Denver is Where to Go to Celebrate Juneteenth
It may surprise many of you who are about to read this post but Denver’s Juneteenth celebration is one of the largest celebrations in the United States. In fact, some people have said that it is the largest Juneteenth observation in the US. I would make the argument that Denver is where to go to celebrate Juneteenth. If you’re puzzled as to how this is even possible, the state of Colorado is really close to Texas. But, it’s separated from Texas by that awkward section of Oklahoma…because, Texas wanted to maintain its status as a slave state.
Google it.
And there is a lot of movement between the Black communities between the two states (as well as to California) If you’re looking to experience and enjoy a Juneteenth Celebration, I strongly recommend giving Denver a second look. Not convinced? Keep reading.
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Cowtown Denver Newsletter
What is Denver’s Weather Like in June
This year’s celebration will be happening the weekend of June 15-16, 2024. The thing is we need to talk about Denver’s weather during June. It’s…complicated. Typically, we have a wide range of weather that can happen during June.
- Fog
- Heat
- Perfect weather
- Snow
- Sunshine
All of these experiences can happen during the same day. I strongly recommend obsessively watching the weather about 10 days before you fly into town. It’s important to bring layers to wear especially if you plan on attending any outdoor events, head to the mountains or are visiting from a super warm weather location. Yes, it does get really hot during the summer, but summers in recent years seem to be starting later in the year.
June Is the Best Month To Visit Denver (for Black Tourists)
It’s my view that June is one of the best months, if not the best month, for Black tourists to visit Denver. There are a few reasons for this.
- Juneteenth Celebration
- Five Points Jazz Celebration
- A ton of things to do that are unique to the state
- Outdoors concerts
- Red Rocks experiences
- Festivals
Tourist season has kicked off in June but it’s not as insane as it is during the months of July-September.
How to Get to Denver
Denver is located in the Rocky Mountain West and is not the Midwest. You can make your way to Denver a couple of different ways.
- Fly to Denver International Airport-The third busiest airport in the world.
- Take the California Zephyr Amtrak route.
- Road trip into town
If you fly into to town you can take the train from the airport to downtown’s Union Station and then head to your hotel. The cost is $10.50 for a ticket that you can use all day. If you take the train, it stops at Union Station as well. null
Here’s Where Should You Stay in Denver
I’ve included an interactive map below as well as some hotel suggestions as well. The properties that I’ve included are a nice range of prices but all are basically located in Denver’s city center. This will make it easy to get to Empower Field Stadium the day of the game by light rail, car share or even by riding a bike.
- The Source Hotel
- You would actually exit the train at the 38th and Blake stop (one stop before Union Station)
- Espadin
Book Your Tour STAT-They Fill Up Fast During the Summer
The traffic in Denver and around the state is so stressful to deal with. Instead, leave the driving and planning of your adventures to a team of people who enjoy handling the logistics of exploring Colorado during the busy summer tourist season. I’ve including different types of tours that I think would be fun to take part in.
What to Bring
Denver is dry. You will find yourself needing to moisturize often throughout the day. If you’re from a location with high humidity you will find yourself using lotion, chapstick and hydrating often. If you don’t-you will be really ashy throughout the day LOL! It’s also typically very sunny here so sunblock is non-negotiable.
I also want to bring up the fact that you may find yourself participating in activities outdoors. Walking, hiking, soaking in hot tubs or hot springs. With that in mind I have some items that I suggest you pack for your trip. Especially if you are here for at least a week.
Rain gear (rain jacket or umbrella)
- You need a swimsuit for hot tubs or hot springs!
You won’t have the pressure to dress up daily as the people here are very casual. But, if you decide to dress up just be prepared for lots of compliments and questions about where you got whatever it is you’re wearing that day.
Additional Things to Do While You’re Here
There are a ton of activities to enjoy while you’re here for Juneteenth. Here is are some suggested activities happening around that week or are ongoing experiences in town.
- Enjoy the Black Pumas Concert on Saturday, June 15, 2024
- Attend Janet Jackson’s Concert on Sunday, June 16, 2024
- Love MLS soccer? Watch the Colorado Rapids play against CF Montreal on Saturday, June 22, 2024.
- If you’re bringing kids or just are a fan of Disney, Frozen-The Broadway Show will be in town. These shows sell out so get your tickets if you’re thinking about being in town.
- Fan of Major League Baseball? The Colorado Rockies have two different home game series that look pretty exciting around Juneteenth weekend.
- Pittsburgh Pirates June 14-16, 2024
- Los Angeles Dodgers June 17-20, 2024
Support Black Owned Businesses
Gentrification has made a devastating impact on Denver’s Black community and businesses. However, there are Black businesses, experiences and spaces that would truly appreciate your support and patronage. I’ve shared a few spaces below.
Let’s Drink Something
Here is an incomplete list of spaces to enjoy a drink at. I’ve included coffee shops, tea spots and even a brewery.
- TeaLee’s Tea House and Bookstore-If you’ve been looking for a place to enjoy high tea, book your tea ASAP. Or, stop by for a pot of tea and great vibes.
- Whittier Café-I’m crossing my fingers that the weather is warm so that you can enjoy your coffee on their patio. On Sundays they host an Ethiopian coffee ceremony. African owned and all beans are sourced from the continent of Africa. Whittier Cafe is also a wonderful space focused on activism.
- Spangalang Brewery-Looking for a brewery to enjoy a good beer? Black owned and jazz inspired! You can also take the light rail or ride share to get there.
- Smith and Cannon-If you’re checking out outlet shopping at Colorado Mills Mall-you must make a stop here. Smith and Cannon has two of my favorite things: ice cream and coffee.
Where to Eat
One of the impacts of widespread gentrification in Denver was that there is no longer a significantly African-American neighborhood. Previously that was Five Points and Park Hill. This has dispersement of Black residents has also dispersed Black-owned restaurants all across town. I’ve included a link to a post that I wrote asking the following question “If We Had Black Restaurant Week in Denver-Where Would We Go and What Would We Do?” It’s a pretty comprehensive list of restaurants to enjoy. I’ve also included a few suggestions below.
- Mimosas (Brunch)
- Le French (James Beard Semifinalist) Beautiful space too!
- Welton Street Cafe (temporarily closed during relocation)
Uniquely Black Experiences and Spaces
At the time I’m releasing this post it’s still a little to early to know what unique experiences will be happening in June. I will updated this section frequently as we get closer to June.
- Black People Know Things Trivia Night-This is a really fun event.
- Museum for Black Girls-This beautifully curated experience was originally launched in Denver and then has made its way to Texas, D.C. and is back in Denver.
Denver is Where to Go to Celebrate Juneteenth
For Black Denverites, we’re used to being overlooked in the national conversation around the experience of blackness, unique experiences and more. If I were given $100 every time people said “There’s Black people in Denver?” I would be a freaking millionaire. We have a rich and long history of being a part of the creation, growth and development of the state of Colorado.
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