The business of tourism, Estes Park’s main economy, is in full swing, and everywhere you look, there’s something to attract and keep your attention.  

A stroll down Elkhorn Avenue in the heart of downtown may treat you to Cowboy Brad singing in Bond Park, or a pop-up art show may offer the perfect gift for your mom’s birthday. The sights, smells, and sounds of thriving, vibrant businesses make Estes Park the quaint mountain town it was always meant to be. 

The Estes Valley Voice editorial cartoonist, Dick Mulhern, took his camper into the park on the opening day of the Moraine Park Campground in Rocky Mountain National Park. It was Mulhern’s 75th birthday and he and his wife, Liz, were also celebrting their 48th wedding anniversary. “I guess they were opening it in celebration of my birthday and our anniversary. Thta’s all I can figure,” Mulhern told Allan Gionet from CBS Colorado in a segment that aired July 9. Credit: Courtesy/KCNC-TV channel 4/CBS Colorado

The biggest attraction, of course, is Rocky Mountain National Park, and now that the Moraine Park Campground renovation is complete, reservations for this campground are being accepted again. There’s nothing like being the first of your group to wake up after overnight camping in the heart of RMNP and emerging into the protected wilderness surrounding you to make coffee and watch the sun rise. The tundra is in peak bloom, as well, and with the rainy summer we’ve had so far, there are wildflowers to see everywhere, even at lower elevations. 

But whatever your pleasure, there’s no shortage of special events and experiences to fill your cup in the middle of July in Estes Park. Along with the more visible special events, here are a few you don’t want to miss.  

The Historic Park Theatre is hosting four acts in residency for July. David Stryker, a mentalist and magician, will delight audiences of all ages from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, concluding on August 2. With more than 20 years of professional experience, Stryker entertains groups nationwide with mind-reading, storytelling, and comedy. 

His performances are participatory, multifaceted, and designed to be incredible, even by people who have seen it all. Tickets are $40 for adults, with discounts available for children and seniors.

Dani Hagen and Reverie, a Los Angeles rock band, will perform at the Theatre on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. on July 16, 23, 30, and August 6.

Hagan has rapidly become a standout voice in Los Angeles’ rock scene. She is known for her authentic storytelling and commanding stage presence, with a unique blend of grungy guitar riffs, emotive lyrics, and powerhouse vocals. Her music captures the intensity of life’s highs and lows, exploring love, vulnerability, and self-discovery themes. Hagan’s songs seamlessly fuse rock rhythms with soulful undertones, creating soundscapes that are as dynamic as they are deeply personal. Admission is $40, and special seating in the first three rows of the theater costs $65 per seat.  

Angry Parents stars the brilliant comedic Buster Akrey, whose lively performance leads audiences through a delightfully chaotic exploration of raising children, complete with messy diapers, endless negotiations, celebrations, disappointment, acceptance, and those sleepless nights only parents truly understand. With Buster at the helm, humor is front and center, amplified by whimsical skeleton animatronics that cleverly act out parents’ inner anxieties, secret wishes, and hilarious missteps, transforming relatable parenting mishaps into laugh-out-loud comedy gold. This show occurs on multiple dates between July 10 and August 1 at 7 p.m. General Admission is $40, with discounts available for school-aged children. Children under six are admitted free of charge. 

Finally, Jim Curry will perform his show, Take Me Home, featuring John Denver’s music. Curry has reintroduced Denver’s music to thousands, rekindling the spirit of America’s troubadour in venues across the country. Curry has even collaborated with original John Denver band members, adding authenticity to his performances in prestigious venues like Colorado’s Red Rocks.

Curry was a key performer at John Denver’s induction into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame, an event hosted by Olivia Newton-John. He also hosted the official John Denver Estate tour, bringing Denver’s music to audiences across the United States and Australia.

Take Me Home will be performed at the Historic Park Theatre from July 10 to 14, at 7 p.m., with additional matinee shows on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday at 4 p.m. Curry’s residency stretches into August with performances from August 2 to 7, and again, matinees on the Saturday, Sunday, and Monday shows. Tickets for this event are $40 for general admission, with several upgrade options and discounts for children.

All of the shows described above are suitable for all ages.  

Other events scheduled for this weekend

Thursday, July 10 

  • The Incredible Adaptations of Ptarmigans, Estes Valley Community Center, lower level, 6 to 10 p.m. Free for members, the suggested donation for all others is $5. Sponsored by the Estes Valley Watershed Coalition
  • Denver folk and jazz musician Alex Regeimbal will perform at the Rock Inn Mountain Tavern, 5 to 8 p.m.
  • Rooftop Rodeo, Estes Park Events Complex, 6 to 9 p.m. Tonight is the last night.
  • Snowbelt, an Estes Park bluegrass duo, will perform at Rock Cut Brewing Company, 7 to 9 p.m.

Friday, July 11

  • Musician Paul Collyer will perform on Snowy Peaks Winery’s back patio, 4 to 6 p.m. Reservations are strongly recommended.
  • David Tiller, a founding member of Taarka and ThaMuseMeant, mandolinist with High Lonesome, guitarist with the Bonnie Paine Band, and producer and longtime collaborator with Elephant Revival, plus a professor of songwriting at the University of Colorado, will perform at the Rock Inn Mountain Tavern, 5 to 8 p.m. 
  • American Legion, local band Sugar Mountain will perform, 6 to 7 p.m.

Saturday, July 12

  • Estes Park Volksmarch, presented by the Falcon Wanderers Club. Meet at the Estes Park Visitor’s Center by 11 a.m., must be finished by 2 p.m. $2 to participate, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  •  1 p.m. The History of the Rooftop Rodeo, Estes Park Museum, 200 Fourth Street. Join the Estes Park Museum and Howell F. Wright as he presents the history of the Rooftop Rodeo. Wright is nearing the completion of his upcoming book, tentatively titled “The History of the Rooftop Rodeo.” This program is free and open to the public. 
  • Snowbelt will perform at Avant Garde Alehouse. 6 to 8 p.m.  
  • Live music and dancing at Elk Meadows RV Park. Free event, bring your own food, alcohol, and beverages. 6:39 to 9:30 p.m.