Your Memorial Day Weekend Plans = Solved 🎶🛍️🌮

Live music, 200+ vendors, street eats, and creekside hangs — Boulder Creek Fest is back and it’s everything.

Author

What's Happenin' Team
May 21, 2025

🎪 Boulder Creek Fest Is Back — Let’s Party by the Creek

Hey Boulder! 🌞

The bands are tuning up, the vendors are setting up, and Boulder is officially ready to throw its biggest party of the season. If you’re sticking around for Memorial Day weekend, you’re in for a creekside celebration packed with food, music, art, and sunshine.

Coming up:

🎶 Boulder Creek Fest returns with 30+ bands and 200+ vendors

🛍️ Where to shop, eat, and dance your way through the weekend

📅 Events for Wednesday & Thursday to kick things off early

Let’s make it a long weekend to remember — Boulder-style.

— The What’s Happenin’ Boulder Team 😉

📣 Boulder Poll – Should We Start a Group?

Would you join a What’s Happenin’ Boulder Facebook Group? Think: local events, cool finds, foodie tips, and a spot to connect with other Boulder folks.

Would you want in?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

👉 Vote here and let us know what you think!

🎪 Boulder Creek Fest Is Back — And It’s Bringing the Party to the Creek

📍 From 9th to 14th Street, between Canyon & Arapahoe | 🗓️ May 23–26, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily (later for concerts!) | 🎟️ Free entry, good vibes, and probably a funnel cake or two.

If Memorial Day weekend had a personality, it would be this: loud (in a good way), creative, community-loving, and totally Boulder.

That’s right — Boulder Creek Festival is back May 23–26, and it’s one of the most iconic events of the year.

We’re talking:

  • 🎶 30+ bands across 3 stages

  • 🛍️ 200+ local makers, artists, and vendors

  • 🌮 Dozens of food trucks and flavors (from Cajun gator tails to vegan baked goods)

  • 🍺 Beer fest energy + a Boulder Spirits Lounge

  • 🧒 Tons of kid-friendly performances and zones

  • 🎟️ All FREE, all weekend

It all kicks off Friday night with Steely Dead, Carlos Barata, and Mighty Holler lighting up the Bandshell Stage — then rolls through Memorial Day with live music, magic shows, Irish dancers, hula troupes, brass bands, and a full-on Bob Dylan tribute. (Yes, really.)

📜 Festival Ground Rules: Keep It Fun, Keep It Chill

To make sure everyone has a blast at Boulder Creek Fest, here are a few friendly reminders:

  • No outside food, drinks, or surprise snack stands

  • Keep the vibes family-friendly — save the spicy language for your group chat

  • Don’t leave kids unattended (yes, even the chill ones)

  • Bring your blankets and lawn chairs for max lounging

  • And hey — drink responsibly and plan your ride home 🚗💤

Let’s make it a weekend to remember for all the right reasons!

🌄🧺 Why You Should Spend Your Memorial Day Weekend Here

You could sit in traffic. Or you could sip a local IPA while a brass band plays, wander through rows of indie art and handmade jewelry, and let your kids watch a marimba band or chase bubbles near the creek. This festival has something for literally everyone, whether you’re shopping for teacher gifts, vibing to live music, or just in it for the lobster rolls and vintage posters.

It’s local. It’s legendary. It’s Boulder at its best.

Come for the music, stay for the magic.

🎶 What’s Happenin’ Boulder Buzz 🎭

Looking for something fun to do? Whether it’s live music, trivia, or a laid-back DJ set, here’s what’s happening in Boulder!

📅Wednesday, May 21

🎶 Bluegrass Pick📍 Beyond the Mountain Brewing | ⏰ 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | 🆓 Free (recurring weekly on Wednesday)

🧠 Brain Food Trivia📍 Twisted Pine Brewing Company | ⏰ 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM | 🆓 Free (recurring weekly on Wednesday)

🎤 Open Mic Night📍 VisionQuest Brewery | ⏰ 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | 🆓 Free (recurring weekly on Wednesday)

🎯 Trivia @ Roadhouse Boulder Depot📍 Roadhouse Boulder Depot | ⏰ 7:00 PM | 🆓 Free (recurring weekly on Wednesday)

🤓 Trivia Night @ Full Cycle Cafe & Bar📍 Full Cycle & Colorado Multisport | ⏰ 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM | 🆓 Free (recurring weekly on Wednesday)

Velvet Vinyl Presents: Led Zeppelin Night📍 Velvet Elk Lounge | ⏰ 6:00 PM–10:00 PM | 🆓 Free | A vinyl-fueled journey through Zeppelin’s best—no cover, just rock.

Experiments in Public Art: Ana Maria Hernando📍 Boulder Public Library | ⏰ 6:00 PM | 🆓 Free | A deep dive into art, space, and expression with Boulder’s public art initiative.

Book Talk: Tama Kieves📍 Boulder Book Store | ⏰ 6:30 PM | 🎟️ $5 | Empower your intuition at this book signing and chat with best-selling author Tama Kieves.

Rocky Mountain Kirtan📍 eTown Hall | ⏰ 7:00 PM | 🎟️ $25+ | Soulful chanting, musical vibes, and mindful presence with Mike Cohen & The Shakti Groove.

📅Thursday, May 22

🧠 Geeks Who Drink Trivia📍 Wild Provisions Beer Project | ⏰ 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM | 🆓 Free (recurring weekly on Thursday)

🎙️ Last Thursday’s Open Mic @ Sanitas Brewing📍 Sanitas Brewing Co. | ⏰ 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM | 🆓 Free (recurring monthly, last Thursday)

🌙 Luna Lounge @ Centro Mexican Kitchen📍 Centro Mexican Kitchen | ⏰ 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM | 🆓 Free (recurring weekly on Thursday)

KGNU’s 47th Birthday Bash📍 Velvet Elk Lounge | ⏰ 6:30 PM | 🆓 Free | Celebrate local radio with live music and community vibes at this birthday bash.

Wakatobi Film Premiere📍 Ocean First | ⏰ 6:30 PM | 🆓 Free | Dive into marine conservation with this short doc premiere and discussion night.

The Global Roots Ensemble📍 eTown Hall | ⏰ 7:00 PM | 🎟️ $22–$37 | World fusion sounds come alive with this powerful, multicultural ensemble.

We’ll See You Creekside this Weekend

That’s the scoop for now — we’ll see you creekside this weekend! Pack a tote, bring a blanket, and let Boulder do what Boulder does best: turn a local festival into an unforgettable vibe. 💃🌮🌞

— The What’s Happenin’ Boulder Team 🐝

Thinking about your next Boulder adventure? Check out our guides to Boulder’s craft breweries, Pearl Street eats, neighborhood highlights, and more Boulder travel inspo.

Did you enjoy this post?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Interested in other What’s Happenin’ newsletters?

Reply

or to participate.