January
Boulder Philharmonic 2022-23 Season
Jan-May, 2023
January through May, Boulder’s professional symphony orchestra performs a season of classical delights at Macky Auditorium, schools and other venues. Classical music lovers can look forward to “An Afternoon With Bruckner,” on Sunday, Jan. 22 at 4 p.m. Here, Boulder Phil concertmaster Charles Wetherbee leads Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7, considered one of the greatest symphonies ever written.
February
Stout Month
All February
For more than 20 years, the Mountain Sun pubs and breweries have hosted Stout Month to ferry us through the darkest days of winter. The pandemic stole that joy (and so much more) from us in 2021—and so far in 2022. Here’s hoping for pints of Girl Scout Stout and Megatron Imperial in February 2023.
March
Boulder International Film Festival
March 2-5, 2023
Helmed by sisters Robin and Kathy Beeck, the Boulder International Film Festival is a spunky gathering that attracts some 25,000 movie lovers each year with films, filmmakers and actors from around the world. This four-day celebration of the art of cinema includes crowd-favorite events like CineCHEF and the Adventure Film Pavilion, plus nightly parties, live music, lots of good movies and, of course, celebrities (like Shirley MacLaine, Alan Arkin, Bruce Dern, Oliver Stone, William H. Macy, Peter Fonda…).
Boulder Arts Week
March TBA-April TBA, 2023
Boulder ranks in the top 2% in the country for concentration of artists and arts and culture organizations and businesses. Boulder Arts Week celebrates all the city’s rich art community has to offer through art walks, exhibitions, performances, music, theater, public art, lectures, film screenings and workshops at venues throughout the city.
April
Conference on World Affairs at the University of Colorado
TBD, 2023
More than 100 experts on a variety of topics descend on Boulder for this four-day event featuring hundreds of panels, discussions, plenaries, concerts and events—all free and open to the public.
Local Lab New Play Festival
TBD, 2023
Local Theater Company specializes in producing original works, often with a focus on plays developed in the Western U.S. The company will mount four plays this spring for its annual Local Lab New Play Festival, chosen from a record-breaking 140 submissions. This three-day theater festival of new works includes fully-staged concert readings, workshops and the opportunity for playwrights and attendees to converse.
Bluebird Music Festival
April 29 & 30, 2023
For the past four years, the Bluebird Music Festival has brought acts such as Margo Price, Colin Meloy of The Decemberists, Waxahatchee, and many more to Macky for three days of concerts in the heart of the CU Boulder campus.
May
Tulip Fairy & Elf Festival
TBD, 2023
Here in Boulder, we celebrate the awakening of the tulips, where little ones dress up like fairies and elves and descend on Pearl Street to rejoice at some 15,000 tulips opening up to the spring sun. There’s live music, foam sword dueling, arts and crafts, and scavenger hunts. Oh, and a fairy parade. D’uh.
Colorado MahlerFest
May 17-21, 2023
In the early 1970s, Robert Olson returned to CU Boulder’s College of Music from a study abroad program in Austria where he fell in love with the music of Gustav Mahler. He founded MahlerFest in 1988. Today the festival features chamber concerts, group dinners, open rehearsals, and even sometimes films, ballets, and art exhibitions related to Mahler’s music
Boulder Creek Festival
TBD, 2023
The “official” kickoff of summer in Boulder, these three days of festivities on the banks of Boulder Creek feature makers, artists and small businesses, family activities, music, food and entertainment. Good, clean family fun.
BolderBoulder 10K Road Race
TBD, 2023
The BolderBoulder 10K is one of the largest and most highly acclaimed 10Ks in the world, with runners, joggers, walkers and spectators of all ages—many in costume—and a firework-splashed bash at the finish line in Folsom Field stadium. It’s a Memorial Day weekend classic.
June
Colorado Shakespeare Festival
TBD, 2023
For more than 60 seasons, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival has celebrated and explored Shakespeare with both classic interpretations and reimaginings of the Bard’s works. Plays are performed beneath summer night skies in the historic Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre on the CU Campus.
Boulder County Pride
Boulder Pridefest: June 11, 2023
Longmont Pridefest: June 30, 2023
Whether you’re looking for something the whole family can take part in or a more 21-plus experience, there’s something for everyone at Boulder County Pride Week. Sign up for teen art classes, adult networking events, music, trivia, dancing and more through Out Boulder County.
Boulder Jewish Festival
June 4, 2023
For 25 years, this one-day festival has highlighted Judaica through live entertainment, fine art and food, community organizations and activities for all ages. In 2023, the festival will be held in the Boulder County Courthouse Lawn and 1200-1400 blocks of the Pearl Street Mall.July
Boulder Environmental/Nature/Outdoors Film Festival
TBA, 2023, Dairy Arts Center
A stimulating four days featuring narrative, documentary features and short films from around the globe, with post-screening Q&As with guests from the film, scientists and outdoor sports enthusiasts.
Hanuman Festival
July 13-16, 2023
Hanuman Festival offers an intimate, retreat-style yoga gathering with a limited number of passes. The festival takes place on Boulder County’s Yellow Barn Farm (9417 N. Foothills Highway, Longmont) with locally sourced farm-to-table dinner on Saturday included for all three-day passholders.
Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance Festival
TBA, 2023
Beginners through advanced aerial dancers can learn and grow in their practice through two weeks of classes, lectures/demonstrations, informal discussions and performances.
August
Boulder Taco Fest
TBD, 2023
It’s Taco Tuesday on steroids… and also on a Saturday. A selection of the tastiest tacos from Boulder County vendors, a curated list of craft breweries, tequila tasting, high-flying Luchadores, awesome live bands, and lots of free fun for kids—right on Boulder Creek. This bad boy tends to sell out quick.
Colorado Brazil Fest
TBD, 2023
Hosted by Boulder Samba School, the Colorado Brazil Fest (CBF) is the largest festival of its kind in Colorado, and also one of the largest in the nation, with 1,500-2,000 participants each year, offering two rhythmic days of Brazilian music, dancing and more at Boulder’s Bandshell.
Boulder Creek Hometown Festival
August 19-21, 2022
Featuring arts and crafts exhibitors, live performances at the Bandshell, craft beer garden and a food court, The Great Zucchini Race, the LETR StarLite Classic Car and Motorcycle Show.
September
Street Wise Boulder Mural Festival
September 29-October 2, 2022
Large-scale murals by dozens of artists are created all over town in the span of just a few days in Boulder. See page 20 for a walking tour of a mere handful of Street Wise-produced murals.
Downtown Boulder’s Fall Fest
September 16-18, 2022
This three-day autumn festival features live music, great food, local microbrews, wine and margaritas, with the added excitement of children’s activities and featuring Firefly Handmade Markets.
Jaipur Literature Festival Colorado
September 16-18, 2022
Fellow millennials, this is the adult version of the Scholastic Book Fair. Boulder’s Jaipur Literature Festival welcomes the public for a series of author talks and events for the camaraderie, the caravan of ideas, and the magical flow of conversations.
Festival del Sol
September 18, 2022
Enjoy live music, food trucks, outdoor beer/wine garden, traditional dance, games, children’s activities, photo booth, and local art vendors at the Chautauqua Auditorium and surrounding gardens.
Mapleton Hill Porchfest
September 18, 2022
No better way to get to know your neighbors than a good ol’ block party. Hosted in the historic Mapleton neighborhood of Boulder, dozens of local musicians play and sing on quaint porches at this free event.
Studio Arts Chili Bowl
September 18, 2022
Chili Bowl is Studio Arts Boulder’s annual fundraiser. Chefs from local restaurants compete in a chili competition. Guests can taste chili with the purchase of a bowl, plus shop for beautiful handmade pottery.
October
Indigenous Peoples Day
October 10, 2022
For the last seven years, the City of Boulder and community organizations have worked together to host annual events and festivities to promote knowledge about Indigenous Peoples and honor the city’s Indigenous Peoples Day Resolution.
Boulder Bach Festival
October-May
A concentrated series of Bach-focused concerts, symposia and educational events each spring and a number of outreach concerts and other community events throughout the year.
Flatirons Food Film Festival
October 21-22
Local food, food insecurity, chefs and restaurants, international cuisine, the environment, organic and regenerative agriculture, food justice—these are the topics the Flatirons Food Film Festival brings to the table. Take in this extended weekend extravaganza of food-related films, expert speakers and fun culinary events.
Munchkin Masquerade
October 31, 2022
Each Halloween, Downtown Boulder is invaded by tiny ghosts and goblins, dinosaurs and dragons, fairies and princes, superheroes and animals of every size for trick-or-treating along Pearl Street.
November
Boulder Jewish Film Festival
November 3-13, 2022
This year marks a decade for this intimate film festival that explores the human experience through film and provides audiences with insight into the Jewish experience.
December
Right Now Global Climate Summit
December 1-4, 2022
This three-day summit will gather some of the world’s foremost human rights, scientific, political, educational, cultural and industry leaders to commit to specific outcomes that will address the adverse effects of climate change on human rights.
Lights of December Parade
December 3, 2022
Kick off winter and light up the dark nights with marching bands, floats, fire engines, holiday carolers and more. The grand finale includes an appearance by Mr. Claus.
WinterFest at Colorado Chautauqua
December TBA, 2022
If you’re looking to make magical winter memories with the family, Colorado Chautauqua’s WinterFest is the way, featuring a festival of lights, kids concert, breakfast with Santa, Santa’s Cottage, horse-drawn carriage rides, historic tours, public art, a Winterfest market, a scavenger hunt and a photo station.
Chanukah on Pearl Street
December TBA, 2022
So much funakah… music, fresh soufganiot (jelly donuts), hot latkes, hot cocoa, tossed gelt to take home and the lighting of the giant menorah.
