CU Boulder graduation weekend 2027: things to do in Boulder

Friday, 14 May 2027 · ExpectedBoulder, United States

CU Boulder Commencement brings parents, grandparents and siblings to Boulder for a weekend. The ceremony takes a morning: this guide covers where to stay, the celebration dinner and what to do with the rest of the time.

Tours in Boulder Hotels for these dates

Know before you go

Confirm the date and ticket rules on the school's commencement page: guest tickets are often limited.
Book the celebration dinner when you book the hotel. Every restaurant in town is full that weekend.

Airport to Folsom Field

Denver International (DEN) is 45 minutes by the SkyRide bus or car.

Walk from Pearl Street or campus parking.

Public transport directions to Folsom Field

Where to stay by budget

Budget	Where	Why
Budget	Longmont and Louisville	Cheaper rooms 20 minutes out.
Mid-range	Downtown Boulder	Walk to Pearl Street.
Splurge	Hotel Boulderado and St Julien	Historic and luxury hotels.

Three hotels we would book

Budget: Best Western Plus Boulder Inn
Mid-range: Hotel Boulderado
Splurge: St Julien Hotel and Spa

Links search the nights from 13 May to 15 May. Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Day plans for the free hours

Built around the usual graduation weekend schedule for Friday, 14 May 2027. Session times change: check the official timetable and move the blocks around.

Arrival day

Thursday 13 May

Check in, walk the campus with your graduate and book a celebration dinner.

FreePearl Street buskers.
EatBoulder Dushanbe Teahouse Teahouse

Ceremony day

Friday 14 May

Ceremonies take the morning. The afternoon is for photos and a long lunch.

EatAvery Brewing Brewery
Easy outingCelestial Seasonings tea tour Half day · Family · Indoor
Free factory tour.

The day after

Saturday 15 May

A free day before everyone leaves. A good time for a trip out of town.

Half-dayFlatirons hike Half day · Family
Chautauqua trails.
EatPearl Street Mall Pedestrian dining street

Grandparents and siblings

Low walking and kid friendly.

Family pickRocky Mountain National Park Full day · Family
Trail Ridge Road and elk.
Rain or heat backupBoulder Museum of Contemporary Art.

Family-friendly picks

Half day · Family · Indoor

Celestial Seasonings tea tour

Free factory tour.

See times and prices

Full day · Family

Rocky Mountain National Park

Trail Ridge Road and elk.

See times and prices

Half day · Family

Flatirons hike

Chautauqua trails.

See times and prices

Fiske Planetarium.
CU Museum of Natural History.

Evening and day-trip tours

Evening · Nightlife · Food

Craft beer tour

Breweries and taprooms.

See times and prices

Full day · Family

Rocky Mountain National Park

Trail Ridge Road and elk.

See times and prices

After dark

Pearl Street.

5 tours worth booking for CU Boulder

Tour	Length	Good for
Celestial Seasonings tea tour	Half day	Families, Bad weather
Rocky Mountain National Park	Full day	Families
Flatirons hike	Half day	Families
Red Rocks and Denver tour	Half day	Everyone
Craft beer tour	Evening	Night owls, Food lovers

Event weeks sell out. Book tours with free cancellation as soon as the session times are published.

Where to eat

Pearl Street Mall Pedestrian dining street
Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse Teahouse
Avery Brewing Brewery

Reserve dinner for the nights around the event: restaurants near the venue fill up days ahead.

Rainy-day backups

Half day · Family · Indoor

Celestial Seasonings tea tour

Free factory tour.

See times and prices

Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art.

Getting around on event days

RTD buses to Denver and the airport; walkable downtown. Winter roads can be icy.

Day trips from Boulder

Denver: 40 minutes
Estes Park: 1 hour

Bringing a group?

Corporate hospitality, fan clubs, teams and families travelling together: tell us the dates and group size and we will put together tours, transfers and a group dinner for CU Boulder.

Plan a group trip

Questions people ask

When is CU Boulder Commencement 2027?

The next edition is Friday, 14 May 2027, following the usual pattern. The organiser has not confirmed it yet.

How do I get from the airport to Folsom Field?

Denver International (DEN) is 45 minutes by the SkyRide bus or car. Walk from Pearl Street or campus parking.

Where should I stay for CU Boulder Commencement?

For most visitors the best base is Downtown Boulder: Walk to Pearl Street.

What else can we do around CU Boulder Commencement?

Good short outings in Boulder include Flatirons hike, Red Rocks and Denver tour, Celestial Seasonings tea tour. See the day plans on this page for a full schedule.

What is there for kids and families near CU Boulder Commencement?

Family-friendly picks: Rocky Mountain National Park, Flatirons hike, Celestial Seasonings tea tour. Fiske Planetarium.

How far is Folsom Field from Boulder centre?

About 1 km in a straight line. Walk from Pearl Street or campus parking.

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