Boulder Creek Festival Returns for 37th Year Over Memorial Day Weekend
The free, four-day event along Boulder Creek will feature live music, local vendors, family activities and a ticketed beer festival
Photos Courtesy of Ryan Cox Photography
Boulder’s longtime unofficial start to summer is set to return. The 37th annual Boulder Creek Festival will take place May 22–26 along Boulder Creek in downtown Boulder, bringing live music, food vendors, artists and family-friendly programming to the city for four days over Memorial Day weekend.
For more than three decades, the event has drawn large crowds with organizers estimating about 150,000 attendees in 2025 and continues to serve as a seasonal kickoff for residents and visitors alike.
Presented by the City of Boulder and Team Player Productions, the free festival spans the creek corridor from Ninth to 14th streets. This year’s event will feature more than 30 musical acts, a marketplace with over 200 artisans and local businesses, and more than 30 food trucks offering a range of options from international cuisine to festival staples.
Programming begins Friday evening with a concert at the Bandshell, headlined by Grateful Dead tribute band Steely Dead. Music continues throughout the weekend, with performances scheduled from morning through evening across genres including folk, reggae and bluegrass. Additional headliners include Magic Beans’ collaborative “super jam” on Saturday, Gasoline Lollipops on Sunday and Wash Park Band on Monday.
A ticketed component, the Creekside Beer Fest, will run alongside the main event with multiple tasting sessions on Saturday and Sunday. Participating breweries include Bootstrap Brewing, Fiction Beer Company and Avery Brewing Co., among others, with more expected to be announced.
Beyond entertainment, the festival highlights Boulder’s local economy and creative community. Small businesses, food vendors and artists are central to the event’s footprint, offering a platform for regional makers and entrepreneurs.
“There’s a moment every year at the Boulder Creek Festival when you look around and think — this is Boulder at its best,” event director Ryan Slater said in a statement, pointing to the mix of local brewers, artists and families that define the experience.
The festival also reflects broader trends in Colorado’s event scene, where outdoor, community-driven gatherings continue to draw strong attendance and support local industries.
In addition to music and food, the festival includes a range of interactive attractions. A dedicated kids area will host performances, games and open play, while the Bash at the Banks skate jam returns with demonstrations from local skaters.
New this year, the Street Wise Artist Village will transform the Dushanbe Teahouse plaza into a hub for live art, music and vendors. The adjacent Street Wise Canvas Combat will feature a live painting competition culminating in a final round on Monday.
Key Details:
- Dates: May 22–26
- Location: Boulder Creek, Ninth to 14th streets
- Admission: Free (beer festival ticketed separately)
- Music: 30+ acts across four days
- Vendors: 200+ artisans and local businesses
Organizers say additional announcements, including a major partnership, are expected in the coming weeks.
