A variety of delectable foods aimed at attracting adults will be offered at the city’s annual KidSpree event this summer.
The event, now called “KidSpree @ YumFest” will be held this year from noon to 6 p.m. on July 14 on the Great Lawn at the Aurora Municipal Center.
Because of budget cuts, the event was decreased from two days to one, and it will feature food trucks and more adult-themed activities to attract a broader audience.
“A lot of people are experiencing budget cuts including governments, and instead of making it over a weekend we are making it only a one-day thing but people will still be able to get a lot out of it,” said Ida Broadnax, the city’s special event coordinator.
Information about the cost of the event was not available at press time.
The event usually attracted more than 20,000 people over the two-day period, but this year Broadnax expects it will garner between 8,000 and 10,000 people.
The event was traditionally billed as the state’s largest festival for children, and although it will be downsized this year, it will still boast dozens of kid-friendly activities, Broadnax said. Those include a water wall, a giant maze, a life-sized Candy Land game, a giant paint-by-numbers, sidewalk chalk, magicians and face painting.
Food trucks from Aurora and around the Denver metro area will be featured this year in hopes of appealing to both kids and parents, Broadnax said.
“KidSpree was known for having a focus toward kids and youth but this year we wanted to target everyone in the family,” she said.
Karaoke and games like bean-bag toss will also be offered for parents.
Gary Wheat, president of Visit Aurora, said the addition of the food component will attract people from Aurora and the surrounding cities.
“It really reaches across city lines and brings in a broader audience because we pride ourselves on the ethnic choices and great food we have here, and I think that’s something people are traveling for these days,” he said.
Despite the event’s downsizing, Wheat said he expects it to still be a hit.
“The additions and enhancements that are being made only make it better and more attractive to a broader reach in audience,” he said.
The event was usually held at Bicentennial Park, but this year city officials thought it would be easier for guests to park at the Aurora Municipal Center and also give them a chance to become familiar with Aurora Central Library and the Aurora History Museum.
“It’s to give people an opportunity to experience some of the resources and things we have right here at the Aurora Municipal Center,” Broadnax said.
This is Broadnax’s first KidSpree event, since she’s new to the job.
“I’m really looking forward to it because I’ve heard so many great things about it,” she said.
For more information on this event visit www.auroragov.org/events.