Denver Locals Invited to Make the Most Out of Their City

DENVER (May 21, 2025) – Every year Denver attracts tens of millions of visitors – more than 37 million in 2023 – from across the country and around the world who come to experience our city excitement and Rocky Mountain playground. But Denver isn’t just for visitors! Visit Denver encourages locals to explore their own city this summer and “show how they Denver.”

Be it a meal at one of our MICHELIN-recognized restaurants, enjoying live music or a movie under the stars at Red Rocks or taking the family to see the baby giraffe at the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance. The Mile High City has plenty of reasons to play tourist at home. Explore a robust events calendar and find inspiration for the perfect summer day on a new page on the Visit Denver website, built specifically for locals.

Plus, with wonderful hotel deals across the city, summer is the perfect time to book a staycation to enjoy all the Mile High City has to offer. For more information, check out the Visit Denver website.

Seasonal Highlights

Summer arrives in a big way over Memorial Day Weekend with many festivals and events. DJ FISHER, known for his wild sense of humor and energetic DJing style, is hosting an Outdoor Denver Block Party at 16th and Welton on May 26. Leon Bridges is headed to Red Rocks on May 23 as well as Justice on May 25. The Rockies will host the New York Yankees May 23-25, and the Colorado Rapids will host St. Louis City SC on May 24. Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park will kick off the season with fireworks on Sunday, May 25 and Water World opens for summer as the best place to beat the heat.

The second annual Outside Festival in Denver’s Civic Center Park will run May 31–June 1 with performances by Khruangbin, Lord Huron, Sylvan Esso, Trampled by Turtles and other artists. In addition to live music, the Outside Festival features two full days of events with adventure film screenings, athlete panels and signings, climbing experiences, yoga classes, workshops, gear demos, a kids’ zone, exciting food options and a variety of immersive brand engagements.

Downtown Denver will kick off summer May 31–June 1 with a celebration of the newly renovated 16th Street. From Union Station to Civic Center, there will be free activities including a kids adventure zone, Grand BAZAAR Market, beer garden, live music and more. The celebration will showcase the new 16th Street as a hub for live music, outdoor recreation, sports culture, sidewalk sales and more.

The Juneteenth Music Festival returns Sunday, June 15 in Denver's Historic Five Points Neighborhood with a parade, live music, food vendors and more. The festival is a celebration for the community in honor of Juneteenth, the day when the last of the nation’s enslaved people learned of their freedom.

Denver PrideFest celebrates inclusivity June 28 and 29. The festival, held in Denver's Civic Center Park, promotes the heritage and culture of the LGBTQ+ community of Colorado. It typically draws more than 550,000 attendees over two days, making it the largest Pride event in the Rocky Mountain Region. The Fest includes more than 250 exhibitors, 30 food and beverage vendors, and live performances all weekend.

The Cherry Creek Arts Festival held over the Fourth of July Weekend showcases 260 juried artists from around the world during a weekend packed with food, music, kids’ activities, art and more all in the heart of Denver’s Cherry Creek North neighborhood.

Underground Music Showcase returns for its 25th year from July 25-27 with 200+ musical performances across multiple outdoor stages, and over a dozen indoor music venues across Broadway.

Celebrate Colorado Day and the state’s 149th anniversary at Denver Union Station on Aug. 1. The celebration will honor the state’s rich history, cultural heritage and the vital role railroads played in shaping it all. It will highlight the enduring legacy of our iconic landmark while bringing the community together through storytelling, discovery and connection. The next day on Aug. 2, Empower Field at Mile High will host the largest-ever concert of Colorado bands when hometown favorites the Lumineers take the stage with Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats opening.

This year, the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary Sept. 6 and 7. This two-day festival centers around the dragon boat competition, with more than 50 teams of boaters clambering aboard intricate and colorful dragon boats and racing their way across Sloan Lake.

“Every year, people from around the world experience everything Denver has to offer and this summer, we’re inviting our residents to do the same,” said Mayor Mike Johnston. “From outdoor concerts and movies under the stars to sporting events and family-friendly adventures, there is something for everyone in the Mile High City.”

