Multicultural Denver

Today, the metropolitan area of 2.6 million people celebrates its diversity with a number of ethnic events, celebrations and festivals. From the nation's largest Cinco de Mayo Festival, celebrating Mexican culture, to the annual Colorado Dragon Boat Festival celebrating Asian traditions, to the Denver March Powwow, the nation's largest and most diversified American Indian gathering, Denver has a celebration for everyone.

Quaint neighborhoods offer ethnic bakeries, cafes and shops. Art and history can be explored at the Museo de las Americas (861 Santa Fe Dr.) on Santa Fe Boulevard, a neighborhood filled with Latino art galleries and restaurants. Check out an in-depth look at Hispanic Denver. The Highland neighborhood was home initially to Scottish immigrants, later by Italians and today is home to a vibrant Latin American community.

In the Five Points neighborhood, the history of African Americans in the West can be studied at the Black American West Museum (3091 California St.) and the exciting Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library (2401 Welton St.), while the surrounding shops and restaurants offer everything from soul food to jazz.

Asian fusion can be found on South Federal Boulevard, where there are many Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese shops, restaurants and markets. Travel north on Federal, and there are Mexican and South American restaurants, stores, bakeries and even supermarkets that specialize in Latino products and foods. Find out more about Denver's Asian culture.

Sakura Square is the center of Japanese culture in Denver, highlighted each June in the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, while the city boasts one of the nation's largest Scottish and Irish festivals.