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Were you at Outside Fest earlier this month? We were. Over the course of two days in Denver’s Civic Center Park, I got to share some of my favorite Backpacker trail stories alongside former Editor-in-Chief Jon Dorn, showcase how to pack a backpack with Pepper Steps, and meet so many Backpacker readers in our Ultimate Basecamp that I lost track. Check out our recap of the festival below, and start making your plans to join us next year. —Adam Roy, Editor-in-Chief
The Outside Festival and Summit, founded by Outside Interactive Inc. and presented by Capital One and REI Co-op, wrapped its second successful year at Denver’s Civic Center Park with 35,000 attendees across four days of events and gatherings, nearly doubling in size from 18,000 in its inaugural year in 2024.
“This year’s Outside Festival and Summit proves that we’re building something much bigger than an event… we’re fostering deeper connections and bringing the outdoor community together,” said Robin Thurston, CEO of Outside Interactive. “The Outside Summit rethinks the traditional outdoor trade show model and brings leaders in the industry together to discuss new ideas, successes, and challenges that top outdoor businesses are facing today. The Outside Festival is where we see huge potential for more engagements at the event, continuing to celebrate outdoor culture and attract fans of music, film, wellness, and adventure. We hope to keep growing this event and adding value for years to come.”
The Outside Summit began on Thursday, May 29, with Outside Ignite, a national startup pitch competition where a panel of five judges awarded a grand prize valued at $100,000 to Carbondale, Colorado-based Raide Research, and the runner-up prize to Campfire Ranch. Campfire Ranch was also voted the recipient of the People’s Choice Award by the audience. Judges narrowed down almost 200 applications to five presenting finalists.
The Outside Summit brought in 900 registrants, marking an 80% increase from last year. Filled with 15 back-to-back sessions from 46 speakers, Friday began with an address from Conor Hall at Colorado’s Outdoor Recreation Industry Office and Carrie Besnette Hauser of Trust for Public Land, centering an industry focus for attendees at the onset of the event. Summit badge holders also had an opportunity to hear from Albert Lin, the National Geographic explorer, scientist, and television host.
On Saturday and Sunday, the Outside Festival was at capacity, with 33,000 attendees, including children 12 and under who entered free. Organizers report that 26% of attendees came from out of state and 32% of festgoers identified as BIPOC. 53% of ticket buyers were female, and 47% were male. A total of 12 musical acts performed, including headliners Khruangbin, Lord Huron, Sylvan Esso, Trampled by Turtles, Neal Francis, Waxahatchee, Husbands, and more. There were 10 Ideas sessions at the Denver Art Museum with 18 speakers on Saturday and 13 speakers on Sunday. Outside Festival Film, curated by Mountainfilm and presented by KEEN, screened six films on Saturday and seven on Sunday, each followed by a conversation with film subjects at the Denver Public Library.
There were 20 partners on site from the Adventure Travel Trade Association, 26 Camp Colorado partners and businesses, and 15 nonprofit vendors. Outside replaced single-use cups for cocktails with reusable cups. Out of 15,000 cups distributed, less than 1% ended up in separated waste. There were 120 yogis at the UCHealth Health and Wellness zone, 500 climbers who conquered The North Face climbing wall, and over 100 walkers who joined Diana Nyad and Bonnie Stoll for the EverWalk session on Sunday morning. Thousands explored additional touchpoints across zones like the REI Wild Ideas Worth Living stage, Scout Motors’ Tailgate sessions, and Outside’s Ultimate Basecamp with Colorado Wildlife Council.
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.
