Ten Best Spots for Food and Fun on Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day Weekend serves as a sort of signpost to summer. Sure, summer doesn't officially start until June 20, but we all know that when the three-day weekend rolls around, it's time to break out the grills, flip-flops and tank tops. Denver will be sizzling with events all weekend long, but not all events are created equal, or equally delicious. Keep reading for eight of the tastiest happenings around Denver this holiday weekend.  

10. TheBigWonderful
Geneva Lake Park, Littleton  
Through May28
TheBigWonderful is making big moves, and will make its debut in Littleton, at Geneva Lake Park, this weekend. From noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday you can shop, eat, drink, play games and shake it to live music. What better way to kick off your three-day weekend? Get all the details at thebigwonderful.com.


9. ArtStir Denver
Denver Pavilions 
May 28-29
ArtStir Denver is about more than just art. Yes, there will be over 100 Colorado artists and crafters showcasing a variety of works and handmade goods at the free two-day event, but there will also be plenty of food and drink vendors in the Colorado Craft Lot. Work up an appetite browsing the art booths, then head over and grab a bite to eat and a cold beer. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; a portion of the proceeds from ArtStir sales will benefit VSA Colorado and Access Gallery. For more information, visit artstirdenver.com.  

8. Boulder Creek Festival
Boulder Creek, Boulder  
May 28-30
Boulder has a couple of heavy-hitting events over Memorial Day weekend. The Bolder Boulder run brings tens of thousands of runners to the city for the holiday, but if you have food on your mind, there's only one place to get your fix: the Boulder Creek Festival. Now in its 29th year, the free festival will flood the banks of Boulder Creek with nine separate event areas, 500 vendors, four performance stages, carnival rides, food and beverage vendors, a beer garden, a rubber-duck race and more. The fest runs from Saturday through Monday; for more information, click here. 

7. Old South Gaylord Boardwalk Beach Bash
1000 Block of South Gaylord Street
May 28-30
Old South Gaylord is holding its annual Memorial Day Weekend festival, this one dubbed the Boardwalk Beach Bash. The fun starts at 3:30 p.m. Saturday with free music featuring the Jonny O. Band, Coral Creek and Judge Roughneck. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, the block will be full of food and drink from South Gaylord restaurants, performance artists, games and a kids' zone complete with a bouncy castle and fishing lessons. Find out more here.

6. The Pressed Conference
Highlands Masonic Center
Saturday, May 28
The Pressed Conference, a hard-cider festival featuring cideries from across the Rocky Mountains, will squeeze into the Highlands Masonic Center from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 28. The inaugural event will feature a slew of cideries, live music, an assortment of food trucks and more. Tickets are $40 for unlimited tastings, or $20 for designated drivers; pick yours up here.

5. Crawfish Boil Sunday Supper
The Way Back 
Sunday, May 29 
Barbecues are great and all, but boils are hard to beat. The Way Back is holding its first ever Crawfish Boil Sunday Supper, benefiting the Colorado Water Trust and American Whitewater, from noon to 7 p.m. on May 29. Way Back chefs Samuel Charles and Marcus Eng will be cooking up Louisiana crawfish with corn and potatoes, served alongside Good River Beer and Peach Street Distillers spirits. Between courses, you can enjoy the sun (with any luck) while playing games and hanging out on the patio. Tickets are $35, and 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Colorado Water Trust and American Whitewater, nonprofit organizations that support and restore water resources to sustain healthy aquatic ecosystems. Grab your tickets and get all the details here; we hear that a few seats are still available.

4. Slow Food Farmers' Market
The Source
Sunday, May 29
The Source and Slow Food Denver are teaming up to bring you a weekly indoor farmers' market showcasing a collection of local growers and producers. The Slow Food Farmers' Market will debut this Sunday, May 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and will feature nine guest vendors including Rosenberg's Bagels, Il Porcellino, La Joyia Farm, Five Points Fermentation and more. The Market will continue at the Source every Sunday through October; you can expect interactive and educational programming; culinary and cocktail-making demonstrations; rotating guest vendors; and in-store special events at the Source’s retailers. For more information, contact the Source at 720-443-1135.
     3. Memorial Day BBQ
Historic Elitch Theatre
Monday, May 30 
It wouldn't be Memorial Day without a barbecue. The Historic Elitch Theatre will be the backdrop for a barbecue and picnic on the theater's front lawn this Memorial Day. This is a celebration of the 125th anniversary for the theater, and a revival of a century-old tradition that Mary Elitch started when she would kick off the theater season with a picnic. There will be live music from Play'n Dirty; barbecue from Block & Larder (featuring fresh bread from Hops & Pie); wine from Local 46 and Jolly Goods; beer from Call to Arms Brewing Company, Goldspot Brewing Company and Factotum Brewhouse; family activities and more. The picnic will run from noon to 3 p.m.; admission is free, and food options will range from $5 to $10. Get all the details on the event's Facebook page.   

2. Lola Memorial Day Picnic
1575 Boulder Street
Monday May 30
Lola will host a Memorial Day picnic and get-down from noon to close, featuring hot-off-the-spit barbecue, tacos and ice-cold happy-hour drinks all day long. For more information, call 720-570-8686.

1. Prospect Sound Bites
Prospect Park,  Longmont
Monday, May 30 
Music, food and beer are the pillars of a happy life, and Prospect Sound Bites will be serving up all three at a concert series and food-truck gathering that runs every Monday through September. The event kicks off on Memorial Day with food trucks at noon. Music gets under way at 1 p.m. with Pete Pidgeon and Arcoda, followed by Hazel Miller from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Admission is free, but be sure to bring your wallet (and ID) for food and beer. Head over to prospectnewtown.com for all the details.   


For more Food & Drink events, go to our online calendar. If you know of an event that should be included in that calendar, send information to [email protected].