On July 17, residents of Southern Colorado will have the chance to experience a cornucopia of dining options lining the downtown streets of Colorado Springs. The Taste of Pikes Peak festival will host food and drink vendors from all over the region to showcase local culinary talent. Ticket holders will enjoy tastings from the best restaurants, breweries, and distilleries in the Pikes Peak area.
In addition to over 80 vendors with a variety of delicious culinary options, the festival will have live music and other entertainment. The Goonies, a rock band from Boulder that performs ‘80s covers, will begin playing at 7 p.m. The festival is open to families and children, and anyone is welcome to enjoy the endless food and drink options.
Taste of Pikes Peak is the largest food event in the Southern Colorado region. The lineup will feature a diversity of cuisines including Mexican, German, Korean, Italian, Mediterranean, and more.
The vendors range from casual dining to high end delicacies and everything in between, offering local specialties as well as international options. 503 West, an Asian-American fusion spot near old Colorado City, will show off their plates using local ingredients. Monse’s Pupuseria will be bringing a taste of Salvadoran comfort food to the Springs.
There will also be more than a few old favorites: Jake and Telly’s Greek Taverna, Poor Richard’s, and Edelweiss will all be offering samples of their menu items. Poor Richard’s celebrated its 50th anniversary this year, marking half a century of dedicated service to the Colorado Springs community.
Drinks will also be flowing. Breweries, distilleries, and wineries will be offering a variety of beverage options. Phantom Canyon Brewing Company, VooDoo Brewing Company, Uva Wine Bar and others will be pouring drinks for festival attendees to enjoy.
The event is a good opportunity for local restaurants to gain exposure, and for residents to learn about new places to eat. The ever-expanding region of Southern Colorado has endless opportunities for new cuisine, and the festival celebrates all of the options that have emerged over the past few years as hallmarks of the culinary culture.
This year will mark the 28th anniversary of the Taste of Pikes Peak festival. Its mission is to unite restaurants, beverage suppliers, and industry enthusiasts in order to celebrate the culinary landscape of the Pikes Peak region.
The event is hosted by the Colorado Restaurant Association (CRA), which is the leading trade organization for Colorado’s food service industry. The two co-presidents, Jenny Sherman and Karrie Williams, own Odyssey Gastropub and Colonel Mustard’s Sandwich Emporium respectively. The organization is dedicated to helping individuals in the restaurant industry thrive. Taste of Pikes Peak is the primary fundraiser for the Pikes Peak Chapter of the Colorado Restaurant Association, which supports initiatives like the Colorado Restaurant Foundation and ProStart programs in regional high schools. Ticket sales support these initiatives to cultivate future culinary talent. The CRA is run by restaurateurs for restaurants. As the region grows in population size, funding in these areas will further support the rich culinary culture in Southern Colorado.
There are several ticket options for diners to choose from. VIP ticket holders will enjoy early access to the event as well as the opportunity to taste exclusive dishes from a few vendors. A second tier of early access will provide entry at 5 p.m., instead of the 6 p.m. general admission tickets.
For the earliest ticket holders, the event will begin at 5 p.m. on July 17 at Sierra Madre & Vermijo in front of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum.