Summer in the Mile High City is a magical thing. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, grills are firing up across the city, and the Colorado Rockies are still somehow managing not to understand that the whole objective of scoring in baseball is to hit the ball with the bat.

Low-hanging Rockies jokes aside, Denver is gearing up for a summer packed with incredible events and opportunities to make lasting memories. From huge parades and festivals to concerts and world-famous Broadway productions, there’s something for everyone looking to make the most of that trademark Colorado sunshine.

Take a look at some of the marquee events taking place around the metro area this summer, all within walking distance from RTD stops and stations.

Major festivals, parades, conventions and events

June 28-29: Denver PrideFest at Civic Center Park

The largest celebration of everything LGBTQ+ in the Rocky Mountains returns to Civic Center Park this summer. Join tens of thousands of attendees from across Colorado and beyond for two days filled with exciting events and activities, such as the Vizzy Denver Pride Parade, Denver Pride 5K, live concerts from local and national artists, dancing, and great food. The festival also features educational resources, activism opportunities and family-friendly zones, making it a space for everyone to celebrate who they are.

For more details on the event, visit www.denverpride.org. PrideFest can be accessed by any Civic Center Station-bound bus route. Please note that detours may be in place for the Pride 5K, so sign up for Service Alerts to be in the know.

July 3-6: Fan Expo Denver 2025 at the Colorado Convention Center

The largest pop culture festival in the Rockies returns for 2025! Fan Expo Denver brings the worlds of anime, movies, comics, cosplay, video games and trading card games under the roof of the Colorado Convention Center. Attendees can participate in celebrity Q&As, autograph sessions, photo opportunities, cosplay contests, game tournaments, panels and much more.

This year’s list of celebrities is off the charts, with appearances by dozens of celebrities and voice actors. Notable celebrities attending include John Cena (WWE Superstar), Brendan Fraser (The Mummy and The Whale), John Boyega (Star Wars), William Shatner (Star Trek), Bruce Campbell (The Evil Dead), Alan Tudyk (Star Wars, Dodgeball, Firefly and Resident Alien), Steven Downes (Halo), John Rhys-Davies (Lord of the Rings and Indiana Jones) and Jason Issacs (Harry Potter, The White Lotus).

To learn more about the expo and to purchase tickets, visit www.fanexpohq.com and catch the D and H lines to Theatre District·Convention Center Station to nerd out.

July 11-13: 8th Annual Denver Tattoo Arts Festival at the Colorado Convention Center

Get ready to get inked at the 8th Annual Denver Tattoo Arts Festival July 11-13 at the Colorado Convention Center. Over 600 tattoo artists from around the world descend upon Denver to showcase their work and transform attendees’ bodies into their canvases.

Get tickets today at www.villainarts.com and catch the D and H lines to Theatre District·Convention Center Station to enjoy the celebration.

July 12-Aug. 17: Cirque du Soleil – “Echo” at the Ball Arena (outside)

Cirque du Soleil returns to the Ball Arena this summer with their newest show, “Echo.” Fusing poetry, stagecraft, cutting-edge technology and mind-blowing acrobatics, Echo is Cirque du Soleil’s most ambitious show yet.

For details on the event and to purchase tickets, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com. The show can be accessed by taking the E and W lines to Ball Arena·Elitch Gardens Station.

July 28: Disney Descendants/Zombies: Worlds Collide Tour at the Ball Arena

What happens when the students of Zombietown meet some of Disney’s classic villains as teenagers? Well, grab the kiddos and head to Ball Arena July 28 to find out! The Worlds Collide Tour is a one-of-a-kind interactive live concert experience featuring music from Disney’s Descendants and Zombies movies in what is sure to be an unforgettable experience.

Get tickets today at https://www.disneyconcerts.com/descendantszombiestour/, and take the E and W lines to Ball Arena·Elitch Gardens Station to enjoy the show.

Aug. 9-10: Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live: Glow-N-Fire at the Ball Arena

Ever wonder what it would be like to see real life versions of some of Hot Wheels’ most iconic toy monster trucks? Well, wonder no more as the roar of Skelesaurus, 5-Alarm, Gunkster, Mega Wrex, Bone Shaker, Tiger Shark and Bigfoot rattles the Ball Arena Aug. 9-10 for two nights of intense action and excitement.

