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Weekend things to do around Denver and beyond: Colorado Black Arts Festival in Denver and more

By Linda Navarro July 10, 2025 | updated 3 weeks ago

black arts.jpg

FILE PHOTO: Clothing from Ghana, Black Arts Festival. The Colorado Black Arts Festival is Friday through Sunday at Denver City Park West.

Gazette file photo

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

Three special days honor African American arts and culture during the 39th Colorado Black Arts Festival 2025 filling Denver City Park West Friday to Sunday. Art Garden is the special area and a fascinating way to learn the history of the bottle tree, dating back to Africa’s Congo area in the ninth century where they warded off evil spirits for slaves. Don’t miss the Boogaloo Celebration Parade at 10 a.m.  Saturday. Three stages of entertainment include artist and producer Adam Hawley, who brings his tour to KUUMBA Stage at 7 p.m. Saturday. Also a popular Gospel Stage.  Family activities, vendors from Black-owned businesses and Black artists.There is parking inside the park and on blocks at its west end. facebook.com/Coloradoblackartsfestival

THURSDAY-SUNDAY

Every two years, Colorado Springs, aka Olympic City USA, sets aside a full weekend for a U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum Festival for the community. An inspiring time to meet Hall of Fame Olympians and this year an opportunity as well to visit the museum for free Saturday and Sunday. On Thursday Movie Night see sports-themed movies at Fort Carson, Weidner Field, Lulu’s Downtown and University Village. A full schedule of events and champions and the appearances they will make around the Pikes Peak region and at the museum: usopm.org/festival.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

How about spending a day with the bugs and it’s a really good thing. So much to learn about nature at the 30th anniversary Bug Bash at Butterfly Pavilion’s Insectival. Enter the world of invertebrates up close, from the soft beauty of butterflies to sometimes-fear-inspiring spiders, tarantulas and scorpions. And how about some cockroach races? Add festival time with its immersive exhibits, music, arts and crafts, a beer garden and food truck, vendors. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster. Tickets: $5-$22.45, butterflies.org/insectival.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

Practice your Romance language and prepare for gastronomic delights during the three-day Bastille Day – A French Fest along Fillmore Plaza in Cherry Creek North between 1st and 2nd Avenue, Friday through Sunday. Hosts are The French American Chamber of Commerce Rocky Mountain. Shopping, art and other cultural activities, a lounge bar at Le Cafe de Paris. 4-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. tinyurl.com/984dh5ut. 

FRIDAY-JULY 20

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Featured Local Savings

One of Colorado’s most beautiful times of year, the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival. Trite as it sounds, seeing and experiencing really is believing. The hills truly are alive with flowers of every color and description. A photographer’s or artist’s dream. A full schedule of tours and educational opportunities. crestedbuttewildflowerfestival.com.

THURSDAY-SATURDAY

The champions compete for a million dollars in payouts during the final days of the historic Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo at Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs.  Dating back to 1937, it’s a benefit for area military, and draws top NFR Open Pro Rodeo cowboys and cowgirls, the Canadian Circuits and champions from Mexican rodeo. For tickets, evenings and matinees: pikespeakorbust.org. The area is also home to Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

More weekend rodeoing, this one the Colorado Gay Rodeo Association Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo at National Western Complex. Dancing and parties at Charlie’s Denver. cgrarodeo.com. 

SATURDAY

They’ll be in and around the water at Confluence Park from 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday for the Crosscurrents fundraiser for the Greenway Foundation, whose mission is protecting the South Platte River. Join them for family activities, art projects and concerts. For more: crosscurrentsdenver.com

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

Weekend festivals in Keystone continue this Saturday and Sunday with the Wine and Jazz Festival. Featured wines throughout River Run Village along with the sounds from featured jazz musicians. Tickets: $35.03 to $210.51 when food is added. keystonefestivals.com/festivals. 

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Linda Navarro

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