Great American Beer Festival, the largest American craft beer event of the year, runs at the Colorado Convention Center with 800+ breweries pouring over 4,000 beers across three days.
Tip: Tickets sell out within hours of release in July; sign up for the GABF alerts on the Brewers Association site.
Great American Beer Festival in Denver is the Brewers Association's flagship event at the Colorado Convention Center each October, with over 500 breweries.
Tip: Tickets release on the Brewers Association site each summer and sell out in minutes; check the GABF judging competition results for medalists to taste.
Cherry Creek Arts Festival in Denver is the July 4 weekend art-and-food festival in Cherry Creek North, a 250-artist outdoor market plus a Culinary Arts food.
Tip: Free admission. The food row runs East 3rd Avenue with food trucks and restaurants; the artist exhibition fills 2nd Avenue.
Denver Bacon and Beer Classic is the annual single-day festival at Coors Field, with 30 restaurants serving bacon-themed plates and 50 craft breweries.
Tip: Two tasting sessions, morning and afternoon. The VIP early entry adds a 30-minute head start; arrive thirsty and hungry.