Ultimate Guide to the 2027 Sundance Film Festival in BoulderThe 2027 Sundance Film Festival makes its Boulder debut Jan. 21-31! Want to go? Save this guide for the festival venues, from historic theaters to independent cinemas, plus find places to stay and things to see and do in Northern Colorado, so you can extend your visit before or after the Festival!Authorsorganized_adventurer
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Official 2027 Sundance Film Festival Venues

Boulder Theater
This stunning Art Deco Boulder theater, just off Pearl Street, is one of Sundance Film Festival’s official screening venues. Film is nothing new here: the theater already hosts the Boulder International Film Festival, along with a year-round lineup of concerts and comedy. Colorful murals frame the main room, and the Lounge next door serves cocktails, wine, and small plates before or after a screening.
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Chautauqua Park
Catch a film and hit the trails in the same stop. The park’s wooden Chautauqua Auditorium is one of the festival’s official screening venues, and its winter upgrades were fast-tracked so it could join the lineup. Just outside is Boulder’s main trail network, with routes up toward the Flatirons and Royal Arch. Expect snow and ice in late January and gear up accordingly.
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The Rink
The Sundance Film Festival's headquarters is in this 1955 ice rink near downtown, which Boulder architect Charles Haertling renovated in 1975. It’s three blocks from Pearl Street, so it’s easy to access between other venues.
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Macky Auditorium Concert Hall
Macky Auditorium brings Sundance Film Festival screenings to the University of Colorado Boulder campus, where festival founder Robert Redford attended college. The Neo-Gothic hall, with its twin towers, stands apart from the rest of the campus. The surrounding buildings, with sandstone walls and red tile roofs, are worth a stroll before showtime.
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Dairy Arts Center
The Dairy Arts Center hosts Sundance Film Festival screenings in its Boedecker and Gordon Gamm theaters. It’s also the main home of New Frontier, the festival program for artists blending film, art and technology. The rest of the year, the intimate Boedecker shows independent films while dance, music and gallery exhibits fill the building.
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Muenzinger Auditorium
This 400-seat campus auditorium is home to CU’s International Film Series, which dates back to 1941, so it was a working cinema long before Sundance Film Festival arrived. New Dolby Atmos sound and a new screen were added for the festival, making it a great place to catch screenings!
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eTown Hall
This 1925 church that eTown turned into a solar-powered performance hall, is home of the eTown radio show, which has been on the air since Earth Day 1991. It will host both screenings and festival talks, so you can easily spend an afternoon here!
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CU Presents - Roe Green Theatre
This building started out as the CU campus library in 1904. The theater was renamed for alumna and donor Roe Green. It had never shown films before, so it was rebuilt with Dolby Atmos speakers, a new screen and a ramp, which makes it a good choice if you need step-free access.
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Boulder High School
Boulder High School is known for its visual and performing arts programs. The BHS Theater, located between the Pearl Street Pedestrian Mall and CU Boulder, is one of the venues getting new sound, video and accessibility upgrades for the festival. Fun facts: Boulder High dates to 1875, and its class of 1876 was the first high school class in Colorado to graduate!
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Explore Boulder

