It’s that time of year again…summer is right around the corner. Memorial day will soon be upon us, and it’s time to decide how to kick off our warmest months. We’ve come up with a list of great Memorial Day weekend events to help get you started. Boulder never disappoints when it comes to celebrating, and this Memorial Day is no different.
Boulder Creek Fest
What: A three-day festival held at Central Park
When: May 28-May 30
The Boulder Creek Festival is a great way for the whole family to spend Memorial Day Weekend. For over a quarter century, the festival has been providing three days of fun filled entertainment, offering a wide variety of activities, food, and musical acts. With over 500 vendors and four performance stages, there’s something here for everyone.
Deadphish Orchestra, Colorado’s Grateful Dead and Phish tribute band, will kick off the weekend on Friday with a free show at the Bandshell. There will be food and a booth from Avery Brewing Company.
If you have little ones, consider waking up early to take them to Viele Lake on Saturday, May 28. Children 12 years and younger can take part in a fishing derby sponsored by the Boulder Fish & Game Club. The derby starts at 7am, and the fish wait for no man…or woman…or child. 😉
The rest of the weekend consists of a variety of musical and artistic acts on the four performance stages, until Monday’s annual duck race. Join the thousands who gather on the shores of Boulder Creek to watch 10,000 little rubber ducks vie for supremacy. If you’re feeling bold, you can enter the race for a chance to win $1,000, and the bragging rights of best duck racer in the land.
BoulderBOULDER
What: A 10k race through Boulder
When: Memorial Day, Monday May 30
BoulderBOULDER is the ultimate Memorial Day celebration in town. Started in 1979, the annual race draws 120,000 spectators and runners, and has been named America’s All-Time Best 10k by Runners World. Racers from all walks of life, from professional athletes to average Joe’s, make their way through Boulder’s streets, passing by live entertainment at every corner. Twenty-nine bands play during the race, spread out at every quarter mile interval.
If the bands don’t entertain you, the runners surely will. Many dress in costume, and groups of running teletubbies aren’t uncommon (it’s happened before). The crowd really gets involved in the event, making the atmosphere electric. Just sitting on the sidelines can be as energizing as racing. If somehow people running in outrageous costumes and the live music don’t sound appealing, there will be food. Eighty different vendors will be at this year’s race, selling everything from souvenirs to munchies. Promotional swag is also up for grabs, and who doesn’t love free stuff?
More festivities follow the race, starting with a Memorial Day Tribute at Folsom Field. As many as 70,000 folks pack in to witness the singing of our national anthem, a 21-gun salute, F-16 flyover, and the Mile-Hi SkyDiving Team’s traditional exhibition. At the 7th largest running race in the world, being bored will prove difficult.
Boulder Farmers Market
Where: 13th Street between Canyon and Arapahoe
Ok, so you do this every weekend anyway. But the Boulder Farmer’s Market takes on a special kind of atmosphere around Memorial Day. It’s held adjacent to the Boulder Creek Fest, making the events combine into a sort of local goods/musical entertainment festival. It doesn’t get any more Boulder than this. Stocking up on farm fresh goodness while you take in some live music is a great way to spend a Saturday morning. As always, the Market offers a wide selection of vendors and food options, and should be more crowded than usual, so look for vendors to bring their A-game.
Inuit Band
What: A reggae/jazz/funk show at Mountain Sun
When: May 29, 10pm
Get yourself ready for the BoulderBOULDER with the Inuit Band. Located at perennial favorite pub, Mountain Sun, Inuit promises to keep everyone in high spirits leading up to the big race. As always, the restaurant will feature $3.50 flagship beers from 11-close. Just make sure not to over indulge, BoulderBOULDER starts bright and early. 😉
If you’re reading this from out of town, don’t be shy, come out this Memorial Day and see what Boulder has to offer. You probably won’t want to leave.