Colorado summers are made for enjoying great eats and drinks outdoors, whether you’re trying tacos or sipping suds. Food festivals in metro Denver’s parks and on scenic old-town streets are a great way to dive into global culture, sample the best bites from local chefs, and hang out with your friends and neighbors.

Here, the summer festivals—many of which include music, art, shopping, and folklore—we’re looking forward to most.

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Jump Ahead:

Northglenn Food Truck Carnival

People waiting in line for food truck food at Northglenn Food Truck Carnival in Colorado
Photo courtesy of the Northglenn Food Truck Carnival
  • When: Friday, May 15, through Sunday, May 17
  • Where: E.B. Rains Jr. Memorial Park, 11701 Community Center Dr., Northglenn

Founded in 2016, Northglenn’s Food Truck Carnival is a three-day celebration of global food and community with more than 20 food trucks each day, plus music, carnival rides, cultural programming, and a Sunday Kids’ Market showcasing young entrepreneurs. The festivities run from 4 to 9 p.m. on May 15, including an Asian American and Pacific Islander Celebration; noon to 9 p.m. on May 16; and noon to 5 p.m. on May 17. Admission is free but food, drinks, and rides can be purchased separately. Bring the family, hang out with your neighbors, and enjoy Indian, Polish, Mexican, Turkish, and Korean cuisine (to name just a few), as well as local baked goods, Hawaiian shaved ice, coffee drinks, and more.

Boulder Creek Festival

  • When: Friday, May 22, through Monday, May 25
  • Where: 9th to 14th streets between Canyon Blvd. and Arapahoe Ave., Boulder

This 37-year-old Boulder tradition straddles Memorial Day weekend with four days of food and fun along the banks of its namesake waterway. This year, more than 30 bands, including the Galentines, Gasoline Lollipops, Queso Ra, and Maggie’s Farmers (a Dylan cover band, of course), will perform on three stages. Also enjoy an outdoor market with products from more than 200 artisans and local businesses, movie night on May 23 in partnership with the Sundance Film Festival—this year’s entertainment is Napoleon Dynamite—and eats from more than 20 food trucks and vendors serving sandwiches, ice cream, cake pops, and pizza, among other foods.

And don’t miss one of five ticketed Creekside Beer Fest sessions on Saturday and Sunday, when you can sample beer, hard seltzers, spirits, and canned cocktails from 21 local makers.

Drink Red, Wear Red

A couple dressed in red stands in front of a wall of flowers and vines with "drink red wear red" in neon
Drink Red Wear Red. Photo by Lucy Beaugard
  • When: Thursday, May 28
  • Where: Mile High Station & Ironworks, 2027 W. Colfax Ave., Denver (Lincoln Park)

It’s not often that you get to shop for a new outfit for one special occasion. Weddings and cruises top the list—and in Denver, the third is the Colorado Restaurant Association & Foundation’s Drink Red, Wear Red, an annual celebration of Colorado cuisine that benefits restaurant workers through culinary education, training, and emergency assistance. The perfect outfit could be a red-carpet worthy dress or a thrifted suit jacket with red All-Stars, depending on your mood and personal style. The food covers a wide range (especially if you upgrade to a VIP pass), from Chicken Riot’s Mexican barbecue to Italian fine-dining favorites Coperta and Tavernetta. Wine and cocktails are part of the package too, along with a best-dressed contest, photo opps, DJs, and a silent auction.

Denver Greek Festival

  • When: Friday, June 5, through Sunday, June 7
  • Where: 4610 E. Alameda Ave., Glendale

One of the Mile High City’s longest-running food and culture festivals turns 60 this year, but don’t think that the Denver Greek Festival is showing its age. The organizers are keeping up with the times by adding Uber and Lyft drop-off and pick-up zones, dedicated entry gates for pre-purchased ticket holders, and state-of-the-art culinary equipment for faster food service. Overall, this year’s festival will be more spread out and will have more seating, food and drink stations, and indoor space than ever before. Of course, there will also be plenty of gyros, a Taste of Greece dining experience that lets you try multiple specialties, and bars and tavernas serving Greek beer, wine, and spirits. Also expect dancing, cooking demos, and a market selling ceramics, art, and pantry supplies.

Top Taco

  • When: Thursday, June 25
  • Where: 5453 W. 88th Ave., Westminster

Top Taco is not so much a festival as it is a frenzy. When you have just three or four hours (depending on whether you choose general admission or VIP) to eat and drink your way through the tacos and margaritas of more than 60 restaurants, you may end up, well, biting off more than you can chew. That’s alright though, since portions are bite-size to help you get more variety, and judges are circulating throughout the tents so you can always ask them for recommendations (just look for the serious foodies carrying clipboards). If that’s not enough, you’ll also get live music, lucha libre wrestling, and a goat petting station. Your vote counts, too; both people’s choice and judges’ choice awards are handed out to deserving taquerias.

