It’s not just fireworks, although the fireworks themselves are pretty spectacular, but the pyrotechnics and the light show on the City and County Building, all coupled with live music from the Colorado Symphony that make this fast-growing Denver tradition a must-see.

Concert begins at 8pm and the fireworks begin at dark, but it’s highly suggested you come early to get a spot on the lawn with a good view of the City and County Building. Bring your own blankets, lawn chairs and picnics. Or grab a quick bite from the on-site food trucks! Alcohol is allowed, but NO glass! And please people, pick up after yourselves! You’re not children anymore and the earth depends on you to take responsibility for yourselves.

I wouldn’t drive down there because not only is parking hard to come by and/or expensive, traffic is a pain in the butt to get out of there when it’s all over! So go green and walk, take the lightrail to downtown and the 16th Street FREE MallRide, or ride your bike if you’re within distance.

For more information and details: http://www.civiccenterconservancy.org/event-independence-eve-celebration_32.html?ref=home

Watch the video below to see what you’ve been missing out on!

Write a quick comment

Greek food and pastries (yum!), traditional Greek music and dancing and Greek art and jewelry, what’s not to love? Fair rides, games and toys for kids. Opa!

Details

When: June 17 – June 19, 2011
Friday & Saturday: 11am – 11pm, Sunday 11am – 8pm

Where: The Assumption of the Theotokos Greek, Orthodox Cathedral of Denver
4610 East Alameda Avenue Denver, CO 80246
Look for the large gold dome

Cost: $1

Official Website: http://www.thegreekfestival.com

Courtesy of DenverGreekFestival
Photo courtesy of The Greek Festival

Write a quick comment

Every year the Washington Park Garden Tour allows the public the unique opportunity to experience 10 beautiful and private gardens at homes in the Washington Park neighborhood. Get ideas for xeriscaping and landscaping a city yard here!

Details

When: Saturday June 18, 2011 9am – 2pm

Where: Check in at 537 South Ogden Street for a tour map

Cost: $15 advance / $20 day of tour. Benefits The Denver Hospice. Visit the website to buy tickets: http://giving.thedenverhospice.org

Official Website: www.thedenverhospice.org

Photo courtesy of ebatty, on Flickr

Write a quick comment

A huge indoor and outdoor music festival in the Golden Triangle neighborhood. It’s super cheap for a music festival and a great place to experience new (and old) music. It does sell out, so buying tickets early is a good idea. The show is ALL AGES (so kid-friendly) at the outdoor stage, but 21+ at all other venues. Food and libations available.

This year’s headliners include Chromeo, Yo La Tengo, Del The Funky Homosapien, The Sword, Murder By Death, Young The Giant, The Epilogues, Ume, and more. Plus over 150 local acts on 15 stages.

Ride your bike to the Showcase and you get to park for free. Check out a B-cycle if you don’t have your own bike.

Details

When: Saturday June 18, 2011 11:30am – 10pm

Where: Outdoor Main Stage – 12th and Acoma in the Golden Triangle District

Cost:
GA Ticket Prices:
$25 Monday May 2 – Friday, June 17
$30 Saturday, June 18 – DAY OF SHOW PRICE

VIP Ticket Prices:
$75 Tuesday, May 3 – Friday, June 17
*Includes:1 extended VIP viewing area in front of main stage, 1 VIP viewing area with complimentary catering, seating, and shade. Ticket also includes 2 beers or cocktails, 2 red bulls, complimentary water, access to VIP restrooms, commemorative festival laminate, and goody bag.

Official Website: http://microapp.westword.com/musicshowcase/2011/

Courtesy of http://focus4design.biz/
Photograph courtesy of Westword.com Backbeat Blog

Write a quick comment

What you can expect

Your typical Denver street fair with food, drink, artist and vendor booths and live music. There’s a fun zone for kids, a classic car show and more. Expect 40k people and music on 3 stages.

Details

When: Saturday June 18, 2011 10am – dusk

Where: West 32nd Ave between Irving & Perry in the historic Highlands neighborhood in north west Denver

Cost: Free

Official Website: http://www.highlands-square.com/StreetFair/index.htm

Courtesy of DonTheVoice

Write a quick comment

The Baker Neighborhood is a collection of cute Bungalows and Queen Annes and spans south from 6th Avenue to Alameda and west from Santa Fe to Broadway. Many of the SoBo (South Broadway) neighborhood businesses participate in some way as well with specials or free services. A map of all the homes and businesses with short descriptions of what’s for sale can be obtained (for free) at the information booth on the corner of 1st and Acoma.

This year one of the homes will be featuring items from several families to benefit a local gal with breast cancer, so come on down, wear your pink and support!

When: The sale takes place Saturday June 11, 2011 from 8am-4:30pm. Don’t forget the early bird gets the worm, so plan to get a map by 8!
Rain date: Sunday June 12.

Where: Start at the Welcome desk at 1st and Acoma for a map.

Contact: Call 303.698.1291 or email board@bakerneighborhood.org

Write a quick comment

Wineries from all over the state will be participating so it’s a great time to check them out and see what’s growing in our own backyards. Denver area Wineries include Dithyramb Winery, Avanti Winery, Balistreri Vineyards and Redstone Meadery to name just a few.

