This weekend marked the official kickoff celebration for the newly revitalized 16th Street corridor. With most of the major construction now wrapped up, Denver threw a two-day block party packed with live music, outdoor recreation pop-ups, local food and drink vendors, and games stretching from Union Station to Civic Center. The event aimed to showcase the city’s investment in the mall’s $149 million redesign—complete with new pavers, seating areas, public art, and better pedestrian flow. Crowds came out for sidewalk sales, beer gardens, and a climbing wall installation at 16th & Welton as part of the international Speed Climbing World Cup event. City officials say the weekend was a taste of what’s to come as summer programming returns to 16th. After years of construction fatigue, downtown is finally getting some momentum—and this weekend proved that Denver is ready to show up for it.