Things to Do in Denver, Colorado in September 2023
September is one of my favorite months of the year in Denver. The weather starts to cool down and the mornings start to have a beautiful crispness in the air. Non ironic conversations about the elk rut and checking out the Aspens happen with increasing frequency.
There’s even the potential for a little bit of snow.
I’m serious. I remember when it snowed the first week of September. I’m talking about in Denver-not just in the mountains. And we begin to get mountain snow reports as we make our way towards winter. If you’re new to Denver-welcome! If you’re already from Denver-oh, hey! Wondering what there is to do? So many fun activities and I’m excited to say that it’s very clear that Denver is BACK!
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Visiting Denver in September
In my view, September is one of the best months of the year to visit Denver. The temperatures are perfect, the evenings are cooler so that I’m able to sleep better and the overwhelming number of tourists eases up. Theater season is back and Denver Broncos football has started. If you’re thinking about booking that ticket-do it!
There are so many events, activities and festivals to enjoy during September and Mother Nature provides some awesome experiences to enjoy as well.
Where to Stay
September is still a pretty busy time of year so I would encourage you to book your hotel, plane, etc. as early as possible. If you’re visiting during the Great American Beer Festival do know that 100,000 visitors are in town for that one event alone-not including other events happening in town at that time.
Getting Around
If you’re staying in the downtown city center, you probably won’t need a car because you can take the train from the airport and depart at the last stop-Union Station. From there you can take the Free Mall Shuttle or a car share to your accommodation. If you’re traveling with a larger group of people or prefer to travel by car, use Discover Cars to save on your car rental.
- Public Transit-Denver has a bus and light rail system that is pretty solid to use for Denver’s City Center.
- Bustang/Pegasus-These are regional transit options that take riders throughout the rest of the state. If you’re hoping to visit the mountains and not rent a car-this is your best option.
- Best Practice: Sign up for the Bustang/Pegasus Alerts and follow their Twitter handle.
- Visit Estes Park-Take the Bustang Service to Estes Park during September. Prices are half off as a part of an initiative to encourage people to use and discover this service.
How to Book a Mountain Tour
No vacation to Denver would be complete without exploring the mountains. If you’re unsure where to go and what to do then I highly recommend booking a tour. Leave the details to someone else. If you’re looking for a guided hike in the mountains or would like to explore Rocky Mountain National Park-I recommend booking with a guided tour and leaving the planning to someone else.
What to Bring
This is the time of year when you absolutely have to think about how changing weather and altitudes will impact what you need to pack for your trip. Depending on where you are and what the weather is doing you may need to bring hot weather, cool weather and cold weather clothing. If you plan on hiking you’ll also need to bring some gear or get some gear while you’re in town.
Rain gear (rain jacket or umbrella)
- You need a swimsuit for hot tubs or hot springs!
Denver Festivals and Events
I love attending all of the events and festivals that are held throughout the year. A couple of my favorites are held in September. Can you guess which ones that I’m super geeked out about? One clue-I don’t drink beer LOL!
- 90’s/2000 R&B Rooftop Party: The Remix-Museum of Contemporary Art
- Amor a la Mexicana Event-September 2, 2023
- Go Hiking with Latino Outdoors in Chautauqua Park-September 17, 2023
- Colorado Korean Cultural Festival-September 23, 2023
- Gather ‘Round Gala-Denver Urban Gardens Fundraiser-September 28, 2023
- Desert Rider Dreaming in Motion Exhibit-Denver Art Museum
- Denver Walls (Mural) Event
- September 22-October 3, 2023
- Chile and Frijoles Festival in Pueblo
- Shakespeare In the Parking Lot-Accessible theater for the win.
- “The Rut” Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park
- Elks are in the mood for love and competition during September and early October. This is when “The Rut” happens.
- North Denver (Bike) Rides
- Denver Walls Art Ride in Five Points (RINO)
- Snow Shape Fitness Classes at Red Rocks
- I love Red Rocks and I find that I enjoy experiences such as Yoga on the Rocks, Film on the Rocks and Snow Shape a little more than the concerts. Snow Shape is a series of fitness focused workouts with the goal of getting people ski ready.
- Farmers Market Season Continues
- Mo’ Betta Green Market is one of my top 3 favorite Denver farmers markets. It’s small but might (and Black owned)
- House of Poetry (Vintage Theater)
- Slam Nuba-I love slam poetry and Slam Nuba is the OG space for hosting slam poetry in Denver (as well as nurturing these poets) Typically, these events are held the last Friday of each month.
- Denver Roller Derby-The 70’s are calling and the Denver Roller Derby is front and center.
Upcoming Concerts in Denver
If you haven’t purchased your tickets yet, or are worried that the show has sold out you still may be able to get a ticket. Check out Vivid Seats, a secure marketplace where event goers transfer their tickets when they are no longer able to attend an event.
Tip–Make Sure to Book Early Do not wait till the day of the event to purchase your tickets. Make sure to checkout Vivid Seats at least a week before to make sure that the ticket transfer is complete and that you’ve downloaded the right app for the type of ticket that you’ve purchased.
This is an incomplete list of all of the tours coming through Denver in September. Definitely check and see if your favorite artist will be in town in September.
- Lionel Ritchie September 5, 2023 at Ball Arena
- Janelle Monet-September 7, 2023 at Red Rocks
- Drake “It’s All a Blur” Tour September 8, 2023 at Ball Arena
- Soul Rebel Festival Black Uhuru September 9, 2023 at Levitt Pavillion
- Freestyle Colorado Festival with Stevie B and Lisa Lisa September 9, 2023 at Fiddlers Green
- RBD-Soy Rebelde Tour September 10, 2023 at Ball Arena
- Jonas Brothers September 14, 2023 at Ball Arena
- Eric Clapton September 16, 2023 at Ball Arena
- Sting-September 20-21, 2023 at Red Rocks
- Mana September 29, 2023 at Ball Arena
Sporting Events
Denver is very much a sports town. In fact, I talk about why we deserve more respect as a sports town after the Denver Nuggets won the NBA Championship. With that said, there are a number of
- Colorado Avalanche Pre-Season
- Colorado Rapids
Culture/Theater and Comedy
- Cowboy Exhibit-Museum of Contemporary Art
- Miss Rythym-The Legend of Ruth Brown-Denver Center for Performing Arts
- Marlon Wyans (Denver Improv) September 22-24, 2023
FAQs
- What is the Weather Like in September-There’s a range but the average daily high is in the lower 80’s.
- Does it snow in Denver in September-Yes, it can snow during September in the Denver metro area. But, the snow typically melts pretty fast. Also, it’s more likely to happen towards the end of the month. Don’t freak out or worry too much about this.
- Does it snow in the Rocky Mountains close to Denver in September-Yes. It absolutely does. In fact, we begin to get regular snow reports from the highest altitudes in September (can snow all year long at those altitudes-doesn’t necessarily mean that the snow is accumulating)
- Can You Ski in September-It’s still a little too early for skiing