Denver
Times to Visit
2008 10Best Bet - Award Winners
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CHERRY CREEK. Cherry Creek Arts Festival takes over the streets of one of Denver's best-loved shopping districts over the Fourth of July weekend every year, showcasing fine arts and crafts from around the country. Painting, sculpture, jewelry, photography, and other art forms are on display and for sale. Adding to the fun are a good supply of local music and foods throughout the festival.
CITY PARK. On hot summer nights, City Park Jazz helps cool things off with the smooth sounds of local musicians playing under the bandstand near Ferril Lake in City Park. The ten free concerts are offered from June through August and start at 6pm. Recent participating bands have included Chris Daniels and the Kings, Buckner Funken Jazz, and Tina Phillips.
DOWNTOWN. Not one, not two, but three original plays will premiere in January at the first-ever Colorado New Play Summit at Denver Center for the Performing Arts. On January 17, social satire "Our House" opens at the Space Theatre; on January 24, audiences can catch the dark and magical "Lydia" at The Ricketson Theatre; and on January 31, the stage version of Kent Haruf's best-selling novel "Plainsong" makes an appearance at the Stage Theatre.
NORTH DENVER. Denver March Powwow showcases the rich Native American traditions and cultures that are prevalent throughout the West and beyond. Over 700 dancers and musicians from 80 tribes participate in the event. Although the Grand Entry and performances like the Women's Jingle Dress Dance and Men's Traditional Dance are most popular, the festival also presents storytelling, drumming, traditional foods, and arts and crafts.
DOWNTOWN. Holiday lights, camera, action! Denver's Grand Illumination shows the result of what would happen if a giant switch were dramatically flipped on. As it is, hundreds of thousands of holiday lights provide a burst of color in a single festive evening. Historic buildings such as Union Station, the City and County Building, and the D&F Clock Tower suddenly glow, while costumed carolers sing and people wander up 16th Street Mall to view the displays.
DOWNTOWN. When the Great American Beer Festival comes to town in October, it's "bottoms up" over 1,500 times in one sudsy weekend. More than 400 American breweries gather to offer samples at the Colorado Convention Center, and in addition to tastings and competitions, there are tours of local brewpubs and classes about how to brew your own beer.
DOWNTOWN. One particular block in the heart of historic downtown Denver becomes a detailed chalk tableau when the annual La Piazza dell'Arte takes place. Professional, amateur, and student artists sketch out amazingly detailed drawings on the street in Larimer Square. As they work, spectators can dine on Italian food, duck into the Italian wine-tasting tent, sample handmade gelato, and even chat with the artists as they create masterpieces.
LODO. The Museum of Contemporary Art | Denver will host the grand opening of its cutting-edge new building on October 28, 2008. London-based architect David Adjaye designed what is already being called a "21st century landmark." Intended to be significantly energy-efficient, it will feature a grey glass exterior, a "green" roof, and an entrance corridor rather than a traditional door. Situated in the Central Platte Valley, just on the edge of the city's bustling LoDo neighborhood, the new museum space is just steps away from restaurants, hotels, bars, and more.
NORTH DENVER. Giddy-up to the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo. All the traditions of the Old West – this is the show's 102nd year – are on display in entertaining style. Among the attractions you'll encounter are rodeo shows, livestock displays, and a parade through the heart of downtown Denver featuring tractors and longhorn cattle.
LITTLETON. See the city, the mountains, and the plains from a hot-air balloon during the Rocky Mountain Balloon Festival, held the last weekend of August before Labor Day. The festival is held for three days and features live music and exhibits that include a simulated moon walk and interactive science demonstrations, not to mention a "Lites in the Nite" balloon illumination flight. Oftentimes, you can't choose when you'll visit, but when you do have the option, why not let it coincide with a prominent event? Find out when the city is bursting with blooms, when holiday decorations are at their most enticing, or when a fabulously fun festival is being held. Discover, too, if there's a milestone that's being celebrated or if there's a small occasion that coincides with your own special interest. We'll spread the news and let you know when it's high time to visit the city.
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Oftentimes, you can't choose when you'll visit, but when you do have the option, why not let it coincide with a prominent event? Find out when the city is bursting with blooms, when holiday decorations are at their most enticing, or when a fabulously fun festival is being held. Discover, too, if there's a milestone that's being celebrated or if there's a small occasion that coincides with your own special interest. We'll spread the news and let you know when it's high time to visit the city. 
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