Because Colorado is cool.

From the Rocky Mountains to the Great Plains, from the urban corridor to tiny towns on the Western Slope, from Denver to Durango, from La Junta to Rifle, from the Arkansas River to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado is a beautiful, diverse tapestry.

We have wonderful music, vibrant arts, hiking, biking, skiing, rafting, fishing, paragliding and good eating. A Colorado experience can be weird, wild, scary, spectacular, sublime, or soothing.

But seldom boring.

As the Centennial State celebrates its 150th birthday, here are 150 things that are quintessentially Colorado:

1. A summer concert at Red Rocks: Music at the world-renowned, natural sandstone amphitheater fills the soul.

2. Maroon Bells: Too pretty to be real — but they are, and undoubtedly the most photographed spot in the state.

3. Powder days: Getting off the Panoramic lift at Winter Park on a bluebird day, skiing Vail’s Back Bowls, or riding clouds of champagne powder at Steamboat: heaven.

4. Bagging a fourteener: Summiting one of Colorado’s 58 ranked and unranked peaks that rise above 14,000 feet in elevation is a rite of passage for many.

5. Palisade peaches: Juicy and sweet, the famous, scrumptious Western Slope fruit is available late July through September.

6. State flag: How many other states celebrate — and market — their state flag like Colorado? (Fun fact: The blue stripes represent Colorado skies, the white is for snow-capped peaks, the golden circle is sunshine, and the red “C” represents the rocks and earth.)

7. Opening day at Coors Field: Colorado’s Mardi Gras as baseball fans and partyers — not necessarily in that order — pour into LoDo.

8. Riding Mr. Twister: Baby Boomers got their thrills riding the roller coaster, which opened in 1964 at the original Elitch Gardens in north Denver. debuted at the new location in 2023.

9. : Fielder was not only a spectacular nature photographer, but he was also a state historian.

10. KBCO radio: Long before streaming and SiriusXM came along, KBCO’s “World Class Rock’ brought quality music and new artists to listeners in the Denver-Boulder area, starting in 1976.

11. Manitou Incline: Want to get your steps in? Hike “The Incline,” in less than a mile via 2,768 steep steps.

12. Colorado Columbine: The state flower (Aquilegia caerulea) blooms in summer and brings a smile to every hiker’s face.

13. Rocky Mountain big horn sheep: The state animal was nearing extinction around 1900, but conservation efforts saved them. There are now in Colorado.

14. : The Arkansas River Valley produces watermelon, honeydew, and, most famously, cantaloupe, which have up to 3% more sugar than California cantaloupe. (Fun fact: Rocky Ford High School’s mascot is a Meloneer.)

15. Chipotle: “Do you want guac on that?” In 1993, Steve Ells, a graduate of Boulder High School and CU Boulder, opened the first Chipotle Mexican Grill blocks from the University of Denver.

16. Glenwood Springs Hot Springs: The spring waters — called Yampah, or literally “Big Medicine,” by Utes — have been soothing tired muscles and spirits for centuries. It’s now touted as the .

17. Mesa Verde National Park: Established in 1906, the cliff dwellings give visitors a glimpse of what life was like over 700 years ago when the Ancestral Pueblo people built thriving agricultural communities on the mesas and in the cliffs.

18. Great Sand Dunes National Park: Hike the tallest dunes in North America or sand sled or sandboard down the slopes. Then look into .

19. Pikes Peak: The 14,115-foot peak is touted as “America’s Mountain.” Drive to the top, hike up or ride the world’s highest and longest cog railroad.

20. Bolder Boulder: It’s not just a run, it’s also a celebration, complete with costumes. The Memorial Day 10K began in 1979 with 2,700 entrants. By 2004, it was the largest timed 10K in the world, with 47,454 participants.

21. Bent’s Old Fort: The reconstructed adobe fortress became a national historic site in 1960. It was built in 1833 as near the Arkansas River along the Mountain Branch of the Santa Fe Trail.

22. Colorado welcome signs: There are 40 of the wooden, brown-and-white “Welcome to Colorado” road signs around the state. The design dates back to the 1950s.

23. Telluride Bluegrass Festival: It began as the Telluride Fourth of July Celebration in 1973. It became the Telluride Bluegrass Festival on July 6, 1974. Emmylou Harris once called it “the Valhalla of places to perform.”

24. View from Wolf Creek Pass: Coming off the pass, looking west toward Pagosa Springs, is the look above the west fork of the San Juan River Valley. Breathtaking.

25. Empower Field at Mile High: Exiting the stadium with the fans after a big win is a magic carpet ride.

26. Stanley Hotel: Founded in 1909 by F.O Stanley, the reigns over Estes Park and sits at the doorstep of Rocky Mountain National Park. And it was the inspiration for Stephen King’s “The Shining.”

27. Garden of the Gods: The park was gifted to Colorado Springs in 1909 by the children of railroad magnate Charles Elliot Perkins. , a 35-foot, 1.4-million-pound red rock, is the star.

28. Subarus: Preferably with a sticker-covered Thule strapped to the top of an Outback, they are Colorado’s vehicle of choice. Or so it seems.

29. Hanging Lake: A short but steep and rocky hike takes you to a cliffside turquoise . It was named a National Natural Landmark in 2011.

30. South Park vista: From the top of Kenosha Pass, the valley — filled with green ranchland, twisting creeks and rimmed with snowcapped peaks — seems to go on forever.

31. The Numbers: A challenging, whitewater stretch of the Arkansas River just south of Buena Vista, The Numbers is a guaranteed adrenaline rush.

32. Big Blue Bear: The 40-foot-high bear, created by local artist Lawrence Argent, peers into the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver.

33. “Blucifer:” Love it or hate it, you can’t ignore the 32-foot-tall fiberglass sculpture with glowing red eyes on Peña Blvd approaching Denver International Airport.

Blucifer just turned 13. But the family of the artist who died creating it would prefer you don’t call it that.

34. Eisenhower Tunnel: The only bore through the Continental Divide that is named after a U.S. president. (The accompanying is named for Gov. Edwin C. Johnson.)

35. Frozen Dead Guy Days: The festival, begun in Nederland in 2002 and relocated to Estes Park in 2023, revolves around , a Norwegian mountain pioneer who died in 1989 but is cryogenically preserved.

36. The Broadmoor: Known for comfortable luxury, the famed hotel opened in 1918 and is the longest-running, consecutive Forbes five-star, AAA five-diamond resort in the country.

37. The Brown Palace: The Downtown Denver hotel has been a landmark since 1892. It has hosted U.S. presidents, heads of state, and in 1964 ... The Beatles!

38. The Colorado Trail: One of the most spectacular long-distance trails in the country, the 567-mile Rocky Mountain journey begins in Denver and finishes in Durango.

39. Grand Lake fireworks: The over the state's largest natural lake, deep in the mountains, is unforgettable.

40. : You can't miss the signs touting the store's “Stetson Hats, “Levi Overalls” and more. According to Rocky Mountain PBS, there are 100 of the signs alongside US 40 and Colorado 131, starting 100 miles from downtown Steamboat Springs.

41. Golf at elevation: Everyone has a favorite course, from municipal links to posh country clubs. But it's tough to top Grand Junction's Redlands Mesa.

42. : The 17.6-mile  trail in southeast Colorado features 150-million-year-old dinosaur footprints and prehistoric Native American rock art.

43. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad: A spectacular ride into the past along the Animas River through canyons in the San Juan National Forest, active since 1882.

44. : About 15 miles north of Durango are the iconic cliffs where Paul Newman (Butch Cassidy) and Robert Redford (The Sundance Kid) jumped into the Animas River to escape a posse. (Fun fact: Part of the famous scene was filmed in California.)

45. Rocky Mountain National Park: How to describe Colorado's slice of mountain paradise? The park's 415 square miles encompasses a spectacular range of mountain environments, from meadows to alpine lakes to towering peaks.

46. : There were nearly 2,500 wooden carousels carved in America between 1885 and the 1930s, but fewer than 150 survived. One of the best can be found at the county fairgrounds in Burlington.

