Broomfield BrewHaHa

Fresh Brews, Music, Food, and Fun

By Kristen Beckman

Broomfield will host its 7th Annual Broomfield BrewHaHa festival from noon to 5:00 p.m. June 17 at Arista Park. The event started in 2016 and has been held every year except 2020 when it was canceled due to COVID-19.

The mission behind BrewHaHa is to spotlight the Arista neighborhood and businesses to Broomfield residents who live on the other side of US 36 and to acquaint new Arista residents with Broomfield’s community services, said Kay Gazaway, community events coordinator for the City and County of Broomfield.

“BrewHaHa is a fun afternoon where you can play on the grass, explore the vendor tents and dance to the music,” said Gazaway. “The food and beer are always delicious and children and dogs are welcome as the atmosphere is relaxed and playful making it a perfect afternoon out with friends or family.”

The event features fresh local brews, food trucks, lawn games, live bands, merchants, and more. Always a popular attraction, the lawn games include corn hole and giant versions of Jenga, checkers, and Connect 4. Bands this year are Andy in the San Luis, led by Nashville and Denver-based singer and songwriter Andy Hackbarth, and Daddyblue, one of Denver’s most popular bands performing Pop, Swing, Classic and Motown favorites. Before the music starts there will be free yoga on the lawn at 10:30 a.m. hosted by Broomfield Recreation.

Featured breweries include Wonderland Brewing, Westminster Brewing Company, and Luki Brewing, and food will be available from Taste of Texas, Kona Ice, Eats & Sweets, El Jefe’s Smothered Brats and Tots, La Distileria, and Ruby Ru’s. Beer tickets will be available for $5 and may be purchased with cash.

Festival goers will be able to shop from vendors offering handcrafted dog products like leashes and collars, leather bracelets and earrings, abstract art on wood panels, coasters and trays, craft cocktail and mocktail infusion kits, baby bows and toddler headbands, mommy and me apron sets, handmade macrame wall art, crystal jewelry, and more. In addition, guests can visit with and learn about some of Broomfield’s service departments including Broomfield Police, the library, public health services, recreation and Open Space and Trails.

Months of work and many departments make BrewHaHa a success. Planning began in late 2022 with the selection of bands, said Gazaway. In January, or- ganizers began contracting for the event infrastructure including stage and sound services, fencing, portalets, and zero waste. Between February and April, food trucks and breweries were signed on and permits and licenses were obtained, including an alcohol permit, street closure permit, temporary stage permit, park permit, and other details arranged, said Gazaway. In addition, organizers recruited and vetted vendors. Broomfield FISH partners with BrewHaHa to provide its refrigerator truck to keep beer cold throughout the day.

Broomfield Recreation takes the lead in planning the event and providing staffing for the day of the event. The team is supported by careful planning and collaboration with several other city departments including media and communications, streets, parks, and police, said Gazaway.

Those interested in volunteering for the event can be ambassadors for Zero Waste by helping guide guests to properly dispose of their compostable cups and plates.

Visit www.broomfield.org/2454/BrewHaHa for more information.

Photos from previous BrewHaHa events: