Outside Festival hits full speed in second year

State of play: The 2025 fest is exponentially bigger than its first year.

• Today, industry leaders will gather for sessions that include a startup pitch contest and a summit where leaders plan to discuss how to protect public lands, boost innovation and diversify the outdoors' appeal, among other topics.
• The main attraction is the festival on Saturday and Sunday in the Civic Center area, featuring concerts with major headliners, a climbing wall, outdoor films and talks with industry icons.

Flashback: Denver previously hosted the twice-a-year Outdoor Retailer show for industry insiders before the conference returned to Salt Lake City in 2023.

• The move surprised Colorado officials — who offered $400,000 in incentives for it to stay — and they vowed to create a bigger, better event to toast the industry and its fans.

What they're saying: Outside Festival "is now its own thing," Colorado outdoor recreation director Conor Hall tells us.

By the numbers: Half the crowd comes from outside Denver and the festival is anticipated to generate $16 million in economic activity, according to organizers.

• About 25,000 people are expected to attend, up from 18,000 tickets sold in its first year.

The bottom line: "The outside is not just good fun, it's good business," Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said at a recent event to promote the festival.

• "We think this festival is part of what establishes and deepens our place as the international headquarters for folks who love and use the outdoors."