47. Pawnee National Grassland: Covering 193,060 acres northeast of Greeley, it is home to hundreds of birds, pronghorn antelopes and other wildlife.

48. Crested Butte wildflowers: The town owns the title as “Wildflower Capital of Colorado.” Look for varieties like lupine, paintbrush, elephant heads, fireweed and glacier lilies.

49. : Within the 32 square miles of the Colorado Plateau in northwest Colorado are towering stone monoliths, red-rock canyons and the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive.

50. : A thundering triple waterfall and limestone caves make this a gem of the Colorado State Parks system.

51. DIA: The largest U.S. airport in square miles is easily recognizable, with its tent-like roof intended to mimic the snow-capped peaks of the Rockies. (It's also known for  conspiracy theories, never-ending construction projects, parking woes, long security lines ... .)

52. Complaining about Californians and Texans: Come on, admit it, you've done it.

53. "Rocky Mountain High": You sing along when you hear John Denver's ode to Colorado, the state's second official song. (The first is “Where the Columbines Grow.”)

54. The : Held annually in January at the National Western Complex, the event has celebrated Colorado's cowboy roots since 1906.

55. : In late July, Fairplay celebrates its heritage with burro, llama, dog and outhouse races, as well as a parade. The fete began in 1949 when a challenge went out to anyone who wanted to race alongside a burro from Leadville to Fairplay.

56. Sliding down a snow field: It's boiling hot on the Eastern Plains, but nice and cool at 11,990 feet on Loveland Pass. Find a patch of snow and away you go! (Don't forget the selfies.)

57. Fly fishing: Colorado is heaven for anglers casting for rainbow, brown, cutthroat and brook trout. What's the best spot? The Gunnison River? The Frying Pan River? The fly fisherman will never tell.

58. : With steep, dramatic walls that range from 2,700 to 1,750 feet, this national park east of Montrose is stunning.

59. Hot-air balloon festivals in Colorado -- like the ones in Telluride, Erie, Colorado Springs and Moffat County -- offer kaleidoscopes of color against Rocky Mountain skies. (Wanna take a ride? There are that will take you up.)

60.: Before craft brewing was all the rage, there was Coors in Golden, the largest single-site brewery in the world.

61. Ralphie: CU's famous buffalo just might be the best mascot in college football. (The current Ralphie, nicknamed Brandy, is the seventh bison to fill the role.)

62. : At the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the San Luis Valley, the area includes a Hindu temple, a Zen center, several Tibetan Buddhist centers, and various New Age activities.

63. : Touted as the oldest tavern in Denver, continuously serving fine beers and spirits since 1873, it also offers a famous jalapeño cream cheese burger.

64. Dinger: Love him or not, the purple Triceratops mascot for the Colorado Rockies has been around since  April 16, 1994, famously "hatching" from an oversized egg on the grounds that would become Coors Field.

65.  "Bucky" the Bronco: , Bucky first stood above the scoreboard at the original Mile High Stadium. He now stands atop the South Stand scoreboard at Empower Field at Mile High.

66. Loveland Valentines: The northern Colorado town, known as the Sweetheart City, has been for 80 years.

67. : For more than six decades, thespians have performed The Bard's works under the stars on the University of Colorado Boulder campus at the Mary Rippon Theatre.

68.  : The annual party celebrates Pueblo's famed green. Every September, more than 100,000 people stroll along Pueblo’s historic Union Avenue listening to live music, browsing local art and getting tastes of roasted chiles.

69. Million Dollar Highway: Stunning and scary (for some), the road travels between Silverton and Ouray in Southwest Colorado. Full of switchbacks and sheer cliffs, it .

70. : Telluride, perhaps Colorado's most picturesque mountain town, sits in a box canyon. At the end of the canyon, you’ll find the highest free-falling waterfall in the state.

71. :  Dating back to the founding of the Town of San Luis in 1851, the late July weekend festival celebrates the history of Colorado's oldest town with bands, vendors, parades, mariachi mass, a softball tournament, food stalls and a 10k run.

72. Chapel at the Air Force Academy: The (closed until 2028 for renovation) is the most recognizable building at the U.S. Air Force Academy. The aluminum, glass, and steel structure features 17 spires that shoot 150 feet into the sky.

73. New Year's fireworks on Pikes Peak: For more than 100 years, members of the AdAmAn Club have hiked Pikes Peak to ring in the New Year with a fireworks display on the famous mountain.

74. Near Grand Junction, this trail features 35 sandstone arches, the second-highest concentration of natural rock arches in North America outside Utah.

75. : A 32-mile mountain bike route that descends 6,000 feet from the top of the Grand Mesa to the town of Palisade. Spectacular.

76. America's oldest whitewater festival is held along the banks of the Arkansas River in June. It features concerts, craft beer, river rafting, kayaking, mountain biking, and running. FYI,  FIBArk stands for "First in Boating in the Arkansas River."

77. : Located in Teller County, in the mountains west of Colorado Springs, the monument protects 34-million-year-old fossils of redwood trees and insects.

78. : For more than 40 years, the Lakewood restaurant has served Mexican food in a pink adobe building that features caves, cliff divers, and endless sopapillas. The iconic restaurant gained cult fame after being featured in an episode of "South Park." Casa Bonita (Spanish for “pretty house") is now owned by the show’s creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

79. Mountaintop matrimony: For 35 years, couples have gathered on the Forest Meadow run at to exchange vows and kisses at 12,000 feet.

80. : Dating back to 1879, the saloon is an enduring piece of Leadville’s history with a classic, wild-west oak bar. Touted as "a gathering place for locals, outlaws, and legends," it has hosted figures such as Doc Holliday, Molly Brown and Oscar Wilde, and witnessed the rise and fall of Leadville’s mining boom.

81. : Founded in 1932, it's the fifth-oldest professional opera company in the country. The summer performances take place at 8,500 feet in the intimate 550-seat opera house built in 1878.

82. : Held annually during Labor Day weekend for 52 years, the event matches movies and the mountains. The 2025 event included the debut of "Springstreen: Deliver Me from Nowhere."

83.  A: Just outside the historic San Juan Mountains town of Silverton, the well-preserved ghost town features abandoned buildings and mining structures, taking visitors back to Silverton's mining frontier history.

84. Meeker base camp: The town in the northwest corner of the state is the center for some of the best in Colorado. Hunters encounter terrain ranging from 6,000 feet to mountain peaks exceeding 12,200 feet in the Flattops Wilderness.

85. : The annual 10-day celebration, culminating on the Fourth of July, brings the Northern Colorado community together with rodeos, concerts, carnival rides, parades and more.

86. galore: Need some culcha? The dozens of museums in Colorado can help. Among them: the Denver Art Museum; the Firefighters Museum; the Museum of Nature & Science; the Museum of Illusions; the Morrison Natural History Museum; the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver; the Museum of Northwest Colorado; the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Museum; The ProRodeo Hall of Fame & Museum of the American Cowboy; the Children's Museum of Denver; Colorado Railroad Museum; Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum; the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery; the Aspen Art Museum; the Museum of the West; the National Mining Museum; Forney Transportation Museum; the Clyfford Still Museum; the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum; and the History Colorado Museum, where you can currently see "Zoom In: The Centennial State in 100 Objects."

87. Rocky Mountain Oysters: A famous -- or is it infamous? -- delicacy consisting of deep-fried, thinly sliced bull or bison testicles.

88. :  The original "mountain pie" pizza restaurant opened in Idaho Springs in 1973 and has been a sanctuary to escape I-70 ski traffic ever since.

80. : A restaurant with heads of actual wildlife on the walls? That they can then serve you? Seriously? (And they also offer Rocky Mountain oysters; see above.) Wild.

90. Colorado natives: Who brag about being Colorado natives.

91. Transplants: Who are annoyed by those who brag about being Colorado natives.

92. The Front Range: Even after decades of living in Colorado, you catch yourself pulling over on Interstate 25 to snap a photo of the majestic mountains after a rainshower, when the clouds are lying heavy on the horizon. Stunning.

