Aurora Fest 2026
Saturday. Billed as the city’s signature, family-friendly summer festival, Aurora Fest 2026 will feature “many of the same great traditions and fun that have brought laughter and energy to the Great Lawn for over a decade,” organizers said of the reimagined event. “There will be dance, (music) and other cultural performances, an international market featuring clothing, crafts and more from countries around the world and, of course, food trucks and stalls offering a variety of international cuisine.”
This year’s fest, themed “The World in a City,” takes place at the Aurora Municipal Center Great Lawn, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway in Aurora, from 3 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, June 13. Free and open to the public. Visit for more details.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s goodbye (sort of)
Thursday. While Colorado Music Hall of Famers Nitty Gritty Dirt Band aren’t necessarily leaving the stage after their upcoming Denver show, the band will never again tour regularly, according to promoters. That makes its Thursday, June 18, concert at Mission Ballroom, fittingly titled “All the Good Times: The Farewell Tour | 60 Years of Dirt,” an ideal venue to celebrate the Grammy-winning act, known for songs such as “Colorado Christmas.”
With openers Molly Tuttle and Alison Brown, and more to be announced, at 4242 Wynkoop St. in Denver. Tickets for the 16-and-over concert are $74-$177 via .
Boulder Comedy Festival
Tuesday-June 21. While Denver gets much of the press for its competitive, national-quality stand-ups, Boulder has been contributing to the Front Range’s I-25 comedy corridor for decades.
For the last six years, its big event has been the Boulder Comedy Festival, which unites local and national stand-ups for nearly a week of hilarious showcases. Comic and fest-founder Zoe Rogers’ smart, diverse booking and intimate knowledge of local stages pairs well with the material of comedians such as Carlos Kareem Windham, Janae Burris, John Novosad, Anastasia Narinskiy, Gabby Gutierrez-Reed, Dan Treadway, Peter Liu and many more.
Tickets for the fest, taking place at venues such as Niwot Hall, the Dairy Center, Junkyard Social, and Dog House Music, can be purchased by show or venue at . All shows are 18-and-up.
Big, big trucks
Saturday. You don’t have to attend a branded show like Monster Jam to get some big-truck spectacle for your kids. The unusual event known as “Road-E-O” returns with garbage truck drivers, mechanics and heavy equipment operators navigating precision obstacle courses using full-size trucks, according to organizers. The Saturday, June 13, competition is free and open to the public, “with plenty for families to enjoy — food trucks, music, face painting, and even a tricycle course for kids.”
Hosted by the Colorado chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America, the contest takes place at the DIA CDL Training Lot, at Concourse B, 27065 E. 71st Ave. in Denver. Visit for more details.
