Colorado Day – Aug. 1, 2026

Expected Colorado Day Deals

Colorado Day is a prime opportunity for local businesses and cultural institutions to honor the state’s heritage. Expect many state parks and historical sites, like the History Colorado Center and Molly Brown House Museum, to offer special programming or discounted admission to encourage exploration. Local breweries such as New Belgium Brewing and Great Divide Brewing Co. often host events celebrating Colorado’s renowned craft beer scene, while distilleries might offer special tastings of locally produced spirits. Retailers across the state might feature Colorado-made products, from artisanal goods to outdoor gear, with special promotions. Restaurants could highlight local ingredients through unique menu items or offer discounts to residents. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as August 1 approaches, encouraging residents and visitors to explore and appreciate the Centennial State.

History of Colorado Day

About 14,000 years ago, several Native American tribes, including the Ancestral Puebloans, Apache, Arapaho, Cheyenne, Comanche, Shoshone, and Ute nations, inhabited Colorado. The first European contact was by the Spanish conquistadors, one of whom — Juan de Onate — founded the Spanish province of ‘Santa Fe de Nuevo Mexico’ on July 11, 1598. Eventually, Colorado became a part of this province, and the regular trade between the Spaniards and Native Americans who lived there became known as ‘Comercio Comanchero,’ meaning ‘Comanche Trade.’

In 1803, the United States made a territorial claim to the eastern part of the Rocky Mountains, which the Spanish, who claimed sovereignty over the territory, contested. In 1846, the U.S. went to war with Mexico, winning and claiming the Southern Rocky Mountains for American settlement. However, it wasn’t until a few years later that settlement began in earnest due to the ‘Pikes Peak Gold Rush.’ On June 22, 1850, a man called Lewis Ralston discovered gold in a stream flowing into Clear Creek; he immediately named the stream ‘Ralston’s Creek.’ In 1857, gold seekers began flooding the territory to search for gold — this led to the beginning of the “Pikes Peak Gold Rush.” Three years later, an estimated 100,000 people had come in search of gold, which caused a population boom. However, they settled for silver, hard rock gold, and other minerals when the gold eventually got exhausted.

On February 28, 1861, Colorado became a U.S. territory by an Act of Congress signed by President James Buchanan — this happened during the infamous secession of the Southern States that led to the American Civil War. On August 1, 1876, President Grant signed a proclamation admitting Colorado to the Union as the 38th State, 28 days after the Centennial Celebration of the United States, earning it the moniker “Centennial State.” ‘Colorado Day’ was first celebrated in 1907.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Colorado Day