93. Glenwood Canyon, that took 12 years to build. Workers had to bore three tunnels through the canyon’s rock; built 15 miles of retaining walls to hold the road in place; and construct  40 bridges and viaducts, according to CDOT. Amaze amaze amaze. (If you get it, you get it.)

94. Sleigh rides, dog sled rides: Take an old-fashioned in Steamboat Springs, or zip behind a pulling you along snowy Breckenridge trails. The kids will never forget it.

95. : The home of Titanic survivor Margaret Brown offers a Victorian Horrors theater program around Halloween, letting guests traipse through the 1889 house and enjoy ghostly tales.

96. Golf: Where else can you partake nearly year-round without baking (don't tell me it's a dry heat, Arizona) or drowning (hello, humid Florida)? And with nearly to choose from, you might even be able to find a tee time.

97. The Olympics: Denver is the only city in the country to reject the Winter Olympics (in 1976), giving us the right to gloat over by doing so (sorry, Montreal).

98. : With the Arkansas River flowing 956 feet below, it remains America’s highest suspension bridge. The bridge spans 1,260 feet and features 1,257 wooden planks.

99. Fickle weather:  A day in May begins with bright sunshine and warms up to 80 degrees. Eight hours later, it's snowing. Two days later, it's 80 degrees.

100. The : The man-made ice-climbing park sits in a spectacular natural gorge just outside Ouray. The free, public park is home to more than 150 named ice and mixed climbs and draws adventurers from around the world.

101. DCPA: The is a downtown treasure hosting Broadway touring plays, Tony Award-winning theater, classical music, ballet and operas.

102. Aspens: Monarch Pass? Kenosha Pass? Independence Pass? Guanella Pass? Does it matter? With aspen glittering golden against cobalt-blue skies, autumn in Colorado is magical.

103. Enstrom toffee: Based in Grand Junction, but found throughout the state, the almond toffee is the star of the show for , a business that dates to 1929 and is still family-run.

104. : The urban oasis features native and exotic plants and trees, the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory, the Mordecai Children's Garden and outdoor concerts in the summer.

105. Eldorado Canyon: Just south of Boulder, is a mecca for rock climbers. For others, hiking along scenic South Boulder Creek and stopping for a picnic works just fine.

106. : Nestled at the base of the Flatirons in Boulder, Chautauqua is a national historic landmark that includes Chautauqua Auditorium, built in 1898. From the Chautauqua Trailhead, hikers can access 40 miles of trails.

107.  Apres ski: The after-ski bliss begins with taking off the boots, then gathering at a lodge, bar, or restaurant to unwind and exaggerate your most epic run of the day. A hot tub session is optional.

108. : At the top of Lookout Mountain, just west of Denver, is the Buffalo Bill museum and gravesite. The popular tourist attraction tells the story of William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody, star of his Wild West Show that began in 1882.

105. : Though not as famous as Mesa Verde, the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument is a precious time capsule. Sitting just outside of Dolores, it consists of nearly 200,000 acres and features the largest concentration of archaeological dig sites and Ancestral Puebloan ruins in the United States.

106. : Boulder's pedestrian mall features restaurants, shops, flowers, street artists, and people watching. It's about as Boulder as it gets.

107. : Gold and silver first brought people rushing to these mountain towns as they gambled on their future. Now people gamble in the casinos.

110. Hiking is more than just a walk in the park: From a half-mile stroll atop Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park to a 10-mile trek deep into the wilderness, hiking is Colorado's religion.

111. Indoor rock climbing: For those who need their fix, there are rock-walled gyms throughout Colorado. Climb on!

112. : Robert Redford's beloved festival will make its Boulder debut Jan. 21-31, 2027, after beating out Utah and Ohio to become the event's next host. Sundance is moving from its longtime home in Park City, Utah.

113. : The famed adobe restaurant opened in February 1963, specializing in what founder Sam Arnold called “New Foods of the Old West.” The building was inspired by a drawing of Bent����ap Old Fort, the famous fur-trading post on the Santa Fe Trail.

114. Golden retrievers: We love our dogs. Labrador retrievers, bulldogs, hunting dogs, even "little yippers." But according to , golden retrievers are Colorado's most popular breed.

115. and Rodeo: In late August through Labor Day, Pueblo hosts rodeos, carnival rides, agricultural competitions, big-name concerts, monster trucks, fine art, and food, drink and Western and Hispanic culture.

116. Strawberry Park Hot Springs: Thermal pools, unique stone masonry in the Rockies near Steamboat Springs. Famously, clothing is optional after dark, so minors are not permitted after sundown.

117. Craft beer. OK, so the latest heyday of craft beer in Colorado -- which started with Boulder Brewing Company in 1979 and was popularized by the Wynkoop in LoDo in 1988 -- may have passed, but local breweries are often still the social and economic hubs of their neighborhoods -- and still employ thousands of people and bring people from around the world to the state.

118. Marijuana legalization: Even if you don't partake, it's kind of awesome that Colorado was the .

119. The Denver City and County Building at the holidays: The tradition of kicking off the holiday season in Denver by lighting up the City and County Building dates back to 1918, which brings us to ...

120. ... the fact that colored outdoor Christmas lights were invented by in 1914, as a way to bring cheer to his ailing son.

From Jolly Ranchers and cheeseburgers to teddy bears and tampons, these inventions were created in Colorado

121: Parades: Sure, we have organized marches for Memorial Day, St. Patrick's Day, PrideFest, and MLK Day, but smaller parades are a hoot, like Goldens in Golden and the Fourth of July parades that small towns like Salida, Frisco and Florence hold each year. (Watching little kids scramble for candy tossed off of a 1950s firetruck and saluting veterans in uniform strolling behind will make you proud to be an American, and perhaps long for a more innocent time.)

122. Naked skiing: The , started at Glenwood Springs' Sunlight Mountain Resort in 2021, invites women -- and only women or nonbinary individuals (there were 700 of them in 2025) -- includes a run in which participants are invited to ski or snowboard sans clothes. Brrrr.

123. Free concerts: in Ruby Hill Park produces more than 50 free concerts at its outdoor amphitheater every summer. And stake out a spot early with your picnic basket for one (or all) of the 10 free concerts at . (Which leads us to ... )

124. Jazz live: Who says it's a dying art form? Colorado is home to the Winter Park Jazz Festival, Telluride Jazz Festival, Denver Jazz Fest, Evergreen Jazz Festival, UNC-Greeley Jazz Festival and Jazz Aspen Snowmass. (Which leads us to ... )

125. and : These two music venues in Denver offer stellar performances by some of the most acclaimed jazz artists in the country in intimate settings.

124. Colorado's culinary chops: abound here, from Bobby Stuckey and Lachlan Mackinnon Patterson (Frasca); Erika and Kelly Whitaker (The Wolf's Tailor); Caroline Glover (Annette); Matt Vawter (Rootstalk); Johnny Curiel (Alma Fonda Fina); Alex Seidel (Fruition); Troy Guard (TAG); and Jennifer Jasinski (Rioja). Eat up.

125. : In the summer, take a ride to the top of the Continental Divide, where you will be treated to 360-degree views of five mountain ranges.

126. The Denver Nuggets: They may not always win, but boy, these guys have heart -- and the best basketball player in the world in Nikola Jokic. And an NBA title in 2023.

127. The Colorado Avalanche: Three Stanley Cup titles and a roster of Hall of Famers for a rabid fan base.

128. The Denver Broncos: Eight Super Bowl appearances. Three Super Bowl wins. John Elway. Peyton Manning. Floyd Little. Orange Crush. Football as religion since 1960.

129. The Rapids: Fans have been getting their kicks from the pro soccer team since 1996. The Rapids won their only MLS Cup in 2010, their second MLS Cup appearance.

130: : Crazy for women's soccer? Colorado sure is. On March 28, Summit FC set the U.S. attendance record for a women’s professional sporting event at Empower Field, with 63,004 fans on hand to witness the club’s inaugural home match against the Washington Spirit.

131. The Colorado Rockies: "Rocktober" took the Rockies to the World Series in 2007, but the LoDo ballclub usually struggles. But a summer night at Coors Field with a beer and a hot dog has been a great combo since 1995.

