Ethiopian Day 2026 Sept 6
Colorado Ethiopian Community logo
Donate
Colorado Ethiopian Community volunteers in Ethiopian Day t-shirts gathered in front of the event banner

Colorado Ethiopian Community

Building a Stronger Ethiopian Community in Colorado

Connecting generations, preserving culture, supporting families, and creating opportunities for Colorado's Ethiopian community.

Explore our programsGet involvedDonate

Who we are

Community. Culture. Connection.

Colorado Ethiopian Community is a nonprofit serving Ethiopian individuals and families across Colorado through cultural programs, youth development, community resources, education, wellness initiatives, and community events — including our signature annual celebration, Ethiopian Day.

Learn about CECEthiopian Day 2026
Performers in traditional Ethiopian dress on the Ethiopian Day stage

A signature event of Colorado Ethiopian Community

Ethiopian Day 2026

Ethiopian New Year Celebration · Enkutatash 2019 · Colorado

Melkam Addis Amet! Join Colorado's Ethiopian community for a full day of music, coffee, cuisine and culture — free and open to everyone.

Date
Sunday, September 6, 2026
Time
1:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location
Centennial Center Park, Centennial CO
Reserve a vendor boothSponsorship packagesOfficial event site

About the celebration

A new year, celebrated the Ethiopian way

Enkutatash marks the end of the rainy season and the start of a new year — a season of golden Adey Abeba flowers, fresh beginnings and gathering with the people you love. The weekend before the new year itself, the Colorado Ethiopian Community brings that tradition to Centennial Center Park for a day built around Ethiopian food, coffee, music and craft.

Everyone is welcome — Ethiopian, Eritrean, Colorado neighbors and anyone curious about the culture. Admission is free, the park is open, and the coffee is always on.

Expected guests
5,000+Expected guests
Vendor booths
40+Vendor booths
Ethiopians in the Denver area
50,000+Ethiopians in the Denver area
Families in traditional Ethiopian dress gathered at Ethiopian Day in Centennial Center ParkEthiopian cultural dancers performing on the Ethiopian Day main stage at nightColorado Ethiopian Community volunteers in yellow Ethiopian Day shirts
Colorado Ethiopian Community logo

Presented by

Colorado Ethiopian Community

A non-profit organization established to preserve, share and promote 3,000 years of Ethiopian cultural heritage. We support the integration of new Ethiopian Americans and engage in community and youth empowerment programs that foster a strong, vibrant integrated community.

Denver is now home to a thriving Ethiopian community of over 50,000+ people — and growing. Ethiopian Day is our annual celebration of that heritage, open to all who want to share in the joy of Enkutatash.

Celebrate our heritage. Build our community. Inspire our future.

Learn more about CEC

Official partners

Partners Powering Ethiopian Day

Local businesses and organizations that make the celebration possible.

Arif Printing official printing partner logo

Official Printing Partner

Trusted local print production

Arif Printing

Bringing Ethiopian Day to life — one print at a time.

Arif Printing is the official printing partner of Ethiopian Day 2026, helping bring the celebration to life through banners, signage, flyers, apparel, vendor graphics and event print materials. As a trusted local print partner, Arif supports businesses, events and organizations with quality printing and professional service.

  • Banners
  • Signs
  • Flyers
  • T-Shirts
  • Vendor Graphics
  • Print Services
Visit ArifPrinting.comPartner details
Tariku 80, Ethiopian MC, singer and comedian

MC & main stage headliner

Tariku 80

MC · Singer · Comedian · Stage Host

Tariku 80 (Tariku Shele) is one of Ethiopia's most beloved entertainers — a singer, comedian and stage host who keeps crowds laughing, singing and dancing all night. He will MC the festival and headline the main stage with his signature blend of comedy, music and Ethiopian dance, closing with his hit Enkutataye to ring in Enkutatash 2019 in Colorado.

MC · 8:00 PM main stage

Follow @tarikusheleSponsor the stage

Featured performers

Main Stage Performers

Dancers, vocalists and youth collectives take the main stage from the 1:00 PM opening sounds through the 8:00 PM headline set.