Things to look forward to:
Thursday, June 9, 5:30-9 pm: A Celebration of Premier Colorado Wines at the Governors Residence, 400 E. 8th Ave., Denver

Friday, June 10 at 7 pm: “Colorado Vineyard to Table” VIP dinner, at Northfield Stapleton

Saturday, June 11 2:30-4 pm: Riedel Seminar, Colorado Winefest, at Northfield Stapleton

Event Dates: June 9, 10 & 11, 2011. View Event Schedule http://www.coloradowinefest.com/denver/eventinfo.html

Where: The Shops at Northfield Stapleton North of I-70 between I-270 and Havana St. See map above.

Cost: Varies. Colorado Winefest ticket information.

This video is from the 2009 Colorado Winefest in Palisade, Colorado.

Courtesy of Colorado Mountain Winefest

Write a quick comment

The tasting event features 30+ awesome Colorado restaurants, food trucks and carts, cocktail artists, local wineries and microbreweries. Apparently it’s THE CULINARY event to attend in town, so you might want to see if you can break out the funds to go.

When: Thursday June 9, 2011
5:30 – 9:30 PM VIP Admission
7:00 – 9:30 PM General Admission

Where: Mile High Station
2027 West Lower Colfax Avenue Denver, 80204

Details: 21+ event
http://www.strength.org/denver/

Tickets: $75-500 Buy tickets to Taste of the Nation Denver

Courtesy of http://www.strength.org/

Write a quick comment

Hardbacks: $3
Trade paperbacks: $2
Mass market paperbacks: 50 cents
DVDs: $1
CDs: $1
Audiobooks: $2
Better Books: priced as marked
Teachers with an ID will receive an additional 25% off.

Where: Denver Central Library 14th and Broadway, north lawn under the giant tents.

When: Thursday, Friday, Saturday (June 9-11) 10am-4pm and Sunday (jun 12) 10am-1pm.

Details: http://www.dplfriends.org/events/ubs.html
Or call 720-865-2051
Cash, checks and credit cards (MasterCard, Visa and Discover) accepted.

The library is looking for donated items and volunteers. Check out the website above for more info.

Cost: Free to the public

About the Library

The Denver Central Public Library was officially opened in 1995 after being designed by Michael Graves. You may wonder where you’ve heard that name and if you remember some funky retro-modern housewares designs at Target a few years ago, you would know why. The architect is hailed worldwide as a co-founder of the Postmodern school of architecture.

If you haven’t been to the Central Library, I highly recommend you pay a visit. It’s just a really cool building to look at inside and out. From the funky horse on a gigantic chair outside to the cool ceiling details inside, there’s plenty to admire. And no wonder, it’s parked right next door to the Denver Art Museum. Learn more about the crazy art inside and outside of this unique building.

All Denver residents are eligible for a free card.

Library hours:
Mon: 10-8
Tue: 10-8
Wed: 10-6
Thu: 10-6
Fri: 10-6
Sat: 1-5
Sun: 1-5

Main Phone: 720-865-1111

Photo courtesy of wallyg, on Flickr

Write a quick comment

Artists

Six madonnari will be showcased this year. Madonnari are chalk drawing professionals, all award-winning street painters, including first place finishes in the International Street Painting Competition in Grazie di Curtatone, Italy. Two of the madonnari happen to be Colorado residents: Stephen DeOrio and Mark Hollenbeck.

The Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design (RMCAD) will host a Youth Challenge, where kids from Colorado schools and organizations will compete for cash prizes.

There’s also a Bellco Kids Corner where kids and parents can explore their creative sides with chalk for a small donation.

Music

It ain’t a festival without live music and Blue Moon, Arts & Venues Denver and Denver Theatre District deliver:

Saturday, June 4th
11:30 am – 12:30 pm – Lila Bloom
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Steve Law & Frederick Poindexter – Acoustic Rock/Folk
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm – TBD
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm – SuperSeed – Piano Rock / Billy Joel
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm – The Gromet – Southern Rock
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Crookscoat – Delta Blues and Rock
8:30 pm – 9:30 pm – Rob Drabkin Duo – Rock

Sunday, June 5th
11:30 am – 12:30 pm – Ryan Shane
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Bear Antler – Modern Rock
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm – Morgan Drive – Blue Grass
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm – The Indulgers
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm – Highline – Reggae

Beer, Wine & Bevs

Taste wines by the bottle or glass at the Wine Pavilions. $15 for 4 tastes and 1 glass of your favorite.

Four locations will offer Blue Moon, Honey Moon Summer Ale, Coors and Coors Light for purchase.

Both wine and beer locations will also have plenty of non-alcoholic beverages on hand as well.

Info

When: 2011: Saturday June 4th 10am-10pm and Sunday June 5th 10am-7pm

Where: Larimer Square, Downtown Denver
1430 Larimer Square, #200
Denver, CO 80202

Details: http://www.denverchalkart.org/

Cost: Free

Here’s a video to give you an idea of the caliber of artists:

Courtesy of http://vimeo.com/adamschlosser

Write a quick comment