132. Sandhill cranes: Each spring and fall, thousands of the long-necked birds during migration. Every March, there's even a party to celebrate them, in the form of the .

133. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center: There's a pool, gyms, an indoor shooting range, velodrome (track) and more at the Colorado Springs site. And are available.

134. Four-wheeling on Imogene Pass: A rugged and scary former mining road that connected Telluride and Ouray in the San Juan. Mountains. Thrill-seekers top out at 13,114 feet.

135. , not just the marathon: Playboy Magazine once called Colfax Avenue the “longest, wickedest street in America.” Jack Kerouac wrote about Colfax in his novel "On the Road." Music venues, bars, restaurants, shops, and interesting people-watching. Colfax has a thriving live music scene with The Fillmore, The Ogden Theater, The Lion’s Lair and many more bars serving up live music as well. The Colfax Renaissance is well underway. Come check it out!

136. Running around Wash Park: From fit singles scouting out other fit singles, to fit seniors just looking to stay fit, the 2.5-mile crushed-gravel outer loop in South Denver is a runner's mecca.

137. The name: Colorado's lyrical name has its origins in Spanish, as the word for "colored red." So very apropos.

138. Race to open by Memorial Day: The highest continuous paved road in the United States to 12,183 feet through Rocky Mountain National Park, connecting the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake. The goal is for snowplows to clear the road by late May. It doesn't always work out.

139. Olathe sweet corn: Iowans may try to argue, but one bite of this variety will have you longing for several ears, slathered with butter and a touch of salt. (And it freezes well off the cob, as well; save some for your holiday casseroles.)

140. : The heart and soul of Denver, where it got its start between 14th and 15th in the late 1800s. Named for the pioneering General William Larimer, it was the city’s first block, its first commercial district, home to its first residence and first city hall, and was the city’s first designated historic district.

141. : At the peak of elk rut in Rocky Mountain National Park -- typically mid-September through mid-October, you might hear the bulls' loud bugling. Researchers say the animals call out as a warning, or to communicate with their harems. The sound will haunt you.

142. Same-sex marriage: Colorado has offered civil unions since 2013 and they have been legally recognized here since October 2014. They weren't established as a until June 26, 2015.

143. Denver Press Club: The in the United States, founded in 1867, and the building itself was designated a Historic Landmark in 1986. Stop in and toast Damon Runyon at the bar.

144. Georgetown and the : A charming ride on this narrow-gauge railroad (called "an engineering marvel" after its construction in 1884) takes you through a scenic path over the Devil's Gate Bridge. Afterward, stroll the quaint streets of historic Georgetown, once the center of the mining industry in Colorado.

145. Pulitzer winners: The Denver Post (nine), Rocky Mountain News (four), and Colorado Springs Gazette (one) have been in reporting, photography and editorial cartooning.

146. Nobel winners: Colorado is home to , including CU Boulder's David Wineland (in physics, 2012); John Hall (physics, 2012), and Thomas Cech (chemistry, 1989).

147. Authors: Dozens of accomplished , including Gonzo journalist and author Hunter Thompson; Jon Krakauer ("Into Thin Air"); Jack Kerouac ("On the Road"); Peter Heller ("The Dog Stars"); Allen Ginsberg (Beat poet); Stephen White (Alan Gregory thrillers); Blake Crouch ("Dark Matter); and Kent Haruf ("Plainsong").

148. Root Shoot Whiskey: The Loveland-based Root Shoot Spirits’ American Single Malt Whiskey was named Whiskey of the Year  in this year's London Spirits Competition. That's in the world.

149. Horseback riding: Fans of "Yellowstone" with visions of Western cowboys on horseback are in luck: will let you come out and saddle up. Cowboy hats optional.

150. Well, you live here. Duh.

Denver Post staffer Barbara Ellis contributed to this report. 

With about 10,000 people in town for the event, local shops and restaurants were bustling, bringing a welcome vibrancy to the Western Slope enclave after a tumultuous winter.

Tourism in ski towns across Colorado suffered in the wake of record-low snow last winter, with some resorts seeing as much as a 24% decline in visitation. Telluride, which is more remote than many ski areas on the Front Range, had the added challenge of a ski patrol strike that shut down the mountain for about two weeks, causing economic problems for residents and businesses.

But the thing about seasons is that they continually change.

“Summer in Telluride is so magical it����ap kind of hard not to be optimistic,” said Mark Rineer, the local sales consultant for Southern Glazer’s alcohol distributor. “As far as my perspective working with all the different restaurants and businesses, everyone is hopeful.”

Lodging data adds to that sentiment. Tourist occupancy is currently trending 3.5% ahead of last summer, according to the Telluride Tourism Board, with before the leaves change color. For example, there’s Telluride Reserve food and wine festival at the end of July and the second annual Camp Alderwild music festival in August.

“The economy seems steady for the summertime, and we’ll see how it goes from here,” Rineer said. “This is just the start.”

Residents like Lynn Moore, owner of the retail store , aren’t dwelling on the doldrums of winter. She attributes the impact on her business during ski season to a lack of snow more than anything else. (Rineer agrees; he said he only went skiing twice last season when he usually clocks 60 or more days on the mountain.)

Though some restaurants saw up to 40% declines in sales at the start of the year, January is always a slow month for retailers in Telluride, as holiday revelry and spending come to a close, Moore said. That����ap why the timing of the strike didn’t seem like a big deal to her — especially and certainly now that summer is in full swing.

“Here in town, it����ap business as usual,” Moore said. “There’s no grievances with the ski patrollers. It����ap water under the bridge.”

In the summer, Telluride has many more activities that draw visitors and help steady the flow of tourism, Moore said. As a local of 38 years, she’s also seen autumn tourism pick up in recent years, attracting leaf-peepers and wedding parties that bolster business for several more weeks.

“We have festivals, weddings, hiking, biking, climbing — you name it,” Moore said. “So many things are going on that don’t really depend on the weather.”

The Telluride Bluegrass Festival is a rain or shine event that brings in die-hard fans who stick it out no matter the forecast. That said, having a full weekend of sunny, bluebird days seemed to please the crowd, even as many hunted for shade under vendor tents, canopies that they brought or personal umbrellas. Seasoned attendees walked around with misters, showering strangers with both water and kindness. Giggling children ran around with their water guns, doing just the same.

Moore said the bluegrass festival is a beloved tradition that helps set a positive vibe for the rest of the summer. “I think we’re all just hoping that there’s no more drama, and just a lot of happy visitors and happy campers,” she said.

Judging by the smiling and sunbaked faces throughout town over the weekend, that mission was accomplished.

For the first time, will welcome an acclaimed opera singer to its stage.

On June 19, soprano Renée Fleming will join banjo player Béla Fleck for a special performance of their new album, entitled “The Fiddle and The Drum.” The album, which came out May 29, features a collection of Appalachian-rooted folk and bluegrass tunes reimagined by Fleming, Fleck and a cast of other notable musicians in the genre, including country legend Dolly Parton.

Telluride Bluegrass Festival is one of just six places the duo plans to perform “The Fiddle and The Drum” this year, and they’ll be backed by other artists on the lineup, such as Sierra Hull, as part of the My Bluegrass Heart band. The festival will also see performances from Tedeschi Trucks Band, Shakey Graves, Larkin Poe and Gregory Alan Isakov, among many others, throughout the weekend of music. ()

“The Fiddle and The Drum” show will be a culmination of a project roughly two decades in the making. Fleming and Fleck first connected in the early 2000s, after the opera singer was inspired to revisit her love of folk music by the film “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” They recorded a few demos with some of the best players in the business, but ultimately put the project on hold as their touring schedules became increasingly busy.

Still, the magic of the music stuck with Fleming. In 2023, she reached back out to Fleck in hopes they could further develop the concept. It is rare for classically trained opera singers to branch outside the genre, Fleming said, but it was a welcome change of pace.

“I was in the middle of singing a really challenging opera at that time (of recording the demos) and somehow it was good for my voice to get away from some of the virtuosity of the repertoire I was singing then,” Fleming said. “And now it feels great. It����ap closer to where my speaking voice is and it’s a lot of fun.”

