Tea and Tequila: Twelve Tastiest Events on the Culinary Calendar July 24-26

Today is National Tequila Day, and what better way to kick off the weekend than with a shot or two...or three? Several restaurants around Denver will help you celebrate the holiday with drink specials to get the weekend started. And after that, there are many tasty culinary events to choose from across Colorado — everything from mountain food fests to beer bashes. Here are twelve of our favorites:


Friday, July 24

Celebrate National Tequila Day and beat the summer heat at La Biblioteca and Tamayo today, when Tamayo will feature the Tequila Sunrise popsicle and La Biblioteca will feature the Watermelon Margarita popsicle. Both can be paired as a stir-in for special margs, and the popsicles will be sold all day for $3 a piece.

Stoney's Bar and Grill will also be celebrating the Dia de Tequila with a National Tequila Day party featuring Dulce Vida Tequila specials and live music from Tempe, Arizona's Shawn Johnson from 5 to 8 p.m. For more information, visit the events Facebook page. 

The Crested Butte Food and Wine Festival kicked off yesterday, and the culinary delights continue through the weekend. Participants at the festival can enjoy seminars, tastings, movie screenings, dinners and more in this idyllic mountain town. Ticket prices vary for each event; for a full schedule and all the tasty details, click here.  

The Flavors of Colorado Festival in Avon kicks off today with a special Farm to Chef's Table Charity Dinner from 6 to 9 p.m. that benefits the Bright Future Foundation. In its second year, this weekend-long food festival will feature food and drink tastings, live music, panel discussions, cooking demonstrations, an art showcase and activities for the kids. The festival will take place in Harry A. Nottingham Park from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and from 11:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets for the dinner tonight are $100; admission to the festival is free. To buy dinner tickets and find a complete schedule of festival events, visit the Flavors website here.

Denver Brew Fest returns with two nights of beer, music, food trucks and good times. Rapidgrass Quintet takes the stage today and Dragondeer brings some blues to the brew-fest tomorrow. The music will be the backdrop for libations from over 35 breweries from Colorado and around the nation. Tap into fun starting at 7 p.m. tonight at Mile High Station. Tickets for the event are $35 in advance and $45 the day of the event;  grab your tickets at denverbrewfest.com. Proceeds will benefit Swallow Hill Music.

Green Labs will host the second annual Munchie Cup this weekend. Guests 21 and over can partake in this commercial edibles competition that doubles as a seminar on the subject. There will be live music, art and comedy in addition to the seminars and competition. You can get a three-day Munchie Cup 2015 Judges Pass for $30; to learn more, click here.

The Breckenridge Wine Festival gets under way today with an authentic, family-style Italian Wine Dinner from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Doug Krenik, a Master Sommelier, will be on hand to educate and enhance the wine experience. The festival will pour into Main Street Station Plaza in Breckenridge tomorrow and will feature over 40 vendors, 140 different wines, food, live music. Tickets for the wine dinner tonight are $60, festival tickets are $45 in advance and $50 the day of the event; proceeds benefit the Breckenridge Rotary. For tickets and more information, click here.

Saturday, July 25

The 16th Annual Rocky Mountain Tea Festival will be steeping in Boulder today and tomorrow at the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse. This tea-centric festival features workshops, seminars, a bazaar, tea dinner and Teddy Bear Tea Party for the kids. For more information, visit rockymtnteafestival.com.

Arvada on Tap, a craft beer and BBQ festival, will feature over twenty breweries, a home-brew competition and more than fifteen teams competing for $10,000 in prizes and bragging rights in a grilling competition sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society. The festival will run from noon to 8 p.m. at Ralston Park; admission is $5 per person, children twelve and under are free. For all the juicy details, click here.  

Denver Deep Dish is celebrating the masterpiece that is the wing today. The first annual Wing Celebration will include a wing-eating competition, plenty of food and drinks, and a chance to win free pizza for a year. Tickets for the wing bash are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, and $35 for VIP. For more information, check out the Facebook page for the event.  

Sunday, July 26

The Tavern Littleton is hosting movies on the rooftop this summer; today the bar is screening the classic Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Kick back and enjoy free popcorn and drink specials while you watch the film under the stars. The movie will be playing rain or shine, and guests are encouraged to rock their best '80s gear. For more information, visit tavernhg.com.  

Settembre Cellars Winery is releasing its 2012 Dry Riesling today. From 1 to 6 p.m. guests can enjoy complimentary tasting of the Riesling and 10 percent off three or more bottles. For more information, visit settembrecellars.com.

For information on dozens of culinary events around town, visit our online Food & Drink listings — and if you have information for a culinary event you'd like included in our online calendar, send it to [email protected].

---