🎡 Carnivals, concerts, ice cream and beer
BY PEYTON GARCIA | @CITYCASTDENVER
It’s Friday, City Casters!
And not just any Friday … It’s Friday the 13th 😱 OoooOOo! So be sure to avoid ladders and cracked mirrors today. (Not black cats, though — they’re fine.)
Also, be wary of indulging in fire-related activities this weekend (like grilling) as we head into another round of Red Flag warnings and “extremely critical” fire conditions 🚩🔥
On a lighter note, if you’ve got a telescope, you can bust it out for Sunday night’s total lunar eclipse 🔭🌒
Until Monday! 👋
Things to do this weekend
🎸 Friday: Levitt Pavilion Summer Concert Series: Catch free shows every week, all summer long at Levitt Pavilion. The season kicks off this weekend with Son Rompe Pera and Don Chicharrón on Friday (6-10 p.m.) and Central City Opera on Sunday (3:30-8 p.m.). [Free]
🕵️ Friday: CSI: Regis: Calling all armchair sleuths — Regis University invites you to its 20th annual CSI conference. Tonight (6-9 p.m.), hear from Lt. Darren Versiga of the Pascagoula Police Department about his time investigating infamous serial killer Sam Little. [Free]
🌱 Saturday: Sip & Seed: Nonprofit Groundwork Denver is celebrating spring with a seedling sale and fundraiser event (11 a.m.-4 p.m.). Tickets get you a meal from onsite food trucks, drinks from featured breweries and wineries, and your choice of three seedlings! Plus, there will be greenhouse tours and workshops to get you properly geared up for gardening season. [$50]
🥕 Saturday: City Park Farmers Market: One of Denver’s most popular farmers markets is back for the season starting this weekend. Find it at City Park every Saturday (8 a.m.-1 p.m.) now through October. [Free]
🍦 Saturday: Beer and Ice Cream Pairing: Is there a better way to beat the heat than with a creamy, dreamy ice cream cone and an ice cold beer? Not according to Denver Beer Co, which is hosting its annual beer and ice cream pairing this weekend (1-5 p.m.) [$30]
🛍️ Saturday: Sun Valley Night Market: Sun Valley will debut its new neighborhood night market this Saturday (4-10 p.m.). Expect live music (from our very own CCD theme song artists, Los Mocochetes), more than 30 local food vendors, and family-friendly games and activities, all in the name of community. [Free]
🏝️ Saturday + Sunday: AAPI Festival: The Denver Zoo is hosting a festival this weekend (11 a.m.-5 p.m.) in honor of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The zoo has partnered with the Filipino-American Community of Colorado to bring multicultural dance, art, music, and workshops for the event. [$14-$20]
🎢 Saturday + Sunday: Lakeside: Denver’s amusement park darling will begin welcoming thrill-seekers back for the summer season this weekend with limited hours (and plans to gradually ramp back up to regular hours). [$5+]
🏃 Saturday + Sunday: Colfax Marathon: Denver’s “largest running weekend” comes back to Colfax with a smorgasbord of options for runners — Take your pick from a full marathon, half marathon, 10-miler, 5K, or all of them (seriously, that’s an option). [$52+]
🌌 All weekend: StarFest: Denver’s homage to sci-fi entertainment ranging from movies and video games to comics and cosplay. Meet sci-fi stars, shop exhibitors, compete in games and contests, and tune into exclusive expert panels. [$45+]
🥡 All weekend: Food Truck Carnival: In the market for a new favorite food truck? Maybe you’ll find it among the 20+ trucks participating in the 5th annual Food Truck Carnival this weekend, where there will be carnival rides, live music, and lots of food (duh). [Free]
News you should know
- Denver activist Jesse Parris has tossed his hat in the ring for the 2023 race for mayor. By our count of interesting candidates to watch, Parris joins former gang member turned activist Terrance Roberts and human rights advocate Ean Thomas Tafoya. [Denverite]
- Bird flu finally got to Colorado’s chickens. An egg farm in Weld County had to cull nearly 1.4 million hens and temporarily lay off 95 workers in response to an outbreak on the farm. [Business Journal]
- The Denver DA has dropped criminal charges against Arslan Guney, aka the “Mayor of Pickleball,” the 71-year-old man who was arrested for drawing pickleball court markings on a rec center floor. A settlement requires Guney to pay for half the damages to the rec center ($4,600). In return, his rec center membership will be reinstated. [Westword]
- Denverite Raul Chavez Portillo has died. Portillo was known in the community for elevating Chicano culture. He also grew the presence of traditional Aztec Dance in Denver. Portillo’s family has started a GoFundMe to raise money for a funeral. [Denverite]
Denver’s “Decade of Doom” ⛺
10 Years of Sweeping Homelessness Under the Rug
Ten years ago this week, Denver leaders signed the urban camping ban into law. Since then, folks across the city have experienced displacement, skyrocketing housing costs, and fewer and fewer sheltering options for those living on the margins. Today on the show, Host Bree Davies sits down with Denver Homeless Out Loud cofounder Benjamin Dunning and Westword reporter Conor McCormick-Cavanaugh for a wide-ranging conversation on how Denver got here and what the future looks like for a city that desperately needs more affordable housing options.
Miss an episode this week?
THU: A Shooting. A Neighborhood Divided. What’s Next for La Alma-Lincoln Park?
WED: He’s a Beloved Northside Teacher. Why Did DPS Let Him Go?
TUE: What’s the Can’t-Miss Spot to See a Lion, Tiger, or Bear in Colorado?
MON: Should Denverites Be Paying for Trash Pickup?
👉 Find all our shows at denver.citycast.fm.