In Denver, it's a summer filled with Rocky Mountain highs
Cox News Service
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One of Denver's most iconic pieces of public art is the 40-foot-tall blue bear that peers into the Colorado Convention Center.
This summer, he'll have a lot to watch, both inside the convention center and out.
Denver plays host to the Democratic National Convention from Aug. 25-28, and that's likely to be a lively gathering.
Summer festivals will bring in thousands to celebrate art, music, balloons and more. Add the usual heaping helping of general summer tourists, and this city's going to be bouncing. Might as well join the crowd.
Here are some events and attractions to look for this late spring and summer:
The 10th annual Downtown Denver Arts Festival
www.downtowndenverartsfestival.com
The festival will offer works by 150 Colorado artists: photography, glass work, woodwork, sculpture, paintings -- you name it, May 23-26. You can meet the artists, too.
Denver Botanic Gardens' Summer Concert Series
It starts in June and runs through August. Jazz, pop, folk and blues concerts are held in a lovely outdoor amphitheater. Bring a picnic and a bottle of wine.
Denver Film Society's Film on the Rocks
If you prefer the raucous to the serene, this runs June through August and combines rock music and film. Local bands perform at Red Rocks Amphitheatre ( www.redrocksonline.com) while blockbuster films such as Braveheart are screened with the Rockies as a backdrop. Could anything be more perfect?
Venice on the Creek
OK, it stretches the definition of Venice, but a boat ride down Cherry Creek under the stars, accompanied by a history lesson on Denver, can be a kick. This goes on all summer.
Cherry Creek Arts Festival
cherryarts.org
Running July 4-6, it's considered one of the best arts fests in the nation. While you browse the work of artists and artisans, you can listen to music, watch dance performances and taste the food from some fine restaurants.
Rocky Mountain Balloon Festival
www.rockymountainballoonfestival.com
Like balloons? The sky will be full of them Aug. 22-24 at Chatfield State Park.
Denver Zoo
The zoo has a new Malayan tapir it received from the Belfast Zoo and a pair of new red pandas. (They don't look like regular pandas at all -- they're solid red and have big bushy tails -- and inspire less awwww, but they're still cute in their own way.)
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Denver also celebrates the 150th anniversary of its founding this year, but those events won't happen until fall. Tourism officials said they haven't had much time even to think about celebrating the city's 150th; they're too busy focusing on the Democrats who'll descend in August.
But you won't lack things to do in Denver this summer. For more information, visit www.denver.org, call 800-233-6837 or call a travel agent.
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