Pearl Street Stampedes Return to Kick Off CU Football Season in Downtown Boulder
Members of the Golden Buffalo Marching Band, Colorado Spirit Squad and CU Athletic Teams return to the Pearl Street Mall ahead of every 2026 home football game.
Boulder, CO [August 31, 2026] – The Pearl Street Stampedes return to downtown Boulder this fall starting on September 11, 2026, bringing music, CU pride and pre-gameday excitement to the Pearl Street Mall ahead of every University of Colorado home football game.
A Boulder tradition for nearly two decades, the Pearl Street Stampedes bring hundreds of Buffs fans downtown the night before each home game. Members of the Golden Buffalo Marching Band perform alongside the Colorado Spirit Squad, including CU cheerleaders, dancers and mascot Chip. Members of CU athletic teams and coaching staff also join the celebrations, greeting fans with cheers and high fives along the route.
Each Stampede begins at 7:00 PM on the 1300 block of the Pearl Street Mall in front of the Boulder County Courthouse. Led by Stephen Tebo’s vintage 1948 fire truck, the Golden Buffalo Marching Band travels west along the Pearl Street Mall, stopping on each block to perform.
2026 Pearl Street Stampede Dates:
- Friday, September 11 | Ahead of CU vs. Weber State
- Friday, October 2 | Ahead of the Homecoming game against Texas Tech
- Friday, October 16 | Ahead of the Family Weekend game against the University of Utah
- Friday, October 30 | Ahead of CU vs. Kansas State
- Thursday, November 12 | Ahead of CU vs. the University of Cincinnati
- Friday, November 27 | Ahead of CU vs. the University of Central Florida
The Stampedes are a collaboration among the University of Colorado, downtown businesses, the City of Boulder and the Downtown Boulder Partnership. Together, the participating organizations help bring the energy of CU game day into the heart of the community and invite fans of all ages to celebrate before kickoff.
“We look forward to the energy the University of Colorado athletes bring to our downtown community each fall,” said Anna Salim, VP of Operations & Programming for Downtown Boulder. “This year, we’re particularly excited that the Homecoming Parade is returning to downtown, as well as what the CU Athletics department has in store for Family Weekend.”
Fans are encouraged to arrive early to find a spot along the route, take photos with Chip and the Spirit Squad and visit downtown businesses before the Stampedes begin. The event is accessible by foot, bike or car. City of Boulder parking garages offer a flat $3 rate from 3:00 PM to 3:00 AM.
All Pearl Street Stampedes are free and open to the public. Additional information is available at PearlStreetStampedes.com
The 2026 Pearl Street Stampedes are supported by the Downtown Boulder Partnership, Daily Camera, Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant, Brasserie Ten Ten, Pasta Jay’s, Elevations Credit Union, Where the Buffalo Roam, Hotel Boulderado and Avanti Food & Beverage.
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For More Information:
General Public: 303-449-3774 | events@downtownboulder.org
Press Contact: Tana Benitez, Marketing & Communications Coordinator
303-449-3774 | tana@downtownboulder.org
About Downtown Boulder Partnership
The Downtown Boulder Partnership (DBP) is a 501(c)6 membership-based organization that relies on membership revenue to help promote the civic, economic and commercial vitality of downtown Boulder - while helping preserve its historic and cultural environment as the heart of the greater Boulder community. DBP supports downtown businesses through public policy advocacy and provides some funding for staffing and administration to implement the mission of DBP along with those of the Downtown Boulder Business Improvement District (BID) and Downtown Boulder Community Initiatives (DBCI).