The past meets the present when Black Hawk celebrates Founders’ Day on Saturday, June 27, 2026. From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Gregory Plaza in the HARD District, you can step back in time, meet historic characters or rock out to current tunes. There are live performances, artisan vendors, food trucks and themed activities.
Event Highlights Include:
Live Performances: Enjoy an array of performances, from local bands including Sugar Britches, Atomic Drifters, Kind Mountain Band and The Lady Legends Show.
Period Costumes & Themed Activities: Take a step back in time as performers and visitors don period costumes, bringing history to life.
Artisan Vendors & Food Trucks: Explore the variety of local crafts and grab a bite from the food trucks offering tasty eats and refreshing beverages throughout the day. Also, Black Hawk’s HARD District already has some great dining options, including JKQ BBQ in the former Crook’s Palace.
Activities:
- Free gold panning
- Axe throwing
- Face painting
- Late 1800’s costumes
- Photo booth
- Crafts for the kids
- Carnival games
The History of Black Hawk
Black Hawk, Colorado began as a small mining camp as a part of Gregory Diggings. Gold was found in 1859, sparking a rush to the area which was still a part of the Kansas Territory.
Miners flocked to the camp in the hopes of striking it rich, and the mining population quickly grew. The following year, in June of 1860, Black Hawk was incorporated by William Lee, Mylo Lee and Dr. Frederick Judd.
It became the second city in the newly sanctioned Colorado Territory (15 years before Colorado became a U.S. state).
The city of Black Hawk recognizes the vital role it has played in the founding of Colorado and works still to preserve and display that history.
Gregory Street, named after the original mining camp, is now home to Black Hawk’s HARD (History Appreciation and Recreation Destination) District.
357 Gregory St., Black Hawk.
Want More Fun Things To Do?
Look at our full events calendar, where you can type in any date, or check out what’s happening over the next few days right here:
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