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39th annual Colorado Black Arts Festival preserves, amplifies, and celebrates Black arts and culture

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8min 44sec
Photo shows a band performing on a stage. The performers are mostly wearing white outfits. Across the top of the stage is a striped banner that reads "Kuumba Stage." There is an audience standing in the foreground.
Courtesy CABF
This weekend marks the 39th annual Colorado Black Arts Festival taking place in the heart of Denver’s City Park. The family-friendly event is focused on preserving, amplifying, and celebrating Black arts and culture in Colorado.

This weekend marks the 39th annual Colorado Black Arts Festival. Taking place in the heart of Denver's City Park, organizers say the free, family-friendly event is focused on preserving, amplifying, and celebrating Black arts and culture in Colorado.

Photo shows festival tents and crowd in a blurred background. In the center of the photo is a man with a colorful scarf and tee shirt with his arms stretched and crossed in front of him. He is wearing a fedora.
Courtesy CABF
Enjoying the Colorado Black Arts Festival in Denver.

As always, this year’s festival features multiple performance stages, food, more than 100 vendors, community groups and the work of a diverse mix of visual artists selling their work over the course of three days. Chandra spoke with the festival’s executive director, Jaleesa McIntosh, about what to expect this year.

Photo shows an artist crouched on the ground painting the image of an Olympic athlete in red.
Courtesy CABF
An artist puts the finishing touches on her work at the Colorado Black Arts Festival in Denver.