CHECK OUT ALL THE FAIRS AND FESTIVALS BEFORE FALL SETS IN
Festivals, fairs and other ideas for marking the unofficial end of summer
Labor Day 2018 arrives at the end of a long, hot season in which some are settling back into school routines and battling nostalgia for weeks past, while others are eagerly looking forward to the months ahead.
This weekend is for both, and neither, offering a chance to reflect, recharge and relax. Here are 10 ideas for snatching a few days of outdoor fun from the jaws of the past and future — or at the very least getting in some late-summer eating, drinking and Rocky Mountain staycations.
Colorado State Fair
At 146 years old, the Colorado State Fair is both an institution and a living, breathing thing that only exists when people by the thousands gather in Pueblo for 11 days of concerts, corn on the cob, rodeo competitions, carnival attractions, monster trucks, a demolition derby, arts and crafts, all manner of livestock culture, and food and drink by the truckload. This year’s edition, which began on Aug. 24, brings entertainment by Larry the Cable Guy (Aug. 30), Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (Aug. 31), Old Dominion (Sept. 1), Lorenzo Antonio with La Sombra De Tony Guerrero (Sept. 2), The Cooper Sonics (Sept. 3) and musical tributes to the Eagles, Michael Jackson and Selena.
Noon-11 p.m. daily through Aug. 30, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. through Sept. 3. Tickets: $7-$10 for gate admission, kids under 4 free. $2-$42 for ticketed events, 866-461-6556 or altitudetickets.com A Taste of Colorado
Denver’s biggest food celebration returns, turkey legs and all, to Civic Center park with the expectation of another 500,000 attendees over its three days. This year’s event — down a day from last year — features the usual mix of local and national restaurants, a kids’ zone, arts and crafts vendors, and more. But let’s be honest: Most people rarely go there for the food, and 2018’s renewed emphasis on live music is the real draw, with free performances from REO Speedwagon, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Firefall, LeAnn Rimes, David Nail, Mitchell Tenpenny, Smashmouth, Sugar Ray, Everclearm Soul Asylum and more.
11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sept. 1-2, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sept. 3. General admission is free, but food and beverages cost $10 for 15.
Rocky Mountain Showdown
The state’s two biggest college football rivals gear up each year to meet at Mile High Stadium, and while they may not always fill every last seat the way their NFL counterparts do, the energy in the stadium easily matches that of any Broncos game. This year’s match-up between the University of Colorado Buffaloes and Colorado State University Rams takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 31, but fans will no doubt be preparing for hours (and hours) before that in Lower Downtown and parking lots across the metro area. Watch it on CBS-Sports Network (Comcast 412/846 HD, DirecTV Ch. 221, Dish Network Ch. 158) or listen to the CSU radio broadcast on KARS (FM 102.9) and KDCO (AM 1340 and FM 104.7) or the CU broadcast on KDSP (AM 760).
7:30 p.m. Aug. 31 at 1701 Bryant St. Tickets: $25-$55, 800-491-7267 or ticketmas-
ter.com Colorado Rockies vs. San Francisco Giants
While the Rockies will be traveling for most of the holiday weekend, the playoff-ready team returns on Labor Day to kick off a three-game series against the Giants at Coors Field, which continues through Sept. 5. The midday start and promising weather (as of this writing, anyway) bode well for a team that has often surprised and thrilled its doubters this season. And for parents: This is a “peanut allergy-controlled” game, with tickets available for $35 (plus a reservation that includes medical waivers) to allow entry into into the Mezzanine Party Suites at Coors Field.
Opening pitch at 1:10 p.m. on Sept. 3, 2001 Blake St. Tickets: $4-$105, ticketmaster.com Crush Walls
Formerly known as Crush, this wall-art festival in the River North neighborhood leaves its mark every year with dozens of new, colorful, perspective shifting murals and street art on the historic brick walls of this railroad-adjacent hotspot. The festival begins on Labor Day and runs through the following week with 77 discrete “art happenings” at bars, restaurants, breweries, galleries and businesses around RiNo. Watch artists at work or simply stroll the fast-changing streets for whatever else catches your fancy, because there will be plenty beyond the graffiti.
