FRIDAY

Aug. 1 is Colorado Day but don’t forget to go to work because Friday’s not a holiday. Special Days for each state designate dates when they achieved statehood and for Colorado it’s 149 years, the 38th state, Aug. 1, 1876, thus the Centennial State. It’s part of a whole Celebrate Colorado Week with free and discounted events through Sunday, including tours of the Governor’s Mansion and LoDo, Union Station festivities, special enjoy-the-outdoors activities and more: celebrate.colorado.gov.

SATURDAY

Colorado Veterans Project’s Freedom Festival is a combination 10K run/5K walk/15K ruck food drive at 6:30 a.m. as well as a veterans’ Memories of Honor. Festival time at 9 a.m. includes food trucks, vendors, veterans’ resources, and a beer garden with entertainment by 6 Million Dollar Band until 2 p.m. Salisbury Equestrian Center, 11920 N. Motsenbocker Road, Parker, $30. Tickets: coloradoveteransproject.org. 

SATURDAY

Get ready to ring the bells as the pro cyclists in Audi Denver Littleton Twilight Criterium race through Downtown during this portion of The Gold Rush Omnium, a sanctioned series around the Denver Metro area with nine races. During the day there are bike activities for the community including bike waves, a Family Cruiser ride at 5:20 p.m., an accessible ride and an Arts Festival. From 1 to 5 p.m. the city has a pop-up Safer Streets Practice Park for everyone to ride bikes safely on city streets; bikes and helmets provided by Bicycle Colorado. Music, including The Petty Nicks Experience, until 10 p.m. littletoncrit.com

SATURDAY

Next Colorado saddle-up as the exciting local summer rodeo tradition continues, this time the working ranch cowboys in Ride for the Brand Ranch Rodeo, Saturday, Norris-Penrose Event Center, Colorado Springs. Gates at 4 p.m., rodeo at 6 and pull on your boots for a Dance in the Dirt with The Jason Wulf Band at 8. Tickets: norrispenrose.com/events-1/ride-for-the-brand-ranch-rodeo-3

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

Hot air balloon mornings lead off Moffat County Balloon Festival Days in Craig beginning at 6:30 a.m. The busy schedule includes breakfast burritos, a cardboard regatta, 5K Color Run/Walk, Duck Race and Colorado Cruisers Car Show. There’s time to visit The Museum of Northwest ColoradoWyman Living History Museum and the Sand Wash Basin Wild Horse Refuge.mcballoonfestival.com/home

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

There’s “Opera in the Park” by Boulder Opera at the Boulder Bandshell, 1212 Canyon Blvd., under the stars Saturday and a Sunday matinee. “Bella Voce” includes Italian opera and American classics by Mozart, Verdi, Bernstein, and Gershwin and with live orchestra. A fundraiser, tickets $5-15 and VIP with picnic baskets with wine, $100-250. boulderoperacompany.com/opera-in-the-park-2025-bella-voce

FRIDAY-LABOR DAY

Add to summer adventures with free visits to 11 small Colorado Central Plains museums. Use the password “Our Journey.” Appointments needed at several. Arriba Museum; Bailey Saddleland Museum; Cheyenne Wells Old Jail Museum; Elbert County Museum; Flagler Hospital Museum and Hal Borland Room; Second Central School Museum, Flagler; Kit Carson Museum; Kit Carson County Carousel Museum, Burlington; Limon Heritage Museum and Railroad Park; Lincoln County Museum, Hugo; Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph Museum, Cheyenne Wells. facebook.com/ColoradosCentralPlains/videos/1388883889002494

SATURDAY

Superheroes big and small pull on their hero costumes and fly — or run — into Weidner Field, 111 W. Cimarron in Colorado Springs  Saturday for the Hero Hustle, 7-10 a.m. Fun for families, who can win capes and masks as they run a half marathon, 5K, 10K or a Kids’ Dash. $15-$18.83. Kids in Kids Dash who don’t want the cute swag are free. Awards for best costumes. eventvesta.com/events/101821/t/tickets

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

Days of outstanding art at the high-country Crested Butte Arts Festival, all along historically charming Elk Avenue. The list of juried artists covers 14 pages. Add to that a Family-Friendly Music Festival evening.  crestedbutteartsfestival.com. 

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

Next up for regular festival time in Keystone: string bands and craft brews. The Bluegrass & Beer Festival, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,in River Run Village. Tickets $35.03+, keystonefestivals.com/festivals.