Start celebrating the July 4th weekend by getting blasted. Starting today, and every following Thursday in July, Chipotle will be offering two-for-one margaritas, because there is no better way to start the weekend than to throw back a marg, or two. After those margs you can keep the good times rolling right through Sunday, because the culinary calendar is packed with explosive events this weekend. Keep reading for all the tasty details.
Thursday, July 2
Haystack Mountain Goat Cheese is offering tours and cheese tastings today from 2 to 3 p.m. Learn about the cheese-making process, tour the grounds, and partake in a five-course technical cheese tasting. After the tour you can also purchase cheeses. Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased on the Haystack site here.
Friday, July 3
The Cherry Creek Arts Festival will once again be taking over Cherry Creek North, starting today. The festival will feature a beer garden, tons of food from around the world complete with chef's demonstrations, and over 260 artists showcasing their work. The Cherry Creek Arts Festival will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and tomorrow and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday; admission is free. For more information, visit cherrycreekartsfestival.org.
Union Station and the Terminal Bar are starting off the holiday weekend right with Stars & Stripes Express Fest from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today. The Terminal Bar will be extending its patio to over double its normal size to make room for live music and family-friendly entertainment. Guests can also celebrate with specials on some of Colorado's finest brews. For more information, check out terminalbardenver.com.
Saturday, July 4
The Fort Restaurant is celebrating the 4th by serving up a good, old-fashioned home-style meal with a side of firepower. In addition to the regular menu, the restaurant wiil offer a three-course dinner featuring a bison and pork BBQ rib platter, mac and cheese, cherry pie and more, and firing off the traditional 1830s cannon every hour on the hour. For reservations and more information, call 303-697-4771 or visit thefort.com.
To celebrate the 4th, Feisty Spirits is releasing its annual Red White & Blue Bourbon. This limited edition seasonal bourbon is made from 20 percent red corn, 20 percent white corn, 20 percent blue corn, rye and malted barley. Each bottle is $48 — and $2 goes to Rebuilding America’s Warriors, a nonprofit that provides reconstructive surgery to injured veterans in Colorado. Grab your bottle at the Feisty Spirits tasting room or at Mayfair Liquors.
Jax Fish House in Boulder is opening early so that guests can celebrate the holiday with the restaurant's extended happy hour. Jax will be offering happy hour prices and specials from 2 to 6 p.m. today, and will be serving dinner from 4 to 8 p.m. The restaurant will be offering $1.25 oysters, $6 peel-and-eat shrimp, $7 calamari, $2.50 Miller High Life cans and much more. For reservations and more information, call Jax at 303-444-1811.
Lola is throwing a barbecue blowout today. The restaurant's second annual 4th of July BBQ and Taco Eating Contest will feature BBQ specials like half slabs of pork rib barbacoa with sweet habanero BBQ sauce, smoked wings with lime and de arbol wing sauce and much more, including south-of-the-border fixings. There will also be drink specials and music; the taco-eating contest will kick off at 3 p.m. For reservations and more information, call Lola at 720-570-8686.
And speaking of BBQs, The Post Brewing Company is celebrating Independence Day with lots of smoked meats and cold beer. Guests can get BBQ pork shoulder and ribs with cole slaw, baked beans and cornbread for $15. The Post will also be at Waneka Lake in Lafayette, where it will be pouring beers alongside food trucks, live music, games and fireworks. The food specials will be going on all day at the restaurant and Post will be at Waneka lake from 4 to 10 p.m. For more information, click here.
Westminster Brewing Company is throwing a 4th of July Beer and Music Fest today from 2:30 to 10:30 p.m. The family-friendly festival will feature music by Josh Blackburn, Lindsey Saunders Music, Sean G. and Kieran from Big Paddy and Andy Sydow, food from Fajita Junction and The Dog Haus, and great views of the Westminster fireworks display. For more information, visit the events Facebook page.
Locavore Beer Works is launching the inaugural Freedom Fest today from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Let your freedom ring as you celebrate your independence with rare beer tappings at noon, 1, 2 and maybe 3 p.m. There will also be food from Rocky Mountain Catering, tie-dying, and brewery tours.
The eighth annual Highland 4th of July Parade/Picnic begins at 9:30 a.m. today, and is followed by music, food, games and a 100-foot ice cream sundae at Hirshorn Park starting at 10 a.m. The event is free; for more information, click here.
C Squared Ciders, Denver's newest cidery, is throwing a party today with live music, cider samples and views of the fireworks. The party gets rolling at 7 p.m. For more information, visit the event's Facebook page.
Naive Melodies is playing a free show at TheBigWonderful from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 4. You'll also find food trucks, games, vendors, booze and more live music at this kid- and dog-friendly event. For more information, visit thebigwonderful.com.
Sunday, July 5
The Nickel, which marks its first birthday this month, continues to serve up special farm-to-table prix fixe dinners that are centered around local, seasonal ingredients. The Sunday Supper deal runs from 5 to 10 p.m; it's $30 per person. For reservations and more information, call the Nickel at 720-889-2128.
For information on dozens of culinary events around town, visit our online Food & Drink listings — and if you have information for a culinary event you'd like included in our online calendar, send it to [email protected].