A Taste of Colorado Rocks This Labor Day Weekend!
August 30, 2018
Celebrate the final days of summer this Labor Day Weekend by getting out in the sun for one last summer event! A Taste of Colorado is the preeminent music and food festival in Colorado—and FREE for everyone! Every musical taste will be satisfied by a concert in the Aurora and Denver area this weekend, so find the one that appeals to you and enjoy!
TODAY/TONIGHT, Thursday, August 30
SHANDRA DUNCAN – HEART & SOUL
A cabaret singer with a repertoire of soulful sounds, Shandra Duncan croons all your old favorites from classic Billie Holiday to bluesy theatre pieces. End the summer on a high note, with an intimate evening of tunes that will capture your heart and soul and make you smile!
Vintage Theatre Productions, 1468 Dayton Street, Aurora
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $10
Phone: 303-856-7830
HOLLY BOWLING AT THE BLUEBIRD THEATER
Classical piano with a twist! San Francisco-based pianist Holly Bowling performs the music of Phish and the Grateful Dead reimagined for Solo Piano, with high-energy improvisation. Watch her dexterous fingers fly as she infuses jam band music into a technically advanced, emotionally rich style. Music lovers will appreciate the texture and nuance in this talented musician’s performance!
Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave., Denver
9:00 p.m.
Tickets: $29.50-$35
Phone: 303-377-1666
Thursday-Saturday, August 30 – September 1
IAN BAGG IS BIGGER THAN LIFE!
Ian Bagg, the Canadian comedian who made it big in New York City, originally went to school to become an explosives engineer, but ended up with a stockpile of volatile jokes instead. Since Bagg is a master at audience interaction, you never know what to expect—no two shows are alike! His humor explodes with all of the energy of a hockey game, his favorite sport.
Bagg has appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, as well as other late-night shows including The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn. He also appeared on Make Me Laugh, NBC’s Fridays, and Showcase Comics with Louie Anderson. Don’t miss your chance to get bowled over by this bigger-than-life comedian!
Comedy Works-Downtown, 1226 15th St., Denver
Thurs., 8:00 p.m.; Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.
Tickets: $17-$25
Phone: 303-595-3637
Thursday-Sunday, August 30 – September 2
VIETGONE!
Be swept away by the new play everyone is talking about, a Critics’ Pick by The New York Times, Time Out New York and LA Times! This is not just another war story, but “a heart-expanding love story,” according to the play’s director, Seema Sueko.
A romantic comedy with an enormous twist to match its enormous heart, Vietgone is the real-life story of two Vietnam War refugees who found each other at a relocation camp in Arkansas at the height of the Vietnam War—and managed to fall in love! Loaded with pop culture-shock hilarity, the couple must blaze a trail together in their weird new world—a land of Harleys, hot dogs and “howdy!”
Ricketson Theatre/DCPA,1400 Curtis St., Denver
Thurs., 6:30 p.m.; Fri./Sat.,7:30 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 1:30 p.m.
Tickets: $40
Phone: 800-641-1222
Friday-Sunday, August 31 – September 2
GO TO JAPAN WITHOUT LEAVING DENVER!
Fans of Anime will go crazy at the convention dedicated to this unique Japanese phenomenon! NDK 22 features all your favorite voice actors who bring the characters to life! This interactive event allows you to participate in or just observe the amazing Cosplay community.
Love music? You can enjoy loads of it at the Rave and J-Pop dance, or make your own in one of several Karaoke rooms. Round out your experience at the art gallery and model show, or participate in the world-class AMV contest. You can even visit educational panels to learn more about Japan and your favorite shows!
Sheraton Denver Downtown, 1550 Court Pl., Denver
Fri., 12:00-10:00 p.m.; Sat., 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., Sun., 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tickets: $20-$135
Phone: 303-893-3333
Saturday-Monday, September 1-3
A TASTE OF COLORADO
A Colorado treasure for the past 35 years, A Taste of Colorado is the largest food and music festival in the state—and it’s FREE! Bring the entire family down to Civic Center Park in Downtown Denver for three days of great music, delicious cuisine, and plenty of shopping! 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!
Local and worldly cuisine will be available for purchase, representing the best of Colorado’s diverse cultural traditions and Western heritage. With over 50 food vendors and the new Broadway Beer and Wine Gardens, you can stay all day every day and never run out of exceptional food to sample! The Kids Zone experience offers arts and crafts and an exciting children’s stage! The artist line-up is the biggest in festival history. Saturday is Classic Rock day, Sunday is Country Day, and Monday’s lineup features Contemporary bands. Don’t miss the final summer fling with these all-day free concerts!
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, September 1
SOUTHLANDS FARMERS’ MARKET
It’s the peak of the summer season, so don’t miss out on the bounty of Colorado’s farms and homemade goodies! For the freshest fruits, vegetables, baked goods, honey, jams and more, get up early for the best pickings! And don’t forget to bring plenty of shopping bags for the plethora of produce available at the Farmers’ Market!
Southlands, 6155 S. Main St., Aurora
8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Phone: 303-627-5000
CLASSIC ROCK AT TASTE OF COLORADO
With an all-day music lineup that culminates with perennial favorites REO Speedwagon, George Thorogood, and Firefall, you will be rockin’ the start of the Taste of Colorado festival! Music begins in the morning and continues throughout the day with a dozen back-to-back performances! In addition to the headliners from yesteryear, local tribute and cover bands will get you groovin’ as they play the music of Tom Petty, Van Halen, The Eagles, Rush, and more!
Civic Center Park, 101 14th Ave., Denver
11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
DENVER MUNICIPAL BAND – FREE CONCERT
For over a century, the Denver Municipal Band has enjoyed the reputation of excellence and accessibility through its free summer concerts. 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
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Sunday, September 2
COUNTRY MUSIC DAY AT TASTE OF COLORADO
Leann Rimes headlines a day full of great country music at Taste of Colorado! More than ten local and national country bands perform throughout the day, including Buckstein, Swerve, Richie Law, and David Nail! 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
Monday, September 3
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC CLOSES TASTE OF COLORADO
In the most exciting artist line-up in the history of Taste of Colorado, the final day of the festival features one superstar group after another—all day long! Soul Asylum, Everclear, Sugar Ray, and Smashmouth will all perform their smash hits! Make this Labor Day one to remember with this epic concert extravaganza!
Civic Center Park, 101 14th Ave., Denver
11:00 a.m. – 8:00 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 $29.99)
Celebrate Labor Day in Southshore!
It’s the ideal location to spend this holiday and every holiday — the master-planned community of Southshore! With plenty of things to do nearby for the entire family, if Southshore isn’t your home, explore the beautiful models from Toll Brothers, Richmond American Homes and Century Communities, in both ranch and two-story designs. It’s life at the lake priced between the upper $300s and the $700s.