It’s no secret, summer is festival season in Colorado. Whether you’re spending the weekend listening to a line up of your favorite bands at an epic concert, or shopping for your next masterpiece at an art fair, there’s something for everyone. But of course, for us it’s all about the food festivals.
Think endless samples of bites prepared by the best chefs. Bottomless sips of beer, wine, and spirits serenaded by live music and entertainment. And of course, Colorado’s beautiful weather. Forget that beach bod, and instead work on your food baby at one or all of these glorious festivals, including DiningOut’s unforgettable bashes.
DiningOut Events Festivals
Endless Fun and Food at Top Taco
Sponsored by Buckhead Pride, DiningOut’s original festival, Top Taco, is now in its 11th year of bringing the best street tacos from more than 60 Colorado restaurants to hungry festival goers. The 21-plus event is taking place on Thursday, June 12th at Westminster City Park and tickets are on sale now.
Head to Top Taco if you love to eat stuff in a tortilla. Denver’s participating restaurants never disappoint, serving everything from traditional classics to creative mashups using innovative ingredients. You might find anything from a succulent pork al pastor topped in pineapple salsa, or top sirloin with pickled onions, avocado crema, and red chimichurri. It’s impossible to go hungry during this festival. Plus, there’s music and live lucha libre to cheer on.
Tickets: There are three tiers of tickets including general admission ($89). Next tier is first taste ($119), which gets you inside an hour earlier than GA at 6 p.m. Then the VIP experience ($169), which also enjoys a 6 p.m. entry. All three tickets include unlimited tacos, spirit samples, and craft cocktails; music and live entertainment. You also get to participate in the People’s Choice vote. VIP tickets also include private bars, private bathrooms, VIP lounge areas, premium spirits, and access to the Asada BBQ Showdown. The event ends at 10 p.m. with the announcement of the top tacos.
Inaugural Surf Seafood Festival
This year, DiningOut is hosting a brand new festival featuring the most flavorful food you’ll find on the high seas. Surf Seafood Festival’s inaugural 21-plus event is happening on July 31st from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at McGregor Square.
Attendance to Surf is capped at 800 attendees, which guarantees a more intimate experience. Look for bites from 20 local seafood restaurants, plus elevated wine and cocktail options. The featured eateries will be serving both raw and cooked seafood dishes. The upscale event encourages Colorado cocktail attire and will have live music and both indoor and outdoor spaces.
Like all DiningOut festivals, Buckhead Meat & Seafood will be sponsoring the event. All tickets include unlimited seafood and beverage sampling, live music, entertainment, and participation in the People’s Choice vote. VIP ticket holders will also get a Surf Beach Club access with a private bar and VIP lounge.
Tickets: Tickets to the event go on presale May 8. Book now for early bird pricing. General admission tickets run $150 (presale starting at $125), which gets you in at 7 p.m. First taste is $199 (presale starting at $165), and VIP is $275 (presale starting at $250). Only 125 VIP tickets are available, and the VIP lounge will overlook the festival and include additional amenities unique to Surf. To get early bird pricing, sign up for notifications HERE.
Embrace the Glory of Chicken Fight
If you love chicken then you won’t want to miss Chicken Fight on August 21, one of DiningOut’s most popular festivals. This year it’s once again at Elitch Gardens, and yes, there will be rides. Despite the games and fun, the event is 21-plus. Expect unlimited cold beer, all the fried chicken you can eat, and endless places to explore while noshing. Live country, bluegrass and blues music will set the mood as you vote for your favorite bird and cocktail.
Tickets: Tickets go on sale May 29th. Details on pricing coming soon.
Get Into the Meat of RARE Steak Fest
Like its name suggests, RARE is a festival and competition dedicated to one of Denver’s quintessential dishes–steak. On September 18th the sizzling 21-plus event will descend on Sculpture Park, right in front of the Denver Center of Performing Arts in Downtown.
DiningOut’s RARE brings more than 30 of the city’s best steakhouses together to fire up the grill and create something tasty. The line-up has yet to be released, but keep an eye out for the announcement. Once inside you’ll find unlimited bites, cocktails, and beverage pairings with top-tier spirits. This festival is not a good one for people who don’t eat red meat, that’s the crux of the whole event.
