"There's always something very chaotic that happens on stage or off during the Colorado Burlesque Festival," says Betsy Bootknocker, one of the event's executive producers. "I'm always curious about what crazy things will happen at the festival, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens this year."
One year, it was a deluge, and performers had to dash across an alley in heels and full glam as a downpour soaked Denver's streets, their sequins barely protected by one of the producers carrying an umbrella. Another time, a burlesque legend in their seventies autographed someone’s bare butt. Cupcakes have been eaten in suggestive places. Chocolate sauce has been licked off even more suggestive places.
Welcome to the Colorado Burlesque Festival, where glitter meets grit, high art meets cheeky irreverence and anything can — and often does — happen. Returning July 10 through 12 to ReelWorks Denver after a year of venue-hopping, the three-night spectacle is the state’s largest celebration of burlesque, blending striptease, drag, aerial acrobatics, pole dancing and performance art with a commitment to building an inclusive community.
Now in its 13th edition, CBF has grown from its scrappy beginnings into a must-see destination event. Originally founded in 2010 by local burlesque icons Fannie Spankings, Midnite Martini, Honey Touche and Lola Spitfire, the festival was briefly on hiatus in 2017 until a new generation of producers stepped up to produce the show.
“The original founders reached out to me and Shannon [Williams] and said, ‘Hey, you two know people in the Denver area and love the community; how do you feel about taking it over?’” recalls longtime Denver performer and producer Kitty Crimson. “We were excited and brought on Betsy Bootknocker, and the three of us have been running it ever since 2018.”
Aside from a pandemic-prompted pause in 2020, the trio has worked tirelessly to grow the event. They planned an outdoor festival in 2021, taking a chance on Denver's unpredictable July weather.
"That was a bit insane and very lucky," Crimson says. "July is known for thunderstorms, but somehow we had three consecutive Saturdays with no rain. That was definitely the craziest undertaking of the festival."
That risk-taking spirit defines CBF. But what sets the festival apart isn't just its dazzling performances; it's the culture of radical inclusivity the producers have cultivated.
The Colorado Burlesque Festival organizers appear on stage alongside some of the performers.
Courtesy of Jordana Sturaro
"The festival has really become a space to elevate those marginalized voices and give safe spaces to our queer community," Bootknocker says. "That representation is important to us, especially as three queer women, but it is also about elevating different voices such as POC, BIPOC and trans artists, and really pushing the movement that fat bodies are, in fact, sexy and should have a place on a big stage, not just in small bars, and so on. So it's something that we've been very passionate about — elevating voices that aren't otherwise heard."
This year’s programming reflects that ethos. Opening night on Thursday, July 10, kicks off with a beach-themed gala featuring emcee Petty Treason and headliner Banbury Cross, an international star known for bringing vintage glam to the modern stage. Friday’s “Heroes vs. Villains” cosplay-themed showcase features the boundary-pushing Willy LaQueue and Nerdlesque icon Polka Dottie. And Saturday’s “Past & Future Glam” blowout includes headliner Goddess Briq House, whose work centers body empowerment and sex work visibility.
"A lot of our lineup this year is about this inclusivity," Crimson says. "Banbury Cross is an iconic performer that embodies that classic burlesque vibe because, again, we want to have something for everyone. Willy LaQueue is an incredible performer that brings in not only queer and somewhat male-presenting elements but also a lot of darker, more Nerdlesque-adjacent things. And Goddess Briq House is a POC artist with a larger body type who promotes body positivity and empowerment."
Beyond the nightly shows, CBF offers daytime workshops taught by headliners and featured performers. “Since we took it over at least, education has been a massive part of it,” Bootknocker says. “This year we're actually able to offer [classes] for free to all of our performers, so everybody has access to education instead of having to pay for it.”
Workshops are also open to the public for a fee, and with nearly 300 performers applying this year alone, the level of talent is high. With the help of Multipass, a Denver-based ticketing startup, the team is streamlining everything from seating tiers to weekend passes, solving some of the logistical headaches they faced with last year’s multi-venue setup.
And while burlesque remains the heart of the festival, the producers say it’s really about the people.
“We spend half the year putting this together,” says executive producer Shannon Williams. “My favorite moment is when the doors open and seeing the incredible variety in the crowd — people coming to their first show, longtime fans, folks who maybe don’t even know what burlesque is. That moment of joy and pride makes it all worth it.”
CBF is as much a celebration of individuality and artistry as it is a glitter-drenched party. Performers come from across the globe, and the production team reviews hundreds of submissions annually to curate a lineup that balances spectacle with sincerity. More than just a showcase of glitter and tease, the festival has become a deeply personal project for its producers.
"What's really important to me is creating these connections with these traveling performers and feeling their gratitude," Crimson says. "Ideally, everything runs smoothly, which it usually does, but it's really about building those relationships and feeling their gratitude that we're doing our part to provide a safe space for people out there. And a lot of times it's the audience members that say, ‘Wow! I felt represented on your stage, and that was really valuable.’ So those are the moments that I think mean the most to me personally."
Colorado Burlesque Festival, Thursday, July 10, through Saturday, July 12, at ReelWorks, 1399 35th Street. Learn more at thecoloradoburlesquefestival.com.
Beyond the nightly shows, CBF offers daytime workshops taught by headliners and featured performers. “Since we took it over at least, education has been a massive part of it,” Bootknocker says. “This year we're actually able to offer [classes] for free to all of our performers, so everybody has access to education instead of having to pay for it.”
Workshops are also open to the public for a fee, and with nearly 300 performers applying this year alone, the level of talent is high. With the help of Multipass, a Denver-based ticketing startup, the team is streamlining everything from seating tiers to weekend passes, solving some of the logistical headaches they faced with last year’s multi-venue setup.
And while burlesque remains the heart of the festival, the producers say it’s really about the people.
“We spend half the year putting this together,” says executive producer Shannon Williams. “My favorite moment is when the doors open and seeing the incredible variety in the crowd — people coming to their first show, longtime fans, folks who maybe don’t even know what burlesque is. That moment of joy and pride makes it all worth it.”
CBF is as much a celebration of individuality and artistry as it is a glitter-drenched party. Performers come from across the globe, and the production team reviews hundreds of submissions annually to curate a lineup that balances spectacle with sincerity. More than just a showcase of glitter and tease, the festival has become a deeply personal project for its producers.
"What's really important to me is creating these connections with these traveling performers and feeling their gratitude," Crimson says. "Ideally, everything runs smoothly, which it usually does, but it's really about building those relationships and feeling their gratitude that we're doing our part to provide a safe space for people out there. And a lot of times it's the audience members that say, ‘Wow! I felt represented on your stage, and that was really valuable.’ So those are the moments that I think mean the most to me personally."
Colorado Burlesque Festival, Thursday, July 10, through Saturday, July 12, at ReelWorks, 1399 35th Street. Learn more at thecoloradoburlesquefestival.com.
