Seasonal guide · Published September 12, 2026 · By West of Denver Events
September is when the Front Range tilts into fall: the morning air turns crisp, the leaves in the foothills start to turn, and the event calendar fills with festivals, the first Oktoberfests of the season, and markets that are still worth a Saturday morning. This guide rounds up what's verified and on the calendar west of Denver this September — festivals and seasonal events, live music, farmers markets that are still running, and the taproom and family outings that make the month. Our fall events page is the always-current destination for the whole season, and the this-weekend page shows the next few days at a glance.
Festivals and seasonal events
The big festival weekends are clustered mid-month, starting this Saturday:
- Olde Town Shindig — Olde Town Arvada's annual Shindig returns Saturday, September 12, filling the historic district with a day of music and community from noon.
- Goldenfest at Golden City Brewery — the brewery's annual September celebration, Saturday, September 12 at 920 12th St in Golden.
- WanderFest '26 — New Terrain Brewing's 10th-anniversary beer and music festival runs Thursday, September 17 through Saturday, September 19 at 16401 Table Mountain Pkwy in Golden.
Looking ahead to next month: Romanian Festival 2026 brings live music, dance, cultural exhibits and artisan vendors to Belmar in Lakewood on Saturday, October 3 (free), and Golden's Original ChiliFest returns to Golden City Brewery on Saturday, October 10.
Oktoberfest starts early on the Front Range
Colorado's Oktoberfest season kicks off in September, and the west-of-Denver taprooms have four verified celebrations on the calendar this month:
- Avery Brewing's Oktoberfest — Friday, September 18 at the Boulder taproom (4910 Nautilus Ct): the Taylor Sims Band at 6:30 PM, stein-hoisting contests and German-style beers. Free and family-friendly.
- Odd13 Brewing's Oktoberfest weekend — September 25–27 in Lafayette (301 E Simpson St): new German-style lager Festie Bestie drops Friday, with live music and German sausages from the Outpost Food Truck all weekend.
- Oktoberfest at the Colorado Tap House — Saturday, September 26, 4–7 PM at 14982 W 69th Ave in Arvada: music, games, beer and food.
- Holidaily's Gluten-Free Oktoberfest — Saturday, September 26, 11 AM–10 PM at the Golden taproom (801 Brickyard Cir).
Live music and the arts
September keeps the live-music calendar busy — the taprooms alone are a full circuit: New Terrain's free Music by the Mesa series brings the Lucas Parker Band featuring Jessica Page on Thursday, September 24; Golden's Mountain Toad Brewing plays live every Wednesday with Chrispy's one-man looping band, 6–9 PM; Odd13 runs a Sunday Music Series (3–6 PM) with rotating local acoustic, folk and blues acts; and Golden's Holidaily Brewing Company has live music Saturday, September 12, with Colorado Tap House bringing Rin Tarsy to its Arvada taproom for Live Music Wednesday on September 23. For Red Rocks and the full concert slate, our live music page carries the verified schedule.
On stage this month: the Arvada Center's thriller Misery runs through October 11, and the classic Neil Simon comedy Barefoot in the Park opens Friday, September 25 and runs through November 1.
Farmers markets still running
Market season runs deeper into fall than the August rush suggests — the Saturday markets in Boulder and Golden both continue through September and beyond (Boulder's flagship Saturday market stretches into late November, and Golden's runs through early October). The September-dated market in our verified listings is the Arvada Farmers Market, every Sunday 9 AM–1 PM in Olde Town Square. For hours and the month-by-month picture, our farmers markets page is refreshed weekly, and our farmers markets season guide has the full verified calendar.
Breweries, food trucks and family picks
September's taproom calendar is one of the year's best, with rotating food trucks and brewers' festivals running most weeks:
- Coda Brewing Company in Golden runs a rotating food-truck schedule — Tacos Pegueros Mexican Kitchen on Friday, September 18 and BBQ on the Bayou on Saturday, September 26, with the rest of the rotation on the brewery's page.
- Golden's 6 & 40 Brewery hosts 2nd Son Kitchen on Saturday, September 12 — scratch-made comfort food, wings, burgers and fries.
- The Outer Range Tap Takeover puts Outer Range Brewing on tap at Arvada Beer Garden on Thursday, September 24, 5–7 PM, with brewery swag and branded glassware while supplies last.
- Dogs get their month too: Yappy Hour with KONG at Arvada Beer Garden on Tuesday, September 15 (4 PM), and the free BARKtember Fest at The Plaza at Belmar in Lakewood on Saturday, September 19 — a curated dog market, wiener dog races, games and crafts for pups, plus food and drink specials.
Rounding out the month, a few free and community picks: Arcos y Portales, The Collective's Día de los Muertos exhibition in Lafayette, opens September 23 and runs through November 8 (free), and Wheat Ridge's Longer Table — a free community meal at The Green at 38th — happens Sunday, September 27. For more no-cost plans, our free events page is the place, and the family events page collects the kid-friendly picks.
September west of Denver is short sleeves at noon, a fleece by dusk, and a calendar full of festivals — a great month to get out. Bookmark the fall events page for everything still ahead this season.
Related events right now
- Fri25SepLafayetteFestival
Oktoberfest
Sep 25 – Sep 27, 20261:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Odd13 Brewing, 301 E Simpson St
Oktoberfest weekend at Odd13 — new German-style lager Festie Bestie drops Friday; live music and German sausages from the Outpost Food Truck all weekend (Sep 25–27).
