Fun Things to Do in Denver, June 9 to June 15
From a World Cup watch party to a literary festival, here are the best events in and around the Mile High City this week.
3 Free Denver Concert Series To Fill Your Summer
Skip the $100 tickets. These music series bring local talent, community vibes, and plenty of reasons to spread out a blanket and stay awhile.
Meet the Charro Family Behind Colorado’s Most Colorful Rodeo Tradition
For more than 150 years, the Diaz family has been riding, roping, and performing charrería, Mexico’s national sport, across Colorado and the United States. By now, they have it by the horns.
A Chef Couple Creates Delightful Ice Cream Flavors in Aurora
Welcome to Darlene’s Ice Cream, where owner Joy Williams-Clark and her husband, Kyle Clark, create a rainbow of frozen treats that would make the shop’s namesake, Grandma Darlene, proud.
Before & After: A Home Makeover Ushers a Castle Pines Couple Into Their Next Chapter
Cozy meets current in an empty nest freshly feathered by local designer Ashley Jacobs.
4 Great Spots To Admire Western Art in Denver
“Western art” used to mean stereotypical paintings of white cowboys and Native Americans. A broader picture is emerging across the Denver metro area.
The Best Family Rafting Trip You’ve Probably Never Considered
Idaho’s Lower Salmon River delivers big scenery, kid-friendly camping, and just enough splashy adventure to keep everyone talking about it long after the takeout.
A Denver Lawyer Explains Why the Patagonia v. Pattie Gonia Lawsuit Is a Drag
No tea, no shade, but Patagonia’s lawsuit against the drag climate activist veers on bullying, says trademark lawyer Tim Holbrook.
13 Fun Things To Do in the Mountains This June
From an athletic competition for slackliners and yogis to a Pride month bash, here are the best events in Summit County, Estes Park, Vail, and beyond this month.
No, Denver Doesn’t Have “America’s Emptiest Downtown”
A widely circulated Wall Street Journal article calls our city a “downtown catastrophe” that’s “fighting to escape a death spiral.” Data tell a different, and much less dystopian, story.
Wait, There Are Bison in Highlands Ranch Now?
One of Denver’s herds has moved to the suburbs.
Cimera Proves Peruvian Cuisine Can Rise to the Top in Denver
Former Hop Alley chef Geoff Cox displays his culinary chops with a new eighth-floor RiNo eatery dedicated to Pan-Latin American cuisine.
Everything You Need to Know About Denver’s E-Bike Rebate Program
Denver’s e-bike rebate program is back. Here, a guide to e-bike basics, as well as what you should know before investing in one.
5 Dude Ranches for a Perfect Colorado Vacation
Whoever said “don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys” clearly never took their kids to Granby’s 107-year-old C Lazy U Ranch. Plus: four more spots to saddle up for a quintessential Colorado vacation.
Can’t Make the Denver Chalk Art Festival? Here’s How to Create a Sidewalk Masterpiece.
Michael Rieger, co-founder of one of the world’s biggest chalk art celebrations, shares five tips for aspiring home artists.
A Writer Goes Down the Rabbit Hole at Denver’s First Microdosing Cafe
Don’t worry, she’s fine.
Rodeo Dunes is Colorado’s Most Anticipated Golf Course. I Played It.
The Keiser family’s new golf destination in unincorporated Roggen won’t open until 2027, but I got a sneak peek at the first course—and the hype might actually be justified.
Hike We Like: Chasm Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park
This turquoise tarn cradled below the Diamond of Longs Peak is one of the most popular hikes in the park—for good reason.
The 5 Best U-Pick Farms for Fruits and Vegetables on the Front Range
These U-pick farms near Denver offer everything from apples and berries to peppers and potatoes.
The 12 Coolest Bar and Restaurant Bathrooms in Denver
From waterfall sinks and live gardens to rave buttons and second-language speaking lessons, these powder rooms deserve their own reviews.
Coloradans Will Love These 6 Summer Travel Destinations
Hit the road or hop a flight to play the Colorado way—with a change of scenery.
