Smells of cotton candy wafting through the air, colorful performers balancing on stilts and a floating astronaut marked this year’s University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Block Party. More than 3,000 people filled Bonfils Circle and the surrounding area in front of the Fitzsimons Building for the Sept. 13 celebration.
The ninth annual CU Anschutz Block Party included a record 149 booths featuring departments from across campus, 15 food trucks and thre musical performers. Everything from a Barbie-themed photo booth to bowling trivia to raffle tickets and games represented the creativity of the 2023 event planners.
Swag items were aplenty, from the fun to extremely useful. The Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention along with the Keep the Party Safe campaign handed out 750 doses of naloxone.
Performers included Esmé Patterson, an indie folk artist, Roshni, a local grassroots arts organization that works with the underserved, and DJ Notch.
As always, all were welcome, including students, faculty and staff from the university, along with UCHealth and Children’s Hospital Colorado staff and Aurora community members.
Terri C. Carrothers, executive vice chancellor for administration and finance and CU Anschutz chief financial officer, said it best, “What a great block party – just gets better every year!”