More Summer Events

OUTPOST at Larimer Square kicks off a weekend of festivities in downtown Denver on May 30, celebrating the great outdoors. Enjoy an evening of live music under the iconic lights of historic Larimer Square while you sip craft beverages from Larimer Square establishments with al fresco pop-up bars.

Denver Fringe Festival is back this June 4-8, bringing bold, genre-defying performances to unexpected places throughout the RiNo Art District, Five Points and beyond. This year’s lineup features over 70 bold, new, original productions in all types of performing arts – theater, clown, alt- comedy, dance, circus, cabaret and more – showcasing a diverse range of artists and art forms. It’s a one-of-a-kind celebration of creativity, community, and the spirit of discovery.

Denver’s Chalk Art Festival returns this year June 7 and 8, celebrating its 23rd anniversary. See hundreds of artists create vivid artworks on the streets of the Golden Triangle Creative District.

The Colorado Symphony returns to one of Denver's newest entertainment destinations, McGregor Square, July 30. Having rapidly established itself as a premier venue for cultural events, entertainment, and community engagement, the square's unique blend of modern design and urban charm provides the perfect backdrop for the symphony's enchanting melodies.

Don’t miss Cirque du Soleil ECHO at Ball Arena July 12-Aug. 17. With a tale about evolution as well as the symbiotic relationships that our lives depend on, Cirque du Soleil adds fresh and unexpected turns to its Big Top magic. A spectacular performance combining poetry, stagecraft, daring acrobatics and technology explores the delicate balance between people, animals and the world we all share.

All summer long, head to 16th Street for Upper DownTUNES, a free live music series located in Upper Downtown Denver at The Outer Space at 16th & Welton Street. The series runs Monday through Friday 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. and Thursday and Friday from 4-7 p.m. Amp up your lunch routine, after-work drinks, morning meetings and more with this free music. Skyline Beer Garden will also be open on 16th Street and Arapahoe downtown. The outdoor venue offers food, drinks, games and live entertainment all summer long.

Arts and Culture

City Park Jazz returns this summer. Sunday evenings throughout the summer celebrate community with amazing musicians and wonderful food from selected food trucks in a family-friendly festival atmosphere.

First Fridays, a recurring celebration of arts and culture across the city, are also returning this summer, including the Colfax Art Crawl from 40 West Arts District, First Friday in RiNo, Tennyson Street First Friday Art Walk and First Friday at Denver's Art District on Santa Fe.

Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre has an incredible lineup this season including Sting May 19, 20 and 22, Halsey on June 22, Colorado Symphony Orchestra – Symphony on the Rocks on July 5, Mumford & Sons on July 21 and 22, Mt. Joy on Aug. 14 and many more. Experience the magic with breathtaking views and incredible acoustics. The free museum and Performers Hall of Fame is perfect for any music lover. A tour of the museum completes a wonderful day after hiking the many trails around the area.

Catch a movie al fresco with friends and family this summer with Film on the Rocks, RiNo’s Free Outdoor Movie Series, Movies on the Green in Central Park, Summer Movie Series at Avanti F and B, Sunset Cinema at Denver Performing Arts Complex and many more locations across the metro area.

The Mile High City is home to countless blockbuster shows this season. Check out “Kent Monkman: History is Painted by the Victors” at the Denver Art Museum, the first major show in the

U.S. for celebrated artist Kent Monkman. Based in New York City and Toronto, Canada, Monkman is known for his provocative interventions into Western European and American art history; “Held Impermanence (Artists Select: Katherine Simóne Reynolds)” in the Clyfford Still Museum’s largest six galleries, Katherine Simóne Reynolds illuminates competing desires held in constant tension; Ms. Destiny at the Center for Colorado Women's History highlights the stories of seven unique and resilient Colorado women who took fate into their hands, overcame barriers and defined their realities and MCA Denver presents a selection of artworks from the acclaimed New Orleans-based international art triennial Prospect.6: The Future is Present, The Harbinger is Home.

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts has an impressive lineup of musicals, theater productions and interactive events this season including “The Book of Mormon”, “& Juliet”, “Mamma Mia!”, “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” and more.

