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You can feel summer creeping up all May long, but its arrival is not official until Memorial Day arrives. Good thing Boulder blows out Memorial Day weekend with three full days of events, music, and food and drink.
Here are 22 things going on that weekend, starting about an hour after everyone gets off work Friday and running through Monday evening. Included is one big festival, America’s best race, a collection of good musicians, and thousands upon thousands of yellow rubber ducks.
Say hello to summer, Boulder!
6:00 PM: Fiddleride, City Star Brewing
Fiddleride is a Western swing/bluegrass trio whose live performance veer toward traditional jazz sets. Here’s a chill three hours to start off the Memorial Day weekend way up in Berthound.
More info
7:00 PM: Under a Blood Red Sky, the Bandshell
A U2 tribute band kicks off the Boulder Creek Festival. The festival’s organizers promise Avery Brewing beers and margaritas.
All day: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Longmont Museum & Cultural Center
Over in Longmont, a transportation exhibitionis open early Saturday morning. This should be fun for hobbyists and model collectors. The exhibit runs through mid-September.
7:00 AM: Kids’ Fishing Derby, Viele Lake
Kids 12 years and younger are invited for an early morning fishing derby, hosted by the Boulder Fish & Game Club.
8:00 AM: Boulder County Farmers’ Market
Planning to grill out during the weekend? Stock up on locally raised meat and locally grown produce here.
8:00 AM: Longmont Farmers’ Market
The same goes for folks out in and around Longmont. The Longmont market is at the Boulder County Fairgrounds, and we’re betting this will be one of its busiest weekends of the year.
10:00 AM: Salute to Veterans, Boulder Creek Festival
The Boulder Veterans Council and the Boulder County Veterans Service are sponsoring a salute to our veterans during the Boulder Creek Festival. All veterans and those currently serving are invited to the recognition program, which will include a concert from the Boulder County band.
6:30 PM: NASCAR Racing, Colorado National Speedway
This is a big weekend out at the Colorado National Speedway. A race will be held Saturday evening, then on Sunday the Speedway will host the Night at the Races, topped off with fireworks.
7:00 PM: Sherefe, Caffe Sole
Sherefe (Şerefe, pron. “Sheriff A”) is a local group that plays Arabic-Mediterranean fusion. This includes numbers from the Balkans to Turkey to Armenia to the Middle East.
7:30 PM: Bluez House, Nissi’s
Nissi’s in Lafayette will feature a band that plays contemporary blues and soul, complete with a horn section and backing gospel vocals.
8:00 PM: Great American Taxi, Boulder Creek Festival
Roots rock Americana caps of Saturday night at the Boulder Creek Festival. If you dig Railroad Earth, Gram Parsons or the Dead, this is the weekend’s No. 1 show for you.
10:00 PM: Caribou Mountain Collective, Conor O’Neill’s
Self-styled “bluegrass renegades” are booked to play into the early morning hours at Conor O’Neill’s downtown.
Noon: Memorial Day Mountain Music Fest & BBQ, Gold Hill Inn
We commend anyone who is still going strong by noon on Sunday. If that’s you, check out the festival going on at Gold Hill Inn: Lots of good folk/Americana music, and a big barbecue.
Noon: Singer Songwriter Showcase, Cannon Mine Coffee
For something a little more mellow, check out this free music showcase in Lafayette.
4:00 PM: Pasta PASTA, Millennium Harvest House
If you’re running the Bolder Boulder 10K, here’s your chance to load up on carbs with everyone else. The price is $10.50, all inclusive.
5:30 PM: Red Dirt on the Rocks 2014, Red Rocks Amphitheatre
The lineup for Red Dirt on the Rocks includes the Randy Rogers Band, the Casey Donahew Band and the Turnpike Troubadours. Tickets start at $32.50.
8:30 PM: Something Underground, Boulder Creek Festival
Sunday’s Boulder Creek Festival headliner is local rock trio Something Underground, who just released an EP called “Confessions” back in December.
6:55 AM: First Wave of Bolder Boulder Racers
The Bolder Boulder 10K starts with a first wave, the professional wheelchair racers, bright and early. Course cut-off is 11:30 AM, after which is the Memorial Day tribute at Folsom Field.
More info / Map
7:30 AM: Doubles Volleyball Tournament, Youth Memorial Sports Complex
Apex Park & Recreation is hosting a 2-on-2 volleyball tournament early on Memorial Day. Entrance is $50 per team, and all teams need to be signed up by Thursday, May 22.
11:00 AM: BashBASH, Millennium Harvest House
After the Bolder Boulder 10K, head over to the gardens at the Millennium Harvest House for live music. Free admission.
4:00 PM: The EXPAND Duck Race, Boulder Creek
Here is the big event to cap off the Boulder Creek Festival. Organizers predict 10,000 entrants (rubber ducks) for this year’s race.
5:00 PM: Honeycomb, Boulder Creek Festival
A local funk/soul/R&B combo closes the Boulder Creek Festival and punctuates another busy Memorial Day weekend in Boulder.
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