The Mile High city has even more reasons to visit in 2024, from an iconic Jazz Festival which honours the great musicians who came before us to a wealth of art festivals – Denver’s cultural calendar is not one to be missed.
Celebrate Black History Month in the Mile High City (February)
Each February, Black History Month honours the achievements and contributions of African Americans. Travellers can celebrate and be educated throughout the Denver metro area with lectures, dramatic performances, music and more.
Channel your inner cowboy at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver (Until 18 February)
Taking place at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, Cowboy brings together works from 27 artists from a range of backgrounds including Asian American, Latin and Native American. Offering a breadth of perspectives, the exhibition aims to shift the narrative of the cowboy’s cultural power and significance in a historically accurate and creatively imaginative way. It raises the question of how the myth of a cowboy exists today, And how the cowboy has shaped how we think about gender. By presenting a broad range of narratives, this exhibition aims to break apart the ideal of the cowboy as a white, cisgender American male and showcase the diverse manifestations of this figure across many different communities and in a variety of media.
Celebrate the luck of the Irish with the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and a new direct Aer Lingus flight (16/17 March)
Denver is the place to celebrate St Patrick’s Day with a parade which starts and ends in the Coors Field parking lot. Travellers can honour the luck of the Irish with the Denver St Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl with crawl-only food and drink specials at Denver venues like Pour House On Market, The Retro Room Salon and Lounge, Sidecar Lounge, Giggling Grizzly, The Refinery, Society Sports and Spirits, and more. The city will be further connected to Ireland with the launch of a new nonstop flight route between Denver International Airport (DEN) and Dublin Airport (DUB) beginning 17 May 2024. This will be the first-ever service by Aer Lingus to DEN.
Rock n Roll at the Denver Day of Rock (3 June)
This free music festival features four stages of live music in LoDo/downtown Denver. The event connects the community through music and family-friendly entertainment while also raising funds to help Amp the Cause, which supports local non-profits.
Discover an icon at Brit Floyd (6 June)
This summer will see an important milestone for the world’s greatest Pink Floyd experience. Presenting their biggest show to date, Brit Floyd will perform a new three-hour musical, light and video journey capturing everyone’s Pink Floyd moments from one of the most outstanding and enduring catalogues in the history of rock music.
Experience the sounds of Denver at Five Points Jazz Festival (10 June)
This free festival celebrates the history of Denver’s Five Points neighbourhood. Once known as the Harlem of the West, Five Points was home to several jazz clubs that played host to many jazz music legends such as Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk and many more. The festival features a diverse lineup of music, from Latin to blues to funk and many other styles of jazz.
Soak in the sounds at Juneteenth Music Festival (15-16 June)
Celebrate with a parade, live performances, art, vendors and fun for the entire family at Juneteenth Music Festival. Don’t miss the interactive and educational programming at acclaimed African American cultural institutions and landmarks. This historic and iconic festival returns to Denver’s Five Points neighbourhood for another exciting year of live performances, art stalls, and authentic food and drink. Attendees of Juneteenth Music Festival can also witness the interactive and educational programming at the acclaimed African American cultural institutions and landmarks in the area.
Bask in art at Cherry Creek Arts Festival (5 -7 July)
Filling the streets of Cherry Creek North with over 250 artists ready to share their talent with the world, Cherry Creek Arts Festival provides plenty of live music, kids activities, art, information about art education, food and more. CherryArts is an art-focused nonprofit that provides access to art experiences and supports arts education for all in Colorado.
Taste the beers of America at The Great American Beer Festival (10-12 October)
The Great American Beer Festival represents the largest collection of US beer ever served in a public tasting event plus a private competition. The festival brings together the best brewers and most diverse beers in the world. With over 100 breweries in the Denver metropolitan area, the city is the perfect host for the speciality festival due to its expertise.
Appreciate the art of cinema at Denver Film Festival (1-10 November)
Bringing together international cinema, filmmakers, virtual reality, immersive experiences and creative conversations to the state of Colorado, the Denver Film Festival is a 10-day festival which will mark its 47th year in November. The festival will take place at four primary locations throughout the city with dozens of locations hosting pop-up events to engage audiences in the Denver Metro area.
Indulge in Denver’s art scene at Denver Arts Week (3 – 11 November)
Explore the vibrant art districts, impressive museum exhibitions and outdoor sculptures at Denver Arts Week. Indulge in the performing arts, be inspired by film and literature and even take away some art. Denver Arts Week will kick off with expanded First Friday Art Walks across the city’s creative neighbourhoods, followed by FREE Night at the city’s Museums on Saturday.
