City Park Jazz Fundraising After Historic Bandstand Fire

The 40-year-old music series faces a $35,000 budget shortfall to cover temporary stage and power costs.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 9:18pm

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An abstract illustration featuring stark black silhouettes of the damaged City Park Bandshell against a high-contrast background of deep red and bright white, conceptually representing the disruption to this longstanding community tradition.The historic bandstand that has hosted Denver's beloved City Park Jazz concert series for 40 years was severely damaged by a suspicious fire, forcing organizers to find temporary solutions to keep the music playing.Denver Today

The City Park Jazz concert series in Denver is scrambling to raise funds after a fire severely damaged the historic bandstand that has hosted the free summer music events for 40 years. Organizers are working with the city to set up a temporary stage nearby, but they are facing a $30,000 to $35,000 budget shortfall to cover the costs.

Why it matters

The City Park Jazz series is a beloved summer tradition in Denver, drawing thousands of music fans to the city's iconic park. The loss of the historic bandstand is a major blow, but the organizers are determined to keep the concerts going for the 40th anniversary season.

The details

The fire that damaged the 1929 bandstand, also known as the City Park Bandshell, is being investigated as suspicious by the Denver Fire Department. Organizers are working to finalize plans for a mobile stage and generators to host the concerts, which are scheduled to begin on June 7. They are asking the community for donations to help cover the unexpected costs.

  • The fire occurred on March 26, 2026.
  • The 40th season of City Park Jazz is scheduled to begin on June 7, 2026.

The players

City Park Jazz

The nonprofit organization that has hosted the free summer concert series in Denver's City Park for the past 40 years.

David Flomberg

A spokesperson for City Park Jazz who is coordinating the fundraising efforts and backup plans after the fire.

Denver Fire Department

The agency investigating the fire at the historic City Park Bandstand as suspicious.

Word of Thanks Fund

A local fund coordinated by 9News anchor Kyle Clark that is donating $40,000 to help rebuild the bandstand.

Denver Park Trust

A nonprofit organization working with City Park Jazz and other partners to raise money for the bandstand restoration.

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What they’re saying

“'Our team met with the city to discuss options for the stage placement and we believe we have that figured out; it'll remain very close to our normal footprint.'”

— David Flomberg, Spokesperson, City Park Jazz

What’s next

City Park Jazz is working with local organizations like the Denver Park Trust and City Park Alliance to raise the estimated $250,000 needed to rebuild the historic bandstand. In the meantime, they are planning a temporary stage and generator setup to host the 40th anniversary concert series starting on June 7.

The takeaway

The fire that damaged the iconic City Park Bandstand has created a significant financial challenge for the City Park Jazz concert series, but the organizers are determined to keep the 40-year-old summer tradition alive by finding creative solutions. The community's support through donations will be crucial to ensuring the concerts can go on as planned.