Bob Wooley
bwooley@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Gum Pop Presents, the event company that’s brought Denver Bazaar, The Big Wonderful and People + Produce to multiple locations around the state, is throwing its considerable weight behind a new series of events called Street Food Social.
Gum Pop Founder Brad Lewis said with the evolution of the food scene in Denver, the time was right to launch a food focused project.
“It’s a weekly event — Friday nights at Belmar shopping center and Saturday — all day at Sloan’s Lake on Raleigh Street. The plan is to have 20-plus food vendors each week along with a few other craft vendors, live music and a bar,” he said. “It’s just a chance for the local community to be outside and try different foods.”
Lewis said he thinks the event presents a great opportunity for local, mom-and-pop food businesses to find a wider audience and showcase their wares to the growing population of foodies in the metro area. There will also be a voting component to the event, as a way to engage the crowd and make things more interactive.
Gum Pop Presents has been holding craftier events at Sloan’s Lake for the last three years, receiving a great response from people in the neighborhood. Lewis said shifting the focus to food seemed like a great fit for the area.
Belmar has been home to a couple of past events as well, including a holiday market and a Valentine’s market. Aside from the Friday night Street Food Social events, Gum Pop will also be holding a farmer’s market at Belmar on Saturdays this summer.
For those who prefer to get street food in the more urban confines of Denver — fear not. A third Street Food Social location will be taking place monthly through August in Park Hill.
Food on tap runs the gamut. From Arepas to Gyros, Chimichurri to Haitian cuisine — even Burmese favorites are scheduled to appear. Whether you love things sweet, spicy, vegetarian or bursting with fried or grilled animal goodness, there’s something that should appeal to every taste.
For a complete schedule and list of participating vendors, check out the website at streetfoodsocialco.com.
