FESTIVALS
Blues & Brews Festival has been bringing world-class musicians to this picturesque mountain town. This year, the genres include gospel, soul, jam-band, rock, indie, funk and blues. There are also tons of activities for kids, a 5K race, yoga sessions, food and craft vendors and more. Organizers plan to implement safety measures that exceed mandated standards and protocol in order to hold the festival and safeguard attendees’, staff and performers’ health. Telluride, tellurideblues.com
Sept. 19-20. Stanley Arts Festival. This free two-day festival at Stanley Marketplace features activities for families, live entertainment, interactive art installations, art exhibits, an art auction and more. Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St., Aurora, stanleyartsfestival.org
Sept. 24-26. Colorado BBQ Challenge.
Mmmm, barbecue. You can eat your fill — and then some — at the annual Colorado BBQ Challenge, a beloved festival on Frisco’s Main Street that’s been happening since the early 1990s. After you stuff your face with smoked meats and sides, you can watch free concerts, chef demos, street performers and pig races. There is also a 6K run and walk, and a whiskey tour. Main Street between Madison and Sixth avenues, Frisco, townoffrisco.com/play/colorado-bbqchallenge/general-info
Get a refund or show your support
Virtually all of the festivals and events that have been canceled this summer are already on the books for 2021. If you purchased tickets for an event that has been canceled, visit the event website or call the festival office to ask about a refund or an exchange for tickets to next year’s fun.
Some festivals also give you an option to donate the cost of your tickets to cover expenses; there are musicians and dancers and actors and staff members who need to be paid. Here are a few examples:
Cherry Creek Arts Festival. This summer staple featuring the works of more than 250 juried artists has been canceled. Still, the nonprofit Cherryarts promotes art year-round with sales of artists’ work and community outreach. You can shop for juried artists’ work and support community art projects online at cherryarts.org.
High Mountain Hay Fever Festival.
Although this annual Westcliffe event, a showcase for some of the best bluegrass around, is canceled, you can still donate to the Children’s Health Fund, which benefits from the festival, at highmountainhayfever.org.
Central City Opera Festival. Performances are postponed until summer 2021. Ticket holders may request a refund, exchange for 2021 shows or donate the cost of their tickets to help support the 2020 company. Donations to support this year’s company players and technicians are accepted online and will be matched up to $100,000 by Carousel Performance Sponsors and long-time CCO supporters, Pam and Dutch Bansbach. centralcityopera.org/2020-festival
Vail Dance Festival. This two-week celebration of all things dance, movement and artistry has been postponed. Instead, special performances from past years will be shared online during the festival dates, July 31-Aug. 11. Ticket holders may request a refund, exchange for 2021 performances or donate to the festival to cover expenses.
Learn more at 970-845-8497, boxoffice@vvf.org or online at vaildance.org.
Jazz Aspen Snowmass’ Labor Day Experience.
All artists scheduled to perform this year, including Steve Nicks, Eric Church, Kings of Leon and Maren Morris, have committed to return to Colorado to perform Sept. 3-5, 2021. JAS is offering private, virtual music lessons to students this summer. Ticket holders can ask for a refund or donate the ticket value to help continue to provide instruction and other opportunities for musicians. Learn more at jazzaspensnowmass.org.
303 Cocktails. Sip cocktails for a good cause? Sign us up. This Lakewood fundraiser is canceled, but organizers encourage you to support local distilleries and consider donating to event beneficiary The Posner Center for International Development, which works to disrupt global poverty; partybcause.com/303-cocktails.html, or posnercenter.org.
A Taste of Colorado. We’ll have to send off summer in some other fashion Organizers encourage fans to support vendors by shopping from the regular participants listed here: downtowndenver.com/a-taste-of-colorado-2020