Art Fests, Farmers Markets, Buffalo Bill Days, Train Rides & More…
Make the “Summer of 24” the best ever with festivals, activities and fun in Golden. From longtime favorites, like Buffalo Bill Days and the Golden Fine Arts Festival to weekly traditions, like Golden’s Farmers Market, Golden is a great place to enjoy summer! Be sure to check out our events calendar for a full listing of all summer events. Here are some of the major events to plan for:
Golden Super Cruise, first Saturday of the month, May – October, 5 – 8:30 p.m. Starting on South Golden Road, the Golden Super Cruise is a longstanding tradition of fabulous cars and good old-fashioned cruising fun.
Homestead Open House at the Golden History Park, select Saturdays, May - September, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. This free event offers hands-on opportunities to see a blacksmith in action, authentic wood stove cooking, and many other pioneer life activities. It’s drop-in style so no registration required.
Summer Train Rides at the Colorado Railroad Museum, Thursdays – Sundays, mid May – mid-August. On Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, hop on board for train rides in open-air coaches pulled by a vintage diesel locomotive or steam locomotive. Summer train rides are a thrill for all and a small fee in addition to admission.
Golden Bicycle Cruise, last Tuesday of the month, May - September. This family-friendly event features pedal bikes, beers and bands. There's also a fun costume theme each month.
The Golden Hayride Outpost’s Farmers Marketplace, Sundays, May - October, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Head to the Golden Hayride Outpost at 17695 S. Golden Rd for this new event, featuring food trucks and local vendors. New event, more details coming soon.
Dinosaur Express Train, June 1 & 2. Railroad tracks meet dinosaur tracks for a day of exciting family fun. Ride behind a coal-fired steam locomotive, departing every half-hour from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., and follow the dinosaur tracks around the Museum’s 15-acre railyard. There will be Dinosaur-themed activities hosted by Dinosaur Ridge and Morrison Natural History Museum. Check out a dinosaur-themed LEGO Layout created by the Denver Lego Users Group and build your own dinosaur creations. Meet “Mr. Bones” along with the famous Spike the Railroad Dog. Food, drink and tasty treats will be available. The Dinosaur Express Train brings together two childhood favorites in a day-long celebration. Capacity is limited and advance ticket purchase is recommended.
Golden Farmers Market, Saturdays, June 1 – October 5. Featuring farm-fresh produce, gourmet cuisine, refreshing beverages and local vendors and entertainment, the Golden Farmer’s Market is held in the Golden Public Library’s West Parking Lot, 10th & Illinois.
Scandinavian Festival, June 15 & 16. This is a brand new event. More info coming soon.
ARTSWEEK GOLDEN, June 17 - 23. Enjoy a week-long celebration of the arts in Golden which culminates with a two-day juried arts festival (June 22 & 23) that features top quality artwork in a friendly, relaxed setting in Golden. There will be a week’s worth of art activities in Golden orchestrated by Foothills Art Center in partnership with Golden arts-oriented organizations.
Sip and Shop Golden Scavenger Hunt, June. The Golden Hayride, in partnership with the Golden Visitors Center and Golden Chamber of Commerce, is bringing a unique all day shopping experience to downtown Golden in June! Sip & Shop Golden is a day of discounts and treats at participating Golden businesses. Tickets will cover your Sip & Shop bracelet, which gets you the discount and treat at each participating shop, a map of participating businesses, a reusable shopping bag, and a passport to get marked off at each shop you stop at, which you'll turn in at the end of the event to be entered for awesome prize drawings. This is a great way to support small local businesses and the Golden Visitors Center.
Fourth of July Festival, July 4, in Lions Park. This celebration is an opportunity for families, friends, and neighbors to gather at Lions Park on 10th Street to enjoy food, fun and live music while celebrating our country. Stay tuned for more information.
Monthly Movies & Music in the Park, Friday, July 5, August 2 & Sept. 6. Free music and a family-friendly movie are shown one Friday night each month (July-Sept.) in Parfet Park. Bands begin performing at 7 p.m. and the featured movie of the night begins at dusk, around 8:30 p.m. The movies are shown on a giant inflatable screen under the stars.
Buffalo Bill Days, July 26 - 28. Thousands of people fill the streets of Golden for Buffalo Bill Days. Catch Cody's Wild West, the popular parade, mutton busting, live music, a classic car show, a golf tournament, food and merchandise vendors and, of course, Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley!
The Golden Fine Arts Festival, August 10 & 11. A Golden icon for three decades, Golden Fine Arts Festival is a prestigious, juried art show located in the heart of historic downtown Golden. The premier event draws over 35,000 visitors over two days to enjoy art, live entertainment, beer and wine gardens, food vendors, and children’s activities. The event is limited to 100 artist booth spaces. Artists are selected through a competitive jury and traditionally, over half of participating artists travel to Golden from outside of Colorado.
Day Out With Thomas™, Weekends, September 7 & 8, 14 & 15 and 21 & 22. Get tickets early for the extremely popular Day Out With Thomas™ Tour. Hop on board an interactive train ride with a life-sized Thomas the Tank Engine and enjoy access to hands-free activities including live entertainment, scavenger hunt, hay bale maze, stage shows, sing-a-longs and much more! It’s full steam ahead to an unforgettable day with a host of train-related activities, including a special appearance from Sir Topham Hatt, the Railway Controller from The Island of Sodor. Capacity is limited and advance ticket purchase is required. More information to come.
Golden Sidewalk Sale, September 14. Golden is home to a variety of mostly locally owned shops and galleries. Merchants will set out deep discounts all throughout Golden, from local fashions to great deals on outdoor gear. Bargain hunters get ready to “strike gold” with the deals in Golden!