Fleming and Fleck collaborated to determine the mix of folk classics and more modern songs they wanted to record. Naturally, themes about war, loss and love emerged to link the songs together.

“Once we embraced that theme, it just turned out to be extremely relevant and that we didn’t see coming,” Fleming said.

The track list includes standards like “The Cuckoo” and “Blackest Crow” alongside newer songs like “The Scarlet Tide,” a tune written by T Bone Burnett and Elvis Costello. (Most people know it performed by Alison Krauss.)

Parton is featured on an old Appalachian song called “In the Pines” and Joni Mitchell fans will immediately recognize the title track, an anti-war anthem released in 1969 on an album by the same name. Though Mitchell originally sang a capella, Fleming is backed by musician Jerry Douglas on dobro, giving the tune a new kind of haunting and resonant aesthetic.

Fleck, who is a virtuoso known for crossing genres, embraced the album as an opportunity to create music supporting a strong vocalist. The banjo doesn’t have a sustaining acoustic quality, Fleck said, so he is often busy playing notes in a role that somewhat mimics a vocalist singing. He relished a chance to support a lead singer versus playing a leading instrumental role.

“When you get into vocal music and you have a whole team creating the musical bedrock, you have to create space, you have to come and go, and you have to learn to disappear and learn to make it meaningful,” he said.

There are still a lot of unknowns about how the live show will play out, however. When we spoke with Fleming and Fleck in mid-May, they hadn’t yet taken the stage together.

Bluegrass bands would ‘mud wrestle each other’ to play this ‘dream gig’ every year

“The idea is that I’m going to have a great band that can play this music and they can play my music, too, and we’re going to build a structure where they both happen,” Fleck said. “I imagine us rocking the house, getting the show going with this band, kicking some kind of butt and then bringing it down. Renée comes out and does stuff, then she takes a break and we do some more. We’re gonna figure it out.”

By the time they reach Colorado’s Western Slope, the group will have had two live performances to test out the format. Fleck, who has been a staple of Telluride Bluegrass Festival since 1982, didn’t seem concerned. Despite the newness of both the album and the show, Telluride is the perfect place to bring it to life, he said. It will be Fleming's first time to visit the town and the festival.

“That audience is amazing because they transform to the audience of the artist that����ap performing. If the band after us is a jam band, they're going to be a jam band audience. If the band before us is a trad bluegrass band, they're going to be a bluegrass audience. When we do our thing, they're going to be our audience,” Fleck said. “They transform, they know what����ap required, they are all kinds of music fans, and they’ve all heard a lot of music.”

The Telluride Bluegrass Festival takes place June 18-21 at Town Park in Telluride. Tickets cost $135 for day passes and $420 for a four-day pass. Lodging, including camping, are sold separately. For more information, visit .

Here are five places worth adding to any music fan’s bucket list. Don’t forget to pack your dancing shoes.

Aspen

Aspen is a small town with big city energy when it comes to live music, thanks to its mix of venues, festivals and sporting events that draw bands from around the country. is the premiere club to catch a concert whether you’re a fan of EDM, country music, blues, indie rock or reggae. The historic caters to fans of classical music and opera. And the festival season runs year-round with winter attractions like and summer events like . In June, the takes over the town with a plethora of events at indoor and outdoor venues, before its sister festival, , pops up with a more traditional main stage festival experience in the fall. All that, plus free shows during ski season and summer make Aspen a must-visit for music lovers.

Buena Vista

Whether you’re a casual music fan or a hardcore festivarian, Buena Vista has the tunes to sonically satisfy. The town’s most high-profile venue is , a sprawling 277-acre plot of land used as a festival grounds complete with the full destination camping experience. Previously the site of Billy Strings’ Renewal festival, in 2025, Meadow Creek hosts Pretty Lights for the two-day (June 27-28) and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard for a three-day event called (Aug. 15-17).

Downtown Buena Vista boasts several indoor venues, such as the at the Surf Hotel and , that host local and nationally touring bands across a variety of genres. When the weather is nice, fans can take in a concert at outdoor spaces like The Lawn (also at the Surf Hotel) and , located 6 miles south of town on the banks of the Arkansas River.

Dillon

First opened in the 1990s, the got a major upgrade in 2018 and has become the hallmark of the town’s summer music scene. It regularly attracts artists you might otherwise see on the lineup at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, including Alison Krauss & Union Station, Tash Sultana and Rainbow Kitten Surprise in the 2025 season. But with a roughly 3,600-person capacity – less than half that of Red Rocks – seeing those acts in Dillon promises to be a more intimate experience. And because it����ap located on the shore of Lake Dillion, which is surrounded by peaks, the view isn’t bad either. Shows usually require a ticket, but not always, as bands play for free as part of the venue’s Monday music series.

Telluride

Though it����ap one of Colorado’s far-out enclaves, Telluride is a stop on nationally touring bands’ calendars because of the myriad festivals it hosts each summer. The box canyon comes alive with the sound of music for events like the in June, which has become a time-honored tradition for locals and artists alike over its 50-plus year history, and in August, which includes a second line parade down Colorado Avenue every year. Free concerts on and in Mountain Village, which is just a short gondola ride away, keep the vibes rolling through the summer before the season concludes with the incomparable in September.

Even in the winter, though, fans are likely to catch an act they like at the historic or local bars like and . The ski resort also books local DJs to play at restaurants on the mountain, because dancing is the best way to stay warm – trust us.

Vail

Similarly to Dillon, the town of Vail boasts a state-of-the-art amphitheater that bands forgo radius clauses to perform at. The opened in 1987, and in July of that year, Willie Nelson was the first artist to christen the stage. The outdoor venue has grown from hosting six concerts in its first year to dozens, including acclaimed acts like O.A.R. and Melissa Etheridge, both of whom will be stopping by this summer after performances at Red Rocks. The amphitheater is also known for hosting dance performances and classical music, like the annual .

Elsewhere in Vail, is a mainstay for live music with performers almost every night of the week, and is the place to dance the night away to the tune of DJs. All the aforementioned venues book their calendars in the winter months, too, from après hour to late night.

For more than 50 years, the has been a must-hit destination for music lovers. Those willing to make the trek to this remote enclave of Colorado are rewarded with an endless supply of A+ talent, stunning mountain views and convivial vibes that are so magnetic they’ll draw you back year after year.

But don’t just take my word for it. Many artists return to play the fest multiple times because of the atmosphere.

That’s true of Colorado’s own , which marked its 24th appearance at Telluride Bluegrass Festival this year. The 52nd annual event took place at Telluride Town Park from June 19 to 22, and to suggest it might feel like old hat after performing two dozen times is almost offensive.

“Yeah, totally… if by ‘old hat’ you mean ‘dream gig we’d mud wrestle each other to play every year,’” said bassist Ben Kaufmann in an email interview. “It����ap Telluride – there’s nothing else like it.”

The town of Telluride and its unique setting in a box canyon, surrounded by 13,000-foot-plus peaks, is certainly an obvious draw for musicians and fans alike. The members of bluesy pop outfit , who performed Friday night, took turns describing it in an interview at the festival grounds: “Beautiful,” “majestic,” “utopia,” and “sublime” were just a few of their choice words.

Singer Rachael Price added that the festival is unique because of how “artist-friendly” it is. The musicians who perform can also access the VIP seating area to watch other bands they know and love.

“That����ap a really kind thing to do because I think it makes all the artists wanna support each other and we’ve seen such incredible sets here over the years,” Price said.

This year was the band’s fourth time on the bill, and its set featured favorites from its newest album, “Good Together,” alongside excellent covers. In true Telluride Bluegrass form, there were a few surprises. Lake Street Dive collaborated with other musicians on the lineup to reimagine its funky hit “Party on the Roof” as a bluegrass tune before welcoming legendary banjo player Béla Fleck to the stage for a soulful cover of Hall & Oates’ “Rich Girl.”

That collaborative spirit is one thing that keeps performing interesting and exciting, said drummer Mike Calabrese, likening the culture to that of the renowned Newport Folk Festival.

