Meow Wolf’s Vortex
Friday-Sunday: Meow Wolf’s radiant, trippy Vortex Festival sets up this weekend at the west Denver JunkYard venue for three days of music, art and dancing. Colorado EDM titan and headliner GRiZ is taking a hiatus from performing after the fest, so fans may want to catch his sets, but there’s lots more in tow Friday, Aug. 25-Sunday, Aug. 27.
The event includes performances from Remi Wolf, TOKiMONSTA, Justin Martin, Claude VonStroke and locals such as Kiltro. Limited edition prints of an “otherworldly collab between GRiZ and Mr. Melty” will be on sale at Vortex, producers wrote, and proceeds go to Rainbow Alley, a nonprofit for LGBTQ youth. Vortex also boasts a number of interactive visual and performance artists.
The all-ages, rain-or-shine event takes place at 1098 Yuma St. in Denver. Tickets are $59.50-$109.50 per day or $250 for the whole event. vortex.meowwolf.com — John Wenzel
Tour de Fat returns
Saturday: Grab a costume and your favorite two-wheeler in anticipation of New Belgium Brewing Co.’s Tour de Fat bike parade, which pedals through Fort Collins on Saturday, Aug. 26. The parade starts at 9:30 a.m. from City Park near downtown (1500 W. Mulberry St.) before the party kicks off at the brewery at 11 a.m. with live music, a fashion show and more entertainment.
Tour de Fat is free to attend, but food, drinks and merch will cost you. Find more information at newbelgium.com/events/tour-de-fat. — Tiney Ricciardi
Food fight for a cause
Sunday: Pair good food and drinks with a good cause this weekend at the Food Fight for Reproductive Rights, coming to The Block Distilling Co. (2990 Larimer St., Denver) on Sunday, Aug. 27. Local chefs and bartenders will pair up in teams to create the best bite-and-beverage combination in a friendly competition designed to raise awareness about abortion access. The first Food Fight came together after the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the longstanding Roe vs. Wade decision, which guaranteed a woman’s right to abortion, and enabled several states to ban the procedure. Colorado has since seen a flood of women coming to seek medical care.
That’s why proceeds from the event benefit the Colorado Doula Project, a nonprofit that provides free logistical and emotional support for people seeking abortion access, and COLOR Latina, which works to ensure Latinx individuals have opportunities and resources for their health of mind, body, and spirit, including access to abortion.
Some of the chefs you’ll see at the Food Fight this year include Chef Camille Shoemaker (Lady and the Wild), Chef Carlton Halaby (Point Easy), Diego Coconati (Lucina), and Peruvian Chef Caroline Zubiate. The winning team takes home the Golden Uterus. Noon-3 p.m. Tickets: $100 at theblockdistillingco.com/food-fight-for-reproductive-rights. — Tiney Ricciardi
Panda Run
Saturday: Get ready to hit the pavement as Denver’s 50-year-old Organization of Chinese Americans presents its annual Panda Run starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26. “Proceeds from the Panda Run will benefit the youth in our APA community,” organizer Victoria Chen wrote, noting that the event is vital to the organization’s scholarship opportunities for Asian American and Pacific Islander students.
The walk/run at Great Lawn Park, 101 Yosemite St. in Denver, features a pre-celebration of the annual Moon Festival and picnic after runners cross the finish line. The event is free to attend and race registration costs $35-$40 at runsignup.com/race/co/denver/panda. — John Wenzel
