This year marks 29 years of A Taste of Colorado, an end-of-summer Labor Day Weekend celebration of community pride and spirit in the Denver region. Festival hours are Friday, Aug. 31, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 1, and Sunday, Sept. 2, 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Monday, Sept. 3, 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Featured acts, including Top Hogs, Magical Enchantment with Erika Sodos, Machinez Remainz Dance Crew, and Istari World Percussion, are set to appear at the 29th annual A Taste of Colorado on the Comfort Dental KidzStage presented by MIX 100. Children and adults can stay busy for hours with carnival rides, games, educational exhibits, and more. The four-day, free admission, food, music, and entertainment Festival will take place Labor Day weekend, Aug. 31 through Sept. 3, in Downtown Denver's Civic Center Park.
The KidZone is a family-friendly area offering play equipment and a great variety of free, hands-on craft activities for children of all ages. KidZone hours are 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Fri., Aug. 31; and 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sat., Sept. 1 through Mon., Sept. 3.
Enjoy Carnival Rides and Games Saturday through Monday, presented by KOOL 105. EARLY BIRD wristbands can be purchased for $15 from 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., Saturday through Monday. These wristbands are good for unlimited rides on the day of purchase until 5 p.m. ALL DAY wristbands can be purchased for $25 anytime from 10:30 a.m. to two hours before closing Saturday through Monday and are good for unlimited rides on the day purchased until closing. Individual rides are also available for generally two to ten tickets per ride. Carnival hours are 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sat., Sept. 1 through Sun., Sept. 2 and 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon., Sept. 3.
There will be plenty of music, magic, clowns, and puppets on the Comfort Dental KidzStage presented by MIX 100. Performers from ACE, the Academy of Circus Elements, juggle, make human pyramids, contort, and more. Cowboy Steve will have the "young'uns" and young at heart "ridin' high" with his guitar-picking, harmonica-blowing, fiddle-sawing fun. Play-Ground Theatre's most popular show, Fairy Tale Theatre, is a twist on the classic tales for young and old. Peter Irish and Ambree Zuba delight audiences with their award-winning juggling, circus arts, and stilt-walking skills. Comfort Dental's Toothy, the Tooth Fairy, Dr. Gene Comfort, and Flossless the Dragon teach children the importance of dental care and hygiene.
The following is a lineup of children's entertainers on the Comfort Dental KidzStage presented by MIX 100:
FRIDAY, AUG. 31
11:45 a.m. -- Top Hogs
12:45 p.m. -- Shane Borrillo Kids' Music
1:45 p.m. -- Comfort Dental, featuring Toothy, the Tooth Fairy, Dr. Gene Comfort, and Flossless the Dragon
2:30 & 5:30 p.m. -- Cowboy Steve's Rootin' Tootin' Musical Cowboy Fun
3:30 & 6:30 p.m. -- Magical Enchantment with Erika Sodos
4:30 p.m. -- Poppy the Clown, followed by Poppy's Juggling Workshop
Roving Entertainment: Erika Sodos, Paul Borrillo, Wild Bill Patterson, Shane Borrillo
SATURDAY, SEPT. 1
10:45 a.m. & 3:30 p.m. -- ACE Circus Arts
11:45 a.m. & 4:30 p.m. -- Steve Weeks' World of Music
12:45 & 5:30 p.m. -- Machinez Remainz Dance Crew
1:45 p.m. -- Comfort Dental, featuring Toothy, the Tooth Fairy, Dr. Gene Comfort, and Flossless the Dragon
2:30 & 6:30 p.m. -- Play-Ground Theatre Presents: Fairy Tale Theatre
Roving Entertainment: Wild Bill Patterson, ACE Circus Arts
SUNDAY, SEPT. 2
10:45 a.m. & 3:45 p.m. -- Magic & Comedy with Scott McCray
11:45 a.m. -- Poppy the Clown, followed by Poppy's Juggling Workshop
12:45 & 5:45 p.m. -- The Millibo Art Theatre's Birgitta DePree Presents: Fairy Tale Excursions
1:45 p.m. -- Comfort Dental, featuring Toothy, the Tooth Fairy, Dr. Gene Comfort, and Flossless the Dragon
2:45 & 6:45 p.m. -- Jim Jackson's One Clown Circus
4:45 p.m. -- Music for Kids with Eric West
Roving Entertainment: Paul Borrillo, Birgitta DePree, Jim Jackson, Scott McCray
MONDAY, SEPT. 3
10:45 a.m. & 3:45 p.m. -- Istari World Percussion
11:45 a.m. -- The Wick School of Irish Dance
12:45 & 4:45 p.m. -- Ann Lincoln's Magic, Comedy, and Juggling
1:45 p.m. -- Comfort Dental, featuring Toothy, the Tooth Fairy, Dr. Gene Comfort, and Flossless the Dragon
2:45 & 6:45 p.m. -- The Boundless Adventures of Peter & Ambree
5:45 p.m. -- Music for Kids with Eric West
Roving Entertainment: Peter Irish, Ambree Zuba, Ann Lincoln
Families can journey back to the roots of Colorado and have fun learning about the state's pioneer past, nature, and the environment. In the Festival of Mountain and Plain area, featured artisans will demonstrate Navajo weaving and culture, spinning, rug braiding, lace crocheting, felting, and quilting, along with the popular blacksmith demonstration. At the Raptor Education Foundation (REF) exhibit, children can learn about birds, their environment, and their interactions with humans.
Kid-friendly food vendors will be located along the perimeter of the KidZone selling hot dogs, pretzels, popcorn, and more. A Taste of Colorado is also an opportunity for parents to encourage their children to try new foods from places like the Caribbean, South America, India, and Asia, as many of the restaurants offer "taste-sized" portions for one to three tickets.
Visit www.ATasteofColorado.com, www.facebook.com/ATasteofColorado, www.twitter.com/ATasteofCo, or call (303) 295-6330 for more information.
