FYI

Festival of Mountain and Plain ... A Taste of Colorado is a community celebration that is produced by and benefits Downtown Denver Events, Inc., the Downtown Denver Partnership family's community events non-profit organization. The Festival is an opportunity for people throughout the region to come together to experience and appreciate our diverse cultural traditions, and to learn more about our state's Western heritage. The Festival highlights visual and performing arts in addition to featuring educational programs and culinary demonstrations. Downtown Denver events also produces the 9NEWS Parade of Lights presented by American Furniture Warehouse and GO Automotive and the New Year's Eve Fireworks Downtown.

View the 2009 site

Need to Know

DATE
Labor Day Weekend
Friday, Sept. 3 through Monday, Sept. 6, 2010

HOURS
Friday:  11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday:  10:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Monday:  10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

LOCATION
Civic Center Park, Downtown Denver (intersection of Colfax Avenue and Broadway)

ADMISSION
FREE!
Tickets must be used to purchase food, beverages, and carnival rides.
A strip of 8 tickets can be purchased for $5. Cash is accepted at all ticket booths and at the carnival ride ticket booths. Checks and credit cards are not accepted. ATMs are located throughout the Festival grounds.

INFO LINE
(303) 295-6330

FESTIVAL GROUNDS MAP



Click to see a larger version (PDF)

Click to use interactive map

Getting Here – Staying Here

Click here for a map of street closures. (PDF)

How to Reach Civic Center Park

Click here for a map to Civic Center Park. (PDF)

Use Light Rail
The D, H, & F line trains arrive at the 16th and California station for an easy walk to the Festival or transfer to the FREE 16th Street MallRide buses to the Festival. C & E line trains arrive at Union Station where it’s easy to transfer to the FREE 16th Street MallRide buses to the Festival.

Take the Bus
The following local bus routes have stops just a few blocks away from the Festival: 0, 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 15, 16, 20, 28, 32, and 52. For RTD Bus and Light Rail schedules call 303-299-6000 or visit www.rtd-denver.com.

Ride Your Bicycle
Avoid parking your car, and park your bike instead! BikeDenver is offering secure bicycle parking at a new, convenient location – 13th Avenue, between the Denver Public Library and the Denver Art Museum. Open Saturday and Sunday 10:30 am to 10:00 pm, and Monday 10:30 am to 8:00 pm. Bicycle parking is free, but a $1 or $2 donation to BikeDenver is suggested. Visit BikeDenver.org for more information. (Sorry, no motorized vehicles.) Don’t have a bike? Consider using B-cycle. There are four B-cycle stations within one block of the event perimeter. Visit denver.bcycle.com for more information.

Downtown Parking and Free 16th Street Mallride Buses
Downtown Denver offers tens of thousands of parking spaces, most within an easy walk to the FREE 16th Street MallRide buses offering a direct ride to Civic Center Park. The FREE MallRide buses travel over a mile on Denver’s 16th Street Mall from Union Station (Wynkoop St.) to Civic Center Park (Broadway St.) and back. It stops at every intersection along the 16th Street Mall and runs daily until 1:30 am. Handicapped parking is available at all public parking lots. Downtown Denver parking locations and rates can be found at experiencedowntowndenver.com.

The State's parking ramp, located at 14th & Lincoln, will offer convenient parking for just $7 all day on Saturday, Sunday, & Monday.

The Crowne Plaza Denver (15th and Glenarm, two blocks from Civic Center Park) is offering $5 parking for Taste of Colorado attendees.

Residence Inn Denver City Center
This All Suite Hotel is located in the center of Downtown. Each suite has all the comforts of home including: fully equipped kitchens, cozy living rooms with flat screen TVs and complimentary high speed internet. It also provides a complimentary full, hot breakfast buffet daily, happy hour with light dinner M-TH, a NEWLY built work-out facility, and complimentary grocery shopping services. Covered parking is available for a daily fee. Close enough to walk to A Taste of Colorado or take the FREE 16th Street MallRide. A Taste of Colorado tickets will be available for purchase at the front desk. Call 1-800-593-2809 to make a reservation and ask for the “A Taste of Colorado Corporate Rate” of $109.00 per night, which includes $10 of Taste tickets.

Explore the Golden Triangle
A Taste of Colorado takes place in Civic Center Park and the Golden Triangle neighborhood. Bordered by Lincoln, Colfax and Speer, Denver’s Golden Triangle is brimming with galleries, museums, restaurants, live music venues, theaters, and remarkable architecture. This unique neighborhood is Denver’s center for art and culture and is home to three of Denver’s cultural icons - the Denver Art Museum; Colorado History Museum, including the historic Byers-Evans House; and the Denver Public Library. The Golden Triangle Museum District features art events throughout the year.

During Labor Day Weekend, the Denver Art Museum is offering Festivalgoers free general admission (not including King Tut) on Saturday, September 4. Hours are Friday, 10:00 am - 10:00 pm, Saturday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, and Sunday, noon - 5:00 pm. The museum is closed on Monday.

Tour the historic Byers-Evans House Museum Friday and Saturday between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. Beautiful historic home in the heart of the city. Guided tours offered.

The Denver Public Library will be open during the Festival on Saturday, September 4, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm; and closed Friday, Sunday and Monday.

Civic Center Park is also home to the Civic Center EATS Outdoor Café, an annual summer tradition produced by the nonprofit Civic Center Conservancy. From 11:00 am to 2:00 pm on Tuesdays through August 31, downtown visitors, residents and employees can enjoy delicious lunch options and live music in this spectacular, historic park. On a smaller scale, select vendors from Civic Center EATS and Denver’s gourmet street food scene will begin having a daily presence in Civic Center Park this fall.

The Golden Triangle Museum District offers a wealth of fine art during First Friday Art Walks. Doors stay open the first Friday of every month from 5:00 to 9:00 pm. Tickle your creativity!

Ever wonder how an artist works? Come stroll the Golden Triangle Museum District neighborhood (just south of Civic Center Park) August 14 through September 14 and watch as more than 100 artists hit the streets for the 4th Annual Denver Plein Air Arts Festival 2010. For more information, visit gtmd.org or call 303-534-0771.

Information and Lost & Found

There are two Information booths, one on Broadway and one on Bannock. Downtown Denver Events volunteer ambassadors will be available to answer questions about the Festival and other Downtown Denver attractions. Lost & Found is located at these booth locations.

First Aid and Lost Kidz

First aid and ambulance services are provided by American Medical Response at the medical assistance site in the KidZone. The Lost Kidz Booth can also be found in the KidZone.

Please Mind the Festival Ground Rules

The following may not be brought into the Festival:

• Alcoholic beverages, beverage containers, glass bottles, food, or beverages
• Coolers, picnic baskets, or carry-ins of any type (back-packs or large bags may be searched)
• Kites, Frisbees, balls, or other sports equipment
• Scooters, skateboards, or inline skates
• Pets (except service animals)
• Firearms, weapons, contraband, or laser pointers
• Bicycles (please use bike parking operated by BikeDenver)

Once you’re here:

• No still photos, video or audio recording during live performances
• No unauthorized vending

Tips for enjoying the Festival:

• Pick up a brochure to find your favorite restaurant, beverage, marketplace booth, or band
• Drink responsibly and make sure your group has a designated driver
• Have a meeting place in case you get separated
• Don’t leave children unattended

When you leave the Festival:

• No alcoholic beverages may be taken off Festival grounds
• Please dispose of trash and recyclables in the receptacles provided and help us leave the neighborhood clean
• If you have lost anything while at the Festival, please visit an information booth to check lost and found
• Come back soon!