A Taste of Colorado in Denver This Weekend!
September 2, 2021
This Labor Day weekend, head downtown for the return of Taste of Colorado! Also taking place on the 16th Street Mall: Meet in the Street, where the whole family can enjoy live music, games, activities, and more!
TODAY/TONIGHT, September 2
PARK LIGHTS AND MOVIE NIGHTS
This popular outdoor movie series offers fun affordable family entertainment and food trucks on site! This week’s flick is Disney’s The Parent Trap, featuring an adorable 11-year-old Lindsay Lohan in her standout role x 2! You can grab tasty bites from WeChef Kitchen & Repicci’s.
Bicentennial Park, 13655 E. Alameda Ave., Aurora
6:00 – 9:30 p.m.
Tickets: $2
Thursday-Monday, September 2-6
DREAM – INNOVATE – FLY
If you can dream it, you can do it! The Wings Over the Rockies Museum offers a chance to explore some of the advances in learning to fly and owning an aircraft, with six examples from close up and every angle.
This exhibit offers chances to view a scratch-built helicopter to a state-of-the-art Light Sport Aircraft, and from a tiny single seat multi-copter to a four-seat, 200 mph cross-country cruiser.
Wings Over the Rockies, 7711 E. Academy Blvd., Denver
Thurs./Fri./Sat./Mon., 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Sun., 12:00-5:00 p.m.
Tickets: $9.95 – $16.95
MONSTERS IN DOWNTOWN DENVER
Get ready for fall by looking forward to Halloween! Distortions Monster World is taking place in downtown Denver now, and you have never had an experience like this! A cross between a Monster Museum and an interactive haunted house where you can pose for selfies with infamous creatures, it’s like walking into a horror movie!
Denver Pavilions, 500 16th Street Mall, Suite 180, Denver
Thurs., 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; Fri./Sat., 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Sun., 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.; Mon., 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $18-$25
Friday, September 3
FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK
This month’s First Friday Art Walk intersects at the end of summer and the beginning of autumn—a great chance to transition through art! View art from hundreds of artists in galleries, studios, co-ops, upstairs, downstairs, in alleys, on the street—everywhere!
Santa Fe Art District, 13th Ave. to Alameda Ave./Kalamath St. to Inca St., Denver
5:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Information: FREE
WEAR WHITE SKATE PARTY
Long long ago, Labor Day weekend meant the last time you could wear white until next summer. In keeping with this nostalgic theme, tonight’s skate party requires “all white” attire. It’s a great evening to impress with your best white outfit! Ticket price includes rental skates if needed.
Skate City Aurora, 15100 East Girard Ave., Aurora
10:00 p.m – 1:00 a.m. (Sat.)
Tickets: $22.85
Friday-Sunday, September 3-5
COLFAX CANVAS MURAL FESTIVAL
Watch as a beautiful pathway in the Aurora Cultural Arts District is being created! The event is FREE and youth friendly! Seventeen visual artists will provide the artwork and you provide the appreciation. The Colfax Canvas Block Party will feature a beer garden, live music, food trucks, and plenty of family fun!
People’s Building, 9995 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora
Fri., 5:00-8:00 p.m.; Sat., 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Sun., 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Register: FREE
SNL ALUM – JAY PHAROAH
As an SNL cast member for six seasons, Jay Pharoah is known for his spot-on impressions. More recently, he stars in Netflix’s upcoming Resort to Love with Christina Milian. He currently plays recurring roles on ABC’s A Million Little Things and Fox’s Family Guy.
You may recognize Pharoah from his appearance in 2 Minutes Of Fame, the YouTube Premium show Champaign, ILL, and Steven Soderbergh’s feature film, Unsane. In 2017, he starred in the Showtime series White Famous as the lead, Floyd Mooney, based on Jaime Foxx’s experiences. Additional film credits include All My Life, Get A Job, Chris Rock’s film Top Five, Ride Along, Intramural, and Lola Versus. Please note that proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours of the show is required, and masks must be worn when entering and moving through the building.
Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St., Denver
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.; Sun., 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $30
Phone: 303-595-3637
Saturday, September 4
DENVER MUNICIPAL BAND CONCERT
The Denver Municipal Band is the oldest continuous-playing professional concert band in the U.S., and they are right here in our neighborhood! Enjoy this inspiring sound garden that was formed in 1861 to bring culture to a mining town.
