A Taste of Colorado Weekend!
August 29, 2019
Much more than a food fest, Taste of Colorado is the three-day FREE music festival everyone in Denver looks forward to! Oh, and it also happens to be the largest foodie gathering in the state, so there’s bound to be something for everyone at this late-summer extravaganza! Whether you are a classic rock fan or like country music, whether you’re a vegan or a hard-core carnivore, you are sure to find whatever suits YOUR tastes at Taste of Colorado!
TODAY/TONIGHT, August 29
FREE MUSIC CONCERT AT STANLEY MARKETPLACE
Believe it or not, there is still one place left to catch an outdoor concert in the park! Head out to Stapleton for their final summer concert of the year! Bring along a blanket, lawn chairs, friends and family, and don’t forget your sunglasses and summer attitude as you enjoy dancing barefoot in the park one last time before the season of fun is over!
Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St., Aurora
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
FAITH ANGELISE AT THE CABERET
With a voice like an angel, Faith Angelise croons your favorite caberet tunes at your favorite neighborhood venue! A Denver theater veteran with a singular voice, Angelese will take you on a musical journey and have your heart soaring above the clouds!
Vintage Theatre Productions, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $20
Phone: 303-856-7830
Friday-Sunday, August 30-September 1
THE LAST DEFENDER IS ALMOST OVER!
The live-action theatre game that was so popular its run had to be extended! The Last Defender is around for just a little longer! Don’t miss your chance to be part of an apocalyptic story about Nuclear War, where the players need to work together to save the world.
While it doesn’t have actors (YOU and the other players are the actors) or an audience (YOU and the other players are the audience), it does have the kind of awesome special effects, story lines, and mind-bending puzzles to solve that you might find in the most intriguing thriller. This 90-minute game is designed for adults and recommended for ages 15 and over. No one under 13 will be admitted.
Under the Patagonia Store, 1510 Blake St., Denver
Fri., 6:00 p.m.; Sat., 12:30, 3:00 and 8:30 p.m.; Sun., 3:00 and 8:30 p.m.
Tickets: $35-$45
Phone: 303-893-4100
A PLAY ABOUT A PLAY
When Sholem Asch’s groundbreaking play, The God of Vengeance, was first performed back in the early 1900s, its provocative theme (a same-sex romance set within the Yiddish community) made it both a highly successful production and led to it being banned because it was deemed “indecent.”
Yet many passionate artists who recognized the beauty in the story refused to let it be silenced, as Pulitzer-winning playwright Paula Vogel portrays in her new play, Indecent, which chronicles the original play’s fight to live on. Indecent asks who gets to decide what is considered art and what deserves to be censored, as the performance evokes the Jewish experience through traditional songs and dance, and journeys through decades of theatre history, anti-Semitism, homophobia, censorship, and world wars.
Space Theatre/DCPA, Speer Blvd. & Arapahoe St., Denver
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 1:30 p.m.
Tickets: $30-$68
Phone: 303-893-4100
Saturday-Monday, August 31-September 2
A TASTE OF COLORADO
A Colorado Labor Day tradition, A Taste of Colorado is the largest food and music festival in the state—and it’s FREE! Bring the entire family to Civic Center Park in Downtown Denver for three days of great music, delicious cuisine, and fun activities! There’s something for everyone in this jam-packed event, including all-day free music concerts, local artisans, interactive activities, and games for kids—not to mention the FOOD!
A wide variety of local and international foods will be available for purchase, with over 50 food vendors on site, as well as a beer and wine garden. The kids will have a blast in the Kids Zone, with games, arts and crafts, and even a children’s stage. If you’re coming for the music, you won’t be disappointed! Each day offers a full lineup of exciting bands, with a different theme every day. Die-hard fans may choose to upgrade the experience by purchasing VIP tickets for better visibility. Otherwise, the concerts are FREE for everyone!
Civic Center Park, 101 14th Ave., Denver
Sat./Sun., 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.; Mon., 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
Saturday, August 31
CORN AT THE FARMERS’ MARKET
It’s the height of the corn season, so head out to get yours at Southlands Farmers’ Market! As you stock up on as much fresh corn as you can cook, did you ever wonder if there was anything you could do with the cobs? There is!
