Festivals are dropping like flies around Denver.
First, it was Grandoozy, then Velorama, and now the Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods (C.H.U.N.) Denver People's Fair is the latest event to say goodbye to the Mile High City. At least for 2019.
On February 8, organizers announced that the Denver People's Fair, an annual event that's been celebrated since the early '70s, will not be held this year.
No reason was given for the hiatus of one of Denver's largest community festivals, but organizers provided this statement on the website:
"The longstanding tradition of the People’s Fair will be taking a hiatus in 2019 and will look to return in 2020. We would like to thank all of the past supporters of the festival as we work to make People’s Fair even more unique, interactive, and a standout festival in the Denver community."
The first community get-together that eventually became the Denver People's Fair was held in 1972 at Morey Junior High School and drew about 2,000 people. Forty-seven years later, in 2018, thousands of people overtook Civic Center Park to enjoy everything from food to goat yoga. It's been a mecca for diverse and eclectic food, art, and music fans for decades. But, this year, residents will have to go without.
The 2017 festival marked the first time C.H.U.N. handed control of the event over to a production company, Team Player. Organizers have cited declining revenues in past years, leaving the production company to have to make up for it with sponsorships and booth fees. Declining interest and myriad other entertainment options in the city have also played their role in this year's hiatus.
As of now, the festival seems to be on track to come back in 2020, which is something it has in common with at one of the other festivals who recently dropped their 2019 Denver plans. Grandoozy has also said it will come back in 2020. Time will only tell if we see either festival again.
Have you gone to Denver People's Fair? Will you miss it this year? Let us know in the comments.
