Colorado Memorial Day Weekend

Fire up the grill this Memorial Day weekend and give the warmer months the welcome they deserve, or visit a memorial or a veteran’s home to say thank you to those who have served our country, but find a way to make Memorial Day in 2023 count.

Countless events are happening across Colorado on Memorial Day weekend, but here are a few to get you started:

Boulder Creek Festival – Boulder, CO
May 24-27, 2024

The Boulder Creek Festival® has been the unofficial kickoff to summer in Boulder for over thirty years. Widely considered Boulder County’s favorite event, the Festival includes four days of festivities featuring many events, activities, food and entertainment unique to the Boulder community.

Memorial Day Run & March – Castle Rock, CO
May 18, 2024

Give back this Memorial Day by taking part in the Memorial Day March, a 5K/10K/30K run which has three routes to choose from for participants of all ages and abilities. The Memorial Day March raises money for homeless veterans, and asks participants to bring nonperishable dry and canned goods for their food donation truck. If you’re not comfortable with crowds yet, that’s fine too—the Memorial Day March has a virtual option as well, and will even ship your runner’s swag directly to your door.

CKS Paddlefest – Buena Vista, CO
May 25-29, 2023

CKS Paddlefest is back this year to celebrate the upcoming whitewater rafting season in the Arkansas River Valley! CKS—Colorado Kayak Supply—will be running great sales all weekend so you can stock up on gear, but they’ll also be running an epic party with live music, a disc golf tournament, a river surf competition, a trail run, kayak race, gear swap, and more.

Bluegrass on The Arkansas – Salida, CO
May 27-28, 2023

Join us for a fun-filled Memorial Day weekend at Bluegrass on the Arkansas in Salida, Colorado. Enjoy two days of bluegrass music, food trucks, and SoulCraft beer. This free event supports Salida Rotary and local nonprofits. See you at Riverside Park!

Glenwood Art Festival – Glenwood Springs, CO
May 27-29, 2023

This free event will showcase artists from Colorado and beyond, and you can buy everything from fine art to handcrafted knickknacks. Participating artists are carefully curated, so there will be a wide selection of both types of art and price ranges, so there truly will be something for everyone. The art festival is located on 7th Street and Bethel Plaza in downtown Glenwood Springs and features live music.

Memorial Day Service – Fort Lupton, CO
May 29, 2023

Pay tribute to our fallen troops this Memorial Day at Hillside Cemetery in Fort Lupton. This annual tradition includes a flyover, Presentation of the Colors, and speaking events.

Territory Days – Colorado Springs, CO
May 27-29, 2023

Now in its 47th year, award winning Territory Days is an outdoor, historic festival that combines entertainment, exhibits, demonstrations, food, and a large variety of craft booths.

Taste of Creede – Creede, CO
May 27-29, 2023

The 35th Annual Taste of Creede: a Festival of Fine Arts & Dining, is a fantastic weekend event for the whole family. With live music, artist demonstrations, vendors, kid’s activities, a cooking competition, an art auction, ranch roping, and plenty more, Taste of Creede has a full schedule events with something new and exciting every day.

Trail Ridge Road – Rocky Mountain National Park

Trail Ridge Road, the western access to Rocky Mountain National Park is impassable during the winter months and typically opens yearly for road traffic on Memorial Day weekend. During the first few weeks of the road’s opening, the cuts of the snowplows on Trail Ridge Road form walls of snow up to twenty feet high! If you’ve never been early in the season, it’s an experience you won’t want to miss. Check the NPS website for up-to-date information on the official opening date of the road.

Classic Memorial Day Pastimes

If you can’t find an event near you, Memorial Day is still a perfect weekend to spend with family and friends, especially if you haven’t seen each other since pre-pandemic times. Have a picnic in your backyard or at a park, break out your tent and gear to get some early-season camping in (but remember to bring layers for when the sun goes down!), or sit out on a patio and enjoy some of Colorado’s delicious craft beer at a local brewery. Sleep in, grab some groceries and local produce from one of Colorado’s farmers markets, and make some delicious food from local ingredients, or wake up early and take the kids to a national park for an unforgettable family excursion in nature. But however you choose to spend your long weekend, make sure you take a moment to remember the men and women who have died serving our country in the military, whether you knew them personally or not. They—and the sacrifices they made for us—are the reason we’re celebrating and barbecuing this weekend.

By Emily Krempholtz