“Be ready to be asked to play with other people and be ready to ask other people to sit in with you,” he said.

Artist comingling doesn’t just happen on stage. Lake Street Dive bassist Bridget Kearney and keyboardist Akie Bermiss recounted playing Dungeons & Dragons with the banjo player from Sam Bush Band and several sound engineers.

“It was a blast, it was battle royale,” Bermiss said.

Though New Orleans’ has played in Telluride before, 2025 was the first year it joined the bluegrass festival. Co-founder Keith Frazier – who plays the bass drum with a cymbal mounted on top, using a screwdriver for the latter – said he’ll take any opportunity to perform in the mountain town because of how supportive the fans are.

“The community really comes out to support. Whatever music they have, they come out and support,” Frazier said. That was perhaps no more evident on Sunday afternoon, when attendees commandeered the “standing only” walkway near the front of the stage during Rebirth’s set and transformed it into a massive dancefloor.

“If you want to be a part of it, you have to really want to be here. If you’re not from here, it����ap a long drive,” he added. “So people come and they really want to be here.”

Artists, like folk singer , noticed that from the stage, too. “One thing I find so special about this festival is you guys are so quiet, until you need to be,” she said. “I’ve never ever experienced that at a festival. Only in Telluride!”

That confluence of factors has inspired traditions unique to Telluride Bluegrass Festival, such as sleeping in line overnight to be the first for the morning tarp run and brunch picnics at the main stage. During Yonder Mountain String Band’s set, fans throw a barrage of marshmallows at the members on stage. Kaufmann said the genesis of that tradition remains “one of those great mysteries.”

“It����ap endearing, it����ap distracting, and somehow it keeps you from overthinking the enormity of the gig — because instead of nerves, you’re busy dodging 20,000 airborne marshmallows,” he said. “That said, we definitely feel for the stage crew. Pretty sure we owe the festival about 20 new carpets.”

Always a crowd favorite, we’ll wager that won’t keep them from receiving an invitation to next year’s event.

Saturday. Forget goats: rescue puppy yoga has all the animal goodness of that formerly trendy activity, but with the scrappy cuteness of puppies. The first of three Puppy Yoga with Soul Dog Rescue sessions starts Saturday, June 14, at Aurora’s Stanley Marketplace, bringing pups in need of adoption to the vendor-driven venue’s Sky Rink (on the south side of the building).

“Attendees can stretch, smile, and maybe even meet their new best friend when they join us on the Sky Rink … for a heartwarming one-hour yoga session led by the amazing instructors at Rise Yoga & Wellness alongside some very special furry guests from Soul Dog Rescue,” organizers wrote. Sessions will also take place July 12 and Aug. 9.

The event is 8:30-9:30 a.m. at 2501 Dallas St. in Aurora. Tickets are $10.61 per person, per session. Call 720-990-6743 or visit for more information. — John Wenzel

Juneteenth Music Festival

Sunday. Among the metro-area events celebrating the official holiday of Juneteenth (Sunday, June 19), the revival of the beloved Juneteenth Music Festival looms large. It’s held in the Five Points neighborhood despite major changes over the last year — thanks in large part to sponsor The Drop 104.7 FM — and returns Sunday, June 15, with headliner Juvenile (a free, public show) and an 11 a.m. parade along Welton Street, along with 100 vendors and lots more family-friendly programming.

It all takes place along Welton, with the main stage at 2700 Welton St. All ages and open to the public. See , schedule and get VIP tickets at — John Wenzel

Telluride Bluegrass Festival

Thursday-June 22. If you ever wanted to check out the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, 2025 could be your year — seriously! There are still four-day passes and single-day tickets available for sale, as well as some camping passes, a rarity in the fest’s recent history.

The event, coming to Telluride’s Town Park Thursday, June 19-Sunday, June 22, celebrates its 52nd year to the tune of headliners Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, Greensky Bluegrass, Lake Street Dive, Sam Bush Band, Punch Brothers and more. Though many of the acts are mainstays on the lineup, a unique one is Toy Factory Project, a super-group of sorts that will perform live for the first time in the box canyon. The group was formed in honor of the late Toy Caldwell, co-founder of Marshall Tucker Band, and features one of his former bandmates plus members Marcus King Band, Blackberry Smoke and more.

Telluride Bluegrass Festival comes to Town Park, 500 E. Colorado Ave. in Telluride, June 19-22. Tickets cost $130 for single-day admission and $405 for a four-day pass. Buy tickets and find more information at . — Tiney Ricciardi

1940s Ball in Boulder

Saturday. Postwar culture gets its due again at Boulder’s 1940s Ball, which revives the spirit of America as it climbed out of World War II and into the booming 1950s. This summer, aviation-themed version — producers also put on the retro-minded White Christmas Ball — returns to Boulder Airport on Saturday, June 14.

The dress-up event includes dancing, a bevy of live performances (including a Frank Sinatra tribute with a modern version of Sinatra’s original band, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra), dancing, illusions and mentalism, vintage cars, aircraft flybys, “Happy Days” co-star Donny Most and sets, props and other themed items from aviation-themed movies.

The event is 5:45 p.m.-midnight at 3393 Airport Road in Boulder. Tickets: $101.67 via . Visit for more details. — John Wenzel

The Telluride valley will be alive with the sound of electronic dance music this summer when Denver-based producer stops by for a two-night run.

The artist – real name Tyler Coombs – visits the Western Slope Aug. 22-23 for back-to-back performances at Telluride Town Park where other renowned festivals take place throughout the summer. The event is expected to attract about 7,000 attendees and will include camping.

In addition to Of The Trees, electronic acts Tycho, Ott., EPROM, Jade Cicada, Thought Process (live band), Taiki Nulight, Curra and Air Castles are on the bill. Tickets go on sale via an artist presale on Thursday, April 17 before going on sale to the general public on Friday, April 18, via axs.com.

“My team and I are incredibly excited to bring a concert experience to a location where the natural beauty is perhaps an even bigger centerpiece to the experience than the show itself,” Of The Trees, who has previously sold out Red Rocks Amphitheatre, said in a statement. “This is the beginning of realizing the dream I’ve always had of hosting events that bring people together to a place where nature and music are intertwined in a way such as this.”

Of The Trees’ appearance marks the first large-scale EDM concert in Telluride since 2016, when homegrown producer Pretty Lights played the same venue. Pretty Lights also played in 2015 and both shows live famously in local lore because of how different the vibe was compared to the town’s signature events like Telluride Bluegrass Festival and Telluride Blues & Brews.

That was part of the appeal of booking a show with a single headliner, said Zach Tucker, vice president of production company Planet Bluegrass. The company throws Telluride Bluegrass Festival every year and wanted to offer a different kind of concert, in terms of format and genre.

In fact, the company had been in talks to bring Pretty Lights back to Telluride, but couldn’t get approval to use the venue quickly enough to make a competitive offer, Tucker said. (Pretty Lights recently announced a in late June.)

“It����ap a challenge that a lot of people who have tried to bring events to Telluride have faced. How do you (the artist) commit without an event? But then how do you approve an event without knowing who’s playing? That is the constant back and forth struggle,” Tucker told The Denver Post in January.

Tucker was happy with the amount of faith the town council put into Planet Bluegrass, which was approved to use Town Park before securing an artist – perhaps a testament to its history running the bluegrass festival for more than 30 years. The idea of bringing a different kind of act also seemed to be appealing to local leaders and as did having a nighttime concert, which allows fans to enjoy the mountains, shops and restaurants throughout the day.

“I think there’s excitement for some fresh, new change,” Tucker said.

Though Of The Trees is projected to bring millions of dollars to Telluride, where the tourism economy is king, the pitch received pushback from some locals. Organizers of the , which is slated for the same weekend, said having thousands of concertgoers in and around Town Park would impede their event����ap success, and by introducing “a completely different and incompatible atmosphere,” the Telluride Daily Planet reported.

The reason Planet Bluegrass chose those specific dates was because almost every other weekend in Telluride is already booked with long-standing events, Tucker said. The company coordinated with the Telluride Mountain Run on camping and logistics to ensure both events could still happen. After August, Planet Bluegrass plans to work with its partners in town to evaluate if the event was successful and could be replicated in future years.

