By Dawn Duncan
The small-but-mighty town of Dacono, Colorado is turning up the volume for the 17th Annual Dacono Music & Spirits Festival: a celebration of sound, flavor and community that has grown into a can’t-miss summer tradition. This year’s fest will take place on Saturday, August 2 with free admission at Centennial Field in Dacono. The all-day event includes entertainment for all ages, along with an expanded lineup of musical acts, food trucks, distilleries, retail vendors, and more.
At the heart of the festival is a dynamic music lineup showcasing national talent alongside celebrated Colorado bands. This year’s headliner is Squirrel Nut Zippers, the iconic New Orleans-based band with their swinging, jazz-infused sound and carnival-like energy that has been honed for over three decades. Lead singer Jimbo Mathus says, “We always love Colorado in the summer and look forward to visiting the Dacono Music & Spirits Festival!” The band’s return to the Colorado stage promises to bring down the house with a raucous, retro flair that is equal parts nostalgia and full-throttle fun.
Other musical acts include Mojomama & The DC Horns, a Denver-based funk/R&B act and three-time Colorado Blues Society award-winning band, led by celebrated singer Jessica Rogalski. Chicano funk music by Denver-based Los Mochochetes offers their signature sociopolitical message mixed with a dance-friendly sound. The Jacob Larson Band is a funk and soul powerhouse out of Denver, and blues heavyweights The Delta Sonics will make their festival debut. The bill kicks off at 2 pm with Goatz!, a Colorado Americana act that includes veteran musician and co-founder of the festival, Chris Kresge, bringing a rootsy, country-folk inspired sound.
Kresge, along with two former City of Dacono employees, helped to organize Dacono’s centennial celebration in 2008, which evolved into this festival, now 17 years strong. “The festival is truly unlike anything else between Denver and Fort Collins,” he comments, “and it has become the premiere event in the central-northern Colorado region.”
The festival also features a spirits competition, which is now an anchor of the celebration. Multiple Colorado distilleries will be on site offering product samples while their goods compete for honors. There will also be a beer garden on site for guests to enjoy. Foodies can indulge in a lineup of food trucks serving up savory goods, sweets galore, and loads of unique, homestyle comfort foods.
Families will love the Kids’ Zone, which will be packed with activities designed to delight children and youth, including bungee trampolines, climbing walls, bouncy castles, and much more, all free of charge. The celebration will crescendo with a spectacular fireworks display, lighting up the Colorado sky in a grand finale.
Mark your calendars, gather your crew, and get ready to dance, play, eat, and sip! Raise a glass as Dacono calls your name with its irresistible rhythm.
17th Annual Dacono Music & Spirits Festival
Saturday, August 2, 2025 • 2-10 PM
