visit black owned Denver

Planning to Visit Black Owned Denver in 2023: Here’s What You Need to Know

72 Hours in Denver, Black in Denver, General Information, Uncategorized Michelle@SquareState
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If you’re thinking about visiting Denver this year but aren’t sure if it’s a good place for Black tourists, I want to to reassure you that it is. Let’s be clear, it’s still America so I can’t guarantee that something won’t happen, what I can say is that I’ve lived here almost my entire life and it’s a great place to visit. If you’re planning to visit Black owned Denver, it’s totally possible and we’re here!

But, if you’re trying to replicate a super Black travel experience in Denver you’re going to have to do some planning and have some perspective-we’re not Detroit, Atlanta or Baltimore. With that in mind, I’ve met a ton of Black tourists who’ve had a great time here and I thought I would share some things to consider, best times to visit and what to expect.

There Are Black People in Denver?

Every single time I travel out of state I get asked this question. In fact, this happened twice the week before I wrote this post while I was in Las Vegas for conference. What also happened was that Black attendees were low-key confused and disturbed by the idea that there are Black people in Denver. They couldn’t wrap their heads around it. Fortunately, I’m used to this and these experiences are part of the reason why I’m writing this post.

Here are some things that may surprise you about Denver.

  • Robert Smith, the richest African-American grew up in Denver.
  • The last mayor of Denver, Michael Hancock, was elected for 3 consecutive terms. By the way, he’s Black and grew up in Denver.
  • Denver International Airport-one of the busiest airports in the world, is run by a Black man.
  • The ACLU Colorado is run by a Black woman
  • RTD (Denver’s transit authority) is run by a Black woman (who deserves a serious raise)

My point? There is a long history of African-American presence and history in the state.

Mayor Michael Hancock-Outgoing Mayor, 3 Consecutive Terms

Best Times to Visit

One of the things to consider is not only the weather but fun things to do while in town. I’ve included a few of my favorite times to visit throughout the year and some signature events that you could plan your vacation around.

  • January-The Martin Luther King Jr. Rodeo at the National Western Stock Show. This is actually one of my favorite events of the year. Colorado has a long tradition of Black cowboys and historically around 25-30% of Cowboys were African-American. There’s nothing like hearing the Black National Anthem being played at a rodeo. And, if you’re not clear-this is a BLACK rodeo.
  • February-Let’s go skiing! There are a number of groups focused on bringing Black/Brown and Allied skiers to the mountains regularly. They may car pool or attend a sanctioned event. In 2023 I attended the 50 anniversary of the National Brotherhood of Skiers in Vail, Colorado. It was a phenomenal time and I also think that mid January-March is the best time to go skiing because the base is deep enough and there is consistent snow in the mountains.
  • March-If you’re a basketball fan like I am, then this is a great time to come into town and watch some Denver Nuggets games. I’m a huge fan and I’m really excited about the NBA playoffs and hopefully the NBA Finals in 2023. I feel like this might be our year FINALLY.
    • Denver Restaurant Week-Eat your way through town and save some money while doing it. I wouldn’t consider Denver a “foodie” town. But, the food scene has gotten competitive and there are some great places to eat.
    • Enjoy comedy? Trevor Noah will be in town for 3 nights in 2023
  • April-I’m not about cannabis life, but if you are-Denver’s 420 event is “lit” sorry! I had to do it. The Mile High 420 Festival is a 21 and over event that is unironically held in front of Denver’s City and County Building and the Capital. This year’s headliners include Rick Ross and Fivio Foreign.
    • Like college football? Coach Prime is making his debut on Black and Gold day, April 22, 2023 as CU Boulder’s head football coach.
    • Baseball season begins-The Colorado Rockies are painful to watch these days but Coors Field is an incredible venue to watch a baseball game.
  • May-May the Fourth Be With You (Blerd Life) + Cinco de Mayo + Derby Day weekend is insane. You’ll see massive groups of people walking around wearing seersucker suits, dresses and fascinators. Or, you’ll see low-riders and cruising on Federal Boulevard. That weekend is a party. If you’re into Star Trek then May the Fourth Be With You is a huge day that week too with fun events.

Best Month for Black Travelers to Visit is June!

  • June-This is actually THE best month to visit Denver as a Black tourists. There are three huge events happening.
    • Five Points Jazz Festival–There’s nothing better than walking around hanging out with cool people while listening to great music. This is one of my favorite events and I love how it attracts all ages and different walks of life.
    • Juneteenth–Denver is close to Texas which means that Juneteenth is “a thing” here. In 2022 there were around 50,000 attendees and that we were still dealing with the tail end of COVID nervousness/restrictions. I expect this year to be even bigger. *Juneteenth is also an observed holiday in Colorado.*
    • Denver Chalk Art Festival–This is one of my favorite events of the entire year. The art is stunning, it’s easy to move around and check out the art, there are bands-definitely worth a visit.
    • FanExpo Denver (used to be Comic Con) This is a massive event that gets better and better every year. Be prepared to cosplay and bring a lot of cash.
  • August-Football fans, I’m crossing my fingers and hoping that Russell Wilson has a better year than last year. I feel like he’s had enough time to adjust to the altitude here and has a new coach. Catch pre-season games or wait until September for the real thing.
  • September-Regular season football begins. The Denver Broncos and CU Buffs both have something to prove so we’ll see how things go. Hate football, but you love beer? Join 100,000+ beer officionados at The Great American Beer Festival
  • October-If you love music and theater then get your tickets for Tina Turner the Musical. It will be making a stop in Denver at the Denver Center for Performing Arts.
  • November-The holiday lights get turned on across the city and it’s so beautiful. Union Station and the Dairy Block are my favorite places to check out at that time.
  • December-I’m deviating a little bit from what I’ve been recommending on this list. Book a weekend in the mountains to celebrate New Year’s Eve vs. staying in Denver. I think watching the fireworks being lit over the mountains is so beautiful.

What is Denver’s Weather Like?

I’m often amused by how confused people are about the weather in Denver. It’s actually consistently really good but people have the idea that it’s always snowing. It’s not. In fact, for the past 20 years we’ve been dealing with an historic drought which is why you’ll hear about wildfires in Colorado (and the rest of the American West) here are some tips on what to consider. I’ve also recorded a podcast episode that you can listen to. Click the following link.

  • January through June-It can snow in all of those months. I’m serious. But, the snow typically melts pretty quickly. If you’re from the Midwest or East Coast you will love the weather. If you’re from warmer states such as California, the Southwest or the South you will be cold. It’s also almost always sunny.
  • June through Mid-October-It’s typically pretty warm, we don’t really have humidity and our heat is a dry heat. If you hear us complaining about humidity at 12% just hold your thoughts inside. It can begin snowing in September and October so bring layers just in case. It’s almost always sunny.
  • October-December-It should be snowing occasionally and ideally the ski resorts begin opening up at this time. Unless you’re a pro at skiing-do not schedule your ski trips at this time because the snow base isn’t deep enough. Wait until January. It’s almost always sunny.

Black Owned Businesses in Denver

There has been a lot of uphevel post COVID impacting Black owned businesses in Denver. There is not enough time to get into it in this post. Instead, I’m going to share some businesses to support below.

Morning:

Afternoon:

Night:

  • Slam Nuba (Spoken word poetry)-Typically held on the last Friday of every month. Always double-check the dates for this event.

Planning to Visit Black Owned Denver?

Do! It’s a great town with a lot to do. The people are low-key and very friendly. We love to exercise here so don’t be surprised if you’re invited to hike, ride, bike or snowboard then grab a beer. Let me know how it goes!

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