“We’re excited to have those conversations and hopefully they’re all positive and we prove ourselves,” Tucker said.

Zach Tucker, vice president of the fest����ap production company Planet Bluegrass, tells The Denver Post there are “a fair amount” of tickets still available for this year’s event at . That includes passes to two campgrounds outside of downtown Telluride.

The fest (June 19-22) is one of the town’s most popular summer gatherings, welcoming about 12,000 people per day to enjoy live music in the scenic box canyon. The fact it isn’t sold out is unusual since tickets are known to evaporate almost instantaneously once they hit the digital box office.

Tucker doesn’t think the lineup is to blame. Headliners this year include Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Allison Krauss & Union Station, Lake Street Dive and, of course, Sam Bush, who has been a staple of the event throughout its 52-year run.

Instead, Tucker suspects part of the issue is that people don’t want to go through the hassle of competing for tickets.

“Some of it might be that we’re fighting that exact thought of, ‘It����ap sold out, I shouldn’t even look,’” Tucker said. “It����ap very interesting to be like, how do you change everyone’s thought that, ‘oh we can’t go so we’re not going to think about it’?”

Planet Bluegrass has been working in recent years to address the frustration caused by sell-outs. In 2023, when the festival celebrated its 50th anniversary, organizers reclaimed a number of tickets that were purchased by scalpers and bots, and then resold them to fans.

Last year, the company tried to get ahead of the bots by implementing a pre-sale registration system to verify buyers were real people. The day before tickets went on sale, fans made a $10 pre-sale purchase, which granted them access to buy festival passes the following day. (Proceeds benefitted Planet Bluegrass’ carbon offset fund.)

“Once we implemented this new program, we have not had the problems we had in 2023, so it works extremely well,” Tucker said.

According to Planet Bluegrass, the festival didn’t technically sell out in 2024. The town of Telluride allowed the event to increase its capacity late last spring, so there ended up being tickets available to walk-up patrons. It was close to selling out, but not quite all the way there, the company said.

Still, economic factors may be coming into play. Festivals around the U.S., from to , have experienced ticket sale slumps recently. Organizers last year due to , as did touring artists such as The Black Keys and Jennifer Lopez.

On , fans of the Electric Forest music festival in Michigan cite the cost of tickets, unpredictable weather, and a plethora of summer music events to choose from as potential deterrents for ticket buyers. A four-day to that event costs $600 plus additional camping fees.

Tucker acknowledged that no event is immune from the economic headwinds facing the country right now. Still, he thinks Telluride Bluegrass is better insulated than most because of its long legacy and the community it brings together. He sees the availability of tickets as an chance to bring new festivarians into the fold.

“It����ap been something so many people want to do,” Tucker said. “This is your opportunity to make this happen.”

Tickets to the 52nd Telluride Bluegrass Festival cost $130 for single-day access and $405 for a four-day pass. Find those and camping options at .

The woman, who The Denver Post isn’t naming because she is the victim of alleged sexual harassment, also included the Telluride Bluegrass Festival (aka Planet Bluegrass) and its related Annex (aka “the farm”) in the lawsuit, which was filed Friday in Boulder County District Court.

The legal action follows Ferguson’s arrest and jailing in June for violating a permanent restraining order against the woman that had been granted by a Boulder County judge for his “credible threat to (the plaintiff’s) life and health,” according to court filings.

Planet Bluegrass owns and produces events such as Telluride Bluegrass Festival (which took place June 15-18), Rockygrass Festival (July 28-30) and the Rocky Mountain Folks Fest — which returns Aug. 11-13, in Lyons.

The plaintiff is represented by Boulder attorney Paul Maxon, who couldn’t be reached for comment on Monday.

Lawyer Jon Banashek, who is representing Ferguson and Planet Bluegrass, on Monday confirmed that Ferguson had received the complaint, “which includes consequential charges, to which we will respond in court.”

The lawsuit claims that Ferguson engaged in the “persistent, outrageous, and violent sexual harassment” of the former employee and calls for a jury trial that seeks “compensation for the extreme emotional distress.” It does not name a dollar figure.

The alleged events occurred in early 2023 in Lyons when Ferguson “began subjecting (the woman) to a continuous barrage of unwanted sexual advances and innuendo,” the legal filing states. Alleged instances of verbal abuse include repeated comments about genitalia and intercourse; urging her to send nude videos of herself to Ferguson; comparing her to a dog and talking about animal intercourse; calling her a “sorceress” and inviting her to become his “queen”; and criticizing her for not traveling with him, according to the lawsuit.

Ferguson also physically grabbed her at various times, the lawsuit alleges, “to kiss her and (stare) into her eyes while asking how she felt about him …” as well as “walking up behind her and massaging her shoulders while she was working.”

Zach Tucker, the human resources manager for Planet Bluegrass, ignored the woman’s concerns when she took them to him, the lawsuit further alleges, after which Tucker “dismissed her complaint and took no remedial action.” Eleven days after the HR complaint, the plaintiff alleged that Ferguson stormed into her on-site residence and angrily fired her.

The filing goes on to claim that Ferguson also threw a rock and bowling ball through her window, kicked her out of her on-site residence with no replacement lodging, and threatened to call her abusive boyfriend. Ferguson’s lawyer Banashek said that residence was the Ferguson family home.

“I also can confirm that (the woman) was a caretaker of the Ferguson family home during a tragic time, following the immeasurable loss of Mr. Ferguson’s son last year,” he wrote via email.

Ferguson’s son, professional firefighter Griffin Charles Ferguson, died on May 26, 2022, in Lyons in a motorcycle accident, .

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The comment was an understatement. Surrounded by soaring peaks in the craggy San Juan Mountains, Telluride sits in an almost impossibly beautiful setting. I’ve been visiting regularly from my home near Aspen, Colorado, for almost 30 years, and every time I drive the final stretch into town, my breath catches when the lofty panorama bursts into view.

Well known for its ski resort, Telluride attracts plenty of summer and fall visitors, too. A season-long slate of weekend festivals ranges from bluegrass to blues, mushroom hunting to classic cars. For a time, some locals even designated one July weekend as the “Nothing Festival” to provide a break from the hectic schedule. Later this summer the star-studded Telluride Film Festival celebrates its 50th anniversary (Aug. 31 to Sept. 4).

Special programming aside, summer and fall (through mid-October, when many businesses close down until Thanksgiving) are the time to discover not just Telluride’s stellar scenery, but the hiking and biking trails scribed across those hillsides. There’s also a flourishing arts scene and plenty of independently owned shops and galleries along Colorado Avenue, the main thoroughfare.

Despite the remote location, getting to Telluride is easier than it may seem. Throughout the summer, nonstop flights from four cities — Denver, Chicago, Houston and Dallas — arrive daily at the Montrose Regional Airport, an hour and a half drive away by shuttle or rental car. Denver Air Connection also offers daily flights from Phoenix and Denver to the small Telluride Airport, on a mesa above the town. You can easily get by without a car for a weekend. Several hikes start from town, and free bus service loops through the community. A gondola, also free, runs daily until midnight between Telluride and the pedestrian-oriented center of Mountain Village, a town partway up the ski area purpose-built for visitors.

Transition and Tradition

Like many mountain resort communities that have felt the impact of a pandemic-driven surge in residents and visitors, exacerbated by soaring housing costs and the resulting employee shortage, Telluride emphasizes sustainable tourism these days. The primary message you’ll see online and in visitor guides: Be conscious not only of your environmental footprint but also of your impact on the community.

Amid the changes, some of the things that embody Telluride’s tight-knit ethos remain the same. For almost 40 years, the beloved community radio station, KOTO, has been broadcasting local news and eclectic music from a lavender-hued Victorian. For nearly the same amount of time, downtown’s legendary Free Box has drawn treasure hunters who browse among the castoffs — books, clothing, housewares — left within the worn wood cubbies. Some even find serviceable skis and other sports gear.

