Dragon Boat Festival is bigger than ever

ere’s nothing like reaching a major goal after years of work. is is a concept the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival is very aware of — not only has it grown by leaps and bounds in its more than two decades of existence, but this year it achieved a major milestone.

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“ is year we were able to purchase a eet of new boatsHong Kong-style BuK Dragon Boats,” said Sara Moore, Executive Director of Colorado Dragon Boat. “Getting these boats is 23 years in the making and we’re so excited to have them.” is year’s free festival is bigger than ever, which re ects the growing inter- est from members of the Asian American Native Hawaiian Paci c Islander (AANHPI) community and those who want to learn about and celebrate the vibrant cultures represented at the event. Last year’s festival drew in more than 170,000 people, according to Moore, and this year is on track to match or exceed that number.

Dragon boat racing is just one thing visitors can explore at this year’s annual Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, which will be held at Sloan’s Lake, 25th Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard in Denver, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 22 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 23.

“We’re becoming more inclusive and working with the community to make sure everyone’s voices are heard,” she added. “We see a huge thirst and desire for Coloradoans to come out and support these organizations.” e nonpro t organization puts hours and hours of work into the festival, which also doubles as a crucial fundraiser for Colorado Dragon Boat. All the festival’s beverage centers are run by local nonpro ts that also use the event as a fundraiser, so every dollar spent on a beverage is split between the nonpro t sponsor and Colorado Dragon Boat.

“We have great volunteers and sponsors who make the festival possible,” Moore said. “It is inspiring and empowering to see the community respond in such a needed way.”

In addition to the titular racing, visitors have a bevy of options for explor- ing. ere’s the Asian Marketplace and Asian Craft Tent, both of which feature unique gifts and artworks. And speaking of art, the festival features three performance stages, where a range of performers will share traditional and contemporary Asian and Asian-American instrumental, vocal, choral and dance performances. ere are all kinds of options to select from, so regardless of what you’re in the mood for, you’re guaranteed to nd something that suits.

I can’t forget to mention the food, which is always delicious and can be found in the Taste of Asia Food Court.

No mater where your interests or curiosities lead, the festival will provide an opportunity for enlightenment, entertainment and, most importantly, cultural connection.

“I love seeing the community coming together in celebration, especially since there aren’t enough events that highlight the contributions of the AANHPI community,” Moore said. “ e festival is a great way to tell the world we’re here, showcase all we’ve done and that we’re not going anywhere.”

All the details can be found at www. cdbf.org/summerinfo.

Celebrate Colorado creatives at Curtis Center

Colorado’s arts scene is constantly evolving and expanding in ways that are both thrilling and imaginative. is makes the 40th Annual All Colorado Art Show at the Curtis Center for the Arts, 2349 E. Orchard Road in Greenwood Village, a great opportunity to explore just how talented artists in the state.

One of most the popular shows at the center, it runs through Saturday, Aug. 26. Visit https://www.greenwoodvillage.com/curtis for all the details.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Caamp at Red Rocks e folk-rock band has been around since 2016 and had a major breakthrough with their third album, “Lavender Days,” which was released about a year ago. Fans of groups like e Lumineers and Nathaniel Rateli will nd a lot to love, so get tickets at www. ticketmaster.com.

Look, the actual concert of the week is Taylor Swift’s two-night run at Empower Field, but to score tickets to that, you’d probably need to shorten your child’s time at college by a year or so.

With that in mind, why not check out Ohio’s Caamp, who are performing two nights at Red Rocks, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway in Morrison, at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 19 and ursday, July 20.

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.