The Twenty Tastiest Events in Denver Over Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day weekend can taste bittersweet: It's a long holiday weekend, which is always welcome, but it also ushers in the unofficial end of summer. So get out there and have some fun — and lots of food. The Taste of Colorado runs all weekend in Civic Center Park, but there are events all over town. Keep reading for the tasty details on the twenty tastiest events on Denver's Labor Day weekend calendar.

Thursday, September 1

In honor of No Kid Hungry Month, No Kid Hungry Colorado is launching its Culinary Cricket Challenge today. Over the next four weeks, five chefs a week will highlight a unique challenge ingredient in a weekend special, then “hop” a new surprise ingredient to the next group of chefs; the series will culminate with a big bash on October 2.  This weekend the challenge lands at Jax Fish House Glendale, the Way Back, Bar Dough, El Chingon and Blackbelly. All proceeds from the specials they sell will benefit Cooking Matters Colorado and the work of Colorado's No Kid Hungry. For more information, check out cookingmatters.org or the Challenge Facebook page.

The Tavern Uptown is kicking off a five-day celebration before it closes for a massive remodel, with live entertainment every day and discounts increasing through Monday. Today you get 10 percent off on all food and beverages; by September 5, the discount will be 50 percent — and after last call, the neighborhood joint will close for renovation. Contact the bar at 303-830-9210.

Friday, September 2

You know summer is wrapping up when A Taste of Colorado rolls into Civic Center Park. The Labor Day weekend mainstay will bring food from over fifty restaurants, drinks, carnival rides, live music, shopping, games and more to Denver today through Monday, September 5. As always, admission is free, but you'll want to bring some cash for food and drink tickets. Get all the details at atasteofcolorado.com.  

Water Valley Ranch in Wyoming has teamed up with Denver's own Elise Wiggins for a weekend celebrating food and outdoor activities. The culinary retreat gets under way this evening with cocktails followed by a five-course dinner prepared by Wiggins. On Saturday, learn to cook like a pro at a cooking class hosted by Wiggins or spend the day on the Encampment River fly-fishing, then enjoy cocktails and another five-course dinner with wine pairings. The weekend getaway is $700 for adults and $300 for children; grab your tickets here.  

Infinite Monkey Theorem is hosting its monthly First Friday event from 5 to 10 p.m. today, with music by Ejay the DJ and art by photographer David Sands. Skadi’s food truck will be serving food and, of course, the winery will have beverages. A portion of sales will go toward the University of Colorado Cancer Center; find more information at theinfinitemonkeytheorem.com.

In celebration of the long weekend, Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House will be running a baby-back ribs special all weekend long, as well as offering 30 percent off on all bottles of wine. Contact the restaurant at 303-796-0100, for reservations and more information. 

Tunes, Brews & Wormwood #2 is worming its way into Strange Craft Beer Company, putting on a live comedy/improv show at 7 p.m. today and 2 p.m. tomorrow.  Tickets, $15, are available here.   

Keep reading for more events this weekend.
Saturday, September 3

DEFINE body & mind has paired with Denver Beer Co. to offer a donation-based Barre at the Bar class today at 10 a.m. Get your barre burn on at Denver Beer Co. and then enjoy cold brews to unwind. Register and learn more here; donations benefit First Descents.    

Chef Jorel Pierce will once again lead a Stoic & Genuine School of Fish cooking class from 10 a.m. to noon today, focusing on "cod through the history of mankind." Tuition is $70 and includes lunch at the end of class. Check out the full schedule of the monthly class here, and RSVP for the cod class at [email protected]. 

Head to Brews and Views at Hudson Gardens in Littleton at 2 p.m. today, when you can sample beers from over forty breweries, enjoy live music, nosh on food-truck fare, and soak in the Colorado scenery. Tickets are $25; grab yours here. 

A Taste of Lone Tree is offering food from over 25 area restaurants, along with drinks, live music and family fun today. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for kids in advance, or $25 for adults and $12 for kids at the gate. Get the full scoop at lonetreechamber.com.  

Aurora Cooks will launch a three-part Preserved Pantry cooking-class series starting today with a class from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. that will highlight fermenting and pickling. Class is at the Aurora Municipal Center, and tuition is $68, or $52 for Aurora residents. Register and learn more at auroragov.org.  

Denver Deep Dish LoHi will be offering buy-one-get-one-free breakfast sandwiches and pizzas, starting today and running through October. The deal will be available during brunch, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call 720-619-3337. 

Sunday, September 4 

Comida, the Mexican cantina in the Source, is celebrating its third anniversary by contributing to Slow Food Denver, a nonprofit that advocates for “good, clean and fair” food practices and hosts an indoor farmers' market at the Source every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  For every brunch dish that’s purchased today, Comida will donate $3 to Slow Food Denver. And the giving doesn't end there: Every brunch guest will get a complimentary Comosa – Comida’s grapefruit-ginger mimosa – in celebration of the restaurant's third birthday. Brunch runs from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.; find more information at EatComida.com.

Mishawaka Amphitheatre celebrates its 100-year anniversary season with a farm-to-fork seated dinner at Grant Farms CSA from 5 to 9 p.m. today. The five-course meal will begin with light appetizers prepared by chef Brent Jackson from the Kitchen Fort Collins and drinks from Horse & Dragon Brewing Company and Wunder Juice; there will be live music. Tickets are $85 and can be purchased here; proceeds will benefit the Kitchen Community.  

Comida at the Source is celebrating its third anniversary today with a special charity brunch. For the occasion, the restaurant will contribute $3 for every brunch dish purchased to Slow Food Denver. Additionally, you'll get a complimentary  grapefruit-ginger mimosa. The anniversary brunch also takes place during Slow Food Denver’s weekly indoor farmers' market at the Source, which takes place every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For reservations and more information, contact Comida at 303-296-2747. 

Monday, September 5 

Jax Fish House in LoDo will be offering all-night happy hour today, serving up $1.50 oysters, $4 chicken and crawfish gumbo, $6 peel-and-eat shrimp, $3 Post Brewing Co. beers and more. Call the restaurant at 303-292-5767 for reservations and more information. 

For this week's Monday Night Wine Dinner Series, the team at Frasca Food and Wine will select a special flight of wines. The four-course meal is $50, with optional wine pairings ranging from $40 to $50. For reservations, contact Frasca at 303-442-6966.  

Lola is throwing a Labor Day picnic and barbecue starting at noon today with live music, BBQ and happy-hour drink specials all day long. For more information, call Lola at 720-570-8686.

The Post Brewing Company is firing up its Yoder Smoker and serving up BBQ and beer specials from noon to 8 p.m. today. Contact the Post at 303-593-2066, 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].