Denver’s Thirsty 5 oompah band, food trucks, art projects, kids activities, food trucks and German beer.
Dinosaur fest in Dinosaur Friday and Saturday
The Stone Age Stampede comes to the town of Dinosaur (outside Dinosaur National Monument), with cornhole tournaments, art competitions, a watermelon seed-spitting contest, beer garden, car show, and live music from Ned LeDoux, the Hammer Down Band and Flying Blind Band.
Highland Festival in Estes Park Friday to Sunday
The 50th annual Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival (aka Scotfest) is the largest celebration of Scottish and Irish communities in North America.
The event includes live music on five stages, plus the international “tattoo,” a ceremonial performance of military music with more than 200 musicians from around the world.
Another highlight is the highland sports competition, drawing professional athletes for caber tossing, hammer throwing and other events. The canine herding, agility, disc-catching and freestyle contests also are popular, as are the guided whiskey tastings.
Bluegrass and beer in Breckenridge Friday to Sunday
Breckenridge Bluegrass & Beer opens with a Friday beer pairing dinner at Sauce on the Maggie. Saturday brings the grand tasting at Main Street Station, including live music from Grass it Up. VIP access begins at 1 p.m., and GA access runs from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday brunch at Sauce on the Maggie rounds out the weekend.
Non-alcoholic drinks festival in Denver Saturday
The Dry Hop Fest returns to the Phoenix in downtown Denver from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12. More than 30 NA libations vendors will pour samples. There also will be food and a N/A product raffle.
The Phoenix is a sober community center with workout facilities and regular events.
Chili and beer festival in Superior Saturday
The 25th Superior Chili & Beer Fest comes to Superior Community Park from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12. Chili samples, family activities and live music from Erica Brown (one of Denver’s best voices and performers) and Mono Verde Collective are all free. Tickets are available for beer fest access, including unlimited samples from a variety of Colorado beer, cider, wine and spirits vendors.
Colorado Wine Walk in Denver Saturday
Blanchard Family Wines hosts another Colorado Wine Walk at Denver’s Dairy Block.
GA tickets include unlimited samples of a wide variety of Colorado wines, a commemorative wine glass, wine tote, opportunities for wine purchases, and conversations with winemakers.
Palmer Lake Wine Festival on Saturday
More than 20 Colorado wineries will pour samples at the Palmer Lake Recreation Area (northwest of Colorado Springs). VIP tickets are sold out, but $50 GA tickets are still available. The event is a fundraiser for Tri-Lakes Cares
Potato Festival in Monte Vista Saturday
The San Luis Valley Potato Festival celebrates the Colorado spud harvest, with the 5K Tater Trot, craft and food vendors, guided agriculture tours, chef demonstrations, the mashed potato dunk tank and, of course, potatoes.
Arts festival in Denver Saturday and Sunday
The fifth annual Park Hill Fall Arts Fest is coming to Denver’s Park Hill Masonic Lodge, with artist booths, live performances and interactive activities.
Colorado Wine Week in Palisade starts Monday
Grand Valley wineries and restaurants will host events all week to celebrate the Colorado wine industry, culminating in the Colorado Mountain Winefest on Saturday, Sept. 19.
There will be tastings, dinners, seminars and other community activities from Monday through Sunday. The Saturday festival was reimagined and will be more upscale and intimate this year. Learn more from our festival preview.
Taste of Evergreen on Tuesday
A showcase of Evergreen’s restaurants, breweries, cafés, caterers, wineries, food trucks and specialty drink makers is coming to the Evergreen Lake House. They will compete for the titles of the best sip and bite in the foothills.
PLAN THE NEXT FEW WEEKSCastle Pines golf tournament Sept. 17
The sixth annual Let Freedom Swing Golf Tournament is coming to The Ridge at Castle Pines North. It is a major fundraiser for the Colorado Veterans Project and other veterans’ organizations around Colorado.
WanderFest in Golden Sept. 17 to 19
New Terrain Brewing hosts its 10th annual WanderFest in its giant backyard. The festival includes food trucks, a rare beer bar (plus three more bars) and live music from Drunken Hearts, Other Brothers, DeadPhish Orchestra, Banshee Tree, Sqwerv and other bluegrass and jam bands.
Wine festival in Winter Park Sept. 18 and 19
The Rocky Mountain Wine Fest includes award-winning wines from around the world, as well as live music from the Fretliners and Jeremy Short, as well as pairing dinners and a tasting seminar. The event benefits the National Sports Center for the Disabled.
Chile and frijoles in Pueblo Sept. 18 to 20
Pueblo celebrates chile farms and other local agriculture at the Chile & Frijoles Festival, including a chili and salsa showdown, jalapeno eating contest, hot air balloons, pet parade, performances, farmer’s market and chile roasting.
Pack burros and history in Frederick Sept. 18 and 19
Frederick hosts Miners Day on Saturday, with a parade and pack burro race starting at 10 a.m. Saturday also brings performances, museum tours, a beer garden, vendors and other history and heritage events. Friday includes bingo, free churros and a chance to meet the burros.
Alzheimer’s Walk in Denver Sept. 19
The Walk to End Alzheimer’s returns to Denver’s City Park. So far, nearly 1,900 participants have raised $730,000, and participants and volunteers can still register. The Alzheimer’s Association hopes to reach a fundraising goal of $1.34 million.
