Conifer’s biggest event of the year — the 12th annual Elevation Celebration — is back July 26 and 27, this year with 20 bands and 100 vendors. All are gathering to support Conifer’s local businesses during the free, two-day outdoor festival.
Last year, about 4,000 people attended, and event coordinator Melissa Baker expects a similar turnout for the 2025 event. She attributes the turnout to high-quality music and lots of family fun events.
“We try to be very eclectic with the music so there’s something for everybody,” she said. “And we have a bunch of things for families — a kid’s zone, sports zone and a family zone.”
What started as a Conifer Area Chamber of Commerce event has gotten so large, it’s now its own entity. Today’s weekend fest was originally two separate events.
“We took the former Conifair Festival and merged it with the Conifer Mountain Music Festival,” she said. “We tried to make it the best of those two events and put it where the businesses are so we could help support the businesses and keep it free.”
A dozen years of festivals prove that plan was a success.
“It was a much, much smaller event the first year than it is now, but it was successful immediately,” she said. “Every year we’ve grown the event based on the people who want to participate.”
And every year, there are more who want to be part of Elevation Celebration. That keeps the event free for all who attend, one of the organizers’ primary goals.
“We have a lot of sponsors,” Baker said. “It’s almost like a who’s-who in Conifer of businesses. They donate money to put the event on. We also charge vendor fees, and make money from day-of-event beer sales.”
The festival kicks off with a 5K and 10K fun run coordinated by the Conifer Lobos Unified Boosters and the Conifer Area Council Trails. Money from the fundraiser goes to Conifer High School and to expand area trails.
Live music starts at 10 a.m. both days on two separate stages.
“I’m excited to highlight a band called Pretend Friends,” Baker said, pointing out a band set to play at 4:40 on the east stage on Sunday, July 27. “They’re a little bluegrassy. Myself and some of the other people on the committee have been following this band for a couple years at Snowpack Underground. They’re closing us out this year and are just a lot of fun.”
Los Cheesies, a Colorado band that describes itself as “an insanely wild, high-energy band of both gringos and Latinos,” closes out the event on Saturday, July 26.
Their description fits the committee’s daily musical goal.
“We try to close out each day with a party band,” Baker said.
Elevation Celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. July 26 and 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. July 27 on Sutton Road in Aspen Park, between the Conifer post office and the Aspen Park Community Center.