Combine this signature Colorado event with pure relaxation at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort
The 127th annual Strawberry Days Festival on June 21-23 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 136th birthday on July 4), Alpine Bank, Glenwood Springs Chamber Foundation and the City of Glenwood Springs.
Strawberry Days Festival is considered 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.
When you’ve had enough celebrating, head to Glenwood Hot Springs Resort for a blissful soak in natural hot springs. The year-round pool is open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. this summer; no reservations are necessary, and guests can come and go throughout the day with a day pass or annual pass.
Take a look at the 2024 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 pick up strawberry stickers, 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 games to win prizes and a drawing for an Athletic Club-themed basket including two day passes to the club and Apple AirPods with a strawberry-themed case, a yoga mat and a towel all with Glenwood Hot Springs Resort logos.
Additional highlights from the 2024 Strawberry Days Festival schedule include 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, Rocky Mountain Mini Train, a mobile obstacle course, a dragon bounce house, a quad bungee, a huge inflatable ball and more.
Indulge in Tasty Treats & Music
This year’s theme is “Decades of Beats and Berries,” recognizing that many people attend for the music in addition to the food! The Strawberry Days Main Stage features live entertainment Friday through Sunday; click here for the full entertainment lineup, times and descriptions. In addition, the businesses on Sixth Street are hosting a Strawberry Days Festival Kickoff with specials and music on Thursday evening, June 20.
However, delicious food and drink 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, pork green chili, pierogi and fresh-squeezed lemonade to grilled items, barbecue, crepes, ice cream, kettlecorn and gourmet popsicles. 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).
If you take a break to enjoy the mineral hot springs at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort, you can keep the focus on delicious red berries with a refreshing regular strawberry or strawberry cilantro lime smoothie at the Grill or a tasty soft-serve ice cream cone with a strawberry-swirled twist at the Snack Bar.
Start planning your Strawberry Days Festival 2024 schedule now. Don’t forget to make time for a soak and stay at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort, featuring the world’s largest hot springs pool and a 107-room lodge. The resort unveiled the brand new Yampah Mineral Baths on May 24 with five spacious pools of varying temperatures and a lounging area with a fireplace located on the east end.