When it comes to food festivals that are held in Colorado, it seems that promoter/organizer Drink Denver (DD) has cornered the market on name recognition.

Of course foodies statewide are already familiar with DD happenings like “The Mile High Beer Fest,” “Denver BrunchFest,” “Whiskey Throwdown & Doughnut Showdown,” and “The Denver Ramen Festival,” however, on October 25th at the RiNo Art Park, there will be a new festival Drink Denver is unleashing on the culinary landscape of Colorado that I believe will jump to the top of that list; one that is dedicated to the greatest food ever bestowed upon mankind …

Welcome “The Flame Fest Colorado Grilling Championship.”

Because of their decade-plus dedication to producing top-notch food events—along with the fact that the Flame Fest website presents the complete overview of the 30-plus vendors perfectly—the second I found out they decided to dedicate an entire day to grilled/barbecued meats and adult beverage producers, I reached out to DD’s representative Lacey Spruce to make sure I wasn’t stuck in some kind of fever dream.

Thankfully, not only did she confirm that this Autumnal celebration of proteins and liquors was happening, she also made it clear that the sheer number of chefs/restaurants/spirit-makers present will be enough to feed a seven-nation army.

Said Spruce, though “This is the first year for Flame Fest,” their roster is packed with fan-favorites. “[At other festivals] restaurants like Pit Fiend Barbecue, Los Chingones, and American Elm always bring bold, creative takes on grilled cuisine.” She continued, “We also have several independent chefs that come out to an event like this, and I love that our guests get to help discover new talent!”

And “talent” is the perfect word.

In fact, it’s because of DD’s commitment to selecting chefs and restaurants whose food is both unique and of outstanding quality that I’ve found myself covering more festivals produced by them than any other promotional company during my tenure at Rooster Magazine.

Whether it was dining on some of the finest noodles in the Western hemisphere at their Denver Ramen Festival, or having my brain lit up through consuming a silly amount of casomorphins during DD’s Mile High Grilled Cheese And Mac Fest, there has never been a time that a Drink Denver event hasn’t surpassed expectations.

Though DD has made it a point to keep the food front and center of their soirées, for anyone who has ever attended a Drink Denver party before, you know the food is only one component of many that guests can expect to fill their day with.

As their name implies, Spruce made it a point to mention there will be “whiskey and cocktail tasting experiences,” along with areas where “guests can enjoy craft beer.” She added that “[a] variety of local vendors like The Spice Guy and Sauce Leopard” would be in the fold.

Outside of the food and beverages, Spruce explained that they pulled out all the stops when it came to making the Flame Fest an all-inclusive-immersive affair.

“Flame Fest is a full-on celebration of all things cooked over fire, but it’s more than just great food.” She explained there will be a “live DJ, cooking demos, and fun contests like the Guy Fieri look-alike contest, where guests have a chance to win a Pit Barrel Cooker from Holy Smokes BBQ. It’s high-energy, interactive, and all-inclusive.”

Before ending the interview, there was one last thing I had to know: since the festival is so new, what can attendees expect?

“Flame Fest is all about celebrating Colorado’s passion for food, drink, and community. It’s one unforgettable day where guests can eat, drink, and connect with local makers—all while supporting Do Good Denver, our nonprofit partner. Come hungry and ready for a good time!”

With tickets that allow you to have “unlimited bites” (along with the ability to literally enjoy sips from ALL of your favorite local distillers and brewmasters), selling quickly, I cannot understand why you finished reading this sentence before getting a ticket already …

… unless maybe you have something against delicious food and refreshing beverages.