Medics, vendors and attendees adapt to heat at City Park festival
Denver saw temperatures climb into the nineties on Saturday as crowds gathered for the Black Arts Festival in City Park. Organizers, food vendors and a team of on-site medical professionals took visible steps to prevent heat-related illness as the midday sun intensified.
Action Medical Film and Event Medics staffed the festival to offer medical support and cooling resources. Their owner, Jennie Hawkins, said the group set up multiple cooling stations and urged attendees to be proactive about staying hydrated and avoiding prolonged exposure.
"Make sure that you are drinking plenty of fluids and eating and trying to stay cool. Staying out of that heat is going to be huge,"
The warning came as vendors such as Sadie Marshall, owner of Sadie's Chicken, continued to cook and serve festivalgoers from a fryer station that felt notably hotter than the surrounding air. Marshall said this was the business’s first festival and that she had already sold out during a previous day at the event. She and her crew said they kept plenty of water on hand and were taking steps to protect themselves while keeping orders moving.
Medical staff at the festival emphasized that heat emergencies can affect anyone, not just outdoor workers or people with preexisting conditions. They asked attendees to watch friends and family for unusual behavior or signs of distress and to seek help promptly if someone appears disoriented or faint.
Practical steps festivalgoers used
- Cooling stations provided by event medics for immediate relief.
- Vendors keeping extra water and taking brief breaks from cooking near fryers.
- Attendees seeking shade, hydrating and observing each other for symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
Heat-related illnesses range from mild heat cramps to severe heat stroke, which requires immediate medical attention. The presence of trained medics at large outdoor events can speed diagnosis and treatment when people begin showing warning signs.
| Tip | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Drink water regularly | Maintains hydration and helps body regulate temperature |
| Find shade or cooling stations | Reduces direct sun exposure and lowers body heat |
| Avoid heavy activity during peak heat | Limits heat production from exertion |
For people working near heat sources — including food vendors using fryers and grills — organizers said extra precautions are important. Those precautions can include rotating shifts, keeping cold beverages readily available and using fans or temporary canopies to provide airflow.
Event medics urged festivalgoers to act quickly if someone is not behaving normally: confusion, dizziness, nausea, or fainting can indicate serious conditions. In those cases, immediate evaluation by medical personnel is recommended.
The Black Arts Festival drew visitors despite the high temperatures, and both attendees and small-business owners adapted to the conditions to keep the festival running safely into the afternoon.
