Photo by:

Coming up the weekend of September 20-21 is the 12th annual Denver Performing Arts Festival, a free (my favorite “f” word!) event being held at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA). There will be at least ten acts going on simultaneously from 10am-5pm on Saturday and 11am-5pm Sunday. The performances include music, theater, singing, dance, and two unique aerial acts.

The music includes rock, jazz, classical, acoustic, world, and other genres. Theater is comedic, including free performances of “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” for those willing to stand in line that day for tickets; Irish theater (probably not much comedy here!); drama; and children’s theater-now there’s something I can understand. Singing includes chorale, choir (what’s the difference between them?), a cappella, and even a little opera. Dance will be contemporary, ballet, and world folk.

The DCPA is downtown at 15th and Champa Streets. You’ll find a detailed schedule at http://www.denvergov.org/PerformingArtsFest/, and click on Performance Schedule. I just looked at the schedule again, and it’s giving me attention deficit disorder! But rest assured that it’s manageable, and should offer most people plenty of enjoyable entertainment.

For those of you who have a hard time getting up before 4pm, the festival also includes a free evening of dance on Saturday 5:30-10pm, at the Historic Paramount Theatre on Glenarm and 16th Street. Included are the long-established Denver dance companies of Cleo Parker Robinson and the Colorado Ballet.

Parking is available at lots near the festival for around $6, or in the DCPA parking lot for $8 a day. At least that’s what it was last year.