Festivals Galore! 🎸🇬🇷 🍄🦄

Good morning, Denver. The summer weather continues into today, enjoy it before the stormy weekend!

In today’s scoop:

• New Colorado laws

• Boozeless Aurora Reservoir

• Upcoming festivals

Let’s jump into it.

— Angelica Gomez

DENVER DIGEST

Quick Headlines

🍺 Park hours cut and no booze allowed at Aurora Reservoir. The city is making changes to improve the experience for all guests and to help the staff manage large crowds during the summer. Gates will now close at 6 p.m. on weekends.

New Colorado Laws

Gov. Jared Polis’ pen was busy this week as he signed a ton of bills into law. Here’s a recap of some of the laws we thought were worth mentioning:

🎫 Say goodbye to ticketing nightmares as Governor Jared Polis signed a new law prohibiting hidden fees, tightening refund policies, and sparing fans from counterfeit tickets and sneaky price hikes.

 🚙 A study ranked Denver in the top 15 cities with the worst driving so we weren’t shocked when Gov. Jared Polis signed a law banning cellphone use while driving, except with hands-free devices or in emergencies. Keep your eyes on the road 🫵🏼

🚕 More protections for Uber, Lyft, DoorDash drivers after Gov. Jared Polis signed two bills into law that promise more transparency and fairness for delivery and ride-hail drivers. Now, before accepting a ride or delivery, drivers will know exactly where they're headed and how much they'll earn.

🔫 Governor Polis just gave concealed-carry permit applicants a new challenge. A new law requires Colorado residents to undergo eight hours of in-person training, including live-fire exercises. The legislation, aimed at enhancing firearm safety, also mandates two hours of training for permit renewals and takes effect on July 1, 2025.

🦸🏻‍♀️ Colorado's legal aid superheroes just got a financial boost from Governor Polis. With roughly $2 million added to their arsenal, they're gearing up to battle evictions, immigration headaches, and other civil issues for low-income Coloradans, all thanks to a new "equal justice" filing fee in the state's courts.

🩸 In an effort to keep students healthy and in class, Colorado will have to meet a requirement to provide free period products to students when at school beginning in the Summer of 2025.

Local Businesses

🥩 Citizen Rail closing, but a new coal-fired restaurant will replace it. Citizen Rail is set to close on June 29 and will reopen in early August as Ajax Downtown, a sister restaurant to Ajax Tavern in Aspen — but it doesn't sound like much beyond the name will change.

Sports

⚾️ Rockies closed out the 3-game Reds series with a loss 12-7. They move on to play the St. Louis Cardinals today in Missouri.

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WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

Pride Month

We pounded the streets of Denver to find Pride events so you don’t have to. We’ll share them here all month. Know a Pride event not listed? Submit one here.

Things To Do

Upcoming Festivals

🇬🇷 57th Annual Denver Greek Festival: Enjoy all things GREEK this June 7th, 8th, and 9th: food, music, dance from 9AM—11PM. General admission is $5 and kids 12 & under are free. Assumption of Theotokos Greek Orthodox Metropolis Cathedral of Denver (4610 East Alameda Avenue Denver, CO 80246)

🎷 Five Points Jazz Festival: enjoy an all day free event grooving to the music while exploring a culturally diverse collection of food, shopping and entertainment on June 8th at 12PM.

🖼 Smash Fine Arts Festival: a highly curated, outdoor fine-art exhibit showcasing top-tier national artists, with live acoustic music all weekend. An experience that will delight the exquisite artisan in you! June 8 & 9 at 9AM.

👩🏼‍🎨 The Highlands Art Festival: Denver’s Highland neighborhood fills with fine art and fine craft June 8 & 9 from 10AM—5PM. The Highlands Masonic Lodge (3550 Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80211)

🎭 5th Annual Denver Fringe Festival: experience four days of unparalleled creativity with over 60 original shows by local and national talent at venues throughout RiNo, Five Points and beyond June 6—9 from 5PM—10PM. Get the scoop on the live entertainment planned.

🎧 Regenerate Festival returns for year 2! Make your way to Civic Center Park on June 7 & 8 for Denver's largest house and techno party. Get tickets here.

🦄 Unicorn Festival: Unicorns and mermaids and fairies, oh my! Get ready for a magical weekend in Clement Park June 8 & 9! With a special celebration for the Year of the Dragon and the 50th Anniversary of Serendipity Books, there's something enchanting for everyone.

🍄 1st ever 21+ Denver Shroom Fest: Get ready to embark on a mind-bending journey featuring live music acts, art installations, vendors, and psychedelic learning opportunities on June 9th from 12PM—10PM at ReelWorks Denver.

🎤 10th Annual Youth Music Fest: bringing together hundreds of community members on June 8th from 2-7PM, this free community event is a youth led and youth designed event intended to provide festival management and performance experience for young creatives!

WEATHER WATCH

THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY

🙏🏻 Thanks for hanging out with The Denver Scoop this morning. We’re so happy you’re here with us. If you' enjoyed this one, send it to someone who drives for Uber or Lyft.

— Angelica Gomez

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