Food trucks, great art, a mild winter - Hey, it's McNichols in Denver

Looking for a food truck in Denver in the winter time? The McNichols Civic Center Building has the answer – and more.

If you work downtown or have a reason to be downtown or maybe you are visiting and want a taste of Denver’s vibrant food truck and cultural scene, then get thee to McNichols. Every Thursday during the lunch hour from now through May, food trucks will be parked and at your service on the Promenade in the park, near McNichols. But it gets better. When you have your victuals, you can venture into McNichols to partake of not only your lunch but the cultural and arts exhibits on display. And every third Thursday, you get jazz with artists from Denver’s Five Points Jazz Festival. The best part? Except for your food (there ain’t no free lunch, don’t you know), admission to McNichols, the art and the jazz are free.

For the last couple of years during the summer months, food trucks have been in the park at lunch time, Tuesdays and Thursdays. But with Denver’s mild winters there’s no reason to leave winter out.

So whether it’s sliders, burgers, Argentinean food, cupcakes, Asian cuisine or something else you will enjoy your visit to this wonderful park and building – try it today. Food trucks are there from 11am to 1pm.

For those who may visit from out of town or for those from the Denver area who may not know, McNichols reopened as public space last year.

Originally built as a Carnegie Library it was the first building to be constructed in the new Civic Center Park at the corner of 14th and Bannock. The Greek Revival building was dedicated in 1910. It ceased being Denver’s main library with the opening of the new Denver library in 1956.

Subsequently it served a variety of governmental purposes. In 1999, it was renamed the McNichols Building in honor of Colorado Governor Stephen McNichols. Unfortunately right after that renaming the building became vacant and remained so until 2010 when after some remodeling it opened briefly for the Biennial of the Americas. It again became vacant until 2012 when enough money was raised to finish the remodel and it opened again as an arts, cultural and public meeting space in November of that year.

A visit to McNichols (whether for lunch or otherwise) is rewarding. In addition to the building itself and its cultural exhibitions, there is the park. At the south end is the Greek Theatre, at the north, the Voorhies Memorial with it water feature and fountain. Connecting the two is the Promenade with the Bronco Buster and On the Trail statues nearby.

Great food, great art, a mild winter – hey, it’s Denver. Come and enjoy.