The flavors range from classic to innovative. You might find a cherry wood-smoked tenderloin topped with gorgonzola cream and paired with a twice-baked potato. Or, an Asian-style steak frites made with crispy potato hash, sweet potato and five-spice puree, and ginger-smoked short rib. Anything is possible.
Tickets: Tickets go on sale June 26th. General admission runs $125 with entry at 7 p.m. First taste tickets cost $175 with entry at 6 p.m. For high rollers, the VIP experience tickets are $350 and include entry at 5:30 p.m., premium spirits and cocktails, a VIP lounge, and private bars. All ticket holders can vote for their favorites and enjoy live entertainment while cheering on your favorite grillmaster.
More Summer Food Festivals
Mile High Asian Food Week
Kicking off AANHPI month in May, Mile High Asian Food Week (MHAFW) inspires foodies to eat their way through varying cuisines across Asia, from April 27th to May 3rd,. Now in its third year, the week-long fete includes more than 80 local vendors and restaurants, and here are some highlights.
Unlike other food festivals where people gather in one place, no tickets are needed. Instead, diners go to participating businesses and get perks such as special discounts, secret menu items, specialty menus, and more. Chow down on all the dumplings, Korean hot dogs, karaage, and sushi, and visit places such as Hop Alley, MAKfam, Chop Stix Fusion, TukTuk, and Now Pho. Find details on the MHAFW website, where each restaurant lists special promotions. You can even filter the restaurants by dietary restriction and location.
Food Truck Carnival
Ever wish there was a place to go and enjoy dozens of food trucks all in one place? Your dream has come true, because for the 8th year in a row the City of Northglenn is hosting the Food Truck Carnival from May 16 to May 18 at the E.B. Raines JR Memorial Park (11701 Community Center Dr., Northglenn).
The offerings are as varied as can be imagined from classic Southern fare from Deja Roux Cajun & Soul Food to Mukja Korean’s iconic Korean dogs to The Rolling Stoves and its cheese-filled comfort food. Whether you’re craving burgers or ice cream, there will be a truck serving it. Like the name suggests, there will also be a carnival on site with about 20 rides and midway games for all ages.
There will be breweries selling beer and several musical groups will be performing, promising an entertaining and filling event the whole family can enjoy. There are no tickets to this event, each food truck’s items will vary and a wristband for carnival rides can be purchased for $35.
Transport Yourself at the Belgian Import Fest
Fans of Belgian-style beers, rejoice, there’s a festival just for you. Bruz Beers in Midtown is hosting the Belgian Import Festival on Saturday, June 7th from 12 to 3 p.m. A ticket to “Beer Disneyland” will get guests immersed into Belgian beer culture.
While Bruz brews Belgian beers exclusively, the festival features several beers that have been imported to Colorado just for the event. Best part, the beers come accompanied by the brewers as well. There will be over two dozen breweries represented, including John Martin, Chimay, and Van Steenberge. On the food side, several food trucks provide different dining choices, paired perfectly with the brews and live music.
Vail Beer Classic Offers Beauty and Brews
The 9th Annual Vail Beer Classic takes place June 13 and 14, right in the heart of beautiful Vail Village. More than 40 Colorado breweries and beverage makers will be pouring top beers, ciders, spirits, and seltzers. The all-inclusive tickets let attendees sip, enjoy live music and eats from local food trucks, and meet the makers, all with a mountain view. Attendees can cast a vote for their favorite brews, too. Join breweries like Danico Brewing, Something Brewery, and Launch Pad Brewery at the ultimate summer beer event.
Tickets: Tickets are already on sale for the two Vail Craft Beer tasting sessions. It takes place Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. (3:30 p.m. for early access), and Saturday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. (1:30 p.m. for early access).
Get Fancy at Food & Wine Classic Aspen
The mother of all food festivals is Food & Wine Classic Aspen, an event that’s taken place for the past 40 years. The event, sponsored by Food & Wine magazine, is from June 20 to 22, and includes 40-plus cooking demos, wine and spirit tastings, and panel discussions helmed by chefs and beverage experts.
