Hey Downtown!
You may have heard a thing or two about our summer happenings on 13th Street, Boulder Social Streets. Whether you are counting down the days till our next event or have no clue what I’m talking about, keep reading to hear all about the events happening downtown this summer that you do not want to miss out on!
It’s all in the name! Downtown Boulder has partnered with the City of Boulder to host a series of free, fun events and activities along 13th Street between Arapahoe Avenue and Canyon Boulevard. All event staff, sponsors and ambassadors work incredibly hard to create engaging events that allow locals and visitors the opportunity to socialize and explore the streets of downtown! So grab your family, neighbors and friends and come meet on the street to celebrate community and enjoy our vibrant downtown district! Before you head downtown, I’ll share a little bit about my experience at these events and what you can look forward to in the coming weeks and months.
The very first Boulder Social Streets was Rollerpalooza! This celebration of all things wheels was on a warm Sunday in June. Friends and family joined us on 13th Street with their bikes, scooters, skateboards, roller skates and even strollers! DJ Elijah Moore hosted a roller disco with funk songs while people had a blast dancing and meeting new members of the community. These incredible vendors made Rollerpalooza even more memorable: Wish for Wheels sponsored a bike valet, the Boulder Police Department sponsored bike lock giveaways, SK8D8 provided roller skating workshops, Billabong brought out a skateboard tune-up station and JD’s Joyrides gave out free e-bike tours throughout downtown!
This was an incredible event to attend as it was just so special to see so many members of the community participate and enjoy a fun (and completely free) summer day downtown!
To check out more photos from this event, check out our Rollerpalooza photo gallery!
A few weeks later, we traded in our roller skates for dancing shoes as it was time for our second event, Dancing in the Street! Last Friday night, many joined us on 13th Street for an evening of dance lessons, dance parties and an array of performances. With such a diverse lineup of performances, classes and music, I was so excited to attend this event!
Kicking off the event was a Bharatanatyam performance by Shreya Venkatesh, an Indian classical dancer with over 20 years of experience. Bharatanatyam is a South Indian art form that combines music, dance, and expression and Shreya performed beautifully!
The crowd then gathered around for a belly dancing class by the Nawaar Marketplace & Dance Company. It was awesome to witness the joy and laughter that this class brought. What I enjoyed the most was seeing people of all ages enjoying different styles of dance. I was inspired to see everyone so eager to learn and embrace this event with open arms and dancing feet!
We also heard from the incredible 10-piece brass band, Gora Gora Orkestar. While the band played their infectious rhythm and feel-good music, the crowd participated in a Balkan-style dance session! I personally enjoyed these dance lessons with my friends, and though I am not the world's best dancer, I made memories that will last a lifetime!
Even with a quick rain shower (with unpredictable Boulder weather, as usual), Swingin’ Denver put on an awesome performance and dance class of Lindy Hop, a fun and uplifting swing dance. It was all smiles as everyone grabbed a partner and swung one another around the dance floor!
Hamsa Art Dance showcased a classical Persian dance, inspired by Persian poetry, art and geometry. If you loved watching them perform, the studio offers lessons including styles of Middle Eastern Dance and belly dancing right here in downtown Boulder for you to try out yourself! Eric from Salsaville Dance Studios also gave an amazing 30-minute crash course in salsa dancing! The studio also offers lessons right for beginners to advanced courses for you to further your salsa-dancing skills! These performances showcased all of the incredible ways dance can be passed down through culture, music and tradition.
To fuel up for the night of dancing, we hosted two delicious food trucks, FED Boulder and Lenin’s Wood-Fired Pizza. We also had a drink station stocked with wine and beer to give out some liquid courage to hit the dance floor!
Mi Chantli brought the heat with three instructors and a crew of dancers for a breakdancing and hip-hop performance and workshop! This awesome group is commonly found at Bands on the Bricks, dancing along behind the stage and their moves are insane! If you’re looking to learn a new style of dance, be sure to sign up for their classes and workshops. Their energy was contagious and got the crowd amped up as they performed numerous styles of hip-hop and breakdancing.
To finish off the night, we danced the night away with DJ Romeo! The fairly-lights and cool evening weather made for a beautiful dance floor!
If you missed our first two Boulder Social Street events, don’t worry! We still have plenty more events for you to join in on!
Next up is Picnic on the Pavement! This event will be held on Sunday, July 30th from 11 am-3 pm. Head over to 13th Street and partake in a street-side picnic. There will be a wide selection of vendors and food trucks to choose from for a delicious lunch or snack. You are also welcome to bring your own favorite dishes to enjoy and share! The Boulder County Farmers Market will also be joining us! They are selling a Picnic Pack with products from the Boulder County producers and Colorado stone fruit! Be sure to check out their online market. While you're enjoying a bite to eat, listen to some live jazz and play outdoor games with friends and family!
On August 4th, from 3 pm-6 pm, bring you and your pup to Yappy Hour! “Unleash” (but please keep your pup leashed) an afternoon of fun as furry four-legged friends come together for a special canine social gathering. Get ready for wagging tails, playful barks and boundless energy. We will have numerous food vendors for owners such as farm-fresh food, pizza, hand rolls and sushi and shaved ice (even with dog-friendly flavors)! There will also be a number of activities for you to enjoy with your pup including paw painting, photo booths, misting shades, splash zones and even a food truck for dogs.
And after those… we have 4 more events heading your way! These include the Boulder Street Soccer Classic, the Melanin Funk Festival, CU Athletics Meet & Greet and Community Art Day. Stay tuned for another blog giving you the inside scoop on what’s to come! The fun never stops downtown!
Attending these events has always been the highlight of my week! So much thought, planning and hard work goes into these events to truly facilitate a fun and free activity for members of the community to come together and enjoy! If you’re looking for a fun way to spend time downtown, this is your sign to join us at the next Boulder Social Street event. We can't wait to meet you on 13th Street all summer long!
I’ll catch you there!
Rebecca
Got any questions? I’d be happy to help. Feel free to reach out to me, Rebecca, at intern@downtownboulder.org!