Source: Odd13 events page - Fri25SepArvadaFestival
Arvada 10 Yr Anniversary
Sep 25 – Sep 27, 2026All day
SomePlace Else Brewery, 6425 W 52nd Ave, Unit 6
SomePlace Else Brewery Arvada's 10-year anniversary celebration, Sep 25–27.
Source: SomePlace Else events page - Sat26SepGoldenFestival
Day Out With Thomas (TM), Thomas & Friends
Sep 26, 20268:30 AM
Colorado Railroad Museum
*RAIN OR SHINE* Please arrive 1 hour prior to departure.All Aboard for a Rockin Good Time! Day Out With Thomas:Lets Rock, Lets Roll Tour is hitting the tracks and bringing the beat to heritage railways across the country! Hop on board for a real train ride with Thomas, strike a pose at photo ops and snag something cool at the exclusive gift shop. Then, keep the beat going at the Music Corner, packed with lawn games, hands-on activities, and music-inspired fun thatll have the whole family dancing! Climb aboard for a train ride adventure with Thomas the Tank Engine at the Colorado Railroad Museum! Day Out With Thomas: Lets Rock, Lets Roll Tour is heading to Golden, Colorado with loads of music-inspired games and activities! Families can join the outdoor fun at the Colorado Railroad Museum, located in Goldens beautiful Clear Creek Valley. Take a real train ride with Thomas and spend the day creating memories for the whole family. Day Out With Thomas is an exciting way for children and grown-ups to enter the world of Thomas s full steam ahead to an unforgettable day with a host of train-related activities, Thomas, and a special appearance from Sir Topham Hatt, the Railway Controller from the Island of Sodor.
Free
Source: Ticketmaster - Sat26SepGoldenFestival
Day Out With Thomas (TM), Thomas & Friends
Sep 26, 20269:15 AM
Colorado Railroad Museum
*RAIN OR SHINE* Please arrive 1 hour prior to departure.All Aboard for a Rockin Good Time! Day Out With Thomas:Lets Rock, Lets Roll Tour is hitting the tracks and bringing the beat to heritage railways across the country! Hop on board for a real train ride with Thomas, strike a pose at photo ops and snag something cool at the exclusive gift shop. Then, keep the beat going at the Music Corner, packed with lawn games, hands-on activities, and music-inspired fun thatll have the whole family dancing! Climb aboard for a train ride adventure with Thomas the Tank Engine at the Colorado Railroad Museum! Day Out With Thomas: Lets Rock, Lets Roll Tour is heading to Golden, Colorado with loads of music-inspired games and activities! Families can join the outdoor fun at the Colorado Railroad Museum, located in Goldens beautiful Clear Creek Valley. Take a real train ride with Thomas and spend the day creating memories for the whole family. Day Out With Thomas is an exciting way for children and grown-ups to enter the world of Thomas s full steam ahead to an unforgettable day with a host of train-related activities, Thomas, and a special appearance from Sir Topham Hatt, the Railway Controller from the Island of Sodor.
Free
Source: Ticketmaster - Sat26SepGoldenFestival
Day Out With Thomas (TM), Thomas & Friends
Sep 26, 202610:00 AM
Colorado Railroad Museum
*RAIN OR SHINE* Please arrive 1 hour prior to departure.All Aboard for a Rockin Good Time! Day Out With Thomas:Lets Rock, Lets Roll Tour is hitting the tracks and bringing the beat to heritage railways across the country! Hop on board for a real train ride with Thomas, strike a pose at photo ops and snag something cool at the exclusive gift shop. Then, keep the beat going at the Music Corner, packed with lawn games, hands-on activities, and music-inspired fun thatll have the whole family dancing! Climb aboard for a train ride adventure with Thomas the Tank Engine at the Colorado Railroad Museum! Day Out With Thomas: Lets Rock, Lets Roll Tour is heading to Golden, Colorado with loads of music-inspired games and activities! Families can join the outdoor fun at the Colorado Railroad Museum, located in Goldens beautiful Clear Creek Valley. Take a real train ride with Thomas and spend the day creating memories for the whole family. Day Out With Thomas is an exciting way for children and grown-ups to enter the world of Thomas s full steam ahead to an unforgettable day with a host of train-related activities, Thomas, and a special appearance from Sir Topham Hatt, the Railway Controller from the Island of Sodor.
Free
Source: Ticketmaster - Sat26SepGoldenFestival
Day Out With Thomas (TM), Thomas & Friends
Sep 26, 202610:45 AM
Colorado Railroad Museum
*RAIN OR SHINE* Please arrive 1 hour prior to departure.All Aboard for a Rockin Good Time! Day Out With Thomas:Lets Rock, Lets Roll Tour is hitting the tracks and bringing the beat to heritage railways across the country! Hop on board for a real train ride with Thomas, strike a pose at photo ops and snag something cool at the exclusive gift shop. Then, keep the beat going at the Music Corner, packed with lawn games, hands-on activities, and music-inspired fun thatll have the whole family dancing! Climb aboard for a train ride adventure with Thomas the Tank Engine at the Colorado Railroad Museum! Day Out With Thomas: Lets Rock, Lets Roll Tour is heading to Golden, Colorado with loads of music-inspired games and activities! Families can join the outdoor fun at the Colorado Railroad Museum, located in Goldens beautiful Clear Creek Valley. Take a real train ride with Thomas and spend the day creating memories for the whole family. Day Out With Thomas is an exciting way for children and grown-ups to enter the world of Thomas s full steam ahead to an unforgettable day with a host of train-related activities, Thomas, and a special appearance from Sir Topham Hatt, the Railway Controller from the Island of Sodor.
Free
Source: Ticketmaster
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