More than 160 years later, the band’s still here, today known as the Denver Municipal Band. As they continue to bring music to the Denver community, they also help Denver-area youth develop a passion for music and refine their musical talents.
South Green, 29th & Roslyn, Denver
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
VINYL MUSIC AND ART PARTY
Go back to the day when vinyl was the measure of art! Spectra is throwing a party to celebrate All Things Vinyl with their art showcase, made from vinyl records, CDs, tapes, and show posters!
The party features free drinks from Ratio Beerworks and super special all-vinyl DJ sets by There’s an Ape for that. You read that right: the Ape will create a set using vinyl records. After he plays each record, he will give it away to anybody in attendance who desires it! The Opening Reception is free to attend with a suggested donation of $5 – $10 at the door. All who donate will receive special art goodies bags as a thank you!
Spectra Art Space, 1836 S. Broadway, Denver
7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE to $10 (suggested donation)
Saturday-Monday, September 4-6
CHERRY CREEK ARTS FESTIVAL
While the Cherry Creek Arts Festival is free to all, you can also treat yourself to the VIP experience with access to the tented VIP lounge, daily lunch, and a limited edition 2021 Cherry Creek Arts Festival Commemorative Poster, signed and numbered by the artists. Daily Festival VIP Club Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and lunch is served 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Proceeds benefit the CherryArts 501(c)(3) non-profit mission of providing access to art experiences and support art education in Colorado.
Cherry Creek Shopping Center, 3000 E. 1st Ave., Denver
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE; VIP passes $25-$190
MEET IN THE STREET
To experience a true summer-in-the-city experience, Meet in the Street in downtown Denver offers a vibrant summer festival on the 16th Street Mall. Experience live music, extended restaurant patios, games, activities, and more. There will be a rock climbing wall, spun chairs, That Party Truck, and life-size yard games, plus music and fun surprises throughout the Mall!
16th Street Mall, Downtown Denver
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
A TASTE OF COLORADO
It’s back! A Taste of Colorado gives every palette a chance to rejoice in this end-of-summer culinary celebration! You’ll get to enjoy multiple outdoor performance stages, dozens of food vendors, and a huge arts and crafts marketplace at this favorite Denver festival.
The kids will enjoy an expanded Kids Zone with family friendly activities and an Urban Art Adventure Walk. Instead of Civics Center Park, this year’s event takes place in the streets of Downtown Denver, on the 16th Street Mall!
16th Street Mall, 16th St. and Arapahoe/Glenarm, Denver
Sat./Sun., 11:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.; Mon., 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
Sunday, September 5
MARGARITAVILLE IN THE ROCKIES
Combine a beachy end-of-summer concert with a Rockies game, and you’ve got the Colorado Rockies version of Margaritaville! Featuring a pre-game rooftop performance by a live tribute band, this fun day’s ticket package includes a Margaritaville Rockies-themed t-shirt. After the midday concert and celebration, watch the Rockies take on the San Francisco Giants!
Coors Field, 2001 Blake St., Denver
2:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $25-$60
Phone: 303-292-0200
FIREWORKS OVER DENVER
The Labor Day weekend fireworks show is ON! Elitch’s has extended park hours on Sunday until 9 p.m. The fireworks show is free with a daily ticket or season pass and starts at park closing time.
Elitch Gardens, 2000 Elitch Cir., Denver
9:00 – 9:15 p.m.
Tickets: FREE with daily ticket or season pass
Sunday-Monday, September 5-6
DENVER CHALK ART FESTIVAL
You will be amazed by the intricate art created during the Chalk Art Festival—while the canvases are temporary, the art is real! More than 100 artists will be creating their art on the sidewalks at the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, and you can peruse this gallery close up and in-person.
The Denver Chalk Art Festival started in 2003, historically occurring during June on the streets of Larimer Square. However, in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Festival took place in driveways and on sidewalks around Denver. This fall, the tradition continues in full swing at the Cherry Creek Arts Festival.
Cherry Creek Shopping Center, University Blvd. and 1st Ave., Denver
Sun., 12:00 p.m. – Mon., 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
The Arts, Music and More Near Southshore!
Enjoy Life at the Lake in the master-planned community of Southshore—and find culture and entertainment within easy reach! Looking for a new home you can add your signature style to? With beautiful model homes from Toll Brothers, Taylor Morrison, and Richmond American Homes, it’s easy to picture yourself in your own new home — with two beautiful rec centers nearby — priced from the upper $400s to the $700s.
