Ethiopian Day · Enkutatash 2019 · Colorado
EthiopianDay
Ethiopian New Year Celebration · Enkutatash 2019 · Colorado
Melkam Addis Amet! Join Colorado's Ethiopian community for a full day of music, coffee, cuisine and culture — free and open to everyone.
About the celebration
A new year, celebrated the Ethiopian way
Enkutatash marks the end of the rainy season and the start of a new year — a season of golden Adey Abeba flowers, fresh beginnings and gathering with the people you love. The weekend before the new year itself, the Colorado Ethiopian Community brings that tradition to Centennial Center Park for a day built around Ethiopian food, coffee, music and craft.
Everyone is welcome — Ethiopian, Eritrean, Colorado neighbors and anyone curious about the culture. Admission is free, the park is open, and the coffee is always on.
5,000+
Expected guests
40+
Vendor booths
50,000+
Ethiopians in the Denver area
Watch the vibe
See Ethiopian Day come alive
A glimpse of the energy, dance and community waiting for you on September 6.
Presented by
Colorado Ethiopian Community
A non-profit organization established to preserve, share and promote 3,000 years of Ethiopian cultural heritage. We support the integration of new Ethiopian Americans and engage in community and youth empowerment programs that foster a strong, vibrant integrated community.
Denver is now home to a thriving Ethiopian community of over 50,000+ people — and growing. Ethiopian Day is our annual celebration of that heritage, open to all who want to share in the joy of Enkutatash.
Learn more at ethioco.org
THE COLORADO ETHIOPIAN COMMUNITY
Celebrate our heritage. Build our community. Inspire our future.
Official Printing Partner
Arif Printing
Bringing Ethiopian Day to life — one print at a time.
Arif Printing is the official printing partner of Ethiopian Day 2026, helping bring the celebration to life through banners, signage, flyers, apparel, vendor graphics and event print materials. As a trusted local print partner, Arif supports businesses, events and organizations with quality printing and professional service.
- Banners
- Signs
- Flyers
- T-Shirts
- Vendor Graphics
- Print Services
Proudly printing Ethiopian Day 2026
Official Printing Partner
Trusted local print production
MC & main stage headliner
Tariku 80
MC · Singer · Comedian · Stage Host
Tariku 80 (Tariku Shele) is one of Ethiopia's most beloved entertainers — a singer, comedian and stage host who keeps crowds laughing, singing and dancing all night. He will MC the festival and headline the main stage with his signature blend of comedy, music and Ethiopian dance, closing with his hit Enkutataye to ring in Enkutatash 2019 in Colorado.
Featured performers
Main stage performers
Dancers, vocalists and youth collectives take the main stage from the 1:00 PM opening sounds through the 8:00 PM headline set.
Dereje Geteye
Best Ethiopian Dancer
Dereje Geteye is celebrated as one of Ethiopia's finest dancers, known for explosive energy, precision and the ability to move seamlessly between traditional Ethiopian styles and contemporary African dance.
Tigest Dereje
Best Ethiopian Traditional Dancer
Tigest Dereje is renowned for her mastery of Ethiopia's traditional dance forms, from the shoulder rhythms of Eskista to the graceful movements of the Oromo, Tigray and Gurage regions.
Selamwite Shewarega
Best Ethiopian Dancer
Selamwite Shewarega brings elegance and power to every Ethiopian dance tradition she performs, captivating audiences with authentic regional styles and a stage presence that celebrates the depth of Ethiopian culture.
KEDUSE ABUHAY/ DJ KD
FEATURED DJ
DJ KD (Keduse Abuhay) brings fresh energy and cultural pride to the stage, representing the next generation of Ethiopian performance artistry with grace, style and presence.
Visit djkeduse.app →
For the Culture
Youth Cultural Group
For the Culture is a vibrant youth collective celebrating Ethiopian heritage through dance, fashion and song — bringing energy, unity and a fresh voice to the main stage.
See dance video on TikTok @keduseabuhay →
TM3 Martial Arts Academy
Taekwondo Demo · Led by Mulat Biru
TM3 Martial Arts Academy, led by Mulat Biru, brings a live Taekwondo demonstration plus an all-ages aerobics and group workout on the main stage. Stop by their booth for event-only membership discounts, free water and free stickers for the kids.
Askkanwii Filmmaking Hub Incubator
Movie Night Partner · Outdoor Screening
Askkanwii Filmmaking Hub Incubator presents Movie Night at Ethiopian Day — an open-air screening of The Adwa's DNA and From the Farm to Your Cup, with the filmmakers on hand to meet creatives and students.
From previous Ethiopian Day celebrations
Main stage magic
A throwback to the energy Tariku 80, Dereje Geteye, Tigest Dereje and Selamwite Shewarega brought to the main stage. Catch them back at Ethiopian Day 2026.
