Clear and warm weather helped the Taste of Colorado food festival rebound from a cold, sluggish start, organizers said Monday.
An estimated 475,000 people attended the four-day event at Civic Center, marketing coordinator Patty Johnson said.
After a cold start, blue skies helped bring “hordes” of people out Sunday and Monday.
“We had almost record attendance on those two days,” Johnson said, adding that attendance is typically 500,000.
There were few problems with crime throughout the festival, said Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson.
A stabbing was reported Saturday night when a group of people got into an argument. The victim’s wounds were not life-threatening, Jackson said.
Otherwise, police dealt with the usual number of small disturbances.
“Things, overall, went relatively smoothly,” Jackson said.
Judy Jenkins found the weather almost perfect. “The shade is nice and cool, and there is a breeze that keeps things from getting too warm,” said Jenkins, who was visiting from Amarillo, Texas.
Near the food booths was a weather exhibit sponsored by the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder. The center wanted to boost its visibility in Denver, so NCAR officials decided to become part of the festival mix for the first time, said Heidi Lewis, the center’s community outreach coordinator.
Kids played with tornado, thunderstorm and other science experiments while munching corn dogs and tacos.
“It’s been fabulous,” Lewis said. “Kids and families keep coming back here, and they are bringing their friends.”
Staff writer Monte Whaley can be reached at 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com.
