Consider adding a water break at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort
The 128th annual Strawberry Days Festival on June 20-22 in Glenwood Springs has another longtime entity making sure this iconic event continues to bring joy to locals and visitors. This year’s festival is being held at Two Rivers Park and presented by Glenwood Hot Springs Resort (celebrating its 137th birthday on July 4) and Alpine Bank in partnership with the Glenwood Springs Chamber Foundation and City of Glenwood Springs.
Strawberry Days Festival is one of the oldest, continuously held civic celebrations west of the Mississippi River. Started by Tri-County Farmer’s Union, the first Strawberry Day was held on June 18, 1898. The intention was to promote some of the finest fruits, vegetables and dairy products produced in the region. Local farmers donated strawberries and fresh cream and local women baked cakes to serve nearly 2,000 people from across the state who attended the first celebration.
Fast forward to today and Strawberry Days Festival has entertained multiple generations. This year’s lineup is filled with a wide range of live entertainment, Arts Village, food court, beer garden, community parade, Family Fest and more. There is no charge to attend the festivities courtesy of event sponsors from throughout the area.
Swim & Stay at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort
When you’ve had enough celebrating, head to Glenwood Hot Springs Resort for a water break to enjoy seven natural hot springs pools. Open year-round, the pools have expanded summer hours from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Labor Day. No reservations are needed, there are no time limits, and guests can come and go throughout the day with a day pass or annual pass.
Better yet, treat yourself to a stay at the brand-new Hotel 1888, a luxury boutique hotel with 16 guest rooms, that opened within the poolside historic Stone Bath House on June 12. The family-friendly Lodge at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort, located across the street from the pools on Sixth Street, also completed a total refresh of all 107 guest rooms and suites in March and provide the ultimate in comfort.
Swimming and soaking are sure to make you hungry, so keep the focus on delicious red berries. Sip on a refreshing strawberry or strawberry/cilantro lime smoothie at the Grill or savor a tasty soft-serve ice cream cone with a strawberry-swirled twist at the Snack Bar.
Take a look at the 2025 Strawberry Days Festival schedule and get ready to make memories in the mountains.
Check Out the Booths & Family Fun
All ages will enjoy the Arts Village with one-of-a-kind items made by local, regional and national artists, ranging from fine art and jewelry to foods, body care products, and more.
There also will be other booths with local connections. As one of the main events sponsors, Glenwood Hot Springs Resort has donated its booth to Return to Dirt (RTD), an adaptive motorsports service of the High Fives Foundation. RTD provides equipment and instruction for individuals with disabilities to pilot off-road vehicles into backcountry areas that otherwise are difficult to access with a mobility impairment. The program was founded in 2018 by a Glenwood Springs local, Tim Burr, who was paralyzed from the chest down in a 2014 skiing accident. Tim and his family have been members of the Glenwood Hot Springs Athletic Club for many years.
Stop by the RTD booth to meet Tim and other volunteers, see adapted off-road vehicles, and purchase RTD-branded items and raffle tickets for an annual pool pass to Glenwood Hot Springs Resort. All proceeds from the booth benefit RTD. In addition, the resort will have a booth adjacent to RTD where there will be trivia games to win prizes and daily and grand prize drawings. The daily drawing on all three days is for a chance to win a Glenwood Hot Springs Resort/Hotel 1888 swag bag packed with great items. The grand prize drawing on Sunday is for a one-night stay at the new Hotel 1888, located in the resort’s poolside historic Stone Bath House.
The 2025 Strawberry Days Festival schedule includes fun for all ages such as Family Fest, Strawberry Shortcut Race (1 mile, 5K and 10K), and Kiwanis Ball Race. Family Fest features interactive entertainment such as Salida Circus performances, interactive skits by Defiance Community Players, Rocky Mountain Mini Train, a dragon bounce house, a quad bungee, a huge inflatable ball and more.
Indulge in Tasty Treats & Music
The Strawberry Days Main Stage features live entertainment Friday through Sunday. View the full entertainment lineup, times and descriptions.
Delicious food and drink also are a major highlight. The longstanding tradition of free strawberries and ice cream right after the Saturday morning parade continues with the Kiwanis Club dishing up the sweet treat at Two Rivers Park right after the parade, until supplies run out. A wide variety of food and drink vendors will be available for purchasing treats in the food court, with culinary delights ranging from tacos, masala, curry, pierogi and fresh-squeezed lemonade to grilled items, barbecue, crepes, ice cream and kettle corn. For those who are extra thirsty, the beer garden opens at 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday.
There is also Glenwood Springs Rotary Club’s Pie Day on Friday morning at the United Methodist Church and the organization’s Pancake Breakfast on Sunday morning downtown on Seventh Street (under the Grand Avenue Bridge).
