Celebrate Leadville’s Irish Heritage During Leadville’s Irish Weekend!
Leadville is proud enough of its immigrant roots to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day twice a year. Once in March with everyone else, and once in September, when the aspens are turning gold and green is still the color of choice on Harrison Avenue. The practice parade has been rehearsing for March for more than 70 years, and it has grown into a full weekend of music, memorials and history.
Leadville’s Irish Weekend 2026 runs Friday, September 18 through Sunday, September 20. Come for one beautiful fall day, or stay the whole weekend and catch all of it.
2026 Irish Weekend Itinerary
Friday, September 18
Sunset: Sing-song at the Irish Miners’ Memorial
Gather at the Memorial in Evergreen Cemetery as the last light leaves the peaks. Bring your favorite tunes, poems or toasts and enjoy the Memorial under the Milky Way. Nights turn cold fast at 10,200 feet, so pack a warm layer.
Saturday, September 19
11:00 AM: Denis Hasty Memorial at the Elks Lodge
A remembrance of the Vietnam veteran and longtime organizer who helped build this celebration.
12:00 PM: Annual Practice St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Don your green and line historic Harrison Avenue for a parade that brings the spirit of March to September. All are welcome to join in. Marchers meet on West 9th Street in front of the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum and head south.
2:00 to 5:00 PM: Gathering at The Old Church, 801 Harrison Avenue
A place to land between the parade and the concert, with music and good company.
4:30 PM: Book reading and signing with author Molly Sturdevant at the Healy House Museum
7:00 PM: The Young Dubliners in concert at the Tabor Opera House
High energy Celtic rock in an 1879 theater, plus singing, dancing and a silent auction. This one is a fundraiser and it sells out, so buy early.
9:00 PM: Meet and greet at the Silver Dollar Saloon
10:00 PM: Late sing-along at the Irish Miners’ Memorial
Sunday, September 20
11:00 AM: Convocation at the Irish Miners’ Memorial
A closing ceremony at the Memorial, followed by time to walk Evergreen Cemetery and the pauper section where many of Leadville’s Irish immigrants are buried.
Start the Day Off on an eBike Ride at Turquoise Lakes
Rolling out at 8:30 AM, heading toward one of Colorado’s most breathtaking alpine gems Turquoise Lake. This fully supported ride loops around the sparkling blue waters surrounded by towering peaks, crisp mountain air, and wide-open views that stretch for miles.
At over 10,000 feet, every mile feels big, but with the help of e-bikes, the route is approachable, fun, and designed for riders who want to soak it all in rather than race through it. Expect smooth stretches along the lake, panoramic mountain scenery, and that unmistakable Leadville magic that makes riding here unforgettable.
The Gem Circuit is all about celebrating Colorado’s high-country beauty, community, and adventure in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.
After the ride, head back into town and keep the celebration going at Leadville’s Irish Festival, enjoy live music, festive energy, and a little Celtic spirit in one of Colorado’s most historic mountain towns.
The Parade Rolls While the Aspens Turn
Here is the pairing that makes Irish Weekend worth the drive: the third week of September is typically peak color in Lake County. Leadville sits at 10,152 feet, so the aspens here turn ahead of the Front Range and the show is usually finished before Denver has started. You can watch a bagpipe band come down Harrison Avenue at noon and be standing in a gold aspen grove twenty minutes later.
Easy color stops on parade weekend: the Mineral Belt Trail for a paved 11.6 mile loop that circles town, the Interlaken Trail at Twin Lakes for shoreline gold under the Mount Elbert massif, and the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway north over Tennessee Pass toward Camp Hale National Monument. For more routes and timing, see our guide to the best fall color spots around Leadville and Twin Lakes.
A Legacy Carved in Leadville’s History
At the height of Leadville’s mining boom, the Irish were the city’s largest ethnic group. As reported by the Leadville Herald, they filled a wide range of roles: miners, maids, teachers, real estate agents, police officers, barkeepers, innkeepers, doctors, nurses, lawyers, grocers, builders, landlords, investors, bankers and clergy. The Irish community reached into every layer of Leadville society.
Many now rest in the pauper section of Evergreen Cemetery, buried with little or no marker. Today their legacy lives on through the striking Irish Miners’ Memorial, a testament to their enduring impact on the city.
Want the deeper story first? Watch the PBS Colorado Experience episode The Lost Irish Miners of Leadville.
Plan Your Irish Weekend
Full details and any schedule updates are posted on the Leadville’s Irish Weekend event page. September fills up in Leadville, so book your room early: start with where to stay.
Questions about the weekend or want to march in the parade? Contact Luke Finken at 719-293-1803.
Already planning ahead? Leadville’s Irish Weekend 2027 is set for September 17 to 19.
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