DENVER, Colo. – May 15, 2025 – With the return of the second annual Outside Festival presented by Capital One and REI Co-op just over two weeks away, festival organizers today unveiled the lineup of Ideas speakers and Film screenings set to appear across Saturday, May 31, and Sunday, June 1, in Denver.
Throughout the weekend, Outside Festival will welcome global icons well-respected by the outdoor industry to share their inspiring stories and visions at Ideas, adding to the high-profile thought leader attendance already expected in Denver on May 29 and 30 for the Outside Summit. In addition to the robust lineup of speaker sessions and music, the Outside Festival Film program–curated in partnership with the Telluride-based Mountainfilm festival and presented by KEEN—will screen documentaries celebrating adventure, joy in the outdoors, and renewal through wild experiences.
Ideas sessions will be held at the Sturm Grand Pavilion within the Denver Art Museum, and Film screenings will be at the Denver Central Public Library’s Park View event space. Attendees can line up for sessions thirty minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis until venues are filled to capacity.
Programming is as follows:
Outside Festival Ideas | Denver Art Museum – Sturm Grand Pavilion*
Saturday, May 31
- 1:15 – 2:15 p.m.: “The Wild Life of Alex Honnold” with Alex Honnold, interviewed by Shelby Stanger
- 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.: “Scroll Less, Live More: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Young People by Balancing Tech and Time Outside ” with Larissa May, Ginger Naylor, Ron Griswell, moderated by Lauren Bash
- 3:45 – 4:45 p.m.: “I Love You, Man: Empowering a New Generation of Men to Find Strength, Connection, and Healing in the Outdoors” with Selema Masekela, Mike de la Rocha, Douglas Miles, and Doug Miles Jr., moderated by James Andrews
- 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.: “The Greatest Adventure: Stories of Survival from Elite Athletes” with Kimmy Fasani, Ian Walsh, Chris Benchetler, and Olivia Jenkins, moderated by Langely McNeal
- 6:15 – 7:15 p.m.: “The Art of Endurance” with David Blaine and Diana Nyad
Sunday, June 1
- 1:15 – 2:15 p.m.: “The Barefoot Ways of John John Florence” with John John Florence, interview by Shelby Stanger
- 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.: “Real Stories from the Mountaintop: Melissa Arnot Reid,” interview by Rebecca Rusch
- 3:45 – 4:45 p.m.: “For the Love of the Parks” with Sally Jewell, Charles “Chuck” F. Sams III, and David Vela, moderated by James Edward Mills
- 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.: “Nature & Neural Pathways: How Getting Outside Rewires Your Brain” with Albert Lin and Florence Williams
- 6:15 – 7:15 p.m.: “Outdoor Comedy is Not a Joke!” with Matt Lyons, Katie Burrell, and Eeland Stribling, moderated by Paddy O’Connell
Outside Festival Film curated by Mountainfilm, presented by KEEN | Denver Central Public Library’s Park View*
Saturday, May 31
- 1:15 – 2:55 p.m.: Butterfly in a Blizzard, followed by a conversation with Kimmy Fasani
- 3:10 – 4:50 p.m.: “Short Films: Artistic License”
- David Blaine: Do Not Attempt
- First In, Last Out
- Momo
- A Little Film About Forever, followed by a conversation with filmmaker Max Romey and special guests to be announced
- 5:05 – 7:00 p.m.: Remaining Native, followed by a conversation with director Paige Bethmann and subject Ku Stevens
Sunday, June 1
- 1:15 – 2:45 p.m.: “Short Films: Trail Breakers”
- About Damn Time
- The North Face Presents: Trango, followed by a conversation with Trango subjects Jim Morrison and Christina Lusti
- 3:00 – 4:40 p.m.: “Short Films: Perseverance”
- OUTLIER: Common
- Beyond Beliefs
- Arctic Alchemy
- The Life We Have, followed by a conversation with The Life We Have cinematographer Greg Balkin and OUTLIER: Common director Dani Reyes-Acosta
- 5:00 – 6:45 p.m.: Girl Climber, followed by a conversation with subject Emily Harrington and director Jon Glassberg
*Any changes to the schedule will be updated on the Outside Festival website here, within the Outside Festival app, and on screens at the venue.
Tickets to the Outside Festival are still on sale, and can be purchased here. To view the full lineup of music, speakers, films, or to learn more about the Outside Festival, visit TheOutsideFestival.com.
Sponsors for the Outside Festival include Capital One, REI Co-op, Brooks Running, Scout Motors, Berghaus, The North Face, VF Corporation, the State of Colorado, Visit Denver, UCHealth, and the Denver Art Museum.
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Media Contact:
Rachel Weiss rachel.weiss@backbone.media
Photo and Video Assets (Credit Outside)
About the Outside Festival and Summit
The second annual Outside Festival and Summit will take place in downtown Denver from May 29 – June 1, 2025. The Outside Festival, presented by Capital One and REI, May 31 – June 1, is a celebration of everything outdoors, featuring music, films, speakers, gear, and more. The event is driven by a partnership between Outside Interactive, Inc., The State of Colorado’s Outdoor Recreation Office, and Visit Denver—all with a shared vision to make the outdoors more accessible and more inclusive. The Outside Summit, May 29 – June 1, 2025, is the outdoor industry’s premier networking conference. For more information, including tickets, please visit theoutsidefestival.com.
About Outside Interactive, Inc.
Outside Interactive, Inc.– a media and news winner of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies 2025– is the premier destination for outdoor inspiration, activation, and celebration. Each year, Outside reaches more than 300 million unique users and has more than 100 million registered users across its network of 25 media, service, and utility brands, including Outside, MapMyFitness, Velo, Yoga Journal, Pinkbike, Gaia GPS, Trailforks, athleteReg, and more. Outside’s mission is to get everyone outside, experiencing healthy, connected, and fulfilling lives by creating an experience for both longtime adventurers and those just getting started. Outside’s subscription offering, Outside+, bundles best-in-class storytelling, videos, gear reviews, mapping apps, online courses, discounted event access, and more. Learn more at outsideonline.com/outsideplus.