Tariku 80 MC · 8:00 PM MAIN STAGE
Last year's main stage dancers
From previous Ethiopian Day celebrations
For the Culture dancers
For the Culture is a youth collective celebrating Ethiopian heritage through dance, fashion and song. These clips from past Ethiopian Day events show the energy they are bringing back to the main stage on September 6.
Catch them live at 4:30 PM & 7:30 PM MAIN STAGE
See more dance videos on TikTokFor the Culture — Ethiopian Day highlight
Family fun
A festival built for kids too
Centennial Center Park has fantastic playgrounds, including water play areas that are perfect for a warm September afternoon. We are designing the Kids Zone right beside these amenities so families can celebrate together.
- ·Splash pads and water play features for cooling off
- ·Modern playground equipment and open grass nearby
- ·Face painting, crafts, games and Ethiopian storytelling
- ·Shaded family seating and stroller-friendly pathways
What's happening
Live Music & DJ
Ethio-jazz, tizita, modern Amharic hits and a headline evening set.
Coffee Ceremony
Traditional jebena buna roasted and poured throughout the day.
Fashion Showcase
Habesha kemis, handwoven tibeb and contemporary Ethiopian design.
Kids Zone
Splash pads, playgrounds, games, face painting, crafts and storytelling.
Community Row
Nonprofits, health resources and Colorado community organizations.
Free Admission
Open to everyone. Bring your family, friends and neighbors.
Day of
Festival schedule
Sunday, September 6, 2026 · 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Centennial Center Park
- 11:00 AM – 12:00 PMVendor Row
Vendor load-in & booth setup
Confirmed vendors and sponsors arrive, check in and set up their booths before gates open.
- 1:00 PM – 1:15 PMMain Gate
Gates open · Meskel flower blessing
Vendor row, kids zone and splash pads open. Adey Abeba flowers handed to guests.
- 1:00 PM – 9:00 PMCoffee Zone
Coffee ceremony · Buna welcome
Traditional jebena roasting and pouring with popcorn and himbasha.
- 1:00 PM – 3:00 PMMain Stage
DJ KD · Opening sounds
Keduse Abuhay / DJ KD sets the vibe with Ethio-jazz, modern Amharic hits and dance music.
Headline act - 3:00 PM – 3:30 PMMain Stage
Megerssa · Opening speech
Welcome remarks and Enkutatash blessing from community elder Megerssa.
- 3:00 PM – 6:00 PMPark Fields
GAM United FC · Youth soccer drop-in games
Fun youth soccer games for kids on the Centennial Center Park fields. Come support the players and celebrate culture, community, and soccer with GAM United FC!
- 4:30 PM – 5:00 PMMain Stage
For the Culture Dance Team
For the Culture youth collective takes the main stage with Ethiopian dance, song and fashion.
Headline act - 6:00 PM – 6:30 PMMovie Night Lawn
Movie Night · with Askkanwii Filmmaking Hub Incubator
Open-air 30-minute screening presented in partnership with Askkanwii Filmmaking Hub Incubator. Bring a blanket.
Headline act - 6:30 PM – 7:00 PMMain Stage
Enkutatash Mezmur · Medhanialem Church
Sacred Enkutatash songs and praise led by Medhanialem Church choir.
- 7:00 PM – 7:30 PMMain Stage
TM3 Martial Arts Academy · Taekwondo demo & group workout
Led by Mulat Biru, TM3 Martial Arts Academy performs a live Taekwondo demonstration followed by an all-ages aerobics and group workout. Event-only membership discounts, free water and free stickers for the kids at their booth.
Headline act - 7:30 PM – 8:00 PMMain Stage
For the Culture Dance Team · Second set
For the Culture returns for a second high-energy performance before the headline set.
Headline act - 8:00 PM – 9:00 PMMain Stage
Tariku 80 · Headline set
Comedy, singing and dance from Tariku 80, joined on stage by Dereje Geteye, Tigest Dereje and Selamwite Shewarega. Closing with his hit Enkutataye for the new year.
Headline act - 8:00 PM – 9:00 PMMain Stage
DJ dance party & closing new year toast
Open-air dance floor, candle lighting and the Enkutatash 2019 toast at 8:45 PM.
Times are approximate and subject to change as the performer lineup is finalized.
Get involved
This festival runs on the businesses and partners who show up for it. Booths and sponsorships are limited and go quickly.
Vendors
From $150
Nonprofit booths $150 · General booths $200 · Food booths $300. Apply and pay online in a few minutes.
Apply as a vendorSponsors
$500 – $8,000
Five partnership levels, from community support to presenting partner with main stage naming rights.
See packages- · Free parking adjacent to the park, with overflow lots signed on the day.
- · Accessible pathways throughout the venue.
- · Restrooms and hydration stations on site.
- · Please support our local vendors and sponsors.
- · Follow event staff and directional signage at the entrance.