Hotel Boulderado
Staying at Hotel Boulderado puts you within a couple of blocks of the Boulder Theater and eTown Hall, so downtown screenings are a quick walk. Not a guest? Stop in to see the stained glass canopy ceiling and cherry wood staircase in the lobby, order a drink at one of the hotel’s bars, or join a history tour.
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Limelight Boulder
Limelight Boulder is the first hotel on the CU Boulder campus, a short walk from Macky Auditorium and the festival’s other university venues. It also hosts the January 22 gala celebrating Sundance’s Boulder debut, and Ajax Tavern serves dinner and drinks on site.
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Pearl Street Mall
Sundance’s first Boulder edition is centered downtown, and the red brick Pearl Street Mall is at the heart of it, with the Boulder Theater and eTown Hall a short walk away. Between screenings, browse four blocks of local boutiques, bookstores and outdoor shops, warm up with a coffee, and take in the Flatirons rising to the west.
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Foolish Craig's Cafe
Big plates at this Pearl Street cafe will carry you through a morning double feature. Crepes are the house specialty, alongside hearty omelets served with house-made toast and potatoes. Come early on festival weekends, when downtown will be busy.
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Sherpa’s Adventure | Restaurant & Bar
Set in a rambling old Victorian house a few blocks off Pearl, Sherpa’s serves Nepali, Tibetan and Indian dishes made to order, including breads and meats from a charcoal-fired tandoor. Several small dining rooms keep things cozy on a cold January night, and the staff includes Sherpas from the Everest region.
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The Sink
Before he founded Sundance, Robert Redford worked as a janitor at The Sink during his CU Boulder days, and his caricature is still on the wall. This University Hill landmark serves burgers and pizza beneath colorful murals and a ceiling covered in signatures.
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Explore Estes Park

Stanley Hotel
F.O. Stanley built this grand hotel in 1909, and Stephen King’s snowed-in winter night here inspired "The Shining." Even if you’re not staying, take a daytime history tour or the after-dark ghost tour. The whiskey bar has Colorado’s largest selection!
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Prospect Bistro
This bistro opened downtown in 2026 in the old Prospect Inn building, behind Bond Park. Each drink on the cocktail menu is named for a moment in Estes Park history.
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Beaver Meadows Visitor Center
Estes Park (Beaver Meadows entrance) is the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park! The park is stunning in winter with far fewer crowds. Just be sure to check road and trail conditions before you go.
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Stanley Home Museum and Education Center
This 1904 Colonial Revival house was where F.O. and Flora Stanley actually lived. Guided tours share stories about the family’s daily life. It’s open year-round, but be sure to book ahead.
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Snowy Peaks Winery
Estes Park’s only winery has been making wine from Colorado-grown grapes since 2005 and has won more than 200 medals. The tasting room is downtown, so it’s an easy, cozy stop on a cold afternoon.
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Bird & Jim
Since 2016, this restaurant has served seasonal menus made with local ingredients. The owner picks every bottle on the wine list, which has won a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence every year since 2020. Reservations are encouraged.
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Explore Fort Collins

Lory State Park
This 2,492-acre park sits just west of Horsetooth Reservoir and is popular for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and rock climbing. It’s the place to stretch your legs on a sunny winter day between screenings.
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Silver Grill Cafe
Opened in 1912 as the UNEEDA Lunch Cafe, the Silver Grill Cafe is the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Northern Colorado. Order the giant cinnamon roll, which has been the house specialty since the 1980s.
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Howling Cow Cafe
This farm café at Morning Fresh Dairy in Bellvue serves coffee and light bites, plus more than 20 flavors of Ummber’s ice cream made with the farm’s milk.
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Downtown Fort Collins
Disney designer Harper Goff grew up here, and in the 1950s he photographed Fort Collins buildings to model parts of Disneyland’s Main Street, U.S.A. Walk around Old Town and see if you can spot the resemblance. It's magical in winter!
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Spring Creek Trail Head
This paved, mostly flat 9-mile trail across Fort Collins connects to the Poudre Trail at its east end. It’s an easy walk or bike ride between festival days and is beautiful in winter.
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The Gateway Mural
This postcard-style “Greetings from Fort Collins” mural was finished in 2024. Twelve local artists each painted one letter, with each one showing a different part of local life, from the Poudre River to brewing culture. It makes a great photo stop.
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Explore Loveland

