Organizers have announced the full schedule of events happening at the second annual Outside Festival presented by Capital One and REI Co-op. Outside Festival was founded by Outside Interactive Inc., and is supported by the State of Colorado, the City of Denver, and Outside’s brand partners, all with a shared desire to make the outdoors more accessible and inclusive.
The festival is set to take over Civic Center Park, Saturday, May 31, and Sunday, June 1, with gates opening at 1:00 p.m. each day. Approximately 25,000 attendees will descend upon downtown Denver to experience musical headliners, brand activations, film screenings, wellness sessions, and keynotes from athletes and outdoor icons. Before the consumer festival opens, organizers will welcome Outside Summit badgeholders on Thursday, May 29, and Friday, May 30, for two days of outdoor industry-focused programming and speaker sessions at the Denver Art Museum and Denver Public Library.
“We’re kicking off the Outside Festival with a pitch competition for start-up businesses on Thursday night, where we’re excited to award a prize valued at $100,000 to the winner,” said Robin Thurston, CEO of Outside Interactive. “Then, on Friday, the Outside Summit features over 15 industry sessions led by a world-class panel of speakers. Saturday and Sunday include an incredible lineup of music, plus 20 Ideas and Film sessions, amazing food, and so much more.”
“The vision of the Outside Festival is to establish this week in Denver as the SXSW of the outdoors,” said executive Outside Festival director Christopher Jerard. “In just its second year, that vision is taking shape. It’s becoming a gathering place for both the outdoor industry and the outdoor community as a whole, further establishing both Denver and Colorado’s leadership in outdoor culture. This year’s broader celebration includes the reopening of the 16th Street pedestrian mall, Troutfest Colorado, the International Federation of Sport Climbing’s (IFSC) sixth Speed World Cup competition, the Colorado Rockies Home Run 5K, and AdventureELEVATE® North America. Together, these events reflect a shared mission: to Get Everyone Outside.”
Outside Festival attendees are encouraged to download the Outside Festival app for iOS or Android, where festgoers can plan their experience and stay up to date on the latest updates from organizers.
Thursday and Friday Highlights:
Ticketed outdoor professionals will kick off their experience at Outside Ignite, the brand-new startup pitch competition debuting at the Outside Summit on Thursday, where businesses in the active lifestyle industry will pitch their business idea for a grand prize valued at $100,000.
On Friday, attendees will have even more opportunities to network and get inspired, with a full day of back-to-back sessions from leading voices in the industry. View the full Outside Summit schedule here.
Saturday Highlights:
Music begins at the REI Co-op Main Stage at 1:30 p.m., kicking off with Brothers of Brass, followed by Squeaky Feet, a special presentation from CHEER Colorado, Husbands, and Neal Francis. Sylvan Esso will play at 6:00 p.m. before the festival closes out to the groovy sounds of Grammy-nominated headliner, Khruangbin, 8:30 – 10:00 p.m.
At the UCHealth Health and Wellness Stage, experience an early or late afternoon flow yoga session led by a CorePower Yoga instructor (1:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.), or tune in for an on-stage appearance from runner and author Scott Jurek, climber Sasha DiGiulian, biohacker and fitness trainer Josh Holland, and Philip Anthony Mangan.
Curious minds should head to the Sturm Grand Pavilion within the Denver Art Museum for the Outside Festival Ideas sessions, starting at 1:15 p.m. with “The Wild Life of Alex Honnold” and ending with “The Art of Endurance with David Blaine and Diana Nyad.” With five sessions scheduled for day one, Outside Ideas will bring fresh thinking and unique perspectives on the outdoors, highlighting pro athletes, cultural icons, brand founders, and more until the venue closes at 7:15 p.m. View the full schedule for Saturday Ideas sessions here.
Film buffs can look forward to Outside Festival Film screenings, curated by MountainFilm and presented by KEEN, at the Denver Public Library, featuring Kimmy Fasani in “Butterfly in a Blizzard,” “David Blaine Do Not Attempt,” “First In, Last Out,” “Momo,” “A Little Story About Forever,” and “Remaining Native.” All sessions are accompanied by a Q&A. View the full schedule for Film sessions here.
At Ideas and Films, ticketholders can line up for sessions thirty minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis until venues are filled to capacity.
Sunday Highlights:
Day two continues with even more in-person appearances and opportunities for discovery. Cole Scheifele opens with mainstage tunes at 1:30 p.m., followed by The Copper Children, Hazlett, and Waxahatchee at 5:00 p.m., Trampled by Turtles at 6:30 p.m., and Lord Huron, 8:30 – 10:00 p.m.
Attendees can find their way back to the Ideas venue for more sessions with John John Florence, Melissa Arnot Reid, Sally Jewell, Albert Lin, Matt Lyons, Katie Burrell, Eeland Stribling, and more. Films shown at Denver Public Library include “About Damn Time,” “Trango,” “Outlier: Common,” “Beyond Beliefs,” “Arctic Alchemy,” “REI: The Life We Have”, and “Girl Climber.”
At the UCHealth Health and Wellness Stage, professional athletes like triathlete Siri Lindley, surfer John John Florence, and ultrarunner Hillary Allen will participate in insightful discussions about their experiences. Plus, before the festival begins on Sunday, join Diana Nyad and Bonnie Stoll for a five-mile scenic walk throughout downtown Denver to Cheesman Park starting at 9 a.m., details found here.
The North Face climbing wall will also return to the park this year. Ticketholders can look forward to exploring gear and lifestyle businesses all weekend, with dedicated spaces for 25+ Colorado-based brands.
Tickets to the Outside Festival are still on sale and can be purchased here. Prices will increase on Friday. To view the full lineup of music, speakers, films, or to learn more about the Outside Festival, visit TheOutsideFestival.com.
Sponsors for the Outside Festival include Capital One, REI Co-op, Brooks Running, Scout Motors, Berghaus, The North Face, VF Corporation, UCHealth, the State of Colorado, Visit Denver, and the Denver Art Museum.
About the Outside Festival and Summit
The second annual Outside Festival and Summit will take place in downtown Denver from May 29 – June 1, 2025. The Outside Festival, presented by Capital One and REI, May 31 – June 1, is a celebration of everything outdoors, featuring music, films, speakers, gear, and more. The event is driven by a partnership between Outside Interactive, Inc., The State of Colorado’s Outdoor Recreation Office, and Visit Denver—all with a shared vision to make the outdoors more accessible and more inclusive. The Outside Summit, May 29 – June 1, 2025, is the outdoor industry’s premier networking conference. For more information, including tickets, please visit theoutsidefestival.com.
About Outside Interactive, Inc.
Outside Interactive, Inc.– a media and news winner of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies 2025– is the premier destination for outdoor inspiration, activation, and celebration. Each year, Outside reaches more than 300 million unique users and has more than 100 million registered users across its network of 25 media, service, and utility brands, including Outside, MapMyFitness, Velo, Yoga Journal, Pinkbike, Gaia GPS, Trailforks, athleteReg, and more. Outside’s mission is to get everyone outside, experiencing healthy, connected, and fulfilling lives by creating an experience for both longtime adventurers and those just getting started. Outside’s subscription offering, Outside+, bundles best-in-class storytelling, videos, gear reviews, mapping apps, online courses, discounted event access, and more. Learn more at outsideonline.com/outsideplus.
