Each Thursday, explore Denver’s essential weekend events curated by The Denver Gazette. Dive into cultural experiences and entertainment delights across the city. Whether you enjoy art galleries, pottery, or outdoor sports, there’s something for everyone in Denver’s vibrant cultural scene. To submit an event for consideration, email listings@gazette.com.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY
Delicious Pueblo chiles are the pride of that area’s growers. The nose-tingling aroma of those chiles in huge roasters with garlic will line the city’s Union Avenue in the 30th Pueblo Chile & Frijoles Festival all weekend. Vendors, food, music, cooking competitions and 30 hot air balloons launching mornings from Langoni soccer fields. Evening glows will have inflated balloons in riverfront park. Festival hours 3 p.m. to midnight Friday, 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. pueblochilefestival.com
SATURDAY-SEPT.29
The Big Bounce America, with a boast of the largest bounce house in the world and biggest inflatables tour, inflates at National Western Center Saturday for two weekends. Seven large inflatable attractions from deep-sea foam to sports and space join the giant house and a 900-foot obstacle course. Tickets and information: thebigbounceamerica.com
SATURDAY-SEPT. 28
They’re welcoming the season with a week-long Parker Fall Fest starting Saturday and packed with activities downtown. It begins in O’Brien Park with games, a hay bale maze, prowl for pumpkins and more. The week comes to a busy conclusion Sept. 28 with Fun and Games Day. Colorado Avalanche street hockey, rock climbing, a beer garden, axe throwing, giant table games and the big finale, a drone show above the park at 7:15 p.m. ParkerCO.gov/FallFest for more information.
FRIDAY-SATURDAY
All those “scurvy pirates” will be showing up in costume Friday and Saturday for the annual Northglenn Pirate Festival and they’ll even crown pirate royalty. Food vendors aplenty on Pirate Night and grog (beer, rum and mead), too. Music on the Main Stage. Folks will be sword fighting. Kids’ activities and crafts. Pirate historical characters. Free admission. Tickets and schedule: thepiratefest.com/event-schedule
SATURDAY-OCT. 31
A gazillion tarantulas are emerging from fields in Southern Colorado in time for La Junta Tarantula Fest Sept. 27-28. If you miss it, the Butterfly Pavilion’s “Spiders Around the World” exhibition in Westminster will include more than 20 tarantula species. That’s just part of the spider wonderland opening Saturday in a special 80-foot Spider Zone. There’s even a spiderling nursery. See dozens of spider species in this limited-time exhibit and there’s an opportunity to be up close to them as they weave their webs. Butterflies.org/SpidersAroundTheWorld
FRIDAY-SUNDAY
The first of two weekends for The Denver Oktoberfest, a wild “brews, booze and Bavarian foods” event in downtown Denver since 1969. Larimer and 21st in the Ballpark District. Stein hoisting competitions, keg bowling, music, long dog derby, a talent show, The Denver Dolls and chicken-music dance alongs. thedenveroktoberfest.com Another Oktoberfest, this one on Saturday, is in Castle Rock’s Wilcox Park, 1 to 9 p.m., with Bavarian music and brews. downtowncastlerock.com/oktoberfest
FRIDAY-SUNDAY
The fascinating Corn Maze at Denver Botanic Garden’s Chatfield Farms opens this weekend and goes through Oct. 27. The seven acres have a theme of Colorado wildlife, seen throughout the maze which can be seen from a 15-foot-tall bridge. There’s a mini-maze for children under 10. Timed tickets at botanicgardens.org/events/special-events/corn-maze
FRIDAY
Opening night for the magical starlight Halloween season event Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns at Hudson Gardens in Littleton. Walk the trails to see thousands of lighted hand-carved pumpkins.magicofthejackolanterns.com/denver
THURSDAY-SUNDAY
Breck Film Fest, dating back to 1981, is recognized as one of the country’s top film festivals and runs all this weekend. Its theme, “More Film. Less Air.,” is designed to draw movie lovers and entice them to also enjoy the mountains as the aspens are gold. The independent movies draw a number of the filmmakers to Breckenridge. BreckFilm.com
THURSDAY-SUNDAY
So much to do during Pagosa Springs Colorfest Weekend. A mass hot air balloon ascension, tours of Chimney Rock and history of Ancestral Puebloans from 1,000 years ago, the Wine and Food Festival, Bands & Brews and a Color Run 5K Run/Walk. visitpagosasprings.com/index.php?section=events&duration=upcoming&fstart_row=21
THURSDAY-SATURDAY
Eleven years of funny folks at High Plains Comedy Festival continues with more than 100 national and local featured performers. They’ll be in venues all around Denver but mainly in the Baker neighborhood surrounding South Broadway. Check out the fun Thursday through Saturday at highplainscomedyfestival.com.
SUNDAY
Sunday yumminess at the Loveland Chocolate & Cheese Fest, with three sessions of sampling, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Ranch Events Complex, 1 mile east of I-25, Exit 259, 5280 Arena Circle. Tickets at cochocolatefests.com.
