Audio By Carbonatix
The Taste of Colorado may celebrate its 24th anniversary this year, but the Festival of Mountain and Plain originated in 1895, when Denver’s Chamber of Commerce conceptualized the Festival to raise morale after a silver shortage. The carnival-style celebration included a parade, a masquerade ball, fireworks from the D&F Tower and hundreds of displays from local organizations. Although it was a raging success the first year, in subsequent years it buckled under competition from other events. In retaliation for the lack of community support, several would-be organizers went so far as to dump oil in and set fire to the lake in City Park. But in 1983, the Festival of Mountain and Plain was reignited as part of the inaugural celebration for the opening of the 16th Street Mall, and the Taste hasn’t looked back since.
Today’s Taste may be a bit more common and a lot less incendiary, but it’s still a must. Personally, I go for the gargantuan turkey legs. As always, it’s free, with concession and game tickets sold in strips of eight for $5.
Sun., Aug. 31, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Mon., Sept. 1, 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Tue., Sept. 2, 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Wed., Sept. 3, 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m., 2008