If you enjoy single-theme culinary events, the organizers also host the Surf Seafood Fest (July 30), Chicken Fight (August 20), and the Rare Steak Fest (September 24).

Denver French Fest

  • When: Friday, July 10, through Sunday, July 12
  • Where: Fillmore Street between First and Second avenues, Denver (Cherry Creek)

Bastille Day falls on July 14 this year and there’s no better way to pre-game France’s national day than with food, art, Champagne, music, and fashion at this annual festival. Brush up on your high school French before attending this three-day affair, which takes place at Fillmore Plaza in Cherry Creek North. The event is free if you want to wander the festival grounds and take in the music, art installations, and vendor market, but the food is extra. There are also ticketed Wine & Cuisine and VIP experiences for true gourmands.

The Big Eat

Plating small bites at Denver Big Eat
More than 80 restaurants will serve food at the Big Eat. Photo by Nikki Rae Photography
  • When: Thursday, July 23
  • Where: Denver Performing Arts Complex, 1400 Curtis St., Denver (Downtown)

EatDenver, the Mile High City’s coalition of independent restaurants, celebrates 20 years of education, networking, and advocacy for the hospitality industry this year—and the Big Eat has been a part of that mission since the organization’s early days. It’s also one of the best ways to explore our ever-growing food scene, since the festival promises more than 80 food booths from locally owned businesses. Feast on signature dishes—plus cocktails, wine, cider, and beer from Colorado breweries, wineries, distilleries, and cocktail bars.

Sazón Latin Food Fest

  • When: Sunday, August 9
  • Where: Improper City, 3201 Walnut St., Denver (RiNo)

Music and food from restaurants and food trucks representing Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean are the draw at Sazón. While the event is free, it’s one of the smaller festivals in town, so the organizers ask that you register in advance. Bring the whole family since this is an all-ages happening.

Denver Food + Wine Festival

A large pan of paella being topped with mussels and shrimp
Denver Food + Wine Festival. Photo by Lucy Beaugard
  • When: Wednesday, August 26, through Saturday, August 29
  • Where: Tivoli Quad, 1000 Larimer St., Denver (Auraria)

Hosted by the Colorado Restaurant Foundation, the Denver Food + Wine Festival honors the local culinary community with a series of tasty events. The main draw is the the Grand Tasting on August 27, with unlimited tastes from hundreds of wine and spirits makers as well as bites from the city’s best restaurants. We love the street-party-style Shake + Brake Showdown (August 27), a cocktail competition paired with samples from multiple food trucks; awards are handed out for the best food and mixed drinks. For a more intimate occasion, the Riedel Wine Glass Seminar (August 26) is a great way to learn about how the shape of the glass affects a wine’s aroma and flavor.

Colorado Dragon Boat Festival

A Taiwan-style flag catching boat race is one kind of race you’ll see at the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival
A Taiwan-style flag catching boat race is one kind of race you’ll see at the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival. Photo by Paul Docktor/Colorado Dragon Boat Festival
  • When: Saturday, August 29, through Sunday, August 30
  • Where: Sloan’s Lake Park, Denver (Sloan’s Lake)

The city’s largest celebration of Asian culture and cuisine is back for another year at Sloan’s Lake. More than 200,000 people attend the festivities every year to watch the giant oar-powered boats race on the lake and get a taste of the many vendors serving cuisine from China, Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and other Asian countries. This year, also catch the Dragon Boat Regatta & Night Market at Riverdale Regional Park (9755 Henderson Road, Brighton).

Taste of Ethiopia Food Festival

People in traditional clothing at the Taste of Ethiopia Festival
The Taste of Ethiopia Festival. Photo courtesy of Taste of Ethiopia Heritage Foundation
  • When: Saturday, September 12 through Sunday, September 13
  • Where: City Park, 2001 Steele Street, Denver (City Park)

Taste of Ethiopia returns for its second year at City Park and this year features two full days of cultural immersion and great food from the region’s many Ethiopian restaurants, cafes, and other food vendors. Beyond that, the event also brings together health, civic, and business resources for the community as part of the Taste of Ethiopia Heritage Foundation’s mission.

Mark Antonation
Mark Antonation
Mark Antonation is 5280’s food editor.
Sarah Kuta
Sarah Kuta
Sarah Kuta is Colorado-based writer and editor. She writes about travel, lifestyle, food and beverage, fitness, education and anything with a great story behind it.