Thirst Colorado has a team in the walk, and will have a booth at the event. Come say hello.
Community arts fest in Boulder Sept. 19 and 20
Colorado-based people of color will present visual art, dance, food and music at the fifth annual Community Roots Art Festival at Boulder’s VisionQuest Brewery. The lineup includes 29 performers, 13 food vendors and 55 artist booths. Admission is free, but raffle tickets and a tote bag are available for suggested donations starting at $19.
Dead Man’s Brewfest in Colorado Springs Sept. 25
The Halloween season starts early this year with a wide variety of beer, liquor and wine at the Dead Man’s Brew Fest at Weidner Field, home of the Colorado Springs Switchbacks professional soccer team. Tickets are available now, including VIP passes with food and an extra hour of tastings.
La Junta Tarantula Festival Sept. 25 and 26
The southeastern Colorado town of La Junta celebrates the fall migration of Oklahoma brown tarantulas with guided tours in the Comanche National Grassland, an educational pavilion, live art, food vendors, merchandise and a parade.
Mountain Harvest Festival in Paonia Sept. 25 to 27
The 25th annual Mountain Harvest Festival is a free celebration of Paonia-area growers, makers, performers, wineries and small businesses. Friday night opens with a downtown block party and art walk.
On Saturday and Sunday, Paonia Town Park hosts live music, food trucks and art vendors. There also will be a chili cook-off, heirloom pepper and tomato tasting, farmers market, art demonstrations and pie contest.
Beer festival in Manitou Springs Sept. 26
The 11th Annual Manitou Springs Heritage Brew Festival opens at 11:30 a.m. (for VIP ticket holders) at Fields Park. Tickets include unlimited beer tastings plus live music and food vendors. The festival is a fundraiser for the Heritage Museum, and will help keep the museum free.
Colorado Highland Games in Sedalia Sept. 26 and 27
The 62nd annual Colorado Highland Games comes to the Denver Polo Club in Sedalia. This celebration of Scotland’s traditions, music, and history includes traditional Highland sports, pipe and drum competitions, dance performances, whisky tastings, haggis, clan information, a car show, dogs and Highland cows.
Smalltown Gathering in Salida Sept. 25 to 27
The former Campout for the Cause returned after a hiatus as the rebranded Smalltown Gathering. This three-day yoga and music festival returns to Salida, with performances by the California Honeydrops, Fruition, Moontricks, Lindsay Lou, Magoo, Daniel Rodriguez and at least 11 other acts.
Aspen Filmfest Sept. 29 to Oct. 4
Tickets are now on sale for the 47th Aspen Filmfest, showcasing thought-provoking and unique films from around the world.
The event opens Tuesday with “Cheyenne,” a documentary about women on the rodeo circuit, followed by a Q and A with director Taimi Arvidson. It closes Sunday with a Chilean animated adventure. The films in between include scripted features and documentaries about Carl Sagan, Billy Jean King, Jean-Michel Basquiat and bears.
Art, beer and music festivals in Grand Junction Oct. 2 and 3
The 11th annual Downtown Art Festival will take over the Downtown Grand Junction Creative District, starting with a First Friday gallery walk. On Saturday, an artists’ expo on Main Street includes live artist demos, performances and local artist booths, as well as the unveiling of new Art on the Corner installations.
Also, on Saturday, the Friends of the West Invitational Beer Fest is coming to Ramblebine Brewing and Base Camp Beer Works. The lager-focused festival benefits the Avalon Foundation and the Colorado Brewers Guild.
After the beer fest, Porchella brings live music to porches across downtown Grand Junction neighborhoods.
Southwest Fresh Fest Oct. 3
Billy Goat Hop Farm in Montrose hosts the fifth annual Southwest Fresh Fest on Sept. 20. Attendees can sample fresh hop and seasonal beers from across the region. The event also includes live music, local food trucks, farm tours and games. This year’s performers include Jesse Meade and Mojo Birds.
Fall festival in Bellvue Oct. 3
Riverside Colorado is a camping and glamping resort in the Poudre Canyon west of Fort Collins. It hosts its second annual fall festival from 2 to 8 p.m., with live music by Lid Dixon and a screening of “Beetlejuice,” as well as arts, crafts and games.
Celebrating elk in Estes Park Oct 3 and 4
Estes Park celebrates its most famous fall visitors at the Estes Park Elk Fest in Bond Park. Weekend events include bugling demonstrations, educational presentations, live music, Native American storytelling and more.
Elk will also wander through and around town, but be warned that elk can be aggressive, especially during the rut, or mating season.
Mural festival in Superior Oct. 4
Street Wise Arts and the Town of Superior will co-host the new Superior Mural Festival, with workshops, panel discussions and unveiling of new public art installations. Street Wise Arts has produced seven mural festivals and installed more than 170 murals in Boulder County.
Steamboat Springs Restaurant Week Oct. 3-10
Steamboat’s walkable, diverse and gourmet dining scene will be on full display. Participating restaurants will offer two specials: a curated chef’s choice signature dish or a hometown favorite or go‑to dish. One or both options will be available at most downtown restaurants.
As always, please send us your events and announcements. We’re happy to share them. If they don’t fit in this events roundup, we will add them to our events calendar.
Dining and Cooking