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Going to a festival held in Telluride’s distinctive box canyon is a bucket-list experience. But given the ski town’s remoteness and, well, bougie-ness, checking it off can be logistically and financially difficult. Use the following cheat sheet to figure out which of its marquee events is worth blowing half your annual concert budget on.
Read More: Colorado’s 9 Best Bluegrass Festivals
Telluride Bluegrass Festival
- 2025 Dates: June 19–22
- 2025 Headliners: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Greensky Bluegrass, Toy Factory Project, Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas
- Camping + Full Festival Pass: From $500 per person (kids 12 and under are free)
- Single-Day Festival Pass: $130
- Weather: Highs in the low 70s; lows in the mid-30s; June averages four days of rain.
- Daily Attendance: ~12,000
- Bonus Track: A group called Living Folklore has been bringing giant puppets, stilt walkers, face painting, clown-led yoga, crafts, and other activities for kids to the festival’s family tent for a quarter of a century.
Read More: The Telluride Bluegrass Festival at 50: An Oral History
Telluride Jazz Festival
- 2025 Dates: August 8–10
- 2025 Headliners: Kamasi Washington, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe
- Camping + Full Festival Pass: From $337 per person (kids 11 and under are free)
- Single-Day Festival Pass: $100
- Weather: Highs in the mid-70s; lows in the low 40s; August averages 10 days of rain.
- Daily Attendance: ~2,500
- Bonus Track: Jazz After Dark (Friday and Saturday nights, $35 each) keeps the music going long after sundown with shows spread across three venues in historic downtown Telluride. On Sunday, festivarians are also welcome to dress up and join a brass-band-led parade down Main Street.
Telluride Blues & Brews Festival
- 2025 Dates: September 12–14
- 2025 Headliners: The Black Crowes, Thundercat, Lukas Nelson
- Camping + Full Festival Pass: From $403 per person (kids 12 and under are free)
- Single-Day Festival Pass: From $126
- Weather: Highs in the high 60s; lows in the mid-30s; September averages eight days of rain.
- Daily Attendance: ~9,000
- Bonus Track: Attend one of four tastings ($33 to $49) at the Brewers Showcase, where more than two dozen breweries offer rare pours. For true hop-heads, there’s a Thursday night multicourse, beer-paired dinner ($195) at Madeline Hotel & Residences with commentary from the participating breweries and a performance by one of the musicians playing the festival.
Read More: Will Travel for Food: Where To Eat and Drink in Telluride