Make corn cob jelly by boiling the cobs and adding sugar and pectin, and you’ll end up with a gorgeous yellow jelly that’s supposed to taste like honey. Or use dried cobs as pot scrubbers—safely scour your pans, then throw away when you’re done. Or dry a few cobs and use them as fire starters for your BBQ or this winter’s fireplace!
Southlands, 6155 S. Main St., Aurora
8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Phone: 303-627-5000
BIKE TO THE RESCUE
This family-friendly, non-competitive 15- or 30-mile bike ride fundraiser starts in Aurora and goes all the way to Parker! You’ll be helping to raise money for a great cause—to support the work Denver Food Rescue does to reduce food waste and empower healthy families and communities.
Instead of having a gala, this non-profit organization prefers to have a fun fundraiser—a healthy way for the whole family to help the community! The morning bike ride will be followed by lunch, raffles, silent auction and family-friendly activities. There’s even a beer garden for those 21 and over!
Smoky Hill Shelter, Cherry Creek State Park, 4201 S. Parker Rd., Aurora
8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Registration: $30 – adults; $15 – children
Phone: 773-827-9038
KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND
“That’s the way, uh-huh uh-huh, I like it, uh-huh uh-huh…” With an all-day music lineup that culminates with iconic 1970s performers KC and the Sunshine Band, you’ll be liking it, too!
Also taking the stage at Taste of Colorado will be Kool and the Gang, the Mary Louise Lee Band, and many more, as the festival kicks off with Classic Rock day. Beginning in the morning and continuing throughout the day, a dozen back-to-back performances include local tribute and cover bands as well as the headliners from yesteryear.
Civic Center Park, 101 14th Ave., Denver
11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
FREE LABOR DAY CONCERT WITH A LEGENDARY BAND
A tradition for many, the Denver Municipal Band’s Labor Day concert is the symbol of excellence and accessibility. This group has been performing free summer concerts in Denver’s city parks for over a century!
Many of the local professional musicians who make up this renowned concert band are also members of other fine ensembles such as the Colorado Symphony, Colorado Ballet, Opera Orchestras, Denver Brass, and the Queen City Jazz Band. Enjoy one of the last summer concerts in Denver with the spectacular Denver Municipal Band!
Founders Green Park, 29th Ave & Roslyn St, Denver
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Cost: FREE
ROCK DA MIC
This is an open-stage event for youth performers! If you know a teen who can shine at the mic, encourage her or him to come down to this community event. There will be cash prizes in the hundreds of dollars, determined by audience applause.
This bi-monthly event is always evolving and now includes guest panelists who contribute to scoring. At the end of the year, all winners will perform during Winter Celebration for even bigger prizes!
The People’s Building, 9995 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora
6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Tickets: $10
Sunday, September 1
COUNTRY MUSIC DAY AT TASTE OF COLORADO
Dwight Yokum headlines a day full of great country music at Taste of Colorado! Ten local and national country bands perform throughout the day, including Remus Tucker, Locash, Brandon Howard, Cassadee Pope, and more! Come out for some fun in the sun in these last days of summer, and sing along to your favorite country tunes!
Civic Center Park, 101 14th Ave., Denver
11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
ELITCH GARDENS LABOR DAY FIREWORKS
Say farewell to summer at the quintessential Denver amusement park that the entire family loves! Elitch Gardens will light up the Downtown Denver skyline with a dazzling fireworks display, starting at park closing time. The event is free with any park admission or Season Pass.
Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park, 2000 Elitch Cir., Denver
9:00 p.m.
Cost: FREE with park admission (starting at $39.99)
Monday, September 2
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC DAY CLOSES TASTE OF COLORADO
Every modern music fan knows Creed, the mega-band of the 90s that gave us With Arms Wide Open. Although the band broke up years ago, lead singer Scott Stapp is back with a solo career and headlines today’s concert! Also in the lineup is the ever-popular Toad the Wet Sprocket, Taylor Dayne, PG6ix, and many more! Enjoy the music, the food, and the last day of Labor Day weekend!
Civic Center Park, 101 14th Ave., Denver
11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
Life at the Lake: Southshore!
Away from it all, but close to everything, the lakeside community of Southshore offers access to plenty of things to do every weekend! If you’re new to Life at the Lake, drive around and check out the beautiful model homes from Century Communities, Richmond American Homes and Toll Brothers. Available in ranch and two-story designs, Southshore homes are priced between the upper $400s to the $700s.