Beyond Famine Stereotypes: Ethiopian Heritage Foundation Hosts 12th Annual Taste of Ethiopia Festival at City Park in Denver

Posted on September 10, 2026

For many Americans, the word “Ethiopia” still brings back television images of famine from the 1980s. But for thousands of Coloradans, Ethiopia is something much closer.

On September 12 and 13, the Taste of Ethiopia Festival will invite Colorado to meet that Ethiopia.

“Famine was a tragedy in Ethiopia’s history, but for many Americans, those images from the 1980s became Ethiopia itself,” Nebiyu Asfaw, organizer of the festival said. “The problem is that Ethiopians are not some distant people. We are your neighbors, coworkers, business owners, drivers, teachers, health care workers and friends. We are part of Colorado. The Taste of Ethiopia Festival gives the wider community a chance to know us beyond an old stereotype, to experience the culture, history, food, music and traditions that we carry with us every day. That is why this festival matters locally.”

What Colorado Will Experience

Across two days, Taste of Ethiopia Festival will feature Ethiopian restaurants and food vendors, including traditional dishes and extensive vegan options; live Ethiopian music and cultural dance; traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremonies from the birthplace of coffee; artisans and cultural vendors; children’s activities; community organizations; and Ethiopian New Year celebrations.

The festival is intentionally designed for people who have never experienced Ethiopian culture before. At the festival, Colorado residents do not need to read a history book to begin experiencing Ethiopia. They can taste it. Hear it. Dance to it. And meet the people carrying those traditions forward.

Why Ethiopia Matters

For many Coloradans, the festival may be their first opportunity to discover just how significant Ethiopia is to our collective human story. Known as the “Land of Origins,” Ethiopia is the birthplace of humanity, one of the world’s oldest civilizations, and the birthplace of coffee.

It is also one of the great spiritual crossroads of humanity. Ethiopia holds ancient and deeply rooted connections to Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, with all three major Abrahamic faiths establishing profound foundations there early in their histories.

Ethiopia was one of the first nations in the world to adopt Christianity as a state religion in the 4th century, even before Europe. Judaism has an ancient and legendary history in Ethiopia tied to the Solomonic line, preserved for centuries through Beta Israel, the oldest and longest-lasting Jewish community in the world outside of Israel.

Ethiopia was also the first country to accept Islam. Islam arrived in Ethiopia directly from Arabia during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad. Ethiopia became the site of the First Hijra in Islamic history, the first foreign refuge for the earliest Muslims fleeing persecution, and home to the oldest Muslim settlement outside of Saudi Arabia.

Ethiopia’s religious history makes it globally unique because it is one of the few places on Earth where all three Abrahamic faiths took root organically and peacefully, and continue to coexist simultaneously for centuries. At a time when religion so often becomes a source of division, Ethiopia offers something profoundly different: a centuries-old example of faith, coexistence, refuge, and shared humanity. That is not just Ethiopian history. It is an inspiration for the world today

Event Details

The 12th Annual Taste of Ethiopia Festival will be held on Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM at the Denver City Park, Pavillion and Bandshell area. Admission is free, and family-friendly, dog-friendly.

The Ethiopian Heritage Foundation is a Colorado nonprofit dedicated to preserving, celebrating and sharing Ethiopian heritage while strengthening connections across communities. The Foundation produces the annual Taste of Ethiopia Festival and supports year-round initiatives in cultural awareness, community engagement, health equity and mental wellness.

For more info: www.TasteOfEthiopia.org.