Food festivals in Denver worth planning a trip around, by month.
Food festivals in Denver worth planning a trip around, by month.
Great American Beer Festival in Denver is the Brewers Association's flagship event at the Colorado Convention Center each October, with over 500 breweries.
Focus: American craft beer
Tip: Tickets release on the Brewers Association site each summer and sell out in minutes; check the GABF judging competition results for medalists to taste.
Denver Restaurant Week is the Visit Denver-organised dining event each February, with 250 restaurants serving 2- or 3-course prix fixe menus at $25.
Focus: Multi-course prix fixe across Denver restaurants
Tip: Book early on the Visit Denver site; top kitchens like Tavernetta and Mercantile sell out the first day. Reservations open in mid-January.
Cherry Creek Arts Festival in Denver is the July 4 weekend art-and-food festival in Cherry Creek North, a 250-artist outdoor market plus a Culinary Arts food.
Focus: Food and art festival
Tip: Free admission. The food row runs East 3rd Avenue with food trucks and restaurants; the artist exhibition fills 2nd Avenue.
Denver Bacon and Beer Classic is the annual single-day festival at Coors Field, with 30 restaurants serving bacon-themed plates and 50 craft breweries.
Focus: Bacon dishes and craft beer
Tip: Two tasting sessions, morning and afternoon. The VIP early entry adds a 30-minute head start; arrive thirsty and hungry.
Denver Food and Wine Festival runs a mid-September weekend with Colorado wine producers, chef demonstrations and a Larimer Square grand tasting event.
Focus: Colorado wine and chef tasting
Tip: Tickets sell out by August for the Grand Tasting; the seminar series runs cheaper and pairs well with the Frasca Food and Wine evening.
Great American Beer Festival, the largest American craft beer event of the year, runs at the Colorado Convention Center with 800+ breweries pouring over 4,000 beers across three days.
Focus: American craft beer
Tip: Tickets sell out within hours of release in July; sign up for the GABF alerts on the Brewers Association site.