Denver arts event named best festival in world

DENVER — An annual Denver event has been named the best festival in the world, beating out big gatherings in other cities, states and countries, such as the Kentucky Derby, Rome Future Week, and the Huangling Shaiqiu Cultural Festival in Shangrao, China.

The Cherry Creek Arts Festival took home the Gold Grand Pinnacle award from the International Festivals and Events Association, the largest professional organization for that industry, according to a statement. The festival won in the largest category, which tracks events with budgets of more than $1 million.

It’s the sixth time that the Cherry Creek Arts Festival has won the award in its 34-year history, and its first time since 2013, producers said. The 2024 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show won the silver award.

The sprawling Cherry Creek event is the high point of Denver’s summer outdoor art festival season, taking place in the Cherry Creek North shopping district, southeast of downtown Denver. It typically includes about 250 juried artists, live music, art education, and food and drink. Next year’s event is set for July 4-6.

“A lot of Denverites know about the Cherry Creek Arts Festival; fewer understand that the event helps fund year-round programs that bring art into Colorado schools,” wrote Bryant Palmer, who represents the event, via email.

The festival is produced by CherryArts, a Denver-based nonprofit that provides arts education year-round. Last year, CherryArts served more than 40,000 students “with mobile outreach programs designed to spark creativity and empower the next generation through arts education,” Bryant wrote.

The most recent Cherry Creek Arts Festival, which was free to attend, generated over $4.6 million in artist sales, he added.

“We produce our annual festival for an international audience of more than 150,000 visitors, and we do so while promoting artists and raising funds to help bring art to Colorado schools all year long,” said Tara Brickell, executive director of CherryArts.