Colorado is best known for our amazing mountains, craft brewery scene and outdoor recreation (world class ski resorts – 21 in total! and year round activities) but there’s still so much more to my home state. Here are some of my fave fun facts

  • Nicknamed the Centennial state since we became a state in 1876 – 100 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence
  • We enjoy 300+ days of sunshine every year here
  • There are four National Parks here – most have heard of Rocky Mountain National Park (NP) but you should spend some time sliding down the Great Sand Dunes NP and checking out the cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde NP and admiring the sheer drops of Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP. We also boast nine national monuments, three national historic areas in addition to our own impressive and diverse state parks.
  • We are (annoyingly) active – in addition to state and national parks, hiking (and climbing) are big here and we like to brag about how many 14er’s we’ve bagged (14er / fourteener are mountains that exceed 14,000 feet of elevation – and we have 58 named 14ers which we like to point out is more than any other US state) or how fast we ran up “the incline” (Manitou Incline where you climb 2,744 stairs – you gain over 2,000 feet in less than a mile)
  • We also love our live music – Red Rock concerts are renowned and really there is something magical about that venue
    • Going to live music can be so tough on the wallet but we have a SO MANY FREE events/concerts throughout the summer!

Aurora

Sounds of Southlands Summer Concert Series: June 25 to August 13 from 6 – 8 PM / Thursdays –FREE CONCERTS!

Basalt

Friday Local Vocals: June 5 to September 4 from 5:30 – 6:30 PM / FREE CONCERTS! Triangle Park in Willits featuring local bands

Basalt Summer Concerts: June 17 to August 12 from 6 – 9:30 PM / Wednesdays – FREE CONCERTS! Basalt River Park

Beaver Creek

Beaver Creek Colorado Showcase Music Series: June 18th – September 17th from 5:30 – 7:00 PM / Saturdays – FREE CONCERTS! BC Rink Stage

BC Unplugged: June 18th – September 17th from 5:30 – 7:00 PM / Thursdays – FREE CONCERTS! BC Rink Stage

Boulder

Bands on the Bricks: June 10 to July 29 from 5:30 – 9 PM / C – FREE CONCERTS!

Broomfield

Broomfield Summer Concerts Series: June 10 to July 29 at 7 p.m. / Wednesdays – FREE CONCERTS! Anthem Community Park and Midway Park

FlatIron Crossing Jazz In The Park: June 4 to July 30 from 6 – 8 PM / Thursdays – FREE CONCERTS!

Castle Rock

Tunes For Trails in Castle Rock: June 18 to September 17 (third Thursday of the month) from 6:30 – 8 PM / FREE CONCERTS!

Centennial

Dancing in the Streets Summer Concerts at SouthGlenn: Select Wednesdays from June 10 to August 26 6:30 p.m. from 6:30 – 8 PM / FREE CONCERTS!

Colorado Springs

Downtown Summer Music Series June 4 to September 17 from 6 – 8 PM / Thursdays – FREE CONCERTS! Middle of Downtown Colorado Springs

UVC Free Summer Concert Series: June 5 to August 14 from 7 – 8:30 PM / Fridays – FREE CONCERTS! University Village Colorado’s North Plaza 

Denver

Central Park Concerts on the Green: select Saturdays from June 6 to August 1 at 6 PM / FREE CONCERTS! Central Park’s own amphitheater

MoJaBlu Concert Series in Central Park: June 11 to July 30 from 6:30 – 8:30 PM / Select Thursdays – FREE CONCERTS! Conservatory Green (49th & Valentia).

City Park Jazz: June 7 through August 9, 2026 (10 shows) from 6 – 8 PM / 40th Anniversary Celebration with 2026 lineup featuring some of Denver’s most beloved performers across genres, from jazz and blues to Latin rhythms, brass, and beyond. Sundays – FREE CONCERTS!

Dillon

Mountain Music Mondays Free Concert Series: June 15 through September 7, 2026 with most shows from 6 – 10 PM / Mondays – FREE CONCERTS!

Eagle

Town of Eagle ShowDown Town: July 2 through August 13 with performances starting at 6:30 PM / Tuesdays – FREE CONCERTS!

Englewood

SunSET Concert Series: July 2 to 30 from 5 – 8 PM / Thursdays – FREE CONCERTS!

Evergreen

Evergreen Summer Concert Series: June 10 to August 19 from 4:30 – 8 PM / Every other Wednesday – FREE CONCERTS! Evergreen Lake House/Buchanan Park Field

Fort Collins

Bohemian Music Presents Thursday Night Live: May 28 to September 10 at 7 PM /  Thursdays – FREE CONCERTS! Heart of downtown Fort Collins.

Greeley

Concerts Under the Stars: 2026 Dates: July 14, 21, 28 at 8 PM / FREE CONCERTS! UNC Garden Theatre 

Friday Fest: June 5th- August 7th in 2026 from 6 – 10 PM / Fridays – FREE CONCERTS!

Greenwood Village

Concerts at the Crescent: June 2 to August 4 with shows from 6 – 8 PM / Tuesdays – FREE CONCERTS!

Highlands Ranch

Highlands Ranch Summer Concert Series: June 4 to July 30 from 6:30 – 8 PM / Thursdays – FREE CONCERTS!

Littleton

Concerts in Clement Park: June 4 to August 13 at 7 PM / Thursdays – FREE CONCERTS! Grant Family Amphitheater

Littleton Museum Concert Series: June 3 to July 22 from 6:30 – 8 PM / Thursdays – FREE CONCERTS! Littleton Museum Front Lawn

Longmont

Longmont Museum Summer Concert Series: June 25 to July 30 from 7 – 8:30 PM / Thursdays – FREE CONCERTS! outdoor courtyard of the Longmont Museum

Louisville

Louisville Downtown Street Faire: June 12 to August 7 from 5:30 to 8:30 PM / Fridays – FREE CONCERTS!

Concerts in the Park: June 18 to July 23 from 6:30 – 8:15 PM / Select Thursdays – FREE CONCERTS! Louisville Community Park

Loveland

Loveland Summer Concert Series: Four concerts in July with shows starting at 7 PM / FREE CONCERTS!

Concerts in the Park: June 2 to July 7 with shows starting at 7 PM / FREE CONCERTS!

Mountain Village

Sunset Concert Series Lineup has not been announced yet! Starting June 17 through August 19

Niwot

Rock & Rails in Niwot: June 4 to August 27 from 5 – 9 PM / Thursdays – FREE CONCERTS! Whistle Stop Park

Ouray

Mountain Air Music, every Thursday night in June

Palisade

Carboy Winery Presents Backyard Beats: from April 4 to October 31 from 4 – 7:00 PM / Saturdays (except holiday weekend) + some Sundays – FREE CONCERTS! Carboy Winery

Parker

Discovery Park Summer Concert Series in Parker: June 4 to July 23 from 6:30 – 8 PM / Thursdays – FREE CONCERTS! Discovery Park

Snowmass

Snowmass Free Concert Series: June 18 to August 27, 2026 from 5:30 PM /Thursdays – FREE CONCERTS! returns to Fanny Hill

Steamboat Springs

Steamboat Free Summer Concerts: Five free concerts throughout the summer of 2026 / Thursdays – FREE CONCERTS!

Thornton

Thornton’s Rhythms & Reels: May 28 to August 6 at 6 p.m. / FREE CONCERTS AND MOVIES!

Vail

Hot Summer Nights: June 16 through September 15starting at 6:30 PM / Select Tuedays – FREE CONCERTS! Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater (AKA The Amp)

Westminster

Orchard Town Center Concert Series: July 18 to August 22 at 6 PM (no concert August 1) / Select Saturdays – FREE CONCERTS!

Windsor

Summer Concert Series: June 4 to August 6 at from 6:30 – 8:30 PM / Thursdays – FREE CONCERTS!