Bring an appetite — for everything — to the 27th annual Taste of Colorado.
This weekend’s summer-ending smorgasbord features dozens of styles of cuisine from nearly 60 restaurants, all peddling their wares in Civic Center.
There’s something for every taste bud, from high-end treats from the Ritz-Carlton to good old-fashioned barbecue. Choose your own culinary adventure: Do a “tasting menu” of sorts, and use your food tickets to try sample-size bites from everything that tempts you, or fill your belly with full-sized portions. Budding gourmands can pick up tips from top local chefs, too, in the Culinary Showcase tent.
Food isn’t the only attraction at Taste, of course. Four stages of live music will keep the park rockin’ all day long — just like the food, there’s a little something for everyone.
Mainstage acts include Asia featuring John Payne (Friday 7:30 p.m.), The Neville Brothers (Saturday 7:30 p.m.), Herman’s Hermits (Sunday 1 p.m.), David Nail (Monday 1 p.m.), Boyz II Men (Monday 5:30 p.m.) and Blood Sweat and Tears (Sunday 7:30 p.m.). Side stages add even more variety with country, jazz, blues, rock, taiko drumming, Latino musicians and dancers, too.
With bellies full and music accompanying, shoppers can stroll a vendor marketplace, and kids can get their kicks in the carnival area. A special “KidzStage” will present lots of family entertainment, as well: magicians, clowns, puppets and even a pizza-tossing demonstration. The festival’s KidZone has a Baby Oasis for parents with really small fry; adjacent to the KidZone are kid-friendly food booths.
The festival is open 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. today; 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; and 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday. Civic Center park, Broadway and Colfax Avenue. Admission is free. Food and activities are sold using a ticket system; strips of 15 tickets are $10. Carnival rides are also sold via wristbands. See atasteofcolorado.com.