Fall foliage may be Colorado’s annual headliner, but come summer, the state puts on its own photogenic spectacle. Wildflowers carpet alpine meadows, spill down mountain slopes and transform hiking and mountain trails into colorful corridors of blooms, making a strong case for why we’re nicknamed “Colorful Colorado” in the first place.
With more than 3,000 species of wildflowers blooming across the state, summer is one of the prettiest times to hit the road. In the high country, vibrant purple lupine and delicate harebells sway in the breeze, while bright yellow arnica and Old Man of the Mountain light up meadows. You’ll also spot fiery reds of Indian paintbrush and fragrant, bee-attracting lavender (which, yes, is technically a shrub).
Whether you’re planning a mountain getaway or a visit to the botanical gardens, Colorado’s wildflower season offers plenty of reasons to wander. Ahead, find four festivals worth adding to your summer calendar.
Colorado Lavender Festival in Palisade
Dates: June 26-28
More information: coloradolavender.org/annual-lavender-festival/
Palisade may be best known for its peaches and wineries, but each summer the Western Slope town also becomes a destination for lavender lovers.
The three-day Colorado Lavender Festival celebrates the fragrant crop with farm tours, workshops, artisan markets and culinary experiences. Kick things off with VIP tours of local lavender farms and producers, including Belli Fiori Lavender Farm.
On June 27, Festival in the Park at Riverbend Park brings together lavender growers, food and craft vendors, live music and educational talks on how to grow, cook with and use lavender as well as crafting workshops, yoga and art classes that cost extra.
A highlight is the Gourmet Lavender & Wine Dinner, where local wines are paired with a lavender-inspired meal at Amy’s Courtyard at the lovely Maison La Belle Vie Winery in Palisade ($110 per person).
The festival wraps up June 28 with self-guided visits to area farms and shops, offering a chance to stroll through blooming purple fields and stock up on lavender-infused products.
Breckenridge Wildflower Week
Dates: July 2-12
More information gobreck.com/event/breckenridge-wildflower-week/
Colorado’s newest wildflower celebration is blooming this summer. Making its debut in July, the Breckenridge Wildflower Week is an 11-day festival that pairs the town’s peak wildflower season with art, music, cocktails and outdoor adventures. Rather than centering on a single venue, the celebration spreads throughout town and surrounding open spaces, inviting visitors to experience wildflowers from multiple perspectives.
Nature lovers can join guided hikes led by Breckenridge Open Space and Trails naturalists, including an easy two-mile walk along the Blue River Trail that offers an up-close look at local blooms. Creative types can tap into Breck Create’s lineup of wildflower-inspired classes, which range from watercolor painting to flower mosaics. One standout event is the Stained Glass Flower Bolo Tie class on July 3, where participants learn traditional stained-glass techniques and leave with a wearable piece of art. The class starts at $56.
The festival also embraces the flavors of the season. At the Breckenridge Distillery, visitors can take hands-on cocktail and mocktail classes featuring sustainably sourced wildflowers. Add in concerts from the National Repertory Orchestra and volunteer opportunities aimed at protecting local wildflower habitats, and the wildflower week offers a new way to experience the high country in full bloom.
Crested Butte Wildflower Festival
Dates: July 10-19
More information: https://crestedbuttewildflowerfestival.org/
Crested Butte is synonymous with gorgeous blooms. In fact, it’s considered Colorado’s capital of wildflowers and, every summer, the mountain town’s hillsides, valleys and alpine meadows explode with color.
The annual Crested Butte Wildflower Festival is celebrating its 40th year this year.
The festival features dozens of guided experiences that go far beyond simply admiring flowers, which you can venture out to do on hiking and biking trails. Visitors can join naturalist-led hikes, learn to identify native species, sharpen their photography skills, or tap into their creative side with watercolor and flower-arranging workshops. There are even themed outings that blend local history with the area’s botanical beauty. In all, there’s more than 150 festival events.
While a low-snow winter means Crested Butte’s peak bloom is expected to arrive a couple of weeks ahead of schedule this year, there will still be plenty of color! For example, some later-summer favorites may show up early, including fireweed, which typically doesn’t hit its stride until August. You can stay up to date with the wildflower forecast here.
Lavender Festival at Chatfield Farms in Littleton
Dates: July 18 & 19
More information: botanicgardens.org/events/special-events/lavender-festival
If you’re looking for a flower-filled outing without committing to a mountain road trip, the Lavender Festival at Chatfield Farms is your close-to-home answer. Just south of Denver, this annual celebration unfolds among more than 2,000 lavender plants, filling the air with the shrub’s calming fragrance and creating plenty of photo-worthy moments.
While the lavender fields are the main attraction, there’s plenty to see and do. Check out the Janice Ford Memorial Dye Garden and learn about techniques for spinning, weaving and creating natural dyes from plants like indigo, black hollyhocks, cosmos and sunflowers. You’ll also find local artists creating work on-site, live music from Colorado bands, lawn games, train rides for kids and opportunities to chat with the farmers and horticulturists who care for the property.
My favorite add-on? The DIY lavender flower crown workshops on July 19. There’s something delightfully whimsical about weaving fragrant purple blooms into a crown and wandering the gardens. (Be sure to sign up in advance; the cost is $64 or $59 for members).
Educational workshops also cover everything from growing lavender at home to cooking with it, and local vendors sell lavender-infused products, handmade goods and treats to take home.
