Wine Walks are coming back!

A year of legislative effort pays off with Polis signing ceremony at Chamber office

Governor Jared Polis visited Parker Tuesday to sign House Bill 1156 into law. The bill – sponsored and championed by State Representative Anthony Hartsook – saves the Chamber's Wine Walk economic development events and guarantees special event permit eligibility for all chambers of commerce throughout Colorado.

For more than a decade, each summer's Wine Walks provided brought together nearly 5,000 residents and visitors, drove economic vitality to downtown small businesses, and provided significant operational funding to the Chamber. Last summer, the state Liquor Enforcement Division shut down Wine Walk events claiming the events failed to comply with existing state alcohol regulations.

Hartsook, his staff, the Chamber staff, and Town of Parker attorneys and lobbyists spent almost a year crafting a bill to address the issues.

"Changing state law was a huge task," said T.J. Sullivan, Chamber President & CEO. "But, getting Wine Walks back and having Governor Polis generously travel to Parker to sign the bill made it all worth it."

Sullivan said that Hartsook and his staff get the most credit for making 1156 happen, with bipartisan assists from cosponsors Parker's Sen. Jim Smallwood and Broomfield's Sen. Rachel Zenzinger and Rep. William Lindstedt.

Town Council Member and fika Coffee House owner Joshua Rivero testified with Sullivan at both House and Senate committee hearings. Town Attorney Corey Hoffman and lobbyist William Mutch played critical roles, along with Chamber attorney Adam Stapen. Rachel Beck from the Colorado Competitive Council and Rep. Lisa Frizell also lent valuable support.

"I remember talking to businesses on Mainstreet, and we promised we would do whatever possible in our respective roles to bring back Wine Walks," Rivero said.

Additionally, chamber leaders from across the state responded to Sullivan's request for support, including the South Metro Denver Chamber and chambers in Vail, Golden, Glenwood Springs, Gunnison, Durango, Grand Junction, Aurora, and more.

The Chamber plans to bring back two Wine Walks this summer. An announcement will come soon. A full schedule of five events will return in the summer of 2025.

-Parker Chamber of Commece