Sports

Denver continues to be one of the best cities for live sports. Head to Coors Field to watch the Colorado Rockies baseball team with beautiful Rocky Mountain views. Coors Field will also host the Savannah Bananas Aug. 9 and 10 during their Banana Ball World Tour. The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team will face the Republic of Ireland at DICK’s Sporting Goods Park on June 26 and the new Denver Onyx, Women’s Elite Rugby team continues their season with home games at Infinity Park. Denver will host the Pacific Nations Cup Sept. 14 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Fans can watch six teams from Fiji, Tonga, Canada, Japan and the U.S. during 3 games, all in one day with once ticket. The Denver tournament makes up the semi-finals—winning teams will then go to Salt Lake City for the finals.

Additional Summer Favorites

Denver has a wide array of kid-friendly activities. Head to the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance to see more than 3,000 animals including elephants, orangutans, lions and a new baby giraffe. Visit the Denver Museum of Nature & Science to explore fossils and dinosaurs, ponder the mysteries of space at Gates Planetarium and watch larger-than-life films at the Phipps IMAX 3D Theater. The Downtown Aquarium is a perfect spot for kids to awe at astounding marine life, feed the stingrays, pan for gold or become a marine biologist for a day. The Butterfly Pavilion is celebrating 30 years of inspiring conservation and wonder this year with many special events. Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park will celebrate the season with appearances from fan-favorites like Peppa Pig™ and Blippi™, a series of dazzling fireworks displays, entertaining Friday night Dive-In Movies in the wave pool and so much more. Learn more about family-friendly activities on the Visit Denver website.

New in Denver Restaurants

With international recognition, Denver’s restaurant scene continues to grow with new places opening every month. In 2024 MICHELIN Young Chef Award Winner, Johnny Curiel opened Alteño in Cherry Creek North, which pays homage to his Jaliscan Highland roots and traditions while Mezcaleria Alma in LoHi focuses on Mexico City inspired small plates. Chef and restauranteur Mary Nguyen has opened two locations of Olive & Finch this year in Union Station and at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Both locations serve scratch-prepared and

internationally sourced breakfast, lunch, dinner and happy hour daily with extensive patio seating. Magna Kainan, the new RiNo project from Portland chef Carlo Lamagna opened recently and serves a variety of Filipino staples like lumpia and adobo fried rice alongside modern twists on classic dishes.

The James Beard Foundation has recognized multiple Denver area finalists, including Alma Fonda Fina for Best New Restaurant, Yacht Club for Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service and Penelope Wong of Yuan Wonton for Best Chef: Mountain. The winners will be announced on June 16.

MICHELIN recognized 27 Denver restaurants in the most recent guide. The famously anonymous MICHELIN Guide inspectors selected a diverse range of restaurants across the city that exude

culinary excellence. New restaurants added to this year’s guide include Alma Fonda Fina awarded One MICHELIN Star, MAKFam with a Bib Gourmand and Brasserie Brixton and Kawa Ni are Recommended Restaurants. More information about these restaurants and the MICHELIN Guide program are available on the Visit Denver website.

Staycation Deals

With charming boutique hotels, some of the buzziest hotels in the world and a walkable downtown, now is a perfect time for a Denver staycation. And this summer, locals can save money on their Denver staycations with nearly 80 deals and discounts on the Visit Denver website. Here’s just a sample:

Make up for lost time and stay a little longer! Slow down, sleep in, and save up to 20% off when you book three or more nights at The Maven.

Enjoy a credit with your stay at Grand Hyatt Denver toward grand experiences on qualifying nights booked and completed by September 30, 2025. Two-night stays receive a $50 credit Three-night stays receive a $75 credit Four-night stays receive a $100 credit.

This is How We Denver with Residence Inn Denver City Center includes discounted rates to enjoy all the Mile High City has to offer!

At the Rally Hotel at McGregor Square, enjoy 10% off the Best Available Rate, 50% off your Destination Amenity Fee and $25 Food & Beverage credit during your stay. Experience world-class hospitality in the heart of the Mile High City – from vibrant game-day energy to serene rooftop views.