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Photos: Shenanigans Ensue at August First Friday in the Art District on Santa Fe

Street dancers, musicians and artists livened up First Friday on a closed-to-traffic Santa Fe Drive.
Image: street dancers dance in a drum circle
A drum circle and street dancers at August First Friday. Kristen Fiore
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August's First Friday in Denver's Art District on Santa Fe is the one time that cars aren't invited to the arty party. August 1 was purely for the people.

Turns out, when there's not a never-ending line of traffic shooting through the middle of a community event, the streets come alive with music, dancers, food and art.

The monthly art walk has had some growing pains this year. After the number of street vendors grew beyond the ADSF's capacity, resources and infrastructure, the art district had the event permitted as a special event, citing issues with inaccessible sidewalks and vendors blocking gallery entrances.

First Friday becoming a bona fide special event meant that vending would no longer be free. It also meant that while Santa Fe Drive remained open to traffic during the art walk, it was no longer open to vendors, who were assigned designated areas on the side streets instead.

"The new vendor system has been working out great now that things have settled down," ADSF director of operations Ana Paula Pinto says. "After releasing our open letter and connecting directly with vendors and businesses, there has been much better understanding and support of the challenges surrounding this event and why changes were needed for accessibility and safety at these growing events. We've received great feedback from local small businesses who feel their spaces are more accessible, from visitors who are having an easier/safer time navigating the district, and from vendors who have registered and had great experiences in our designated vendor areas."

But for the August event, vendors were welcomed back onto Santa Fe Drive for an evening celebrating community and creativity.

People browsed local art, ate at food trucks, checked out galleries and gathered to watch the many performances that brought music and dancing to the street instead of exhaust fumes.

August's First Friday is always special, but right now, closing down Santa Fe Drive for the event is only a once-a-year possibility. Paula Pinto told Westword in June that while the district would love to close Santa Fe Drive for First Friday every month, "the city will not permit them more than once per year due to the heavy amount of traffic that moves down Santa Fe Drive."

But with that street closed on August 1, the traffic was all in art.

Here are some snapshots from the event:
click to enlarge an artist paints
An artist paints at August First Friday.
Kristen Fiore
click to enlarge DJs on the street
DJs fill Santa Fe Drive with music.
Kristen Fiore
click to enlarge A man on roller skates
A skater takes advantage of the closed streets at August First Friday.
Kristen Fiore
click to enlarge Three women pose for a picture
Andrea Fischer (left) and friends at August First Friday.
Kristen Fiore
click to enlarge A man drums on plastic buckets
A street drummer at August First Friday.
Kristen Fiore
click to enlarge People holding plants and talking
The Green Lady Gardens booth at First Friday.
Kristen Fiore
click to enlarge An aerialist hangs from a hoop
An aerialist hangs from a hoop in one of the vending areas.
Kristen Fiore
click to enlarge people in line for food trucks
People wait in line for food trucks.
Kristen Fiore
click to enlarge a baby doll face embedded in a crochet bag
A baby doll face embedded into a crochet bag.
Kristen Fiore
click to enlarge A man with a dog in his lap
A vendor and his dog at August First Friday.
Kristen Fiore
click to enlarge Three people sit on a couch
Jennifer Levine and friends at Bitfactory Gallery.
Kristen Fiore
click to enlarge two people check out a booth of art
People check out local artists' wares.
Kristen Fiore
click to enlarge hanging sun catchers
Suncatchers hang from a vendor's booth at August First Friday.
Kristen Fiore
click to enlarge A booth with plants in it
City Floral's booth at August First Friday.
Kristen Fiore
click to enlarge A woman dances
Dancers at August First Friday.
Kristen Fiore