Things to Do in Boulder in November 2026: A Local’s Guide
November brings a little bit of everything to Boulder: Pearl Street events, local wine dinners, live music, student performances, art, and the start of the holiday season. If you’re looking for things to do in Boulder this month, here are a few dates to put on your calendar.
HI! I’m Kelly McCallister, a Boulder County REALTOR® and local resident since 1995. I love helping people get to know the rhythm of life here, whether they’re moving to Boulder, exploring a new neighborhood, or simply looking for a good reason to spend an evening downtown. Here’s my November roundup, organized by the kinds of plans I’d make with friends and family.
Event schedules, ticket availability, prices, and age requirements can change. Check the organizer’s page before you go.
Downtown Boulder: Pearl Street plans
West Pearl First Friday: Local Love & Libations — November 6
Head west on Pearl Street from 4 to 7 p.m. for an art walk celebrating local businesses. The evening includes gallery activity and stops around West Pearl, including a closing celebration for an exhibition at The New Local. It’s an easy way to pair a downtown stroll with a little local shopping.
Firefly Handmade Holiday Market — November 14–15
The Pearl Street Mall turns into an outdoor market featuring more than 80 artists, makers, and designers. The market runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, with free admission. Browse handmade art and gifts, then make time for a meal or coffee downtown.
Switch on the Holidays — November 22
Downtown Boulder’s holiday kickoff runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The day begins with the Cookie Crawl, followed by activities and performances around Pearl Street. The downtown lights illumination begins at 5 p.m.
Small Business Saturday — November 28
Use the Saturday after Thanksgiving to shop and dine with Boulder’s locally owned businesses. Downtown is an easy place to turn a few errands into a longer outing.
Restaurants and wine events
French Wine Thanksgiving at Hotel Boulderado — November 11
Spruce Farm & Fish hosts a French wine tasting on the Hotel Boulderado mezzanine from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The 21-and-over event pairs wines with light bites and includes short presentations about the food and wine. Tickets are listed at $55 per person, before tax and fees.
Wine Wednesday at Boulder Wine Merchant — Wednesdays
Boulder Wine Merchant offers a complimentary wine tasting every Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m.; no reservation is required. The selection changes from week to week, so it’s a flexible stop before or after dinner downtown.
Klinker Brick Wine Dinner at SALT — November 17
SALT is hosting a four-course dinner featuring Klinker Brick Winery at 6 p.m. The restaurant lists the dinner at $150 per person and provides a reservation link on its site.
Music and performance
CU Boulder SoundWorks: Astrodon Quartet — November 6
The College of Music’s graduate string quartet in residence performs at Imig Music at 7:30 p.m. CU notes that the concert will include the premiere of a new string quartet by Glenda Luck.
The 150 Project — November 6–15
CU Theatre presents a new play rooted in student stories. It’s one of several chances this month to catch a performance on campus.
Live music around Boulder
A few November concert options include Rodrigo y Gabriela at Boulder Theater on November 6, Joanne Shaw Taylor with Bywater Call at Boulder Theater on November 7, and John Scofield’s “Electrospective” at Boulder Theater on November 8. The Boulder Theater and Fox Theatre calendars list additional shows through the month.
Arts and culture
Beyond the Walls Street Art Summit — November 7–8
Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art and Street Wise Arts bring artists and the public together for a weekend focused on street art. The schedule includes guided mural tours, skill-building workshops, a movie screening, and a networking event. Some activities require tickets and advance registration.
Open Wall Fall 2026 — November 13
BMoCA’s one-night exhibition and sale begins at 6 p.m. It’s a chance to see and shop work by local artists in the museum’s event space.
CU Art Museum exhibitions
If you’d rather browse at your own pace, CU Art Museum has exhibitions on view this month, including the Artnauts’ 30th anniversary exhibition and CU Collects: Imagining a Creative Campus. The museum’s calendar lists current exhibitions and November programming.
November traditions
CU Boulder Wind Symphony Veterans Day Concert — November 11
The Wind Symphony performs a Veterans Day concert at 7:30 p.m. The program features members of the United States Air Force Academy Band and the 101st Army Band.
The last Saturday Boulder Farmers Market of the season — November 21
The Boulder Farmers Market’s Saturday season runs through November 21. The market is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., a final chance this year to shop local vendors and grab a bite downtown.
The Nutcracker with Boulder Ballet and Boulder Philharmonic — November 27 and 29
Boulder Ballet and the Boulder Philharmonic bring the holiday classic to Macky Auditorium over Thanksgiving weekend. The full-length ballet is scheduled for November 27 and 29, and a one-hour Nutcracker Suite performance is scheduled for November 29 at 1 p.m.
Make a Boulder November of it
Whether you’re browsing handmade goods on Pearl Street, hearing live music, or catching a performance at CU, November is a good month to make a few plans close to home. Save this guide, share it with someone you’d like to meet up with, and check the event pages for the latest details before heading out.
Thinking about moving to Boulder or finding a home that puts more of the city within reach? I’d be glad to help you get to know Boulder and the surrounding communities. Visit kellymccallister.com or send me your questions.
Kelly McCallister, Realtor // Kelly.McCallister@8z.com // 303-517-5524 // buy. sell. invest.
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