With sunnier days ahead, Denver is buzzing with a thriving community eager to embrace the sunshine. Along with the warmer months comes a colorful lineup of festivals reflecting the Mile High’s dynamic culture and creative scene. From outdoor concerts to celebrations of diversity, Denver’s spring and summer Festivals offer something for everyone.
Women + Film Festival
Where: Sie FilmCenter, 2510 E Colfax Ave, Denver
When: May 30th – June 1st
The Lowdown: If you’re looking to cool off from the rising temperatures and support local talent, Women + Film Festival returns to the Sie FilmCenter to celebrate the masterful storytelling of female filmmakers. Produced by Denver Film, the three-day festival will feature over a dozen genre-spanning films, transparent panel discussions and interactive events offering crafts, food and mingling.
Guests can kick off Women + Film with an awards luncheon honoring iconic actress and now director Julia Stiles with the Barbara Bridges Inspiration Award, and the premier of her directorial debut, Wish You Were Here. Enjoy outstanding shorts and feature-length films highlighting social issues, identity and aging from the voices shaping storytelling today. From there, folks can attend Community Conversations, evoking dialogue on topics of sexuality and moral panic, and engage with other viewers and the people behind the scenes. Mix and mingle with fellow film lovers and auteurs at the WIFMCO Mixer, drink wine and create your art at Sip and Craft or participate in a post-film morning discussion paired with hot coffee and flaky croissants provided by Petals and Pages.
One of Colorado’s favorite film festivals is back for another year of captivating cinema and unforgettable moments.
Passes for the festival are sold out, but tickets are still available starting at $16.
Denver Greek Festival
Where: Assumption of Theotokos Greek Orthodox Metropolis Cathedral of Denver,
4610 East Alameda Avenue, Denver.
When: June 6th – 8th
The Lowdown: What began as a small bazaar fundraiser in 1964 has grown into Colorado’s largest Greek festival. One of the Mile High’s most loved summer traditions, Denver Greek Festival, is back for more traditional festivities, great eats and lively entertainment.
The family-friendly event offers 23 indulgent Greek dishes, including mouth-watering gyros, savory spanakopita and buttery baklava. This year’s festival will feature new additions to the food lineup, including Greek-style grilled lamb chops, Pagotini, “a phyllo-wrapped ice cream pastry drizzled with baklava syrup,” and Greek cheese and wine parings. After eating and drinking like a Greek, dance like one with live music and dance lessons by Etho Ellas or experience the heavenly sounds of authentic Greek Orthodox music performed by the Cathedral Choir. Shop the boutique for hand-crafted jewelry, gourmet olive oil and other goods imported from Greece. For six decades, the Denver Greek Festival has delighted Mile High locals with a taste of authentic Greek life, and this year will be no exception.
Tickets start at $3, and kids 12 and under are free.
Juneteenth Music Festival
Where: 27th Street and Welton Street, Denver.
When: June 15th
The Lowdown: Nestled in Denver’s historic Five Points neighborhood, the Juneteenth Music Festival transforms the area into a vibrant celebration of freedom, heritage and the end of slavery in the United States. This year’s festival will be headlined by multi-platinum rapper Juvenile, renowned for his iconic contributions to Cash Money Records and his 2000s albums like Reality Check and Cocky & Confident. The festival lineup also includes performances by Danae Simone, Beasts of No Nation, and the winner of The Drop’s Battle for the Block contest. Beyond the music, festival-goers can indulge in a variety of food, drinks, and shopping from hundreds of local vendors, along with the Mile High’s longest-running parade.
The Juneteenth Music Festival is free and open to all ages and VIP tickets are $28.52.
Denver Cherry Blossom Festival
Where: Sakura Square, 1255 19th Street, Denver.
When: June 21st and 22nd
The Lowdown: Celebrating 51 years, the Denver Cherry Blossom Festival brings the sights, sounds and eats of Japan to the Mile High this summer. Experience Japanese heritage and culture through traditional live performances, unique beverages and cuisine staples in Sakura Square. Chow down on chicken teriyaki and sip on crisp beer or sake. Explore dozens of vendors through the marketplace for pottery, clothes, anime and jewelry while listening to the sounds of Taiko drums. There may not be real cherry blossom trees in Denver, but the Cherry Blossom Festival recreates the feeling of a trip to Japan without the 18-hour flight!
The Denver Cherry Blossom Festival offers free admission for everyone to enjoy.
Denver PrideFest
Where: 101 West 14th Avenue, Denver,
When: June 28th and 29th
The Lowdown: Celebrate love, equality and diversity with Denver’s annual PrideFest, the massive two-day festival returning to Civic Center Park in June. PrideFest 2025 kicks off with the Denver Pride 5K. Whether you’re an avid runner or want to show your support for the community, the 5K serves as a fundraiser to better the lives of Colorado LGBTQ+ individuals.
The celebration continues with a dazzling array of live performances, eclectic vendors, and vivid parade floats. Visit the Gayborhood Market to discover and support local LGBTQ+ artisans and small businesses. Make your way to Center Stage for iconic performances by drag queens like Detox and Pattie Gonia. Keep the energy high at Absolut Dance World, where a stellar lineup of DJs will keep you dancing day and night. And don’t miss the grand finale, the 2025 Vizzy Denver Pride Parade, a bacchanal filled with over 100,000 attendees, spectacular floats and an unwavering message of inclusivity.
Since 1990, the Center on Colfax has hosted the biggest celebration of the year, and this year’s PrideFest is expected to draw over 500,000 people, both locals and visitors. Join in the happiness, the pride and the unity, celebrating the people who make Denver one of the most welcoming cities in the country.
Cherry Creek Arts Festival
Where: Cherry Creek North Neighborhood, 2 Steele Street # B100, Denver.
When: July 4th – 6th
The Lowdown: For three days, experience the creativity of our local arts scene with the return of the international award-winning Cherry Creek Arts Festival. Explore the streets of Cherry Creek’s North neighborhood with 260 juried artists and their creations. This year’s festival introduces five emerging artists and the return of 20 award winners from 2024. Whether you’re a fan of photography or you’re looking for a new painting to decorate the house, with art in every medium, Cherry Creek Arts Festival’s remarkable lineup of talent has something to blow everyone away. Not only will there be opportunities to meet different artists and adore their art, but the festival will offer live music including funk, jazz, country and rock. There will also be plenty of culinary delights to nibble on from local favorites like Pierogi Posse, Lazo Empanadas, Island Noodles of Colorado and more. This free event is perfect for all ages, sparking inspiration and supporting the Mile High creative community.
Bright Nights
Where: Four Mile Historic Park, 715 S Forest Street, Denver.
When: July 23rd – October 5th
The Lowdown: For those craving some holiday magic in the heat of summer, Four Mile Historic Park will once again capture visitors with its illuminated art display and lantern festival, Bright Nights. Each year, the park transforms into a radiant wonderland, bringing exciting, fresh concepts to its 12 acres of land. This year’s new additions include “Farmhouse Flora and Fauna, a surreal Chinese Dreamland and expanded interactive zones.” This summer, immerse yourself in a playground of mesmerizing statues that light up the night sky.
General admission for Bright Nights at Four Mile starts at $19, and members’ tickets start at $15. Tickets for this Denver festival vary by date and age group.