Hike We Like: Rawhide Trail in Golden’s White Ranch Park
This 3,900-acre uncrowded expanse is just 20 minutes from downtown Golden, but it offers solitude, serenity, and wildflowers aplenty.
7 of the Best Spots to Watch Outdoor Movies Around Denver This Summer
Our favorite parks, patios, amphitheaters, and other Front Range destinations for catching open-air films.
Mall Food Is Back: New Mexican Eatery Ash and Agave Debuts in Cherry Creek
A rare changing of the guard brings Mexican cuisine to the Cherry Creek Shopping Center.
5 Things Every Colorado Avalanche Fan Needs To Know for This Stanley Cup Run
Colorado is chasing another Stanley Cup with one of the NHL’s most talented rosters. We break down the stars, storylines, and stakes shaping the Avs’ postseason.
Why I Stopped Chasing Trophy Trout Around the World—and Fell in Love With a Stretch of the Colorado River Close to Home
Fish-stocking season on the Colorado River becomes a meditation on solitude, aging, and the deep comfort of knowing a stretch of water by heart.
Why Colorado Bear Encounters Are Surging This Year
Drought and heat have black bears waking up earlier and roaming farther in search of food. The state is stepping up to teach people how to live alongside them.
8 Must-Visit Wineries In and Around Palisade
There’s never been a better time to plan a Grand Valley sipping tour.
11 Denver-Area Food and Drink Festivals To Help You Make the Most of Summer
This summer offers a world of fun and flavor at Denver’s best food and drink gatherings.
This Colorado-Born AI Tool Can Spot Problems With Houses Before Your Inspector Does
Alpine Building Performance’s free AI-powered tool helps Denver-area buyers and agents anticipate issues like lead paint, crumbling foundations, and outdated wiring before the official inspection.
This Minimalist Denver Artist Wants You to Rethink What “Lazy” Means
Ariana Barnstable’s whimsical Lazy Cowgirl series celebrates doing your own thing at a leisurely pace—preferably while wearing a great pair of boots.
The Denver Colfax Marathon Turns 20—and Denver Is Throwing It a Party
This year’s race transforms the city into a rolling celebration, with lion dancers, drag queens, kayakers, live music, and, of course, thousands of runners moving through Denver’s most iconic landmarks.
People Are Fleeing Boulder and Summit Counties and Flocking to…Weld?
Weld County saw the state’s highest population growth last year, while traditional hot spots like Denver and the mountain resort counties lost residents. We asked state demographer Kate Watkins what’s behind the shift.
These 3 New Books by Colorado Authors Will Haunt Your Summer Reading List
These new releases turn today’s anxieties into page-turning fiction.
What’s All the Buzz About Björn’s Colorado Honey?
This Boulder-based business went from selling honey at farmers’ markets to running bee-themed shops across Colorado.
Iconic Boulder Grocery Brand Wild Oats Is Back—Kind Of
The last of the natural foods pioneer’s brick-and-mortars disappeared by 2009, but the name and ethos is staging a comeback on a line of organic beverages and eggs.
Moab Isn’t What It Used to Be—But These 6 Hikes Still Feel Like It
Moab isn’t ruined—you’re just hiking the wrong trails. These under-the-radar treks offer solitude, scenery, and a throwback to the desert’s quieter days.
Colorado’s Delta County Orchard Crop Is Lost After a Devastating Spring Frost
A rare April freeze wiped out peaches, apples, and other tree fruits—meaning slim pickings at Front Range farmers’ markets this summer.
A Beginner’s Guide to Xeriscaping in Colorado
There’s never been a better time to break up with your yard’s thirsty turf and sow a low-water landscape that thrives in Colorado—and looks beautiful doing it.
Pig and Tiger Is One of Denver’s Most Exciting New Restaurants
Chefs Darren Chang and Travis Masar expanded from a Boulder food hall counter to a sultry restaurant space serving luxurious noodles, delicious dumplings, and crackly fried chicken.
This Remote Colorado Canyon Might Be the State’s Most Underrated Backpacking Trip
Petroglyphs, empty campsites, and miles of red-rock terrain reward hikers willing to trade certainty for solitude in Big Dominguez Canyon.
