Don’t be a chicken! Get ready for the most extraordinary, wacky, and one-of-a-kind experience. It’s the 2023 Colfax Chicken Fest on Saturday, September 16, 2023, from noon to 4 p.m. in the 40 West Arts District. The district-wide event lets you groove to live music, participate in chicken-inspired contests and art activities, catch a fantastic Drumstick 40 West Gallery exhibition, indulge in delicious treats from food trucks, and much more.
The Festival schedule:
12 p.m. — Festival Kickoff
1 p.m. — Chicken Costume Contest
2 p.m. Chicken Cluck Contest
2 p.m. — Chicken Strut Contest
3 p.m. — Spoon Egg Hunt
In addition, the Festival offers opportunities to hang at all of the galleries and creative spaces, paying tribute to the HUB Building.There will be a drumstick exhibit, chicken crafts, chicken sculpture contest and kids coloring activities.
The Denver Drumstick opened in 1967. The restaurant was best known for its model train that ran near the ceiling, coined the “biggest little railroad in all the land”, and for their boxcar of chicken and shrimp boats. The restaurant closed its doors in the 70’s.
Then the Drumstick became a bingo hall before eventually sitting vacant for many years.
In 2022, the Drumstick entered its current incarnation as The HUB- home to artist-owned galleries, creative businesses, and 40 West Arts.
Though the building has been transformed, reminders of the Denver Drumstick can still be seen in etchings on the doors to the 40 West Arts gallery.