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Taste of Colorado to serve up food and family-friendly fun
By John Gleason
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TASTE OF COLORADO When: Sept. 2-5 |
When the 28th annual A Taste of Colorado festival comes to mind, first thoughts—obviously—turn to food. Purchase a few coupons and line up for your favorite: turkey legs, corn on the cob, red beans and rice just to name a few.
But the four-day festival set for the Labor Day weekend Sept. 2-5 in downtown Denver’s Civic Center Park also includes artist displays, cooking demonstrations and a generous helping of family-friendly fun.
Marketing director Patty Johnson has been associated with the festival for 26 years. She said that each year organizers strive to make the Taste a great way to say goodbye to summer.
“We’re planning for the best event ever,” she said, “complete with a wide array of entertainment for the whole family.”
Johnson said the festival has grown from a handful of restaurants the first year to more than 50; from two-dozen artisan booths to more than 280; and from a single stage to several, which this year will feature Herman’s Hermits, The Neville Brothers, Blood Sweat & Tears and Boyz II Men plus magic acts, carnival rides and games.
“Where else are you going to find an event of this magnitude where the admission is free?” she said.
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The Neville Brothers and Katherine Dines are among the entertainment slated for the Taste of Colorado festival set Sept. 2-5 in Civic Center Park. |
“What’s special about the KidzStage is how intimate and small it is—kid size if you will,” she said. “The children sit on the ground, grouped around the stage; it’s a wonderfully engaging atmosphere for the little ones.”
Katherine Dines and the Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta Band will be one of the many performers to grace the KidzStage. Dines, who is returning to the Taste for her fifth year, said that while her music is geared toward 3- to 10-year-olds, it transcends generations.
“It’s for everyone,” she said. Also taking to the KidzStage is Birgitta DePree, another Taste veteran, who’ll be presenting “The Emperor’s New Clothes—and Other Ugly Ducklings,” a one-woman show which honors the 200th anniversary of the birth of author Hans Christian Andersen.
Making use of music, puppetry and magic, DePree brings to life adaptations of Andersen’s tales, all the while reminding children that they also have stories inside of them.
“During the show, children are so ‘with you’,” she said. “They’re ready to join the adventure.”
Families can also check out the arts and crafts area where kids can make their own creations or stop by the Raptor Education Foundation booth to see eagles, hawks, owls and other birds of prey.
“(The variety of entertainment) reflects what the Taste is about,” Johnson said, “not just food, but music, art, culture and our environment. There’s just nothing like it.”
Festival hours are 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday; 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; and 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday. Admission is free but tickets must be purchased for food, beverages and carnival rides. For more information, visit www.atasteofcolorado.com or call 303-295-6330.
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