things to do in denver in august

Things to Do in Denver, Colorado in August 2023

Events, Fun, Sports, Theater, things to do in Denver, Uncategorized Michelle@SquareState
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I’m finally getting 2019 vibes in Denver. Things are hopping in town and there are so many fun things to do. I’ve recently had quadruple booked days where I’ve had to decide between 4 different cool activities on the same day.

Don’t get me wrong, there definitely are some lingering issues from the COVID pandemic, but if you live in the metro area or are planning a visit-and are wondering about things to do in Denver, Colorado in August 2023 I’ve picked some of the most intriguing and interest options to choose from. You may be surprised by some of the events that are happening this August.

* In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. Please read my disclosure here.*

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Community Events

My number one tip to residents and visitors to Denver is to participate in one or more of the many community events happening in Denver at any given time. Most of these will include some fun physical activity and hanging out. Below are some of my favorites for the month of August.

  • ¡Viva Streets Denver!
    • It took awhile for people to know that this event was happening and having it rain the first two events didn’t help. ¡Viva Streets Denver! Is hands down my favorite event of 2023. Make sure to enjoy the last one of the year on Sunday, August 6, 2023 and cross your fingers that it won’t rain. See you there!
  • Taste of Ethiopia-I’m really looking forward to this event! I’m going to eat, dance and talk people’s ears off.
  • La Raza Park Day Celebration-August 27, 2023 from 1-5 pm. I am so excited about this event. There will be low-riders there, good music, great people and food.
  • First Fridays (Car Free in the Santa Fe Art District)
    • I love First Fridays but I only go to Santa Fe for the car free events now. As luck would have-it the one car free First Friday on Santa Fe is Friday, August 4, 2023.
  • Yoga on the Lawn (Levitt Pavilion) This is a free yoga class being held on Saturdays from August-September. I love taking yoga and any opportunity to work out for free outside is something that makes its way into my calendar. Bring a tip for the instructor 🙂
  • This is Not Who We Are (Documentary Screening)
    • This documentary documents the experience of living while Black in Boulder. I grew up in both Denver and Boulder and have lived in both towns as a young person and an adult so I’m very interested in seeing if other Black Boulderites have had experiences similar to mine.
  • Denver Go Topless Day-August 27, 2023 (Wut)
    • I will never forget the day that I saw giant groups of people walking around downtown topless. As the Denver Go Topless Website states-“Yes, it’s legal” and it has shared the local ordinance on what you can and cannot do. Have fun!
  • Saigon Azteca Night Market at Hecho en Westwood
    • This Asian and Aztec fusion event is a must attend at Hecho en Westwood one of my favorite community spaces in Denver.
  • B-side Music Fridays (Museum of Contemporary Art)
    • The MCA, for me, stands out as one of the most inventive and exciting creative spaces in Denver. From hosting stunning exhibitions, great music and its Cinema Azteca series-the Museum of Contemporary Art deserves its flowers.
  • Japanfest 2023 at Levitt Pavillion
    • I used to live in Japan as a little kid for two years and then I returned as an adult. I still continue to love all things Japanese and am so excited to attend this new to me event.

Concerts

Denver has always had great live music BUT the music scene is so much better now. The diversity of music coming through the city is amazing to me. With every type of genre. In fact, Beyonce was planning a stop here but there was a conflict with the tour schedule and the Empower Field facility/Broncos schedule. I’ve included a list of some of the more notable concerts that will be in town in August.

Sporting Events

  • NCL Race Series (Cycling)
    • It may surprise people to find out that I’m a HUGE fan of competitive cycling. I’ve actually had the opportunity to see the final league of the Tour de France in Paris. I’ve also enjoyed the different races that were hosted in Denver in previous years. I’m so excited to see another competitive bike race roll through town (pun intended)
  • Broncos vs. L.A. Rams
    • Sometime in August fans can begin attending the Broncos Training Camp and interact with the players. I think this is the last pre-season game before the regular season.

Culture and Theater

There are so many cultural and theatrical experiences to enjoy that the list below is very incomplete. I hope you enjoy a few of these experiences.

  • Burning Man Enthusiast? The Awakening Sculpture will be on display as the artists focus on fundraising to take the sculpture to Burning Man 2023.

Comedy

I love working a fun side-hustle. In recent years my fun side-hustle has given me the chance to work comedy shows and now I’m hooked. You’ll never find me sitting in the front row, but I will happily sit in the back of the theater and laugh my ass off. Here are a few shows that I think are worth checking out.

  • Chris Redd
    • I’m wanting more Black comedians to come through town. He’s funny, check him out.
  • Michelle Wolf
    • Michelle will be in town for 5 shows in 3 days. Three of the shows are sold out at the time this post is being worked on.

Visiting Denver in August

August is a great time to visit Denver. There is so much to do and it’s just a really fun time of year. August also happens to be the hottest month of the year. If you’re from a hot town with high humidity-you will love Denver’s weather. Be prepared for Coloradans to complain about our humidity when it’s 17% humidity.

We’re just not used to it.

Denver and the state of Colorado are extremely popular to visit during the summer vacation season. Make sure to book your trip as early as possible so that you can save money on the different aspects of your trip (transportation, accommodation and events)

*Typically it’s very sunny*

Here are some things to know and prepare for:

  • Typically fire season in the Western United States is in full swing. Fire activity in other states may impact your time in Colorado. Each year is different-but, it’s important to be aware of.
  • August is the tourist high season-There are a ton of people visiting the state of Colorado-be patient with us and everyone else.
  • Traffic-If possible, try to stay in Denver’s City Center to cut down on needing to drive. If you do need to drive make sure to compare the car rental prices before arriving into town.
  • Transit is free for the month of August 2023 as part of the Zero Fare for Better Air Campaign as we fight against bad air in Colorado and global warming. You’ll find most Coloradans are very aware of the impact of how environmental change is harming our state.
  • Visible poverty-Yes, like many American cities, Denver has visible poverty i.e. we have encampments and unhoused citizens. This is something that we’re working on. We have a new mayor so it will be interesting to see how he approaches this issue. Fighting homelessness was a key part of his campaign.

What to Bring

Here are a few items that you should bring with you on your trip.

Here is a list of all the must haves when you’re visiting Denver.

Collapsable water bottle

Lip balm

Swimsuit

Lotion

Sunblock

Hat

Sunglasses

Sweatshirt

Tennis shoes or hiking shoes

Where to Stay

During the summer I recommend sticking close to Denver’s city center because of the proximity to the different event venues, walkability and access to transit.

  • Hilton Garden Inn Union Station
  • Hotel Indigo
  • The Curtis Hotel
  • The Maven
  • The Rally Hotel (great for baseball fans-it’s across from Coors Field)
  • Hostel Fish
  • 11th Ave Hostel

Play around with the map below and click on the different hotels that I’ve highlighted below.

FAQs

  • What is the weather like in Denver during August-It’s usually in the upper 80s-90s during the day time.
  • Are there Black people in Denver? Yes, I get asked this question all the time I visit other states. We’re here and here’s a post I wrote sharing some things to do in Denver when Black.
  • Is Denver sunny? Yes, it’s extremely sunny and you should bring sunglasses, wear sunblock and lip balm.
  • How humid is Denver?-It’s not humid and tends to be very dry.
  • Where can we ride scooters? You’re not allowed to ride them on the sidewalks and are supposed to ride them on the streets. That said, please wear a helmet. I’ve heard about so many scooter accidents.
  • I heard it snowed in Colorado!! Will it snow when I’m there?!! Calm down, the snow was somewhere in the mountains on one of our highest peaks (around 14,000 feet) it will be hot AF in Denver during August.
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