The tasting tents feature over 200 brands of wine, spirits, and food, and open twice a day on Friday and Saturday, and in the morning on Sunday. If you’re someone who wants to hobnob with celebrity chefs like Gregory Gourdet, Giada De Laurentiis, Antoni Poroski, and Colorado’s own Bobby Stuckey, this is a festival to add to your bucket list.
Tickets: Purchase your tickets now. The $2,950 consumer pass gets you access to the Grand Tasting Pavilion, which opens five times throughout the weekend, as well as the opportunity to sign up for cooking demonstrations and beverage seminars. The same perks can be found with the American Express Restaurant Trade Program Pass, also $2,950.
The biggest package is the Food & Wine Gives Pass, $5,000, which includes all the previously mentioned things, as well as access to the VIP lounge and invite-only welcome party exclusively on Thursday, June 19. Other perks include access to the invite-only Top of the Mountain Party on Friday, June 20, and tickets to the Classic Cookout at the top of Aspen Mountain on Sunday, June 22. The magazine will also donate $1,000 to charity for every Gives Pass sold.
Big Dining at The Big Eat
Head to the Denver Performing Arts Center (1400 Curtis S., Denver) on July 24 for EatDenver’s big fundraiser. The Big Eat has been going on since (tk), and this year promises to be just as good. In the past the stalls have featured items like Mountain Paella, Aloe Margaritas, Whiskey Tiramisu, Chargrilled Oysters, Rosé Sangria, Tom Kha Meatballs, and Alaskan Halibut Beignets.
This year expect goodies from Coperta, Pirate Chef, Odie B’s, Kawa Nii, King of Wings, and so many more. The event is 21-and-up, and includes endless bites and drinks and a lot of conversations. Proceeds go to support EatDenver, a nonprofit membership organization built to connect and empower the independent food and beverage community in Colorado.
Tickets: Buy tickets now for $110.80 (fees included) here.
Cooking In the Mountains at Heritage Fire
On August 2nd, Heritage Fire will make a stop in Snowmass, Colo. IIt’s part of the competition’s multi-city tour that includes cities coast to coast from Asheville to Los Angeles. At each stop Heritage Fire highlights the talents of local chefs through tastefully crafted bites and curated cocktails. Attendees can vote for their favorites and crown the next Heritage Hero.
This year the festival will be at Snowmass Base Camp and will feature chefs like Troy Guard of Guard and Grace, Zane Dearian of The Wooden Nickel, and Joshua Pollack of Lou’s Italian Specialties showing off their whole-animal grilling skills.
This year the festival will be at Snowmass Base Camp and will feature chefs like Troy Guard of Guard and Grace, Zane Dearian of The Wooden Nickel, and Joshua Pollack of Lou’s Italian Specialties showing off their whole -animal grilling skills.
Tickets: Pick up a ticket now through the website, heritagefiretour.com. General admission tickets run $99 and include entry from 4:15 to 7 p.m., unlimited bites, bottomless drinks, and live entertainment. The $150 VIP tickets also include all that, as well as an exclusive welcome cocktail and early access at 3:30 p.m.
Denver Food & Wine Festival
The Colorado Restaurant Association’s annual Denver Food and Wine Festival is sponsored by Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits. The event highlights Colorado’s best chefs, restaurants, wineries, distillers, and others in the state’s culinary community. Taste the joy of the state’s bounty through gourmet bites, endless samples of wines and spirits, and educational tasting seminars.
The three-day event culminates with the grand tasting on September 6 from noon to 4 p.m., held at the Tivoli Quad on the Auraria Campus. Other events surrounding the festival include a Reidel glassware seminar on September 3, 9 to 7 p.m. There’s also the Shake + Brake Showdown on September 4 from 7 to 10 p.m. The latter is all about creative cocktails from Denver’s best bars, and bites from the city’s favorite food trucks. Make sure to check on the prizes featured at the Dine Out auction, there’s plenty of special culinary experiences to win. .
Tickets: You can sign up to get a notification of early bird ticket access on the website now, denverfoodandwine.com. Details to come.