Get tickets today at https://hotwheelsmonstertruckslive.com, and take the E and W lines to Ball Arena·Elitch Gardens Station to watch the carnage unfold live.

Sept. 29: RuPaul’s Drag Race at the Mission Ballroom

Get ready to slay, queen. RuPaul brings his world-famous Drag Race to the Mission Ballroom Sept. 29 for the “Werq The World Tour,” the largest drag show on the planet. Drag Race stars Derrick Barry, Jaida Essence Hall, Naomi Small, Marina Summers and Morphine, along with special unannounced guests, are ready to walk the red carpet dressed as some of the biggest names in pop music to pay homage to their legacy and impact on pop culture.

Visit www.axs.com to purchase tickets and take the A Line to 38th·Blake Station to see one of the biggest drag shows live and in person.

Music festivals

It wouldn’t be summer without music, and in 2025, music lovers will not be spoiled for choice. This summer sees the return of mainstay music festivals such as the Juneteenth Music Festival, Edgewater Music Festival and the Underground Music Showcase, as well as the return of North America’s largest touring punk festival, Punk In The Park, and Denver’s newest hardcore and metal festival, Unhinged Festival.

Keep reading to learn more about this summer’s festivals and how to get there via RTD!

June 15: Juneteenth Music Festival

The biggest celebration of Black history, culture music and activism in the Rocky Mountains returns to the Five Points neighborhood June 15. Head to 27th and Welton streets and enjoy a day of art, shopping, activism and education. Of course, it wouldn’t be the Juneteenth Music Festival without the parade!

This year’s music festival’s main stage lineup is below, headlined by the one and only Juvenile.

• DJ SugaBear and La Molly
• Trinity Scales
• Beasts of No Nation
• DJ Jam’N-I and Mallman
• Tony Exum Jr., Goodloe and Marlo
• Danae Simone
• DJ Bella Scratch and SugaBear
• Juvenile

Additionally, The Drop 104.7 presents The Battle for the Block, where local musicians perform their hottest songs for a shot at performing on the main stage.

Visit www.juneteenthmusicfestival.com for more details on this year’s event. Attendees can take the Route 43 to 30th and Downing Station to access the festival.

June 21: Edgewater Music Festival

Blues and barbecue go together like chicken and rice. Now, imagine a music festival built around blues and barbecue. That’s where the Edgewater Music Festival comes in. On June 21, head to Citizens Park for a day of great food and live music. This year’s lineup includes:

• Hand Turkey
• Roots & Rhythm Band
• Wild Love Tigers
• The Duke Street Kings
• May Be Fern
• Chris Daniels and the Kings

Learn more at www.bluesandbbq.com. The festival is accessible by taking Route 20 to West 20th Avenue and Depew Street.

July 18-20: Punk In The Park

Grab a handful of hair gel, spike up a mohawk, throw on a pair of plaid pants, patch up a denim vest and get ready to mosh because America’s largest traveling punk festival returns to Denver in July. Punk In The Park brings the noise and anarchy to the National Western Stockyards July 18-20 for three days of punk, beer and circle pits. This year’s lineup features some of the most prolific names in punk rock and ska, such as Streetlight Manifesto, The Aquabats, Descendents, Pennywise, Bad Religion and Dropkick Murphys. More bands performing include:

• July 18:
  • Madd Caddies
  • Voodoo Glow Skulls
  • The Pietasters, Mustard Plug
  • Catbite
• July 19:
  • Screeching Weasel
  • The Vandals
  • 7Seconds
  • The Real McKenzies
  • Riverboat Gamblers
  • Mad Hispanic
  • We Are The Union
• July 20
  • Circle Jerks
  • The Adicts
  • Strung Out
  • The Casualties
  • Guttermouth
  • The Queers

For the full lineup, head over to www.punkinthepark.com and take the N Line to 48th & Brighton·National Western Center Station.

