Aurora, Colorado is filled with unique attractions, activities, and must-sees. There’s no better way to truly experience the area than by attending some of the city’s most iconic events. While most travelers gravitate towards Colorado as a winter destination, we wanted to explore what’s going on in the warmer months. Read on to discover a sampling of our favorite summer and fall events.
Sponsored by Visit Aurora
Top Taco
June
Top Taco is a can’t-miss tasting party filled with tequila, live music, tacos, and more. Each summer, more than 40 local taco restaurants gather for this “culinary throwdown” where attendees have the chance to taste an unlimited number of bite-sized tacos and vote for their favorite. Categories include traditional, creative, and vegetarian, and the competition even extends to tequila. Included with a ticket, attendees can try a variety of tequila cocktails and margaritas – a dream culinary pairing. No worries if you’re not a tequila drinker, there is also beer, wine, and more acholic beverages on-site. To round out the event, festival-goers can enjoy free concerts, photo opportunities, and a baby goat petting zoo. The 21+ event takes place every June at Stanley Marketplace.
Hops in the Hanger
August
This annual beer event is held at Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum and offers more than 20 local beers for the tasting. A $35 ticket will get you unlimited 5-oz. samples from some of Colorado’s best breweries, a commemorative tasting glass, and entry into the museum. Other event highlights include on-site food trucks and live music throughout the night. New to Hops in the Hanger are no-cost RFID chipped wristbands so attendees can keep track of every beer they tasted throughout the night and allow them to vote for their favorites.
Stanley Arts Festival
September
Discover the works of nearly 100 national artists whose work is bursting with creativity. With 14 different disciplines of art including ceramics, mixed media, digital media, photography, metalworks, jewelry, drawing, painting, and even an emerging artist program, you’ll be sure to find a piece to suit any taste. Sample fares from local food trucks as you peruse the art, attend a meet and greet with some of the artists, enjoy music and dance performances throughout the weekend, and indulge the family with a variety of games and artistic activities aimed for kids. The event runs for a full day on Saturday and Sunday and admission is free.
Punkin Chunkin
September
Move over Charlie Brown, the City of Aurora’s Annual Punkin Chunkin is a great fall event where pumpkins fly high in the sky. Since 1998, Aurora has hosted to the nation’s largest pumpkin launching competition. Visitors from around the United States compete and watch pumpkins fly over 3,000 feet launched by either air-pressured or spring-loaded contraptions. Other activities include wood-carving competitions, pumpkin carving displays, petting zoos, pumpkin picking, a classic Corvette car show, beer garden, food vendors, and more.
Dry Dock’s Annual Anniversary Party
October
For more than a decade, Dry Dock Brewing Co. has been busting out award-winning beers and making a name for Aurora, Colorado, and each year they throw an anniversary party worthy of their recognition. Held at their North Dock location, the event is free to those that want to “pay as they go” or there are two ticket options. Past events have included celebratory activities such as flash tattoos, a live Colorado-based band, lawn games, a bonfire, on-site screen printing, climbing walls, food trucks, and limited beer releases.
Sponsored by Visit Aurora
We embrace everything that makes our community so unique, and we welcome you to discover what makes Aurora, Colorado a premier destination for convention, business, and leisure travel. Create a Colorado experience your attendees will never forget as the Rocky Mountains serve as your backdrop during any meeting. Bring the family along as you discover the great outdoors, ethnic eateries, shopping, special events, and entertainment options that create memories that last a lifetime.
