Saturday is a busy day for food and booze lovers this weekend, but if you're a careful planner, you can hit a car show, a mini-music festival (with beer, of course — this is Denver), an urban farm, a block party and a parade with a drumline, all in one day. Friday and Sunday? Yeah, there's some stuff those days, too. Here are seven tasty events to keep you busy from July 7 through July 9.
Friday, July 7
Hoist your stein to German culture this weekend at the Biergarten Festival. You can get your fill of Deutschland delights all weekend (Friday 4 to 10 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.) at the TEV Edelweiss festival grounds, 17832 Highway 8 in Morrison. This is a family-friendly event (you can even bring four-legged family members) with German and Austrian bands and dancers; enormous pretzels, apfelstrudel, wienerschnitzel and other German foods; German beers, of course; and — everyone's favorite — Dachshund races. Admission is a bargain at $5 for adults, $3 for kiddos six to twelve, and free for your toddler and wiener dog. But be sure to bring cash; that's the only way you'll be able to pay for that dirndl once you get in. Check out the event website for complete information. Prost!
Saturday, July 8
Bruz Beers, North Denver's premier — er, only — all-Belgian-style brewery, is turning one on Saturday, July 8, and the party starts at the mind-bogglingly early hour of 7 a.m. with a car show (BYOV, coffee included). If you're not quite that enthusiastic about rising from bed, show up later in the day for a local market, special beer tappings, live music, games and the Park Burger truck; festivities run until 10 p.m., so check out bruzbeers.com for a complete schedule. Whether you're an early bird, a night owl or something in between (daytime dodo?), there'll be a brew waiting for you at Bruz.
Past due for some shenanigans? How about a shindig? Breckenridge Brewery's Hootenanny is probably the closest thing to your Platonic ideal. The brewery, 2920 Brewery Lane in Littleton, is hosting an all-day celebration on Saturday, July 8, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with tons of bands on two stages, a pig roast and four beers included in the ticket price (additional beers will be available for purchase, as well as additional food to soak them up). Packages run from $25 (DD) to $55 (2-day pass) and can be purchased on Breck's website, but before buying, do your research and check out the FAQ — there won't be any parking at the brewery for this hoedown. You've been warned.
Keep reading for more Saturday and Sunday events...
[image-4]Saturday, July 8 (continued)
For a relaxed afternoon in an urban garden, stop by EarthLinks' Garden Fest on Saturday, July 8, from 3 to 7 p.m. The nonprofit runs a work program for low-income and homeless people, creating earth-friendly products from its farm at West 13th Avenue and Decatur Street. This benefit boasts music from the Milk Blossoms, Danette Hollowell and Wesley Watkins of the Other Black, while Strange Craft beers, Colorado Cider Company ciders and food-truck bites will be available for purchase. Sip your drink and stroll the farm at 2746 West 13th Avenue for just $15, or $20 for VIP. Check out the EarthLinks website for details and ticket sales.
You've heard of pop-up dinners and pop-up cocktail bars, but how about a pop-up park? Great Divide Brewing takes advantage of the new Square on 21st Street between Larimer and Lawrence streets (which will only be around this summer) with a slightly different take on its annual Block Party. Beers, music and lawn games will be the order of the day from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 8, and Great Divide is offering different ticket prices depending on your level of commitment. "Put a Ring on It" $40 tickets are already sold out, but $10 "Going Steady" passes are still available at greatdivide.com, which will guarantee admission and get you a pint of Denver Pale Ale upon entry, with additional beer tokens available for purchase inside the gates. If you're undecided but happen to be in the neighborhood, you can take your chances at the gate; day-of tickets are only $5, but the tiny pop-up park may be full. Whichever ticket you choose, you must be 21 or older to enter; proceeds will benefit Levitt Pavilion Denver.
RedLine, the nonprofit contemporary art center, is halfway through its summer-long second Saturday Movable Feast series. Next up is a festive evening on Saturday, July 8, at the intersection of East 26th Avenue and Washington Street in Five Points. The night of community-building blends a site-specific table sculpture, food and face-to-face dialogue with neighborly fun. After a discussion with Tracy Jenkins Winchester of the Five Points Business Improvement District, RedLine resident artist Thomas Evans decided to design his table with a feel for Five Points history and changes in the district; the evening will get started with a procession led by the mighty Montbello Drumline to the table site from the Gem Food Store, 2958 Downing Street. Party on the street with the people of Five Points from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Remaining dates in the series include August 12 and September 9; learn more at redlineart.org.
Sunday, July 9
Brunch: when a server brings bottomless mimosas and the menu offers a choice of seven French toasts and three different eggs Benedicts — unless you're at Station 26 Brewing's regularly scheduled Bluegrass Brunch, that is. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 9, you'll be sipping beer (not cocktails) and standing in line at the Turn-In BBQ truck for your grub, all while listening to some high lonesome sounds courtesy of the band. Glazed and Confuzed doughnuts will also be on hand, in case you just can't envision a Sunday morning without your sweet treat. So grab your kid and head over to the best patio that doubles as a daycare (future Best of Denver category?), at 7045 East 38th Avenue.
Check out the Westword calendar for more food and drink events.