City Park played host to the Colorado Black Arts Festival on Saturday as part of a three-day weekend celebrating African American arts and culture.
In its 39th year, the festival featured over 80 local artists and businesses, as well as three different stages showcasing different performances including contemporary music and dance as well as traditional African drumming, according to its website.
Dozens of vendors set up tents along the park’s roadways, selling a range of food including barbecue, creole and fried seafood. Creatives alongside them sold artwork — including sculptures, paintings and jewelry — as well as a variety of clothing and other accessories.
“I’ve enjoyed it, it’s been very nice,” said Dionne Harris, an annual visitor of the festival, who noted that the pleasant weather helped make the experience better after a week of scorching temperatures.
The musical groups performing onstage ranged from hip hop to soul and R&B to jazz, notably including smooth jazz guitarist Adam Hawley. Other performances featured youth dancing groups and gospel music.
Before the festivities began Saturday, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser took to the stage near the park’s Joseph Addison Thatcher Fountain. While onstage, Weiser noted how important he felt the festival was given the country’s current political climate.
“It’s important now more than ever to celebrate Black history, Black arts and Black culture,” Weiser said.
Recorded hate crime offenses targeting Black or African American people in Colorado more than doubled from 2020 through 2023 compared to the four year span before, according to data from the FBI.
Others involved with the festival felt the same as the attorney general. For Corey Boatner, a member of one of the dance teams performing at the event, the festival has had added meaning in recent years.
“(Black people) don’t always feel so encouraged and supported to come out and be a part of these things, so to have a whole festival to share this is great,” Boatner said.
Another dance team member, Melvin Sutton, agreed with Boatner’s stance.
“The festival is open to everybody, not just Black people,” Sutton said. “It’s never ‘you can’t be with us.’ We always welcome people to join in on the fun.”
The festival will finish its 2025 run Sunday at City Park, with scheduled events beginning around noon.