One-of-a-kind Colorado Summer Festivals and B&Bs to match!

According to the Colorado Tourism Office www.Colorado.com , here are 12 of Colorado’s Quintessential Summer Festivals! For more information on these great events, visit: www.Colorado.com  (photos/information: courtesy of the Colorado Tourism Office)

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June marks the start to Colorado’s one-of-a-kind summer festival season. With mild temperatures and gorgeous blue-sky days, summer celebrations don’t get better than this. We’ve outlined a few of the finest Colorado summer festivals to help you get started on planning the ideal summer vacation.

1. Telluride Bluegrass Festival (Telluride) June 15–18, 2017 Each June, music lovers from around the globe come together at the world-renowned bluegrass festival in Telluride for four days of toe-tapping, carefree-dancing and music-loving fun. Past performers include John Butler Trio, Mumford & Sons, Elvis Costello, Telluride House Band, Trampled by Turbles, Kacey Musgraves and Yonder Mountain String Band, just to name a few.
2. FIBArk June 15–18, 2017 (Salida) If rivers are your passion, FIBArk (First in Boating on the Arkansas) is a must. “America’s oldest and boldest whitewater festival” draws kayakers, stand-up paddlers and rafters to compete (and play) in the mighty Arkansas River. While whitewater is the draw, the city of Salida also showcases a variety of local color with live music, costumed bike competitors, a parade and foot races.
3. Manitou Springs Colorado Wine Festival (Manitou Springs) June 3, 2017 Get right down to the local flavors with this Manitou Springs homage to Colorado’s burgeoning wine-making industry highlighting the best from more than 30 local wineries. Sip wine, sample food and indulge in the mountain scenery surrounding Manitou’s idyllic downtown.
4. Greeley Stampede (Greeley) June 23–July 4, 2017 Dust off your cowboy boots for one of Colorado’s largest summer festivals and rodeos. Dating back to the 1800s, Greeley’s Fourth of July celebration puts the “Yeehaw!” in Colorado’s Western culture.
5. Colorado Brewers’ Festival (Fort Collins) June 24–25, 2017 If you’ve tasted a Colorado-brewed beer, then you know why Colorado Brewers’ Festival is wildly popular. More than 50 Colorado breweries, showcasing dozens of cold and fresh handcrafted beers, fill Fort Collins’ historic downtown. Summer has never been more refreshing than at this beer-lover’s paradise.
6. Hot Air Balloon Rodeo (Steamboat Springs) July 8–9, 2017 One of Colorado’s largest hot air balloon festivals is a sight to see in Steamboat Springs. With a massive colorful ascension scheduled for each morning, “rodeo” moves like dipping into Bald Eagle Lake and Saturday night’s balloon glow, a bonus feature is the event’s combination with the annual Art in the Park.
7. Crested Butte Wildflower Festival (Crested Butte/Gunnison) July 7–16, 2017 As the official Wildflower Capital of Colorado, Crested Butte is the obvious place to host this event, packed with guided wildflower hikes, 4×4 tours, photography classes, gardening instruction and much more.
8. Denver Underground Music Showcase (Denver) July 27–30, 2017 The Underground Music Showcase is the perfect place to witness Colorado and The Mile High City’s exploding music scene. The Denver Post hosts this annual bonanza in Denver’s Broadway neighborhood. Every space viable for an intimate jam session opens its doors for music-lovers looking to discover the next Billboard-topping band.
9. Vail International Dance Festival (Vail) July 29–Aug. 12, 2017 Pirouettes, dips, leaps and headspins sweep through Vail during the prestigious International Dance Festival. Moves from “Dancing with the Stars” are so much more exciting in the flesh — not to mention in Vail’s scenic outdoor venues.
10. National Parks Free Entrance Days (across Colorado) August 25, 2017 Colorado’s National Parks and Monuments celebrate “America’s Best Idea” with free entrance and fun happenings as summer draws to a close, including Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado National Monument, Dinosaur National Monument, Florrisant Fossil Beds, Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde and Rocky Mountain.
11. Colorado State Fair (Pueblo) Aug. 25–Sept. 4, 2017 The Colorado State Fair in Pueblo expertly combines lively entertainment, thrilling competitions, intriguing vendor booths and old-fashioned family fun. Serving fair fare such as Pueblo green chiles, funnel cakes, deep-fried Snickers and other hearty treats, you’ll want to be sure to bring your appetite.
12. A Taste of Colorado Labor Day Weekend (Denver) Sept. 1–4, 2017) Fifty food booths, more than 275 artisan vendors, six entertainment stages and 500,000 fellow Colorado fans converge in the heart of downtown Denver at Civic Center Park for a lively celebration of Colorado’s food and culture.