Summer in Breckenridge attracts outdoor enthusiasts with hiking trails, wildflowers, fly fishing in the Blue River, mountain biking, nearby Lake Dillon for boating, white-water rafting, three alpine slides, a roller coaster, and many shops and restaurants up and down Main Street.

The historic buildings along Main Street with their clapboard and log exteriors add to the charm of the town.

[11] There are many summertime attractions to enjoy in Breckenridge, most notably the annual Fourth of July parade.

[13] Thirty days after John Breckinridge accepted a commission as a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army on November 2, 1861, the loyal Union town changed its name back to the original Breckenridge on December 2, 1861.

Breckenridge was founded to serve the miners working rich placer gold deposits discovered along the Blue River.

Gold in some upper gravel benches east of the Blue River was recovered by hydraulic mining.

The Breckenridge mining district is credited with production of about one million troy ounces (about 31,000 kilograms) of gold.

Notable among the early prospectors was Edwin Carter, a log cabin naturalist who decided to switch from mining to collecting wildlife specimens.

Other vein discoveries included Ontario, Key West, Boss, Fountain, and Gold Flake.

They speculated that Breckenridge had never been officially annexed into the United States, and was thus still considered "No Man's Land".

There was a big party, and the entire event/idea of Breckenridge being left off the map made national news.

On November 3, 2009, voters passed ballot measure 2F by a nearly 3 to 1 margin (73%), which legalized marijuana possession for adults.

[3] At the 2020 United States Census, the town had a total area of 6.047 square miles (15.661 km2), all of it land.

Winter lows are quite severe, but the days averaging around the freezing mark somewhat moderate mean temperatures.

Other events held on the mountain include the annual Imperial Challenge, Breck's version of a triathlon, The 5 Peaks, North America's longest ski mountaineering race, the Breck Ascent Series, with races up the mountain, as well as other competitions, festivals, and the annual Spring Fever month-long celebration at the end of the ski season with festivities and other celebrations around spring skiing.

Full orchestra, ensembles, and contemporary artists perform at the Riverwalk Center, downtown near the Blue River.

Several art fairs come to Breckenridge every summer, attracting many local artists and buyers.

The town also puts on an annual Fourth of July celebration, featuring a parade in the morning and fireworks at night.