Taste of Colorado will return in 2021, but in a new location

The festival will span all of downtown and feature local food, music and art.

The Capitol during Taste of Colorado, Sept. 2, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

The Capitol during Taste of Colorado, Sept. 2, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Every year over Labor Day weekend, A Taste of Colorado brings dozens of booths to Civic Center Park, serving up food from local Colorado restaurants. The free event brings in hundreds of thousands of visitors to enjoy live music and art and to sample some of the best food the state has to offer.

Last year, the pandemic forced organizers to cancel the festival, marking the first time in almost 40 years that it didn't operate. Now, Taste is returning, though it'll look a bit different from festivals past.

The Downtown Denver Partnership announced that Taste will return to Denver over Labor Day weekend, but this year's version will be held downtown, where it'll host attractions, events and food tastings out of restaurants and venues scattered around the area.

"Taste of Colorado is a well-loved tradition that spans generations," said Sharon Alton, Vice President of Downtown Experience at the Downtown Denver Partnership. "We're proud to bring Taste back as we emerge from the pandemic, this year in a new format that will be a true celebration of our city's culture and everything that our city's artists, musicians, and restauranteurs have to offer. Never has it been more important to highlight all things local, and we can't wait to do just that alongside our community over Labor Day weekend."

This year, featured food will be exclusively sourced from local, independent Colorado restaurants. According to the application to participate in Taste, food trucks will populate the area on Lawrence Street between 15th and 17th streets, while booth and tent vendors will operate in Skyline Park, where the Skyline Beer Garden and Southwest Rink have been held. Participating downtown restaurants can operate out of their own locations and won't have to pay a fee to participate. Each restaurant will offer at least two highlighted Taste items in the form of tiny samples. Interested downtown restaurants can apply here.

Downtown Denver Partnerships will announce a full lineup of attractions in the coming months. In the meantime, local artists and musicians can apply to participate. Interested bands can submit an electronic promo kit to this email, and muralists, who would contribute murals designed to celebrate "urban adventure and exploration," can apply here.

A Taste of Colorado Dates:

Saturday, September 4, 2021: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Sunday, September 5, 2021: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Monday, September 6, 2021: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Hundreds met at the State Capitol for the conclusion of the 18th annual Sand Creek Memorial Run in 2016. (Chloe Aiello/Denverite)
The first frame of Denver Drink and Draw's first Comics Jam after a long hiatus, which began on their first official gathering after COVID in early October.
The City and County Building seen from atop the Denver Art Museum's newly opened Martin Building. Oct. 13, 2021.

Denver plans to send large buildings into the warm embrace of renewable electricity

It's just pushing more lightly than some other deep-blue cities (cough, Berkeley, cough).

Michaela Onyenwere #12 of the New York Liberty drives to the basket against the Connecticut Sun on July 11, 2021 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Family photos inside Andre Lavonn Faggett's studio apartment in Cap Hill on Monday, Nov. 22, 2021. A childhood photo of Faggett sits in the middle, next to a photo of his late mother, Ruthie Mae Jones. (Esteban L. Hernandez/Denverite)
Young raccoons in a cage at the Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, June 29, 2019. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
A Colorado sunset over East Colfax Avenue, June 28, 2019. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
Nhung Mai draws out a COVID-19 vaccine at a city-run clinic inside the Barnum Recreation Center. March 10, 2021.
Coach Tony Lindsay Sr. prays with his Far Northeast Warrior varsity football players after they beat East High School in the last regular-season game of the year, ensuring they will go to the playoffs. Oct. 29, 2021.

The fight over Montbello High has always been bigger than a school. The Montbello Warriors have always been bigger than sports.

The team will have a home next year when the rebooted Montbello High opens. Neighbors hope it's a sign of good things to come.

Citywide Banks building, 10660 E. Colfax Ave., November 11, 2021
A line of beds inside the Denver Rescue Mission's new shelter in Northeast Park Hill. June 30, 2021.

An arrest has been made in the fatal stabbing of a Denver Rescue Mission staff member

An employee of the shelter on 48th Street was stabbed after leaving his shift Saturday night.

"Patterns and Figures - Figures and Patterns" by Barb McKee and Darrell Anderson in Denver International Airport's A concourse. Nov. 17, 2021.
Frozen turkeys piled in a minivan that the SouthWest Denver Coalition will distribute to 200 people who need a hand with Thanksgiving this year. Nov. 20, 2021.
Captol Hill Books has boarded-up windows after a truck driver drove through its windows a few nights ago. Nov. 19, 2021.

A truck driver drove through Capitol Hill Books on Colfax, damaging the store's most expensive books

"I've been absolutely determined — COVID, pandemic, truck, no matter what — the store is gonna stay open."

Denver Botanic Garden holiday lights. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Things to do in Denver this weekend, Nov. 19-21

Tree lightings, parades, and a Mac 'N Cheese 5k!

The Salvation Army's pallet house village in Aurora. Nov. 18, 2021.
An RV parked in Cole. Nov. 18, 2021.
Kristin and Brett Post stand in a park near the home they're sharing with family in Lone Tree. Nov. 17, 2021.
3300 Blake Street in Five Points' RiNo Art District. Nov. 17, 2021.

A San Francisco developer wants to build a block-sized development in RiNo

The company, Carmel Partners, is working with the prestigious Denver architecture firm Davis Partnership.

Flavored tobacco for sale at a Sheridan Boulevard gas station. Oct. 27, 2021.