The Colorado Beef Festival 2026
Saddle up Colorado because the “Steaks” are high for the 2026 Colorado Beef Festival
by Caren Austin
Colorado has plenty of summer festivals, but the Colorado Beef Festival is one I look forward to every year. It is happening August 8th at MSU in Denver and this year’s activities are going to be epic.
Colorado is a historic ranching state, and the festival will celebrate all of it with music, food contests, and a few extras.
I could not wait to hear all the details of this event, and I am excited to share them with you so you can grab tickets early for this one-of-a-kind music and food festival. Although I have written about so many steakhouses and BBQ restaurants in Colorado this is a one stop shop under one roof where you can learn about sustainable ranching, buy meat, watch demonstrations, listen to music, and of course, watch the competitions play out.
New to the event this year is the Battle of the Beefmasters, and they have brought in the big guns for this one. From 4:30 – 6:30 pm, you can watch the six culinary masters compete in a steak challenge with live fire for the grand prize.
The contestants are Patrick Klaiber of Riot BBQ, Pako Venalonzo of Venalonzo’s Tacos, Orlando Benavides of Bit’s N Pieces, Justin Freeman of Urban Cowboy, Tim Braden of The Lazy Butcher, Fausto Felix of Rumbo 52, Julio Gaspar of ENCANTO Cocina Cantina and Chef Luis Gurrola of Chef Luis Catering.
Each Chef will be given briskets, meat to make birria and make some magic happen in a live fire contest with Tomahawk Steaks! I cannot wait to watch the magic happen and see who takes the grand prize.
If that wasn’t enough and you are a fan of Backyard BBQ, there will be an amateur sanctioned short rib competition from the Colorado BBQ network. If you are looking to up your BBQ game, look for food demonstrations from Lew Miller, BBQ Pitmaster throughout the day. There will also be demonstrations from internet sensations Girls Gone Grillin’ Christy Howell, and Justin Cde Baca of Grill Vault BBQ. There will be beer from Vertigo Beer USA and cocktails from Valor Peak Distillery.
Did I mention the roping contest and mechanical bull riding? Yes please. A total bonus to this event is the ranchers that will be on hand from Fitch Ranch, Centennial Cuts, Mountain View Meats, and Bear Creek Ranch. Some of the ranchers will offer their meats to be purchased and shipped, you will also be able to chat with the ranchers and cattlewomen associations that support them and know where the meat comes from and understand why ranching is truly important to Colorado. The ranchers are from the front range and the mountains of Colorado and are super excited for this meet and greet opportunity.
The Colorado Beef Festival runs from 11am – 9pm on August 8th and is a family friendly event complete with live music all day from HillyBilly Demons, Brad Lee Schroeder, Rhett Haney, Aubrey Dale, Red Mountain Highway and many more. General admission tickets are $55 which includes full day access, country music, access to the meat market, entry into the western costume contest, local vendors, and many activities. VIP “Prime Cut” tickets are $125. VIP tickets include everything above plus a seated table in the VIP tent, a bottle of whiskey at the table, premium beef tastings, a meet and greet with rancher and chefs,
plus front row seats to competitions.
I am dusting off my cowboy boots as I write this with anticipation for this Summertime Colorado event. See you there.
Photo Credits: Colorado Beef Festival
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