July 26-27: Unhinged Fest

Not to be biased, but Denver might just have one of the best metal and hardcore scenes in the entire United States. So much so that Denver has two metal-inspired breweries (Trve and Black Sky) and a bar and grill built around the city’s love for heavy music: The Brutal Poodle. It’s time mile high metalheads get a legitimate music festival of their own. For two days in July, the inaugural Unhinged Music and Tattoo Festival turns the National Western Stockyards into a giant moshpit, featuring some of the biggest names in metal, metalcore, hardcore and death metal, headlined by hardcore heavyweight Knocked Loose and one of metal’s most iconic bands, Lamb Of God. This year’s lineup also features:

• July 26:
  • The Dillinger Escape Plan
  • The Garden
  • Health
  • Converge
  • Terror
  • Sanguisugabogg
  • Scowl
  • Jesus Piece
  • Khemmis
  • The Callous Daoboys
• July 27:
  • In This Moment
  • Body Count
  • Power Trip
  • Sunami
  • Catch Your Breath
  • Gatecreeper
  • Angel Dust
  • 200 Stab Wounds

Attendees can also enjoy the Unhinged Tattoo Experience, a tattoo festival activation allowing attendees to get inked by some of the best tattoo artists in the country.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a metal festival in Colorado without craft beer tasting. Attendees can purchase an add-on to enjoy samples from several local and national craft breweries and beverage companies while headbanging to some of the best bands in the heavy music scene.

Check out the full lineup by visiting Unhinged Festival’s Instagram page and get tickets today at www.axs.com. Catch the N Line to 48th & Brighton·National Western Center Station and get ready to get loud and rowdy.

July 25-27: Underground Music Showcase

The Underground Music Showcase (UMS) celebrates its 25th year of bringing together Denver’s incredible music scene under the streetlights and into the bars of South Broadway (SoBo). To celebrate its 25th anniversary, UMS is pulling out all the stops. Over 200 artists and bands from across all genres will descend onto SoBo over two days, giving music lovers a fully loaded buffet of local and national acts to enjoy. Four stages will be set up along SoBo, with 12 venues hosting concerts all weekend long. This year’s headliners include All Them Witches, Flyana Boss and Devotchka.

To get tickets and see the full lineup, visit www.undergroundshowcase.com and catch the Route 0 to any South Broadway stop to access the festival. Note that detours may be in place for the event, so sign up for Service Alerts to be in the know.

Sports

It’s been a rough spring for Denver sports. The Colorado Avalanche were knocked out of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in seven games by the Dallas Stars, thanks to a Mikko Rantanen revenge tour. The Denver Nuggets fired championship-winning coach Michael Malone just before the NBA Playoffs began, making it to the second round and just coming short of beating the Oklahoma City Thunder, thus eliminating them from the playoffs. And then there’s the Colorado Rockies, who now hold the official record for worst start in MLB history and are on track to earn the title of having the worst win/loss record in professional baseball history, a record held since 1899 by the Cleveland Spiders. At this point, the Rockies should allow a local Little League team to take the field in their place. They might actually win a few more games that way.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom for Denver sports fans, as football season is right around the corner, and there hasn’t been this much hype for the Denver Broncos since Lord Peyton Manning led the ponies to the promised land in 2016. Coming off a rookie season that had him lead the Broncos to their first playoff appearance since 2015, Bo Nix has everyone in Colorado Bo-lieving in him to take us back, this time with eyes set on a much deeper playoff run. The Broncos used this offseason to load up on both offensive and defensive weapons, including drafting the third-ranked cornerback in the NFL Draft class this year, Jahdae Barron, and getting an absolute gem of a running back in RJ Harvey in the second round. For the first time in nearly a decade, Empower Field at Mile High Stadium isn’t a pit of despair (unlike Coors Field is), but instead a beacon of hope and optimism that the Broncos are finally back.

In Boulder, Deion Sanders enters his third year as the Buffaloes’ head coach. Hot off the best year the Buffs have had since 2016 with a 9-4 record and earning a Heisman Trophy through two-way wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter, the Buffs go into 2025 with high hopes and great momentum. However, Travis Hunter and star quarterback Shedeur Sanders, as well as star wide receiver LaJohntay Wester, have all moved on to the NFL, leaving Coach Prime with more questions than answers. Even still, it’s a good time to be a Buffs fan.

Wrestling fans are going to be able to get in on the action as well. All Elite Wrestling (AEW) finally visits the Mile High City with Fyter Fest. Catch AEW’s biggest stars such as Kenny Omega, MJF, Mercedes Moné and more put it all on the line in one of AEW’s marquee events of the year.

Take RTD to the following sporting events and get ready to cheer on Denver’s finest athletes… and the Colorado Rockies.

