A Full List of Things to do in Denver (and beyond) in May 2025

May 2025: Things to Do in Denver and Beyond

May in Colorado is packed with festivals, concerts, outdoor adventures, and cultural events. Whether you’re a foodie, music lover, art fan, or just looking for a fun weekend escape, this list of events around the Denver metro area and beyond has something for everyone.

🎉 Festivals & Outdoor Events

• Colorado Chocolate Festival (May 9–10) — National Western Complex
  Over 100 booths of chocolatey goodness.

• Grupera Fest (May 24) — National Western Complex
  Top Latin music bands in one massive concert.

• BolderBoulder 10K (May 26) — Boulder
  One of the biggest 10Ks in the world.

• Denver Cruiser Ride (May 15) — Downtown Denver
  Costumed monthly bike ride.

• Outside Festival (May 31 – June 1) — Civic Center Park
  Outdoor celebration with music, guest speakers, and more.

• Cañon City Music & Blossom Festival (April 30 – May 4) — Cañon City
  Parade, carnival, music competitions, and a historic rodeo.

• Fruita Fat Tire Festival (May 2–4) — Fruita
  Mountain biking, gear expos, and guided rides.

• HESTIVAL (May 2–4) — Hotchkiss
  Camping, cider sipping, and stargazing.

• Estes Park Duck Race Festival (May 3) — Estes Park
  Rubber duck races, sidewalk sales, and family games.

• Mini Derby at Sky View Farm (May 3) — Castle Rock
  Watch mini horses race and enjoy auctions and raffles.

• Royal Gorge Rodeo (May 3–4) — Cañon City
  Colorado’s oldest continuous rodeo.

• Cinco de Mayo Festival (May 3–4) — Civic Center Park
  Music, food, dancing, and culture.

• Chalk Lines & Vines (May 3–4) — Aurora
  Wine sampling, chalk art, and live entertainment.

• Yampa River Festival (May 29 – June 1) — Steamboat Springs
  Whitewater races and river-themed events.

• Mike the Headless Chicken Festival (May 30–31) — Fruita
  Celebrates the headless chicken that lived for 18 months. Includes a 5K and games.

• Friends of Raymer Car Show (May 31) — New Raymer
  Classic car, truck, and tractor show with live music.

• Kids Adventure Games (May 31) — Fruita
  Outdoor obstacle racing just for kids.

• Park Hill Art Festival (Late May, TBD) — Park Hill, Denver
  100+ artists showcasing work at the Masonic Lodge grounds.

🎵 Concerts & Live Music

• Katy Perry – The Lifetimes Tour (May 15) — Ball Arena
  A mega pop production.

• Leon Bridges (May 23) — Red Rocks Amphitheatre
  Soulful and scenic.

• Sting (May 22) — Red Rocks Amphitheatre
  The legend returns.

• Purple Disco Machine (May 18) — Red Rocks Amphitheatre
  Electro-funk vibes.

• Jack White (May 8–9) — Mission Ballroom
  Rock royalty in action.

• St. Vincent (May 16) — Mission Ballroom
  Art rock brilliance.

• Michael Franti & Spearhead (May 28) — Boulder Theater
  Reggae and peace anthems.

• Ganja White Night – Wobble Rocks (May 30) — Mission Ballroom
  Bass-heavy dance party.

• Ozomatli (May 30) — Boulder Theater
  Latin, jazz, and funk fusion.

• Steel Pulse (May 9) — Boulder Theater
  Reggae legends live.

• Yola – Sovereign Soul Tour (May 10) — Bluebird Theater
  Genre-bending Grammy-nominated singer.

• Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (May 7) — Mission Ballroom
  Haunting rock and poetic lyrics.

• Alex Warren (May 27) — Mission Ballroom
  Pop influencer brings his show to Denver.

• Luis Coronel (May 31) — Oriental Theater
  Regional Mexican star live in concert.

• Ryan Adams – Heartbreaker 25 Tour (May 30) — Paramount Theatre
  Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his classic album.

🎭 Theater & Comedy

• Michael Turner (May 9–10) — Comedy Works Downtown
  Arizona-native comic known for storytelling and sports humor.

• Nicole Byer (May 9–10) — Comedy Works Downtown
  Host of "Nailed It!" brings her sharp, high-energy comedy to Denver.

• Tammy Pescatelli (May 9–10) — Comedy Works South
  Italian-American comic with classic observational humor.

• Sam Morril (May 10) — Paramount Theatre
  One of NYC’s top stand-ups, known for his dry wit.

• Dan LaMorte (May 11) — Comedy Fort
  Relatable, stoner-sarcastic style mixed with raw life stories.

• Mother's Day with Tammy Pescatelli (May 11) — Comedy Works South
  Special holiday show with laughs for all generations.

• Curtis Park Comedy (Through July 6) — RiNo/Curtis Park Area
  Intimate stand-up series featuring local and national acts.

• South South Broadway Sunday Open Mic (Ongoing) — Denver
  Weekly open mic offering surprises and emerging talent.

• The Book of Mormon (May 6–18) — Buell Theatre
  Satirical musical comedy.

• The Hot Wing King (Through May 25) — Kilstrom Theatre
  A Pulitzer Prize-winning drama.

• Little Shop of Horrors (Through May 25) — Wolf Theatre
  Sci-fi horror musical comedy.

• Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song (May 28 – June 29) — Garner Galleria Theatre
  Broadway parody.

• Bluebird Improv (May 16–18) — Garner Galleria Theatre
  Local comedians keep it fresh.

• Jimmy Carr – Laughs Funny (May 21) — Paramount Theatre
  Dry, dark British humor.

• Marlon Wayans – Wild Child Tour (May 31) — Paramount Theatre
  Star comedian with high-energy antics.

• We Can Do Hard Things – Glennon Doyle Live (May 15) — Paramount Theatre
  Podcast taping with raw conversation.

🏀⚾ Sports & Competitions

• Denver Nuggets – NBA Playoffs (All month) — Ball Arena
  Postseason basketball at its best.

• Colorado Rockies Home Games

  • May 6–8 vs. Tigers

  • May 9–11 vs. Padres

  • May 19–22 vs. Phillies

  • May 23–25 vs. Yankees
    All at Coors Field.

• Colorado Spartans vs. Omaha Beef (May 31) — Denver Coliseum
  Arena football action.

• USA Open Volleyball Championship (May 23–26) — Colorado Convention Center
  National volleyball showdown.

• IFSC Climbing World Cup (May 31 – June 1) — 16th Street Mall
  World-class climbers compete downtown.

• Iron Horse Bicycle Classic (May 23–25) — Durango to Silverton
  Cyclists race a historic train in this epic challenge.

• Colfax Marathon (May 17–18) — Denver
  Includes full marathon, half, 10-miler, 5K, and relay teams.