Only In Colorado: Great Town Festivals You’ve Never Heard Of

Colorado is a state loaded with unique festivals and celebrations. Some draw visitors from all over the state, and others may be small-town events you have never heard of.

Read More: Why Is Colorado's Southwest Arbor Fest So Popular?

If you live on Colorado's Western Slope, you may not be familiar with the Denver Pancakes and Booze Art Show or the FoCo Fondo. Imagine what people on the Front Range think of Western Colorado celebrating headless chickens and sheepdogs. Let's check out some lesser-known festivals happening around the Centennial State in 2025.

Get our free mobile app

Hotchkiss Sheep Camp Stock Dog Trials

• Event: 🐑 Hotchkiss Sheep Camp Stock Dog Trials
• 📍 Location: Hotchkiss, CO
• 📅 Dates: May 9–11, 2025​
• 💻 Online: Hotchkiss Sheep Camp Stock Dog Trials

Enjoy the sunshine and beautiful backdrop of the North Fork Valley at the Hotchkiss Sheep Camp Stock Dog Trials. Watch skilled herding dogs navigate the sheep through obstacles. Check out the trials, sample local food vendors, and enjoy the very photogenic community of Hotchkiss.

Mike the Headless Chicken Festival

• Event: 🐔 Mike the Headless Chicken Festival
• 📍 Location: Downtown Fruita, Colorado
• 📅 Dates: May 30–31, 2025​
• 💻 Online: Headless Chicken Festival

Nobody believes the story of Mike the headless chicken the first time they hear it. It's the pictures that bring it home. They are not for the faint of heart. The quirky tale of this headless chicken is celebrated every year with a festival that includes live music, a 5K run, a poultry show, vendors, and the popular ‘Chicken Dance Off’.

Collbran Heritage Days & Rodeo

• Event: 🐎 Collbran Heritage Days – Collbran, CO
• 📍 Location: Downtown Collbran​ (Collbran Rodeo Grounds)
• 📅 Dates: 4^th of July Weekend
• 💻 Online: Plateau Valley Heritage Days

Western Colorado loves to Rodeo. We love it even more when there is a rodeo on the Grand Mesa. Collbran hosts a parade, rodeo events, live music, and lots of activities for the holiday weekend.

Paonia Cherry Days

• Event: 🍒 Paonia Cherry Days
• 📍 Location: Paonia, CO​
• 📅 Dates: July 3–5, 2025
• 💻 Online: Paonia Cherry Days

In 2025, the 4^th of July will take place on a Friday. This means that the weekend offers those of us in Western Colorado a chance to attend Cherry Days and the Western Sky Balloon Festival in Delta, which is also scheduled for that same weekend.

Cherry Days celebrates Western Colorado’s summer cherry harvest with a parade, live music, a pie-eating contest, and a full weekend of activities. The event is held on Grand Avenue downtown.

Western Sky Hot Air Balloon Festival

• Event: 🎈Western Sky Hot Air Balloon Festival
• 📍 Location: Delta, Colorado (Confluence Park)
• 📅 Dates: July 3–5, 2025
• 💻 Online: Western Sky Hot Air Balloon Festival

Hot Air Balloon ascensions, Hot Air Balloon Tethering, the Deltarado Days Parade, Mud Volleyball at Cottonwood Park, Mechanical Bull riding, Rodeo Bounce House, Evening Glow at Confluence Park, and Fireworks. Be sure to bring your sunscreen.

Palisade Peach Festival

• Event: 🍑 Palisade Peach Festival – Palisade, CO
• 📍 Location: Riverbend Park in Palisade
• 📅 Dates: August 15–16, 2025
• 💻 Online: Palisade Peach Festival

It gets better every year; The Palisade Peach Fest returns in August at Riverbend Park in Palisade. Enjoy peach-eating, live music, lots of food, and unique vendors.

Read More: 3 MLB Records Colorado Rockies Fans are Not Proud Of

Olathe Sweet Corn Festival

• Event: 🌽 Olathe Sweet Corn Festival
• 📍 Location: Olathe, CO (Montrose Rotary Amphitheater)
• 📅 Dates: August 23rd, 2025
• 💻 Online: Olathe Sweet Corn Festival

The Olathe Sweet Corn Festival is growing, and this year the event will be held at the Montrose Rotary Amphitheater. Western Colorado comes together to celebrate Olathe’s sweet corn, and to enjoy music, a beer garden, food vendors, and lots of fun activities. Admission is free.

Cedaredge Applefest

• Event: 🍏 Cedaredge Applefest
• 📍 Location: Cedaredge, CO (Cedaredge Town Park)
• 📅 Dates: October 3–5, 2025
• 💻 Online: Cedaredge Applefest​

Cedaredge celebrates the apple harvest this October 3^rd to 5^th. Town Park fills with vendors, arts and crafts, a classic car show, live music, and all the apples you can eat. Set the table for an outstanding fall with a visit to Cedaredge in October.