Benson Sculpture Garden
This free, 10-acre park displays 188 sculptures and is open year-round. It’s one of the reasons Loveland is known as an art town, and it looks especially striking with a dusting of snow.
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Loveland Visitor Center- East Gateway
Home to the world’s largest LOVE lock sculpture, plus gifts from more than 25 local makers. Since you’ll be here just before Valentine’s Day, pick up an official Loveland Valentine card. The city’s Valentine re-mailing program stamps each card with a special Loveland postmark. Tip: Personalize a love lock at a Loveland Visitor Center and secure it to one of three active love lock sculptures as part of the city's famous Sweetheart City tradition.
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Henry's Pub
This downtown pub since 2004 makes everything from scratch daily, from sauces to desserts. Locals love the Gorgonzola carbonara, and there’s a separate gluten-free menu.
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Rialto Theater Center
This theater opened in 1920 with a silent film, and it still shows independent films every month, so it fits right in with a film festival trip. Volunteers helped restore it, and it’s now a 446-seat city venue listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Devil's Backbone Open Space
This dramatic ridge of rock just west of Loveland features 12 miles of trail that connect to Horsetooth Mountain Open Space. Hike out to the “keyhole” in the rock for the classic photo. It's stunning, but watch for icy spots in winter.
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Sweet Heart Winery & Event Center
Loveland’s own “sweetheart” winery makes its wines from California grapes, but finishes them here in town. Try a tasting flight, and check the calendar for live music or a chocolate and wine pairing.
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Explore Longmont

Juniper Goods
This women-owned spot is a coffee shop, a boutique and a zero-proof cocktail bar all in one. Most of what’s for sale is from independent makers, many of them based in Colorado!
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ArtWalk Longmont
Downtown Longmont’s ArtWalk on Main is a one-day September festival with local artists, live music and food trucks, so it won’t be on during Sundance Film Festival, but you can still browse the downtown galleries and the Firehouse Art Center.
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Cheese Importers
This family-owned shop has been around since 1976 and stocks more than 500 cheeses in what it calls Colorado’s largest walk-in cheese and cured-meat cooler. It’s a great place to put together a picnic basket or pick up gifts.
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Pumphouse Brewery
This Main Street brewery is in a landmark Art Deco building that started as a Ford garage and later became a gas station and Chevrolet dealership. Come for a pint and a casual meal in one of downtown’s most historic spots.
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St Vrain Greenway
Check out about 8 miles of paved and gravel paths along the St. Vrain River, linking parks and nature areas across Longmont. It’s an easy, flat walk if you need fresh air between screenings.
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Left Hand Brewing Company
This spot was founded in 1993 and named to honor Chief Niwot, whose name means “left hand.” Its Milk Stout Nitro was the first nitro beer an American craft brewery bottled without a widget. The brewery atmosphere is also cool as it is in an old meatpacking plant right by the St. Vrain River.
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Explore Greeley

WeldWerks Brewing Co.
This downtown brewery started in a garage and opened in 2015. It’s best known for Juicy Bits, an IPA that beer fans rank among the best in the country, and it has won medals at the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup.
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Greeley Creative Arts Center (GCAC)
The Greeley Creative District’s new arts center opened in early 2026, with a free gallery, classes and a gift shop full of local work. Check the calendar for workshops and pop-up events. It's a great way to get some creative time in between screenings.
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Crabtree Brewing Company
Jeff and Stephanie Crabtree opened Greeley’s first production brewery in 2006. Try the Dearfield Strawberry Blonde, or ask what seasonal beers are on tap.
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Poudre River Trail
This is a 21-mile paved trail that runs from Island Grove Regional Park in Greeley to Windsor. It’s a great way to see Northern Colorado’s river country by foot or bike.
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Greeley Ice Haus
Greeley’s downtown ice rink has been open for about 20 years. Since you'll be here in January, lace up for a public skate, then warm up at a downtown café afterward!
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Colorado Model Railroad Museum
This museum has a 5,500-square-foot HO-scale model railroad, one of the largest in the world! It’s packed with tiny details like forest fires and kayakers. Volunteers have put in more than 400,000 hours since it opened in 2009.
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