A Native's Guide to 4/20
Guess what, the best holiday of the year is just around the corner! All over Denver you’ll find parties, events and all around crazy antics occuring in celebration of April 20th and it can definitely be overwhelming trying to plan your day. Don’t worry, Starbuds has you covered. We’ve curated a list of the most worthwhile events, munchies, music and more.
Events
Sensi Night on 4/19 FREE April 19th, 7pm
Sensi Magazine is taking over Broadway Street to start the weekend off right. They’ll be at two locations, Temple Nightclub and Club Vinyl, on the same block with representatives from over 120+ Colorado cannabis companies.
Mile High 420 Festival FREE April 20th, 10am-7pm
Get right in the thick of Denver culture at the Mile High 420 Festival. Headline entertainment includes Lil Wayne, Lil Jon, Inner Circle, The Wailers, and Whitewater Ramble. The local music stage will be presenting some of the best performers from around Colorado, not to mention“420 Funny,“ a cannabis comedy stage that will feature some of the best in the biz. To top it off, the festival will embrace the synergy of cannabis and wellness with a fully interactive stage featuring meditation, yoga and fitness.
CU Boulder Rally
Over the years the Colorado University campus at Boulder has become recognized as a place to rally for the legalization of cannabis. At some point between 1996 and 2000 students decided to meet on Farrand Field for a smokeout on April 20th at 4:20pm. By 2003 the event had grown to 800 people, and between 2008 and 2011 it swelled to over 10,000 attendees. In an effort to transition the event from an all out party to a more education centric gathering, the school now looks at the day as a chance to engage in debate and discuss cannabis policy. This is a great chance to experience the educational side of cannabis and legalization in the beautiful flatiron foothills.
Dixie Elixirs April 21st, 7:30pm
Dixie Elixirs will be wrapping up the weekend with a concert featuring CRAZE, DJ
Wushu, Spencer Foreman, Gyp Dahip at Summit Music Hall in downtown Denver. The concert will be alongside live artist demonstrations, marijuana education, and a silent auction with proceeds going to cannabis research.
Colorado Springs April 20-21, 9am-12pm
If you’re near our Pueblo locations check out the Colorado 4/20 fest taking place in Colorado Springs this year. The location is 4/20 friendly featuring “hot and ready dab rigs”, giveaways, raffles and contests with entertainment all day long including guest speakers and a plethora of different vendors.
Munchies
Start your 4/20 morning off right with a CBD Cold Brew on Nitro tap. This cafe features a quaint outdoor patio, a from scratch kitchen and cocktails with an impressive ingredient list. With an artsy atmosphere and homey feel this is a great place to kick off your holiday.
After your morning coffee take a trip to Glazed and Confused where they make their donuts fresh everyday with no preservatives using as many organic, local and sustainably sourced ingredients as possible. Their famous CBD donut is not to be missed! Pro tip: get an Obi Wan Cannoli Donut for later.
No 4/20 would be complete without a lunch stop at Cheeba Hut. Stop by the location on Colorado Blvd. for drink specials, prizes and live music to celebrate the holiday. There will also be a beer pong tournament, handcrafted tequila cocktails, and a take-over from High Hops Brewery!
We highly recommend satisfying your after lunch before dinner snack craving with a big bowl of cereal. Take a walk down nostalgia lane as you satisfy every stoner’s classic craving at the Cereal Box. At this eccentric restaurant you can create your own custom cereal bowl choosing from a variety of cereals and milks. or choose from the childhood staples such as ice cream sandwiches and pop tarts.
The most classic restaurant for all Denverites. With access to a full bar selection and ability to take the meal outside to their patio, chipotle and Qdoba pale in comparison. Make sure you build this Denver staple into your itinerary.
Don’t let the fun die down after dinner, take the party to the Inventing Room Dessert Shop where you can experience unconventional nitro infused desserts with optional exploding whip cream. Bonus points! After dessert you can walk down the hall and check out the Paradigms exhibit by Crystal Wagner at The Crown Collection Gallery.
Music
Doors 4pm, Show start 5pm
Snoop is presenting a “Wellness Retreat” to promote music, cannabis and general wellness. Artists will include Snoop Dogg, Migos, and Lil Pump at Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater.
Red Rocks will be hosting their annual “4/20 Eve on the Rocks” with Method Man and Redman, Collie Buddz, Prof, Long Beach Dub Allstars, and Chali 2NA (OF JURASSIC 5). Show starts at 4:15pm.
Flosstradamus is a Brooklyn based DJ and producer. His music is laced with heavy hitting bass and high tempo beats that stimulate energy all night long. Be warned, this isn’t for the light hearted, but a 4/20 party at Red Rocks is one for the books.
Things To See
Though the Rastafari religion is fairly popular, there’s another religion devoted to cannabis called Elevationism. An Elevationist believes that “an individual’s spiritual journey and search for meaning is one of self-discovery that can be accelerated and deepened with ritual cannabis use. Elevationists use the sacred flower to reveal the best version of self, discover a creative voice and enrich their community with the fruits of that creativity." Lucky for the public, the International Church of Cannabis is open Thursday-Sunday 1-3pm. There’s no public consumption done during these hours, but the Church boasts a stunning mural on the inside by world famous artist, Okuda San Miguel, and on the outside by LA street artist, Kenny Scharf.
Crystal Wagner, a famous California based artist who has had pieces displayed in Times Square amongst other notable places. Her exhibit at the Crown Collection Gallery is constructed out of chicken wire and recycled plastic birthday party table cloths. Trust us when we say this exhibit is one you do not want to miss!
If you haven’t seen the iconic episode of Casa Bonita on South Park that’d be a great way to prep for this experience. With crazy performances, cliff divers and shows happening every hour it is absolutely necessary to plan a short trip here on this laugh inducing holiday. While the food is nothing to write home about, the atmosphere and performances will leave you in stitches.
Parks and Outdoors
Cheesman Park, Wash Park, Sloan’s Lake Park
At some point you’ll need to leave your safe and secluded dungeon and enter the real world. Take the party outdoors and enjoy a nice picnic at any of the popular parks around Denver. Toss the ball for the dog, pack a picnic, and enjoy some downtime. Remember it’s still illegal to consume in public!
Denver Zoo or Aquarium
Leave the bars and parties behind and take a trip with your inner child to the Denver Zoo or the Downtown Aquarium. The Aquarium has exhibits from different regions and environments, a 4-D theater, mermaids and food options.
A beautiful oasis near Boulder, the Chautauqua Trail offers easy access for the whole family. Get into the fresh air and experience the serenity of the mountains. The trail is a 1.2 mile out and back trail that features beautiful wild flowers and is manageable for all skill levels.
Known for its iconic concerts, Red Rocks Park has been named a national historic landmark. Head to the park in the daytime to check out the view of Denver, hike around the centuries old rocks and get a workout in with the locals who use Red Rocks as their gym.
If you’re down near our Pueblo locations get out of the house and take a trip to the Garden of the Gods. Dramatic views, 300' towering sandstone rock formations stand against a backdrop of snow-capped Pikes Peak and brilliant blue skies.