Victorians, a Waterfall and Tea

Acclimate to the altitude — Telluride sits at 8,750 feet — with a day spent exploring the town, which was designated a National Historic Landmark District more than 60 years ago for its importance as a late-19th-century mining hub.

Start out with breakfast at the Butcher and the Baker. If you’re not diverted by the pastries at the counter — homemade pop tarts, cinnamon buns, scones — opt for a hearty breakfast sandwich on a homemade English muffin (from $11) or house granola with yogurt and fruit ($13). The restaurant operates its own farm, which supplies fresh produce.

At only 12 blocks long by eight blocks wide, Telluride is eminently walkable. I love strolling by the meticulously kept Victorians, their candy-colored shingles and gingerbread trim intact thanks to stringent preservation and design guidelines (inside, they’re often sleekly modern). They’re not just for show, either, as stand-up paddleboards stored under a porch, camping trailers parked in the driveway or mountain bikes propped up outside reflect mountain-town activities — and gorgeous flowers bloom everywhere.

Stop in at the Telluride Historical Museum ($9), housed in a former hospital, for more insight on the town’s past; a new exhibition celebrates 50 years of festivals, starting with the Telluride Bluegrass Festival that takes place each June and attracts some 10,000 music aficionados.

If you’re near the north end of Aspen Street, look for the quarter-of-a-mile steep trail that leads to Cornet Falls, an 80-foot-high cascade that plummets off a lip of red-hued sandstone into a small pool. (Depending on water levels, you may have to cross a small side stream along the way, so watch your footing.)

Back downtown, stop by the Stronghouse Brew Pub for Bavarian-style pretzels with beer-cheese dip ($13) and an elk jalapeño cheddar bratwurst ($11) amid a buzzy beer hall vibe. The building’s stone walls (inside and out) give it a European farmhouse feel, but the setting is actually a renovated warehouse dating to 1892. Out of the nine or so beers brewed on site, I sampled the petite saison ($8 for a pint), which was light and tart.

After lunch, walk to the north end of the block to peek into the Telluride Transfer Warehouse, an arts center in the making. The one-time hub for commerce and storage, built in 1906, sat empty for almost 40 years after the roof collapsed under heavy snow in 1979. Telluride Arts, a nonprofit group, bought the building six years ago and launched a fundraising campaign to restore it as a performance and exhibition venue, with a striking design by the Seattle architecture firm Olson Kundig.

Diagonally across the street, the longtime Ah Haa School for the Arts recently reopened in a new building that includes studios and exhibition space (closed on Sundays); among the offerings are an annual buildingwide immersive art installation that was just completed and farmers market-to-table lunchtime cooking classes on select Fridays.

Head up to Colorado Avenue to browse stores and galleries. Among them, Western Rise offers tech pants, shorts and merino T-shirts for men, designed by a husband-and-wife team who have an atelier in the back. Crossbow Leather specializes in locally made bags and accessories. Mixx Projects has artisan jewelry, paintings, mixed media art and furniture. Jagged Edge Mountain Gear carries hiking apparel, shoes, backpacks and accessories. Telluride Arts has two adjacent gallery spaces; one hosts rotating shows, while the other has a new long-term exhibition that focuses on Transfer Warehouse’s history and artwork inspired by the site. If it����ap a Friday, wind down the afternoon with a gondola ride up to Mountain Village for Music on the Green, a free weekly concert series (5 p.m. to 7 p.m., through Sept. 8) that spotlights Americana, roots and bluegrass performers.

Make your dinner reservation at Petite Maison, a jewel box of a restaurant opened last year by the team behind the National, another popular spot. The menu features classic French bistro fare like coq au vin, moules frites and steak tartare (entrees from $34). The nightly bar menu special offers a less expensive option.

Then amble back up to Colorado Avenue and the Ride Lounge in the historic Roma building, which has welcomed live-music lovers since last summer. Local bands jam in the unpretentious venue amid a gallery of photos featuring musicians who have played in town, including, at the bar’s namesake, the annual Ride Festival.

Hikes, a Ghost Town and Local Spirits

Take advantage of Telluride’s mountain setting with a morning adventure: hiking, going for a four-wheel-drive excursion or tackling the via ferrata.

Before heading out, stop by Baked in Telluride for coffee and raised doughnuts the size of small plates ($2.80), foot-long maple bars ($3.30) or a bagel breakfast sandwich ($8). Take along a sandwich and maybe a sea salt dark chocolate chip cookie ($2.95) to eat on the trail.

Two half-day hikes start in town: From the top of Aspen Street, the Jud Wiebe trail loops for almost 3 miles through field and forest above Telluride, with 1,200 feet of elevation gain. The heavily trafficked Bear Creek trail starts at the south end of Pine Street and follows an old mining track for a little more than 2 miles to Bear Creek Falls, gaining some 1,000 feet.

A less-busy option: the 2-mile Ridge trail at the ski area. Ride the gondola from Telluride to the San Sophia Station. The view includes Lizard Head Peak (a distinctive vertical rock formation) and two 14,000-foot-plus-high mountains, Wilson Peak and Mount Wilson. Follow the trail signs to hike downhill, detouring to take in the bird’s-eye overlook of town. The route winds through aspen groves and meadows, finishing in Mountain Village.

Telluride Outside’s half-day, four-wheel-drive tour ($120 per person) up a road to the top of Imogene Pass is breathtaking both for the scenery and the elevation (13,114 feet). It includes a stop at Tomboy ghost town, where gold miners eked out a hardscrabble life in the early 1900s, as vividly recounted in Harriet Fish Backus’ book “Tomboy Bride.”

Telluride’s via ferrata used to be under the radar, but now three local guide services, including Mountain Trip (from $189 per person), lead outings on it. Thanks to permanently attached steel cables and rungs, you can traverse this cliff face several hundred feet above the ground — provided you don’t fear heights. You’ll get a distinct vantage of Bridal Veil Falls, Colorado’s highest free-flowing waterfall.

Post-adventure, go for the summer version of après-ski at a trio of spots around Mountain Village. On the ground floor of the Franz Klammer Lodge complex, Telluride Distilling Company serves up $5 mules, made with housemade ginger beer and vodka, and other reasonably priced whiskey, gin and agave cocktails. Next door, the Communion Wine Bar, which opened last summer, has been getting enthusiastic reviews for its lesser-known wines by the glass. Telluride Brewing Company pours its refreshing IPAs and other ales at a brewpub in the Hotel Madeline building (the brewery’s original tap room just west of Telluride remains a hub for locals who stream in after biking and kayaking.)

Finish up with a casual dinner back in Telluride. La Cocina de Luz is my go-to for tamales and giant burrito plates, accompanied by the requisite margarita (entrees from $22). Newer is the Wok of Joy, a Thai spot opened in 2021 by Joy Itthithepphana, who earned fans for her pad Thai and spicy curries while operating a food cart in Mountain Village. Now that devoted clientele packs the small dining area of this counter-service restaurant for those dishes and more (entrees average $20).

Where to Stay

The Telluride area has no shortage of luxe hotels, with the biggest concentration in Mountain Village. Last year at the Madeline Hotel and Residences (rooms from $599), an Auberge Resorts Collection property, the 155 rooms and suites were redone in a modern chalet style. An emphasis on wellness includes meditation stools in every room, chlorophyll-enhanced water in the lobby and nightly turndown service with amenities like CBD lotion. The complex also has a spa, outdoor pool, restaurant and cocktail lounge. Every afternoon at 4 p.m., Bryan Woody, the hotel’s general manager, plays the alpenhorn during a complimentary Champagne toast, as his St. Bernard, Cheyenne, greets guests.

On the west side of town, the Hotel Telluride (rooms from $369) is a reliable option, with friendly service and a relaxed vibe. The 59 rooms, all with balconies, are furnished in mountain lodge style, and the on-site restaurant serves breakfast and dinner. The hotel is within a few blocks of the commercial district and offers free shuttle service around town and cruiser bikes for loan.

If you have a car and a limited budget, consider the Bivvi Hostel Telluride, open since 2020 in Placerville, about 16 miles down the valley. Private and shared rooms, all with their own bathrooms and continental breakfast included, start at $55 per person in a dorm room.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

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