The 2nd annual Denver International Festival is a celebration of hundreds of countries and cultures that call Denver home and it’s all happening this Saturday. This free event features live music and dance performances, interactive art, cultural displays, a marketplace and kid’s village, a beer garden, and over 30 restaurant and food truck vendors offering some of the best food and drinks in the city. If you’re planning to attend, here’s a quick guide and few highlights to let you know what’s going on.
When: Saturday, August 5th | When: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. | Where: Civic Center Park
Admission is FREE
Marketplace, Interactive Art & Cultural Displays
Here’s your chance to meet local businesses, take part in an interactive art mural, and browse beautiful art and clothing products created by some of Colorado’s most talented entrepreneurs and artists.
Highlights include:
Luv Mrk
Luv Mrk’s mission is to ‘Ignite Kindness and ‘Inspire Luv’ by living through our hearts in order to make a positive impact on the world. Visit this booth to meet the owner, purchase unique apparel that lets people know you a part of the solution, and talk about why leaving your ‘luvmrk’ is important.
BeAfrica
BeAfrica offers African-inspired, handmade scarves, hoodies, and coin purses using vibrant and strong fabrics from the country. Each product includes a description of its meaning as well as an overview of ways to wear and care for the item.
Denver In Color
Denver In Color, a book by Jason Davis and Jonathan Castner featuring the voices and images of Denver interracial couples, will be on sale at their booth. This book allows their voices to come to light and to show that love has no color.
Other highlights include: Heavy Metal Works | Arturo Garcia Fine Art | CommUNITY Fitness | Project Hartwork
Kids Village
This year’s kid village is bigger and better! This is the whole family’s chance to color, paint, and create sand art, take part in cool science experiments, as well play around on the bouncy castles, a bubble station and much more.
Highlights include:
Rocket Making & Blast Off: Powered by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science Museum
DIY Slime and Lava Lamps
Mentos & Coca Cola Experiments
Polynesian Hula (watch & learn at 12:30pm)
Meet & Greet: Moana and Captain America (11:30am)
Pinata Breaking (11am, 1pm, 3pm & 5pm)
The Great Kid Village Water Fight (3:30pm)
International Beer and Wine Tasting
If you’re a wine or beer lover, here’s your chance to sample from both local and international wineries and breweries.
Time: 3pm to 6pm
Cost: $25 single admission $45 per couple $100 per group of 5 or more (a portion of the proceeds will benefit Youth on Record)
Admission includes 1 full flight of tastings from all wine and beers per person
Live Music
El Javi – 3:30pm
El Javi is a Rock Flamenco artist from Mexico City who joins the heart of rock with the spirit of flamenco to deliver a distinct instrumental sound and powerful live performance.
Cicely O’Kain – 4:30pm
This Denver singer/songwriter brings both energy and her eclectic mix and whimsical twist of R&B and soul music to the stage leaving audiences entertained and wanting more every time. Her latest single Like Bass, from her EDM/uptempo dance EP, was considered for a 2017 Grammy nomination.
Orquesta La Brava – 6pm
This is the newest and hottest Denver Salsa band combining Latin percussion accompanied by bass, piano, and a great trombone and singing ensemble.
Irie Still – 7:15pm
Steeped first in Reggae and then incorporated with the elements of Hip-Hop, Soca, Dancehall, Calypso, Ska, Afro Beat, and Tribal Rhythms, this Colorado based band overwhelms the crowd with audience participation, soaring vocal harmony, and great music.
Food & Drinks
Check out our previous write up here.
