Golden Summer Jam

A Community Celebration with Golden Bands, Bites, and Beer

Join us for the 8th Annual Golden Summer Jam on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, from 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm at the Colorado Railroad Museum (17155 W. 44th Ave). This Golden-sourced event features live music from local bands, food and drink from Golden vendors, and family-friendly fun like train rides and a Wild West “train heist” with Miners Alley Performing Arts Center. Explore historic locomotives and the outdoor garden railway while supporting our cause — 100% of proceeds benefit the Golden community.

2025 Performers

Headliner

Founded in Golden and internationally recognized for their high-octane fusion of bluegrass, gypsy jazz, swing, and classical, Rapidgrass has cultivated a sound as bold and adventurous as the mountain towns they love to play. Known for lightning-fast licks and deep musicality, their name says it all—this is bluegrass at full speed.

Opening Act

Rooted in friendship and Golden’s local landscape, Marafiki features four Golden High School grads whose music is as playful and poetic as the Colorado creeks and mesas that inspire it. Their sound? Think Khruangbin meets King Crimson, raised on tubing the creek and climbing mountains. One song in particular, Seacliffs, is about their favorite sunset view on North Table Mesa. 

What to Expect at Golden Summer Jam

Get ready for an unforgettable evening of local music, family fun, food, and community spirit at the 8th Annual Golden Summer Jam! Held at the historic Colorado Railroad Museum, this event has something for everyone—especially the kiddos! Here's a look at all the fun in store:

Explore the Colorado Railroad Museum

Tour the 15-acre outdoor railyard and step aboard historic locomotives, freight and passenger cars, including:

  • An authentic 1880s Caboose

  • A fully outfitted Railway Post Office

  • A Kitchen Car that once served meals to remote crews

  • Dozens of train cars and engines dating from the 1880s to the 1980s

Free Train Rides!

Hop aboard for free train rides every 30 minutes from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.—a favorite for train lovers of all ages!

Live “Train Heists” with Miners Alley Playhouse

Experience the Wild West with interactive, family-friendly train heists performed by Golden’s own Miners Alley Playhouse—a crowd favorite!

Meet Spike the Railroad Dog

Say hello to Spike, the Colorado Railroad Museum’s beloved mascot and furry ambassador.

Garden Railway Magic

Don’t miss the Denver Garden Railway Society’s massive outdoor garden railroad—one of the largest public garden railways in the country! Featuring scale models, detailed landscaping, historic buildings, and even live steam locomotives.

Local Food Trucks & Beverages

Satisfy every craving with Golden-based food trucks offering something for everyone. And for the adults—enjoy delicious local brews from New Terrain Brewing Company.

Family Activities & Nonprofit Booths

Stop by our kids’ activity zone and nonprofit partner booths for games and giveaways. A great way to engage with our community while having fun!

Live Music on Stage

Dance the night away with live performances from:

  • Rapidgrass (Headliner) – Bluegrass with a Colorado twist

  • Marafiki (Opener) – Global fusion grooves to get you moving

Know Before You Go & FAQ

  • Golden Summer Jam takes place at the Colorado Railroad Museum (17155 W. 44th Ave., Golden, CO 80403).

    You have options!

    FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE (4:30–9:45 PM)
    The shuttle will run approximately every 15–20 minutes on a continuous loop between:

    City of Golden Parking Lot
    📍 10th & Vasquez / Depot Street (adjacent to the Clear Creek Parking Lot)
    🚫 Please do not park in the Clear Creek Lot.

    Colorado Mountain Club
    📍 15605 W 32nd Ave, Golden, CO 80401

    Colorado Railroad Museum
    📍 17155 W. 44th Ave., Golden, CO (event entrance)

    First shuttle departs at 4:30 PM from the 10th & Vasquez lot. Last shuttle departs the Museum around 9:45 PM. Miss a ride? Hang tight — the next shuttle will be back around shortly!

    EARLY-BIRD PARKING ON SITE
    There’s a large on-site parking lot at the Colorado Railroad Museum — but it fills up fast, so we recommend arriving early. Summit Valet will be on-site to coordinate and direct traffic for a safe, smooth arrival experience.

    BIKE-FRIENDLY!
    Ride the Clear Creek Trail directly to the Museum and park at our monitored bike corral, hosted by Golden Bicycle eXperience (GBX). Don’t forget your lock!

    RIDESHARE: Drop-offs at the Museum are allowed—just follow signage and staff instructions.

  • Yes! While Summer Jam has a reputation for selling out early, we’ve expanded capacity this year thanks to:

    • Additional parking & shuttle service

    • A new event layout that allows more space for guests

    So bring your friends, family, and neighbors—the more the merrier! The bigger the crowd, the bigger the impact we can make For the Good of Golden.

  • To make the most of your Summer Jam experience, we recommend packing:

    • A camp chair or picnic blanket

    • An empty water bottle (refill stations available)

    • Sunscreen, layers, and a light jacket—Colorado weather can change quickly!

    • A rain jacket or poncho—the event is rain or shine

    • Your dancing shoes and community spirit!

  • We’re proud to feature a lineup of fan-favorite local vendors:

    • Buckaroo Enterprises – Beloved Golden Farmers Market favorite serving up festival eats

    • Pambasos – Local legends bringing the bold flavors of authentic Mexican cuisine

    • Happy Cones Co. – Famous for their New Zealand-style ice cream

    • New Terrain Brewing Co. – Pouring their best local craft brews for 21+ guests

    All purchases support our nonprofit mission to invest in Golden’s community.

  • Yes! The Colorado Railroad Museum grounds are ADA accessible.

  • Summer Jam is rain or shine! In true Colorado fashion, we’ll dance through sun or sprinkles—so come prepared for changing weather conditions.

    • No pets please.

    • No smoking or vaping – CRRM is a smoke-free venue.

    • No re-entry – Please plan accordingly; guests may not re-enter once they exit.

    • Lost & Found – If you think you left something behind, please contact the Golden Civic Foundation at contactus@goldencivicfoundation.org after the event.

    • All ticket sales are final and non-refundable.

  • Absolutely. While we’ll miss seeing you at Summer Jam, your support still matters.
    You can make a tax-deductible donation on our donations page to directly support our work in the community.
    In fact, if you're not able to attend, a direct gift makes an even greater impact than the cost of a ticket. Thank you for supporting Golden!

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor

Band Sponsor

Exclusive Beer Partner

Community Sponsors

Community Partners