In 2020, the art education nonprofit CherryArts was forced to cancel its annual Cherry Creek Arts Festival due to COVID. This year, CherryArts plans to bring the festival back for its thirtieth iteration.
The event was initially planned for July 4th weekend. But in a press release Wednesday, the arts nonprofit announced that the festival would be postponed until Labor Day weekend to "adhere to safe practices" from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The festival will now take place September 4, 5 and 6.
"While we are all eager to return to in-person events and celebrations, first and foremost, we are focused on ensuring the safety of our community," said Tara Brickell, executive director & CEO of CherryArts. "We're hopeful that the COVID-19 restrictions will be at a lower level in September, allowing us to gather safely. We look forward to re-envisioning how to come together to support artists and arts education, as we celebrate the 30th anniversary event."
To further ensure safety, the festival will now take place in "the creekside area" of the Cherry Creek Shopping Center, just across the street from its traditional location in Cherry Creek North. The new space has the capacity to allow for fences to help keep attendance at safe levels.
"We welcome the opportunity to help safely bring the community together to continue the long-held tradition of the Cherry Creek Arts Festival," said Jeramy Burkinshaw, Cherry Creek Shopping Center's general manager. "We look forward to celebrating the wonderful lineup of artists and participants and hosting the impressive variety of activities this Labor Day Weekend."
Every year, Cherry Creek Arts Festival hosts hundreds of local and national artists and vendors and welcomes thousands of visitors to enjoy visual and performing arts, as well as immersive art experiences. Proceeds from the festival benefit CherryArts, a nonprofit focused on arts education in Colorado. This year's artist roster includes about 250 artists who were slated for the canceled 2020 festival. View the lineup on CherryArts' website. Vendors and the performance schedule will be announced soon.
