Please visit the respective event websites (linked below in the event titles) for the most current and complete event details.
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The traditional Chinese Lion Dance. Photo courtesy of the Colorado Springs Chinese Cultural Institute,
The New Year Celebration has become a mainstay cultural event in Colorado Springs.
This year’s event will continue the “celebration” atmosphere as in past years. Activities will feature the traditional lion dance, table tennis, Kung Fu demonstrations, traditional Chinese dances, and Chinese musical performances.
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Yes, this is exactly what it sounds like – join local Manitoids to enjoy this old-fashioned event of flying those leftover fruitcakes!
Starting in 1996 with locals throwing fruitcakes in the park, the tradition continues 24 years later. Events will be pure feats of strength, talent, balance, and taste! There will be old fashioned games of tossing fruitcakes, costume competition, libations, and a fruitcake bake off!
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The Mumbo Jumbo Gumbo Cook-Off is the best way to experience Mardi-Gras and Cajun cuisine in Manitou Springs! Samples of gumbo will be served from professional chefs and amateur cooks to help determine who has the best gumbo! Samples of gumbo will be available for 50 cents each.
Make sure to stick around after the cook-off when Manitou Avenue will fill up with spectators to watch the Mardi-Gras Parade.
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The Cripple Creek Ice Festival is a spectacular event held for a duration of two weekends. Acclaimed carvers from near and far will go chainsaw to chainsaw to carve ice into beautiful works of art that will amaze you!
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MeadowGrass is a three day music fest over Memorial Day weekend with over 20 local and national bands at the secluded La Foret Conference and Retreat Center in Black Forest, CO.
On-site camping, spectacular scenery, a variety of top area food caterers, kids activities, and award-winning artists make MeadowGrass a unique, fun, and family-friendly festival!
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Territory Days
Old Colorado City | May 27-29, 2023
Territory Days is held every Memorial Day weekend, in historic Old Colorado City located on the west side of Colorado Springs. Enjoy over 180 food and craft booths, live music, a kids’ play area and petting zoo and much more! See performances by Native American dancers, Wild West gunfight re-enactments, and live blacksmith demonstrations. Territory Days has plenty of food and entertainment for the entire family.
From its humble beginnings, Territory Days has grown from a small neighborhood craft fair into a three-day street festival which now hosts over 180 booths. Between 80,000 and 150,000 guests enjoy this event every Memorial Day weekend.
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People march in the Pikes Peak Pride parade. Photo taken by Dwayne Hodgson.
Pikes Peak Pride
Downtown Colorado Springs | June 10-11, 2023
Pikes Peak PrideFest 2022 is a community event expected to gather thousands of visitors together from across the state and Pikes Peak Region into downtown Colorado Springs.
There will be two full days of vendor booths, food trucks, beer garden and high energy entertainment to include a fabulous parade on Sunday. Our desire is to foster a festival where people feel safe, accepted, and supported while raising awareness for issues facing LGBTQ+ people living in the Pikes Peak Region.
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An excited crowd enjoys a performance at the Southern Colorado Juneteenth Festival. Photo courtesy of OneBodyEnt.
Southern Colorado Juneteenth Festival is the biggest celebration of inclusion to ever be held at America the Beautiful Park in Colorado Springs. Our mission is to bring together people from every background and community for a time of celebration, music and family fun.
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The Colorado Springs Western Street Breakfast is one of Colorado Springs’ most iconic celebrations of its deep-rooted western heritage. The Street Breakfast has also become an annual fundraising event that supports our local military and their families.
Mark your calendar and set your alarm for early morning so you can join us for this fun, festive, and family-friendly event. The streets of Downtown Colorado Springs close down, hay bales come out, and soldiers from Fort Carson cook up a tasty, hot breakfast for you to devour while you listen to great local music and watch talented Native American dancers.
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The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC), also known as The Race to the Clouds, is an invitational automobile and motorcycle hill climb to the summit of Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain held annually on the last Sunday of June.
Fan Fest is Colorado Springs’ largest and most popular street festival, action-packed with stunts and more fun for everyone! Held annually on the Friday before Race Day, more than 30,000 people gather in the heart of Downtown Colorado Springs to experience this 10-block street party.
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The Star Spangled Symphony & Fourth of July Fireworks continues the beloved nearly 50-year tradition of pairing musical offerings from the Colorado Springs Philharmonic with free community fireworks displays.
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Championship rodeo is coming to town this summer at the 80th Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo. The top talent in professional rodeo will be invited to this PRCA-sanctioned event, competing in seven standard events including bareback, saddle bronc, bull riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, and barrel racing.
The Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo has been a Colorado Springs tradition since 1937, showcasing top rodeo talent and action, while providing wholesome entertainment for area residents, as well as visitors to the region. Fans come from far and wide to enjoy top rodeo action and tons of family fun, all while honoring our local military and their families.
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Cripple Creek’s herd of wild donkeys are celebrated year-round, but especially during Donkey Derby Days. Photo courtesy of the City of Cripple Creek.
Donkey Derby Days
Cripple Creek | August 11-13, 2023
For more than 80 years, Donkey Derby Days has topped the list of favorite Cripple Creek events. People from all over the world descend on downtown, drawn by a chance to watch a race inspired by the town’s resident donkey herd, believed to be distant relatives of the original donkeys from the town’s Gold Rush days.
Enjoy games, live entertainment, heritage competitions, and other fun family activities that will make your visit one to remember!
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Find a variety of high quality and unique artwork from artists from all across the nation. Booths will feature jewelry designers, woodcarvers, photographers, painters, potters, and much more.
There will also be plenty of delicious food vendors to satisfy your taste buds while browsing the beautiful art pieces. With the picturesque backdrop of Pikes Peak, the Mountain Arts Festival in Woodland Park is a beautiful piece of art itself.
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Labor Day Lift-Off
Colorado Springs | September 2-4, 2023
The mornings start with a hot air balloon mass ascension of over 70 balloons accompanied by breakfast and drinks from local vendors.
Activities will continue throughout each day with skydiving demonstrations, wake boarding exhibitions, paddle boarding, live entertainment, chainsaw carving, and donut eating competitions. Wrap up your visit at Memorial Park over the Labor Day weekend with a hot air balloon glow at dusk.
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The crowd wanders between booths to see the variety of pieces on display at the Commonwheel Arts Festival. Photo courtesy of the Manitou Chamber of Commerce.
Commonwheel Artists Labor Day Art Festival is a juried three-day event filled with high quality artwork, talented musicians, and fabulous food in Manitou Springs’ Memorial Park. For 45 years Commonwheel Artists Co-op has helped create an awareness of American-made original fine art and contemporary craft by bringing over 100 quality artists to their annual art festival. Each year a jury of professional artists selects which artists will be shown.
Commonwheel also offers a line-up of local musicians playing original music in a variety of music styles on our stage. Art and music patrons can sit and listen (or dance) to their favorite entertainers while enjoying a tasty treat and a cold drink, including beer and wine options.
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Fiestas Patrias
Downtown Colorado Springs | September 16-17, 2023
Fiestas Patrias occurs after Hispanic Heritage month. Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage month from September 15 – October 15 by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central, and South America. To celebrate, Fiestas Patrias is a one-day family festival in the heart of downtown Colorado Springs, bringing people from diverse Hispanic origins to create a cultural fusion! This full-day event will host live music, dancing, vendor booths, national acts, and plenty of local food vendors.
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Vintage Base Ball
Colorado Springs | Labor Day, September 2023
One of the highlights of Labor Day is the annual vintage baseball match between the Camp Creek Cloud Busters (your home team) and a team that is yet to be announced for 2022. The Cloud Busters is no “farm team,” but needs your support to cheer them on to victory!
This game is vintage rules: no Spittin’, no swearin’, no gloves! “Cranks” (that’s you, the spectators) can influence the umpire’s call in your team’s favor! You can also view the on site historic homes.
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What If… Festival
Downtown Colorado Springs | September 2023
The What If… Festival celebrates lifelong learning and delights the community with the innovation, creativity, and the entrepreneurial spirit of the Pikes Peak region. With the help of an awesome team of cool creatives and essential community cooperation, the festival offers a day of free engaging, interactive, and exciting experiences to WOW participants of all ages.
The What If… Festival, the only event of its kind, supports economic development and intellectual vitality by welcoming over 25,000 participants to discover the breakthroughs of local businesses, organizations, artists, scientists, inventors, performers, and students.
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Blues on the Mesa
Gold Hill Mesa | September 30, 2023
In celebration of Arts Month, A Music Company Inc. produces the Annual Blues on the Mesa festival, featuring national and regional artists.
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The Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival is the longest running women’s film festival in North America. The festival showcases documentary, narrative shorts, and animated films that are thought-provoking and enriching, and that encourage global awareness and personal growth.
The Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival honors films and filmmakers that present the world as women experience it and that inspire curiosity, educate, entertain, and stimulate conversation.
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Competitors in the Emma Crawford Coffin Races pose with their coffin. Photo courtesy of the Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce.
In 1995, the Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce started the first coffin races in the nation, in memory of a beloved member of the community – Emma Crawford.
In the years since, the races have grown into an often copied but never equaled Manitou Springs tradition. Each year more than 10,000 people come to Manitou Springs for the fun and festive Coffin Races. Teams of five, one Emma and four runners, push their coffins 195 feet down Manitou Avenue to the finish line. The fastest times earn trophies as well as a chance to win Best Emma, Best Entourage, and Best Coffin.
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Arts Month
Pikes Peak Region | October 1-31, 2023
Each October, arts & culture takes center stage throughout Colorado Springs and across the Pikes Peak region, as our creative community celebrates Arts Month. Orchestrated annually by the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region, Arts Month elevates the visibility of arts & culture across El Paso and Teller Counties by showcasing local talent, providing opportunities for arts advocacy, supporting innovative cross-sector community collaborations, and creating new avenues for arts engagement and cultural enrichment. The official call to action during Arts Month is to “Open Your World With the Arts!”
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Festival of Lights is a series of events to celebrate the December holiday season, highlighted by the Festival of Lights Parade. The events include cultural and artistic programs, performances and other festivities for the enjoyment and education of the general public.
Up to 60,000 spectators will crowd the streets for the parade to watch participants put on a dazzling display of lights, sounds, and performances. Bands, floats, horses, and all kinds of special entries compete for top honors in their class.
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