Various events and hours, Sept. 3-9 in the River North neighborhood. Events free, crushwalls.org Last Splash at Elitch Gardens
The oldest name in Denver theme parks celebrates the end of its summer season with free fireworks on Sept. 2 (with park admission) and the Island Kingdom’s Last Splash on Sept.
3, which marks the closing of its admission-included water park. While the park recently made headlines by announcing a new ride with the art pranksters at Meow Wolf, it has only been open weekends lately, so now’s the time to get your thrill-ride on before Elitch’s turns to Halloween and other themed events.
10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Sept. 1-2, 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Sept. 3. 2000 Elitch Circle. Tickets: $40 general admission, kids under 2 free; $30 after 5 p.m.; $20 on-site parking elitchgardens.com Museum free days
Free days at the Clyfford Still Museum (Aug. 31) and Denver Art Museum (Sept. 1) will be a crowded but are a no-cost way for adults to accompany their (always-free) 18-and-under patrons to exhibitions on world-renowned artist Still, plus landscape photography, animals in art, Ganesha and more, while also getting an update on the latter’s massive North Building renovation. The Sept. 4 free day at the Children’s Museum will, as at the art museum, offer a clipped experience due to construction and renovation (in this case, in anticipation of the new Adventure Forest) but still plenty of unfettered fun.
Clyfford Still Museum: 10 a.m.-8 p.m., 1250 Bannock St.; Denver Art Museum: 10 a.m.-8 p.m., 100 W. 14th Avenue Parkway; Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus: 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 2121 Children’s Museum Drive. denverartmuseum.org or mychildsmuseum.org Block parties
The Meow Wolf-sponsored Temple Tantrum festival at the Temple Art Center in Curtis Park, a debut event that bills itself as an experiential art party, will feature hip music, comedy, costume contests and general weirdness (in a good way), while the annual Goodness Block Party presented by Red Bull Music in the River North neighborhood offers sets from DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Low Key, YaSi, CRL CRRLL, TiRon & Ayomari, Kayla Marque, Sur Ellz and Goodness Greatness with Phonte, Exile and friends.
Temple Tantrum: Performances roughly 1 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Sept. 1-2, 24th and Curtis streets. Tickets: $25-$55, tantrumfest.com; Goodness: 4-9 p.m. Sept. 1, 27th Street between Larimer and Walnut streets. Tickets: $10-$15, redbullmusic.com Broncos 7K and Fit Expo
Plenty of people will show up to this fourth annual event on Sept. 2 hoping to get autographs from Broncos players and cheerleaders, take advantage of the free, familyfriendly activities, check out the field at Mile High Stadium, and enter contests and giveaways. But because this is Colorado, plenty more will also show up to run the 7K, which begins inside the Broncos’ home and winds its way through the Sloan’s Lake neighborhood before returning to finish on the stadium’s 50-yard line. The adult run begins at 8:30 a.m., while the kid’s version starts at 11:30 a.m.
6 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 2 at 1701 Bryant St. in Denver. Tickets: Expo is free, 7K is $45; register at denverbroncos.com Brews and Views Beer Festival A banner year for the Hudson Gardens & Event Center in Littleton culminates (but doesn’t end with) its Brews and Views Beer Festival, featuring craft beers from more than 35 Colorado breweries, free rein of 30 acres of open space, food trucks, local vendors, music, games and more. The fourth annual event is 21and-up only, but features discounted entrance ($5) for designated drivers, plus multiple tasting-ticket levels from amateurs to beer buffs and connoisseurs.
2-5 p.m. Sept. 1 at 6115 Santa Fe Drive in Littleton. Tickets: $5-$55, altitudetickets.com