Dereje Geteye, Ethiopian Day main stage performer
8:00 PM Main Stage

Dereje Geteye

Best Ethiopian Dancer

Dereje Geteye is celebrated as one of Ethiopia's finest dancers, known for explosive energy, precision and the ability to move seamlessly between traditional Ethiopian styles and contemporary African dance.

Tigest Dereje, Ethiopian Day main stage performer
8:00 PM Main Stage

Tigest Dereje

Best Ethiopian Traditional Dancer

Tigest Dereje is renowned for her mastery of Ethiopia's traditional dance forms, from the shoulder rhythms of Eskista to the graceful movements of the Oromo, Tigray and Gurage regions.

Selamwite Shewarega, Ethiopian Day main stage performer
8:00 PM Main Stage

Selamwite Shewarega

Best Ethiopian Dancer

Selamwite Shewarega brings elegance and power to every Ethiopian dance tradition she performs, captivating audiences with authentic regional styles and a stage presence that celebrates the depth of Ethiopian culture.

Keduse Abuhay / DJ KD, Ethiopian Day main stage performer
1:00 PM Main Stage

Keduse Abuhay / DJ KD

Featured DJ

DJ KD (Keduse Abuhay) brings fresh energy and cultural pride to the stage, representing the next generation of Ethiopian performance artistry with grace, style and presence.

Visit djkeduse.app
For the Culture, Ethiopian Day main stage performer
4:30 PM & 7:30 PM Main Stage

For the Culture

Youth Cultural Group

For the Culture is a vibrant youth collective celebrating Ethiopian heritage through dance, fashion and song — bringing energy, unity and a fresh voice to the main stage.

See dance video on TikTok @keduseabuhay
TM3 Martial Arts Academy, Ethiopian Day main stage performer
7:00 PM Main Stage

TM3 Martial Arts Academy

Taekwondo Demo · Led by Mulat Biru

TM3 Martial Arts Academy, led by Mulat Biru, brings a live Taekwondo demonstration plus an all-ages aerobics and group workout on the main stage. Stop by their booth for event-only membership discounts, free water and free stickers for the kids.

Askkanwii Filmmaking Hub Incubator, Ethiopian Day main stage performer
6:00 PM Movie Night

Askkanwii Filmmaking Hub Incubator

Movie Night Partner · Outdoor Screening

Askkanwii Filmmaking Hub Incubator presents Movie Night at Ethiopian Day — an open-air screening of The Adwa's DNA and From the Farm to Your Cup, with the filmmakers on hand to meet creatives and students.

Family fun

A festival built for kids too

Centennial Center Park has fantastic playgrounds, including water play areas that are perfect for a warm September afternoon. We are designing the Kids Zone right beside these amenities so families can celebrate together.

  • Splash pads and water play features for cooling off
  • Modern playground equipment and open grass nearby
  • Face painting, crafts, games and Ethiopian storytelling
  • Shaded family seating and stroller-friendly pathways
Children playing at a splash pad and playground at Centennial Center Park

On the grounds

What's Happening

Six ways to experience Ethiopian culture across the park, all day long.

Live Music & DJ

Ethio-jazz, tizita, modern Amharic hits and a headline evening set.

Coffee Ceremony

Traditional jebena buna roasted and poured throughout the day.

Fashion Showcase

Habesha kemis, handwoven tibeb and contemporary Ethiopian design.

Kids Zone

Splash pads, playgrounds, games, face painting, crafts and storytelling.

Community Row

Nonprofits, health resources and Colorado community organizations.

Free Admission

Open to everyone. Bring your family, friends and neighbors.

Day of

Festival Schedule

Sunday, September 6, 2026 · 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Centennial Center Park

  1. 1:00 PM – 1:15 PMMain GateCeremony

    Gates open · Meskel flower blessing

    Vendor row, kids zone and splash pads open. Adey Abeba flowers handed to guests.

  2. 1:00 PM – 9:00 PMCoffee ZoneCulture

    Coffee ceremony · Buna welcome

    Traditional jebena roasting and pouring with popcorn and himbasha.