Various dates: (MLB) Colorado Rockies at Coors Field (check Rockies.com for full home schedule)

June 4: All Elite Wrestling presents Fyter Fest at the Mission Ballroom

Aug. 29: (NCAA Football) Colorado Buffaloes (home opener) vs. Georgia Tech at Folsom Field

Sept. 6: (NCAA Football) Colorado Buffaloes vs. University of Delaware at Folsom Field

Sept. 7: (NFL) Denver Broncos (home opener) vs. Tennessee Titans at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium

Sept. 12: (NCAA Football) Colorado Buffaloes vs. University of Houston at Folsom Field

Sept. 20: (NCAA Football) Colorado Buffaloes vs. University of Wyoming at Folsom Field

Sept. 27: (NCAA Football) Colorado Buffaloes vs. Brigham Young University at Folsom Field

Sept. 29: (NFL) Denver Broncos vs. Cincinnati Bengals at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium

Musicals, plays and live performances

This summer, the Buell Theatre and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts cooked up a feast for theatergoers to enjoy, including & Juliet, Mamma Mia!, Some Like It Hot and Moulin Rouge! The Musical.

Get tickets to the following productions at https://www.denvercenter.org/tickets-events/ and catch the D and H lines to Theatre District·Convention Center Station to enjoy the shows.

Note: This is not a comprehensive list of all the productions at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA). For a complete list of productions and venues, visit DCPA’s website at https://www.denvercenter.org.

June 4-15: & Juliet at the Buell Theatre

June 25-29: Mamma Mia! at the Buell Theatre

July 8-20: Some Like It Hot at the Buell Theatre

July 6-17: Moulin Rouge! The Musical at the Buell Theatre

Concerts

It’s officially summer concert season, and this summer’s list of artists and bands passing through the 303 is enough to solidify it as one of the best concert seasons in years. Key artists and bands passing through this year include Coldplay, Post Malone, The Weeknd, Metallica, The Lumineers, Linkin Park, Deftones, Katy Perry, Keith Urban, Wu-Tang Clan and Phish.

Check out some of the featured concerts coming to Denver this summer below and let RTD do the driving!

Note: This is not a comprehensive list of all concerts at these venues. For a full list of concerts, visit the venues’ websites or check out upcoming issues of Rad Things (to) Do.

Empower Field at Mile High Stadium (accessible via the E and W lines at Empower Field at Mile High Station)

June 10: Coldplay – “Music Of The Spheres World Tour 2025” with special guests Willow and Elyanna

June 15: Post Malone – “Post Malone presents The Big A** Stadium Tour” with special guest Jelly Roll

June 21: The Weeknd – “After Hours Til Dawn” with special guests Playboi Carti and Mike Dean

June 27-29: Metallica – “M72 World Tour”

• Special guests:
  • June 27: Limp Bizkit and Ice Nine Kills
  • June 29: Pantera and Suicidal Tendencies

Aug. 2: The Lumineers – “The Automatic World Tour”

Ball Arena (accessible via the E and W lines at Elitch Gardens·Ball Arena Station)

July 10: Katy Perry – “The Lifetimes Tour”

July 25: Jason Aldean – “Full Throttle Tour 2025” with special guests Nate Smith, RaeLynn and Dee Joy Silver

Aug. 15: Nine Inch Nails – “Peel It Back Tour 2025” with special guest Boys Noize

Aug. 22-23: Chris Stapleton – “Chris Stapleton’s All-American Road Show” with special guest Allen Stone

Sept. 3: Linkin Park – “From Zero World Tour” with special guest Jean Dawson

Sept. 7: The Offspring – “Supercharged Worldwide in ‘25” with special guests Jimmy Eat World and New Found Glory

Sept. 15: Deftones with special guests Idles and The Barbarians of California

Sept. 16: Ice Cube – “Truth to Power: Four Decades of Attitude”

Sept. 20: Tate McRae – “Miss Possessive Tour” with special guest Zara Larsson

Sept. 22: Benson Boone – “American Heart World Tour”

Sept. 29: Bring Me The Horizon – “USA Ascension Program Part 01” with special guests Motionless In White, The Plot In You and Amira Elfeky

Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater (accessible via the E and H lines at Arapahoe at Village Center Station)

June 9: Styx and Kevin Ronin with special guest Don Felder

June 14: Earth, Wind & Fire

July 4: Wu-Tang Clan with special guest Run The Jewels

July 6: Koe Wetzel – “98.5 KYGO Birthday Bash” with special guests Kip Moore, Corey Kent, The Castellows and Bayker Blankenship

