FRIDAY-SUNDAY

Mention Palisade and thoughts turn to peaches. This weekend, however, is about the colors and fragrances of the Colorado Lavender Festival in Palisade’s Riverbend Park and on tours of the beautiful lavender fields. Even a lavender dinner, too. coloradolavender.org/annual-lavender-festival.

SATURDAY

Black Hawk Founders’ Day leads all the way back to the beginning of the mining days in 1859 when miners were first trying to strike it rich. The town’s main street, Gregory Street, was named after the mining camp and is home to the Black Hawk HARD (History Appreciation and Recreation Destination) District. This is HARD’s event from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday with costumes, music, food trucks, a special brew from Tommyknocker Brewery, vendors and history. blackhawkharddistrict.com/events/3nd-annual-founders-day-at-black-hawks-hard-district

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

Little donkeys have always been an important part of life in mining-era towns like Cripple Creek. Before machinery, the donkeys pulled ore carts out of the mines. Now they’re beloved residents found up and down Cripple Creek streets and celebrated with Donkey Derby Days with its 94th edition Friday through Sunday. There’s a parade Saturday, food, music, a beer garden and the pack burro races up the main street with donkeys who might or might not be inclined to run Saturday and Sunday. cripplecreekdonkeys.com/donkeyderbydays

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

As they say, the stars align at this weekend’s Star Fest in Lake City. Astronomers and those who love the sky will grab their telescopes, chairs and blankets to gather for a variety of events and times to view. During “Lights Out Lake City” there’s stargazing in Lake Fork Memorial Park guided by the experts. Daytime sessions in Mountaineer Theatre followed by Slumgullion Observatory. lakecitystarfest.com

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

One World Festival, formerly called the Mile High Global Bazaar, returns this weekend to the front of Union Station. From noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. See and shop the culture of the world during this 17th year. coloradoevents.org/one-world-festival 

THURSDAY-JULY 6

A long Colorado tradition, it’s the 103rd Greeley Stampede’s opening weekend and the schedule is packed through July 6. PRCA Rodeo series, concerts including Ludacris, bullfighting and a demolition derby. greeleystampede.com 

FRIDAY-JULY 12

A special time for the arts in the mountains opens Friday at the annual Green Box Arts Festival with close to 150 events in Green Mountain Falls, west of Colorado Springs. Art installations everywhere but the most breathtaking work floats over Gazebo Lake in  town center. By installation artist Patrick Shearn of Poetic Kinetics, “Off the Beaten Path,” is 6,000 square feet of colorful, shimmering 35,000 Skynet pieces of kite fabric. Also experience music and dance from around the country and the always anticipated fun like a pie contest, July 4 Block Party and water lantern launch, poetry readings and cooking classes. Schedule and ticket information.greenboxarts.org.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

From noon Saturday to noon Sunday, Rocky Mountain Ham Radio Field Day amateur radio operations are open to all in the US and Canada. Temporary transmitting stations are set up. The Field Day location is 12 Chestnut Lane, Jefferson, CO (Lat/Long 39.271111, -105.7525) tinyurl.com/52hk6f59

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

The always anticipated 23rd annual Winter Park Blues Festival, Blues from the Top, is here with tickets and passes from $80+ to $281+. Included are Little Feat, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Honey Island Swamp Band and more. bluesfromthetop.org.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

A free weekend of music, part of the Vail Summer Series, will feature Evan Honer, BYRNE, Magoo, Blue Ox Boys, Wood Belly and more at Eagle’s Nest Rooftop and the base of Gondola One. tinyurl.com/2e9uss2p

SUNDAY

More than 100 cars will be in the Simply Advance Car Show, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, at South Suburban Sports Complex, 4810 E. County Line Road, Highlands Ranch. Vote for your favorite car while you check out food trucks and hear music. Free but donations accepted to the Denver Children’s Foundation.