Tastes of the state

APRIL

Boulder Farmers Market and Longmont Farmers Market
bcfm.org
8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays (through Nov. 16), 13th Street (between Canyon and Arapahoe), Boulder
8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays (through Nov. 16), Boulder County Fairgrounds, Longmont

Colorado’s best farmers markets open for the season on April 6 in Boulder and Longmont. The Boulder and Longmont markets feature only local growers, ranchers and food producers.

Taste of Pearl 
tasteofpearl.com
2-6 p.m. Sunday, April 14, Downtown Boulder 

Welcome back the Pearl Street Mall’s premier culinary event after a three-year hiatus. Stroll to downtown shops and galleries to taste Colorado wines and bites from 15 Boulder restaurants ranging from Maine Shack to Pizzeria Alberico.   

MAY

Wednesday Market
bcfm.org
3:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays May 1-Oct. 2, 13th Street (between Canyon and Arapahoe), Boulder

The Wednesday evening Boulder Farmers Market is a much more chill affair than its frenzied Saturday morning sibling. Enjoy live music, local beer and craft beverages, plus fresh produce and meals from the food court.

Boulder Creek Festival
bouldercreekfest.com
Friday, May 24-Monday, May 27, Boulder Civic Area

Dozens of food stands and trucks offer tastes of diverse cuisines and treats at this classic event in Boulder. The Creekside Beer Fest on Saturday and Sunday features tastes from 20-plus Colorado breweries, wineries and cocktail makers.

JUNE

Manitou Springs Colorado Wine Festival 
manitousprings.org/manitou-springs-colorado-wine-festival
12:30-5 p.m. Saturday, June 1, Memorial Park

Besides the annual (and always sold-out) Colorado Mountain Winefest, this is the best place to taste the remarkable vintages emerging from the state’s award-winning wineries and vineyards. More than 30 Colorado wineries will be pouring. 

Vail Craft Beer Classic
vailcraftbeerclassic.com
Friday, June 14-Saturday, June 15, Lionshead Village

Escape the city summer heat for this annual high-altitude tasting of Colorado craft beers from Boulder County brewers like Westbound & Down and Wibby Brewing. Local spirits, hard ciders and seltzers are included.

Lake Dillon Beer Festival
coloradobeer.org/lake-dillon-beer-festival
1-4 p.m. Saturday, June 15, Dillon Amphitheater

It seems like there is a beer festival with food and music happening almost every summer weekend in Colorado. What sets this sipping event apart is a dramatic setting on the shore of Lake Dillon at the Lake Dillon Amphitheater.

Keystone Bacon & Bourbon Festival 
keystonefestivals.com/festivals/bacon-and-bourbon-festival
Saturday, June 22-Sunday, June 23, River Run Village 

What’s not to like? Spend two days sampling bacon, sipping bourbons and listening to rock cover bands. Family events are available for kids with a Piglet Pass.

JULY

Colorado Brewers Rendezvous 
coloradobeer.org/colorado-brewers-rendezvous
Saturday, July 13, Riverside Park, Salida

This is the gathering of the nerds, a sort of summer camp for brewers from 70 Colorado craft breweries sampling their best with views of the Collegiate Peaks.

Crested Butte Wine & Food Festival
cbwineandfood.org
Wednesday, July 17-Sunday, July 21, various locations

A weekend during wildflower season featuring cooking demos, wine seminars, winemaker dinners and a Grand Tasting. Don’t miss the farewell s’mores gathering!

The Orpheus MeadFest
orpheuspcc.org/site/orpheus-meadfest
4-7 p.m. Saturday, July 27, grounds of Jefferson Unitarian Church, Golden

Forget about beer. Ignore cider. Taste the wide variety of honey wines made by Colorado’s large contingent of award-winning meaderies. The Orpheus Pagan Chamber Choir will perform drinking songs. An awards ceremony announces the winners of 2024 MeadFest Awards.

AUGUST

Top Taco
toptacofest.com/denver
Thursday, Aug. 8, Westminster City Park

Unlimited tasting of dozens of taco varieties dished by local restaurants and food trucks. Vote for Top Creative Taco, Top Traditional Taco, Top Vegetarian Taco and Top Cocktail.

Boulder Taco Fest
bouldertacofest.com
Saturday, Aug. 10, Boulder Civic Area

Festivities include lucha libre wrestling, live music, margaritas and tacos from local favorites including McDevitt Taco Supply, Mojo Taqueria, Torchy’s and Verde.

Eagle Mushroom & Wild Food Festival 
eaglemushroomfest.com
Friday, Aug. 9-Sunday, Aug. 11, various locations

If your focus is on mind-altering varieties, this isn’t the mountain mushroom gathering for you. Some of the nation’s most notable mycologists and wild-food experts will be on hand for this annual focus on the culinary and wellness uses of fungi. Events include guided mushroom identification forays and a fungi-centered feast.

SEPTEMBER

Denver Food + Wine Festival
denverfoodandwine.com
Wednesday, Sept. 4-Saturday, Sept. 7, Tivoli Quad, Auraria Campus

This is the real Taste of Colorado, a serious culinary celebration of the best the state has to offer. The 20 featured chefs at the Grand Tasting celebrate the diverse cuisines dished in local restaurants. The Shake + Brake Showdown is a mixologists’ cocktail competition coupled with bites from food trucks.