The Best Mother’s Day Gifts in Denver
Whether Mom enjoys experiences or pampering, jewelry or adventure apparel, we rounded up gifts from Colorado purveyors that she is sure to love—almost as much as she loves you.
These Japanese-Style Sandos Really Stack Up
Eloise founder Oliver Finkel builds tempting sandwiches on his own airy shokupan bread in a tiny Tennyson Street cafe.
Private Equity Ran This Beloved Colorado Mountain Bike Brand Into Bankruptcy. Can Its Founder Save It?
Adam Miller started Revel Bikes in his Carbondale living room. Then he watched as a private-equity firm sent the company over the handlebars. Can Miller overcome crushing tariffs and a sputtering bike market to revive his business?
Meet Denver’s Chihuahua Race Hype Man
Most of the year, Senen “SLiM” Rodriguez is a local Christian radio host—but every year at Denver’s Cinco de Mayo Festival, he lets the dogs out.
How Denver Became the Center of the Star Wars Universe
Plus, five ways to celebrate Star Wars Day in Denver now.
The 6 Best Ways to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo Around Denver
Where to find all the tacos, tequila, and cerveza needed to celebrate the Mexican holiday all weekend.
Denver’s Top Dentists 2026
Keep your mouth happy with 5280’s comprehensive list of more than 900 of the best dentists in Denver and beyond.
Buying or Selling a Home in Denver This Year? Here Are 5 Questions You Should Ask.
From evaluating HOAs to assessing wildfire risk, we asked experts what you need to know to successfully navigate the Denver metro real estate market.
11 Ways to Celebrate Derby Day Around Denver
Don your most extravagant hat, order a mint julep, and pretend you’re at Churchill Downs during these Kentucky Derby events.
11 Perfect Hike-and-Spa Experiences for Colorado Moms
This Mother’s Day, celebrate your adventure mom by giving her what she really wants: sweat and rest.
5 Tips for Shopping the Denver Botanic Gardens Plant Sale Like a Pro
The wildly popular May event is back—here’s how to score the best herbs, tomatoes, and drought-tolerant gems before they sell out.
Why Jaume Plensa’s New Exhibition at Denver Botanic Gardens Is a Must-See This Summer
From towering sculptures in the gardens to meditative works indoors, A New Humanism blends art, nature, and reflection.
The Best Mother’s Day Brunches in Denver and Beyond
Because nothing says “I love you” like bottomless mimosas.
The Best Farmers’ Markets in Metro Denver and Beyond
Get the dirt on where to shop for local veggies, Western Slope fruits, and artisan products from now into November at these Front Range farmers’ markets.
12 Mile High Asian Food Week Specials You Don’t Want to Miss
The citywide celebration of Asian, Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander cuisine returns for its fourth year of great food and deals from April 26–May 3.
The 11 Best Indie Bookstores on the Front Range
Spend your weekend hunting down your next five-star read at one of these charming, local lit lairs.
4 Films to Watch at the 2026 Denver Women+Film Festival
Your guide to the can’t-miss screenings at this year’s event. Plus, we dive into the data to learn why the festival is more important than ever.
11 Refill Shops Around Denver to Try This Earth Day
Stock up on the essentials and reduce your plastic usage all at once.
8 Eco-Conscious Colorado Gear Brands to Support This Earth Day
These outdoor brands have made it a point to produce sustainable gear.
5 Design Changes That Can Actually Improve Your Well-Being
Denver designer Angela Harris explains why your home might be stressing you out—and how to fix it.
Where to Watch the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Playoffs
Whether you’re cheering on Joker and Co. or just a winning game-day special, these are the best Mile High City sports bars.
Denver Whiskey Legend Jake Norris Debuts New Bourbon Ahead of Arvada Distillery Launch
After a pandemic delay, the former Stranahan’s and Laws Whiskey head distiller is releasing a rare small-batch series of cask-finished whiskeys that were born in 2018.
An Insider’s Guide to Red Rocks Amphitheatre
From where to park to where to answer nature’s call, here’s everything you need to know about Colorado’s most iconic music venue.