  3. 1:00 PM – 3:00 PMMain StageMusic

    DJ KD · Opening sounds

    Keduse Abuhay / DJ KD sets the vibe with Ethio-jazz, modern Amharic hits and dance music.

  4. 4:30 PM – 5:00 PMMain StageDance

    For the Culture Dance Team

    For the Culture youth collective takes the main stage with Ethiopian dance, song and fashion.

  5. 8:00 PM – 9:00 PMMain StageHeadliner

    Tariku 80 · Headline set

    Comedy, singing and dance from Tariku 80, joined on stage by Dereje Geteye, Tigest Dereje and Selamwite Shewarega. Closing with his hit Enkutataye for the new year.

  6. 8:00 PM – 9:00 PMMain StageMusic

    DJ dance party & closing new year toast

    Open-air dance floor, candle lighting and the Enkutatash 2019 toast at 8:45 PM.

Showing 6 highlights of 13 scheduled moments.

Get involved

Vendors, Sponsors & Volunteers

This festival runs on the businesses and partners who show up for it. Booths and sponsorships are limited and go quickly.

Vendors

From $150

Nonprofit booths $150 · General booths $200 · Food booths $300. Apply and pay online in a few minutes.

Apply as a vendor
Sponsors

$500 – $8,000

Five partnership levels, from community support to presenting partner with main stage naming rights.

See packages
Volunteers

Join the crew

Ethiopian Day runs on volunteers — setup, welcome tables, kids zone, coffee ceremony and stage support.

Volunteer with CEC

Location

Centennial Center Park

13050 E. Peakview Ave, Centennial, CO 80112

  • Free parking adjacent to the park, with overflow lots signed on the day.
  • Accessible pathways throughout the venue.
  • Restrooms and hydration stations on site.
  • Please support our local vendors and sponsors.
  • Follow event staff and directional signage at the entrance.
Get directions
Centennial Center Park, the home of Ethiopian Day in Centennial, Colorado

Beyond Ethiopian Day

CEC Programs Year-Round

Ethiopian Day is one day. Our programs run all year — from youth and culture to wellness, careers, and mutual aid.

Youth & Leadership

Mentorship, leadership development, and college readiness for Ethiopian American youth.

Learn more

Cultural Programs

Language, music, coffee ceremony, and heritage programming that keep Ethiopian culture alive in Colorado.

Learn more

Mental Health & Wellness

Culturally responsive wellness programming, support groups, and referrals for individuals and families.

Learn more

Community Support & Edir

Traditional Edir mutual-aid support that stands with families during illness, loss, and hardship.

Learn more

Business & Professional Development

Workshops, internships, and networking that help members build careers and small businesses in Colorado.

Learn more

Community Events

Ethiopian Day, Adwa Day, the General Assembly, and gatherings that bring the community together.

Learn more
View all programsSee all CEC events

የጋራ መረዳጃ ማህበር · Mutual aid

CEC Edir

Our Edir stands with families during loss, illness, unemployment, and disability. Over 1,000 members support one another, with a $15,000 benefit paid in time of loss.

Learn about the Edir

Community impact

Our Impact

A snapshot of our work. Figures shown as a dash are being verified and will be published once confirmed.

Community members served
—Community members served
Interns supported in 2025–2026
13Interns supported in 2025–2026
Internship partner organizations
7Internship partner organizations
Community events each year
—Community events each year

Working together

Community Partners

We work alongside local organizations, schools, and agencies to serve Colorado families.

  • Spring Institute
  • Ardent Grove Foundation
  • Center for Immigrants and Immigration Services
  • Aurora Public Schools
  • Lasting Peace Counseling
  • Hand to the Future
Youth in traditional Ethiopian dress performing on stage at a Colorado Ethiopian Community celebration

Get involved

There's a Place for You in Our Community

Time, partnership, or a gift — every contribution strengthens the community.

Volunteer

Give a few hours at an event or lend a professional skill to a program.

Volunteer with us

Become a Partner

Organizations, schools, and businesses partner with CEC to serve the community.

Partner with CEC

Donate

Support cultural programming, youth development, and community services.

Give today

Newsletter

Stay Connected

Get updates about community programs, events, resources, and Ethiopian Day news.