Outside Festival hits full speed in second year
In its second year, the Outside Festival in Denver is becoming what organizers hoped to create: an interactive gathering to celebrate Colorado's great outdoors.
Why it matters: The event led by Boulder-based Outside Interactive promotes the people, places and products that contribute to the outdoor recreation industry's $17 billion annual economic impact in Colorado.
State of play: The 2025 fest is exponentially bigger than its first year.
Today, industry leaders will gather for sessions that include a startup pitch contest and a summit where leaders plan to discuss how to protect public lands, boost innovation and diversify the outdoors' appeal, among other topics.
The main attraction is the festival on Saturday and Sunday in the Civic Center area, featuring concerts with major headliners, a climbing wall, outdoor films and talks with industry icons.
Flashback: Denver previously hosted the twice-a-year Outdoor Retailer show for industry insiders before the conference returned to Salt Lake City in 2023.
The move surprised Colorado officials — who offered $400,000 in incentives for it to stay — and they vowed to create a bigger, better event to toast the industry and its fans.
What they're saying: Outside Festival "is now its own thing," Colorado outdoor recreation director Conor Hall tells us.
By the numbers: Half the crowd comes from outside Denver and the festival is anticipated to generate $16 million in economic activity, according to organizers.
About 25,000 people are expected to attend, up from 18,000 tickets sold in its first year.
The bottom line: "The outside is not just good fun, it's good business," Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said at a recent event to promote the festival.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Boston Globe
4 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Free things to do: ‘Love Island' watch party, puppet performance, and more
Free events Pat Loomis will perform alongside his band at the South End Library Park for an afternoon of community mingling and summer fun. South End Branch of the Boston Public Library JAZZ & JUBILATION Although the BPL's South End branch is temporarily closed, it doesn't mean the library is totally out of reach for community members. Next week, one of the South End branch's summer concerts will take place at the South End Library Park, where Pat Loomis, a Boston-based saxophonist and singer, will perform a jazz set. Attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket and snacks for this night of low notes and high spirits. July 1, 6:30 p.m. 685 Tremont St. A RUFF DAY The midweek slump is felt by all — even our furry friends. Every Wednesday at Liberty Hotel's outdoor patio, local dog owners are invited to gather for Yappier Hour, a chance to unwind with your pup while meeting other canines and their human companions. For-purchase add-ons including dog treats and drinks (for people) are available, but not required to participate. Wednesdays, 5:30-7 p.m. Liberty Hotel, 215 Charles St. Advertisement MAIN CHARACTER ENERGY If you're keeping up with 'Love Island,' you may want to couple up with this free event at Tiki Rock. The tropical, Polynesian-themed bar will be hosting a group screening of next Thursday's episode, set to hit streaming sites at 9 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to dress the part and channel their inner-bombshell entering the villa. July 3, 9 p.m. 21+. 2 Broad St. Advertisement COME TO THE CABARET Back Bay's Club Café hosts monthly free cabaret nights, and this Friday, singer KT Sullivan will hit Joséphine's stage with a performance of 'Far Away Places.' Sullivan will perform songs inspired by destinations, including 'April in Paris,' 'I Happen to Like New York,' and more. Following the performance, audience members are welcome to stay for a screening of the latest 'RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars' episode at the bar. July 4, 6 p.m. 209 Columbus Ave. The Puppet Showplace Theater will be performing outdoor puppet plays at the UnCommon Stage. Rahul Koonathara PULL THE STRINGS Emerson College's UnCommon Stage will be host to 'Party Animals,' a show performed by Brookline's Puppet Showplace Theater. The puppet-led production follows five animal friends, all with different personalities and anxieties, as they navigate throwing their first party. Families with children ages 4 to 9 are encouraged to attend, but all ages are welcome to enjoy the show. July 5, noon. Emerson UnCommon Stage, Boylston and Tremont streets. MEDITATE ON IT If you've been in need of some peace and clarity, you may have already tried meditation. However, with wandering minds, endless newsfeeds, and short attention spans, the act can feel impossible. Gain perspective on the practice with Shambhala Meditation Center's free meditation workshops, where teachers will lead a guided meditation and discussion about how to maintain the practice as part of everyday life. July 6, 12:30-1:30 p.m. 646 Brookline Ave., Brookline. Advertisement Send info on free events and special offers at least 10 days in advance to . Marianna Orozco can be reached at