July 17: Keith Urban – “High and Alive World Tour” with special guests Chase Matthew, Alana Springsteen and Karley Scott Collins

July 24: AJR – “Somewhere in the Sky” with special guests Cavetown, Valley and Madilyn Mei

Aug. 1-2: Excision – “Excision presents: ‘Mile High X’”

• Special guests
  • Aug. 1: Sullivan King, Zingara, PhaseOne, Drinkurwater, Stoned Level, Muerte and Kliptic
  • Aug. 2: Kai Wachi, Ray Volpe, Jantsen, Vastive, Rzrrkt, Hydraulix, Sharlitz Web and ATR

Aug. 10: Falling In Reverse – “God Is A Weapon Tour” with special guests Wage War , Tech N9ne and Sleep Theory

Aug. 12: Cyndi Lauper – “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour” with special guest Jake Wesley Rogers

Aug. 16: Nelly and St. Lunatics – “KS 107.5 presents: Summer Jam” with special guests Ja Rule, Eve, Fabolous and Jermain Dupri

Aug. 24: Chicago

Sept. 25: Breaking Benjamin and Three Days Grace with special guest Return To Dust

Mission Ballroom (accessible via the A Line at 38th·Blake Station)

June 19-22: LSDream and Clozee – “LSZEE”

• Special guests:
  • June 19, 21: Effin, Mocha and Lucid Slip
  • June 20, 22: Ashez, Lil Fish and Habitaat

Aug. 2: Tesla – “Keepin’ It Real Tour 2025”

Aug. 3: Regina Spektor – “Midsummer Daydream Tour”

Aug. 27: The Fray – “How To Save A Life 20th Anniversary Tour”

Aug. 28: Yungblud – “Idols: The World Tour” with special guest Sawyer Hill

Fillmore Auditorium (accessible via the Route 15 at Colfax Avenue and Washington Street)

June 6: James Arthur with special guest The Army, The Navy

July 19: Rain City Drive – “Idobi Radio Summer School 2025” with special guests Charlotte Sands, Taylor Acorn, Beauty School Dropout, Arrows In Action, If Not For Me and Huddy

July 23: Jessie Reyez – “Paid In Memories Tour” with special guest RAAHiiM

Aug. 8: Architects with special guests Erra and Holywatr

Aug. 9: Less Than Jake – “Summer Circus” with special guests Fishbone, The Suicide Machines and Catbite

Sept. 16: Chevelle with special guests Asking Alexandria and Dead Poet Society

Sept. 23: Mudvayne – “L.D. 50 25th Anniversary Tour” with special guests Static-X and Vended

Sept. 25: Marilyn Manson – “One Assassination Under God Tour”

Paramount Theatre (accessible via the FreeRide at 16th Street and Glenarm Place)

June 7: Chris DiStefano

June 19-21: Nikki Glaser – “Alive And Unwell Tour”

June 27: Tracy Lawrence

July 22: Macy Gray – “On How Life Is 25th Anniversary Tour”

Aug. 1-2: Josh Johnson – “The Flowers Tour”

Aug. 21: Randy Travis

Sept. 11: Amy Grant

Sept. 13: X Ambassadors – “Channel 93.3 KTCL presents: The VHS(X) North American Tour”

Sept. 26-28: Taylor Tomlinson – “The ‘Save Me’ Tour”

Other notable concerts

June 3-5: Phish at Folsom Field

June 6-7: Bayside- 25th Anniversary of The Errors Tour” with special guest Smoking Pipes

June 8: Death From Above 1979 – “You’re A Woman, I’m A Machine Twentieth Anniversary Celebration Tour” with special guest Colfax Speed Queen at the Ogden Theatre

July 15: Social Distortion with special guest Plague Vendor at the Boulder Theater

Aug. 4: Jojo Siwa at Summit Music Hall

Sept. 2: Rob Thomas – “The All Night Days Tour” with special guest Lucky at the Bellco Theatre

Sept. 19: Sunny Day Real Estate with special guest Cursive at the Boulder Theater

Sept. 19: Everclear – “Sparkle and Fade 30th Anniversary Tour” with special guests Local H and Sponge at the Gothic Theatre

Sept. 20: Ron White

Sept. 23: The Struts with special guest Dirty Honey at the Ogden Theatre