Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Festival held?

The Festival is held in downtown Boulder along Boulder Creek. The Festival extends from 9th Street to 14th Street (west to east), between Canyon Blvd. and Arapahoe Ave. (north and south). Click here for a map of the 2009 Boulder Creek Festival

What are the hours of the Festival?

Saturday, May 29: 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Bandshell performances and Food Courts open until 10:00 p.m.)

Sunday, May 30: 10:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m. (Bandshell performances and Food Courts open until 10:00 p.m.)

Monday, May 31: 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

How do I get to the Festival?

Click here for directions to the Festival.

Where do I park?

Public parking lots & garages can be found at the following locations:

• 1100 Walnut
• 1400 Walnut (by the RTD bus station)
• 1500 Pearl Street
• 11th Street & Spruce (behind the Boulder Book Store)

There is free street parking in local neighborhoods on weekends, but please take note of street signs for possible exceptions. Because of limited downtown parking, we strongly suggest using alternate modes of transportation to get downtown, such as riding your bike or taking the bus to the Festival. Also, don’t forget to check out our new shuttle service to the Festival from the Twenty Ninth Street Mall! (listed below)

Where is handicapped-accessible parking available?

Handicapped-accessible parking will be available on the corner of Arapahoe and Broadway in the Park Central Building parking lot and on the north side of the Atrium Building parking lot. An ADA drop-off area will be made available at the Main Library.

Is there a shuttle service available?

YES! PARK & RIDE TO THE BOULDER CREEK FESTIVAL! Boulder Creek Events and Twenty Ninth Street Mall have partnered to bring you plenty of free parking at the mall and a short complimentary ride to the Festival on The HOP. Enjoy the Festival without worrying about finding a parking space downtown! Pick up the bus at the Macy’s bus stop on 29th Street and get dropped off right by the library on Arapahoe. The shuttle will pick you back up from the Festival at this location, as well. EVERY 15 MINUTES, ALL WEEKEND LONG.

What is the cost of admission to the Festival?

There is no charge to get into the Boulder Creek Festival.

How much are the concert tickets?

All concerts (at each of the 5 Entertainment Stages) are free!

How can I find out who will be performing each day?

There are five Performance Stages at the Boulder Creek Festival: the Bandshell Main Stage, Festival Stage, Community Dance Stage, Kids’ Stage, and Teen Creek Fest Stage.

Click on the “Performers” link for a complete list of all 2009 Performance Schedules at each of our Entertainment Stages throughout the weekend. (2010 Performance Schedules: COMING SOON!) In addition, during the weekend of the Festival there will be Trail Maps available at each of the Information Booths as well as the Main Command Post. The Daily Camera will also be listing the Bandshell and Festival Stage daily performance schedule for each day of the Festival.

What kinds of food will be available?

There will be over 40 food vendors in two different Food Courts at the Boulder Creek Festival. The Main Food Court is located in the new Library Parking lot off of Arapahoe, and the 13th Street Food Court is located on the Corner of 13th Street and Canyon (next to the Bandshell) in Central Park. There will also be various food carts placed throughout the Festival grounds.

Can I purchase alcohol at the Festival?

There will be two beer gardens with three booths (two in the Main Food Court and one in the 13th Street Food Court) serving Boulder Beer, Barefoot Wine, and Salvador’s Margaritas. Please note that alcohol will be allowed only within designated areas, and will only be served to adults ages 21 and older.

Will there be carnival rides?

The carnival rides can be found in the Fun Zone, located in the lot on 14th Street & Canyon.

Will there be rides for children?

An entire section of the Fun Zone is dedicated to rides for young children. You can also visit the Kids’ Place event area for other children’s activities. The corner of 9th & Canyon will also have activity vendors.

Are dogs allowed at the festival?

Leashed dogs are allowed at the Boulder Creek Festival. For further rules and regulations pertaining to having animals on City of Boulder property, please contact the City of Boulder directly.

When is the Great Rubber Duck Race?

Monday, May 31 at 4:00 p.m. The ducks will be dropped from the 9th Street bridge; the finish line is the Peace Garden.

How does the race work?

Each duck in the Great Rubber Duck Race is marked with a number, and each duck has a ticket to correspond with this number. When you purchase a duck (for a $5 suggested donation), you will actually be receiving a ticket with your duck’s number written on it. As the ducks are purchased, staff and volunteers painstakingly register each duck and ticket. On Monday of the Boulder Creek Festival, the ducks are dropped into the Boulder Creek. They float down the Creek to the finish line, and at the finish line there is a chute so that only one duck can pass through at a time. As they cross the finish line, we record the ducks’ numbers and determine the winner!

Where can I purchase a duck for the Great Rubber Duck Race?

You can purchase a duck at any of the Duck Booths at the Boulder Creek Festival, or you may stop by one of the Boulder Recreation Centers before the weekend of the Boulder Creek Festival and register a duck at the front desk:

• North Boulder Recreation Center: 3170 N. Broadway, Boulder;
• South Boulder Recreation Center: 1360 Gillaspie Dr., Boulder;
• East Boulder Recreation Center: 5660 Sioux Drive, Boulder

What types of prizes do the winners receive?

For more information on the 2010 Great Rubber Duck Race, including the complete prize list, please contact the City of Boulder Dept. of Parks & Recreation at 303-413-7200, or visit the Website: www.boulderparksandrec.org.

How can I become a volunteer for the Festival?

Volunteers are at the heart of the Boulder Creek Festival and are always much appreciated! For more information on the many volunteer positions available, please contact the Boulder Creek Events office at 303-449-3137 or via email at info@bouldercreekevents.com.

How can I become a vendor at the Boulder Creek Festival?

The deadline to apply for the 2010 Boulder Creek Festival is Feb. 27, 2010. To download an application, please click here. To get on the mailing list for next year’s Boulder Creek Festival, contact the Boulder Creek Events office.