Things to do in Denver, where festivals and food are on the rise

Denver has regained its pre-pandemic vibrancy, with a plethora of new restaurants and hotels, and the return of some old favourites.

On a recent Tuesday evening, diners surrounded marble-covered bistro tables at Chez Maggy in the new Thompson Hotel, which opened in February in Denver's LoDo district. The draw: the chance to sample chef Ludo Lefebvre's classic French dishes - garlic snails, curry mussels and orange-flavoured duck breast - on his first venture outside Los Angeles. /p>

The restaurant and hotel are part of the new generation of businesses gaining popularity in this town at the gateway to the Rockies, which has regained its pre-pandemic vibrancy. And visitors are welcomed with open arms: By the end of the year, Denver International Airport, which the Airports Council International trade group recently ranked as the third-busiest facility in the world, will have 39 gates boarding stations, which will increase its capacity by 30%.

Tempting travelers are a host of new cultural offerings, hotels and restaurants, as well as the return of favorite events. A planned two-year renovation and revitalization of the downtown 16th Street Mall kicked off this spring, and once complete, wider sidewalks and new infrastructure are expected to restore the appeal of this old pedestrian thoroughfare. of 40, which had lost its luster.< /p>

ImageFaye Webster performs on the Showcase Outdoor Stage at the Underground Music Showcase in Denver. The city's festival scene is making a comeback this year.Credit...Benjamin Rasmussen for The New York Times

Festivals are back

Thanks to Denver's plenty of sunshine, many festivals and events take place outdoors, and annual favorites came back strong this year, including June's PrideFest and July's Underground Music Showcase. First Friday First Friday Art Walks in Santa Fe's Arts District, which attracted up to 20,000 galleries before the pandemic, are regaining popularity, with the heart of the action among the eclectic galleries and shops lining Santa Fe Drive between 5th and 11th streets.

After two years of mostly drive-in screenings, Denver Film presents its annual Film on the Rocks series at the Red Rocks Amphitheater ( until August 15) and, after a two-year hiatus, will hold its adults-only Summer Scream event (August 25) at vintage Lakeside Amusement Park northwest of downtown; in addition to unlimited rides, actors will highlight the park's nearly 125-year history. Outdoor movie buffs can check out an offshoot of Rocky Mountain Goat Yoga called