New York Post
11 hours ago
- New York Post
UK punk band blasted for ‘Death to IDF' chant during Glastonbury festival set as police investigate
Another UK band has come under fire for its 'threatening' comments against Israel's ongoing war in Gaza — stirring up a frenzy at a music festival Saturday. English-based punk duo Bob Vylan whipped the crowd at England's annual Glastonbury Music Festival into a furor, and led the massive audience in gang chants of 'Free, free Palestine' and 'Death, death to the IDF' in referencing the Israeli Defense Forces. Police are said to be investigating the band's performance, Deadline reported. Advertisement 4 Bob Vylan performed Saturday at the Glastonbury Music Festival. WireImage Cops are going over video of the band's set to see if the group chants involved any criminality. 'We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon,' reads a social media post from Avon and Somerset police. Advertisement 'Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation,' the post added. 4 Cops are going over video of the band's set to see if the group chants involved any criminality. AFP via Getty Images Bob Vylan wasn't alone in its criticism of the Israeli offensive against the notorious terror group, Hamas. Irish outfit Kneecap got in trouble during a London show when singer Mo Chara shouted out Hamas and Hezbollah — 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' — and allegedly raised the Hezbollah flag, leading to his arrest under the Terrorism Act. Advertisement Bobby Vylan, one half of Bob Vylan, similarly urged the crowd to chant along with him on Saturday. 4 It didn't take much to get the crowd chanting. AFP via Getty Images BBC, which broadcasts the three-day festival, announced it will not be replaying Bob Vylan's 'deeply offensive' set. A spokesperson for Lisa Nandy, England's Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said she 'strongly' condemns the 'threatening comments made by Bob Vylan at Glastonbury.' Advertisement Nandy's office wants 'an urgent explanation' from the BBC regarding what sort of 'due diligence it carried out ahead of the Bob Vylan performance.' 4 Bob Vylan first started back in 2017. Bob Vylan/Facebook In a statement, the BBC acknowledged 'Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan's set were deeply offensive.' 'During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language,' the BBC added. Hamas killed 1,200 unsuspecting Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023, and took another 250 hostage in brutal fashion. Some 50 Israeli hostages remain captive in Gaza, fewer than half of them are believed to still be alive.
USA Today
18 hours ago
- USA Today
LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, Arch Manning star in Raising Cane's ad
'At least your dad didn't move to Louisiana and start calling plays' This is a fun one. Louisiana football royalty descended on Thibodeaux this week for the Manning Passing Academy, with legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning joining his sons Peyton, Eli, and Cooper and grandson Arch for an opportunity to mentor the next generation of passers. On the way, several members of the Manning family stopped by the Baton Rouge-based Raising Cane's to put in a celebrity "shift" and pulled into the drive-thru to cut a commercial. You can see it for yourself here, but they weren't alone. Raising Cane's founder Todd Graves, a popular pick among fans to buy the Saints should owner Gayle Benson ever put them up for sale, sat in the back seat with LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. Grandfather Archie questioned grandson Arch as to whether his Super Bowl-winning uncles Peyton and Eli were going too hard on him; the younger Manning and Nussmeier roomed together this week as counselors at the clinic. "Tell me about it. At least your dad didn't move to Louisiana and start calling plays," quipped Nussmeier, son of new Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier. That's when Arch's father Cooper leaned in from the drive-thru window to remind his son to order with a "please" and "thank you," while telling Nussmeier that his father already called in his order: "He doesn't trust your judgment." Rookie Saints quarterback Tyler Shough is also working at the event as a counselor, and he's the first to do so after going pro. With almost 1,500 high school quarterbacks in attendance, the Mannings could use all the help they can get. As for Graves? Between all this high-maintenance bickering among quarterbacks, he joked that he needs "to start hanging out with linemen." We're guessing Erik McCoy and Cameron Jordan would be more than happy to show him around town.
