Whether you prefer outdoor adventures, tasty eats and brews, the arts, history or all of the above, you can find it in Golden this summer! Here’s an overview of Golden’s many summer activities, festivals and events. For a comprehensive list, visit www.visitgolden.com.
Signature Summer Events
Dinosaur Express at the Colorado Railroad Museum, May 29. Embrace your inner paleontologist on the Dinosaur Express, hosted by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Dinosaur Ridge and Morrison Natural History Museum. Dino-lovers of all ages can ride behind a locomotive and explore the dinosaur tracks from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and participate in themed activities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Keep a lookout, if you’re lucky you may get to see “Mr. Bones” and Spike the Railroad Dog.
July 4th Celebration at Lions Park, July 4. For 50 years, the Golden Lions have hosted a patriotic and fun Independence Day at Lions Park, complete with games, food, music and of course fireworks! More info: https://www.visitgolden.com/events/festivals-of-golden/fourth-of-july/
ARTSWEEK GOLDEN, July 8 – 15. Celebrate the arts at this week-long festival hosted by Foothills Art Center in partnership with numerous Golden-based arts foundations. All week long, marvel at the dynamic exhibitions, pop-up art installations and educational activities throughout the city of Golden. Also enjoy the Foothills Fine Arts Festival, only from July 10 to 11. www.artsweekgolden.org
31st Annual Golden Fine Arts Festival, August 21 – 22. Lovers of the arts, rejoice! The Golden Fine Arts Festival returns for its 31st year to celebrate prestigious artists from Colorado and beyond. This juried art show is limited to 100 artist booth spaces. Free to the public and located in downtown Golden, this festival brings over 35,000 visitors annually to enjoy art, live entertainment, food vendors, beer and wine gardens, children’s activities and more. https://www.goldenfineartsfestival.org/
Golden Gran Fondo, August 29. A Gran Fondo is a cycling challenge that takes bicycle racing to the next level. Part personal challenge, part serious competition, the Colnago Gran Fondo National Series courses lead riders through country roads with challenging climbs and incredible scenery. The Golden Gran Fondo starts in historic downtown Golden and features long Rocky Mountain climbs and descents, elevations between 5,600 - 11,000 feet above sea level, and a great downtown park atmosphere for the finish line party.
Ongoing Summer Events & Activities
Golden Farmer’s Market, Saturdays, June 5 – October 2. From local vendors offering farm-fresh produce to live music and entertainment, Golden
Farmer’s Market returns June 5 for its 19th season. This market is located at the Golden Public Library’s West Parking Lot, at 10th & Illinois.
Golden Bike Library, DATE TBD. Borrow a bike for the day to explore Golden up-close. The Golden Bike Library, a bike share program, is located downtown behind the Golden Visitors Center. Bikes are available to check out from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The first two hours of rental are free, but riders can enjoy extended use at the price of $10 per day.
Scenic Train Rides at the Colorado Railroad Museum, Thursdays – Sundays, May through August. Take advantage of the beautiful Colorado weather this summer on a scenic train ride presented by the Colorado Railroad Museum. Perfect for the whole family, these rides depart twice per hour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays).
Golden Super Cruise, first Sunday of June, July, August, Sept. and Oct., 5 - 8:30 p.m. You’ll ooh and ahh over this monthly parade of classic cars as they cruise from downtown to South Golden Road and back. http://www.goldensupercruise.com/
Golden BIke Cruise, last Tuesday of June, July, August and Sept. A family friendly Bicycle Cruise through Golden. Check the theme of the month! https://www.facebook.com/TheGolden
Cruise/
E-bike Rentals, available now. Golden is home to an abundance of nature, and a great way to explore the numerous trails and bike paths throughout the city is from the comfort of an electric bike. E-bikes are available to rent from two unique locations: Adventure West and Pedego Electric Bikes Golden.
Wild West Walking Tours, Pub Crawls & More, select Saturdays & Sundays, now through October. If you’re looking to gain some insight into the lengthy history of Golden, consider embarking on a Wild West Walking Tour hosted by Golden History Tours. These tours last about two hours, and they’ll take you all around many significant spots throughout the city. You even get to take home a free golden bandana as a souvenir. Look for special pub crawls and shorter tours kicking off this summer too.
Concerts at the Buffalo Rose, select dates. Concerts are back in Golden at the Buffalo Rose! This historic venue offers a unique combination of regional American cuisine, exclusive beverage options and live music. Check their website for upcoming concert dates.
####
