Education Programs and Resources

Welcome to OSE's collection of Lunch and Learn and Forum recordings and other resources for event organizers.

Check back often! New recordings and resources will be added as they become available.

Not finding what you were looking or hoping for? Let us know what education programs and resources you'd like to see.

2024 Special Events Safety Week Resources

Session Resources and Contact Information

These resources will also be added to this Education Programs and Resources webpage – check back often for other useful event information!

Event Ready – Being Weather Ready for Outdoor Events

Psychological First Aid

Active Shooter Preparedness Training

Stop the Bleed Training

CPR/AED Training

MGT-475: Crowd Management for Sport and Special Events Training

National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) - Special Event Safety and Security Courses

*A partnership with the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)


Other Helpful Links

These and many others can be found on the OSE Education Programs and Resources webpage:


2024 Special Events Forum (1/26/24)

Big thanks to over 130 event organizers, city reps, partners, and Mayor Mike Johnston for rocking the 2024 Special Events Forum! Attendees connected over coffee, networked with 50+ city and partner reps, and dove into an informative presentation covering the topics below. Check out the 2024 Forum Presentation(PDF, 4MB) for all the highlights!

General Updates

Stage & Temporary Structure Submittals

The entire application is processed through e-permits. For more information visit: Community Planning and Development website

Presentation: Temporary Structure Submittals(PDF, 761KB)

Temporary Restaurant License

Affidavit of Commissary and Acknowledgement Letter are now uploaded directly to the Permitting and Licensing Center application (Accela) and does not need to be emailed to DDPHE for approval prior to submitting application. For more information visit: Restaurant Temporary

Presentation: Temporary Restaurant License (Streamlined Application Process)(PDF, 275KB)

Special Events Health & Medical Plan

All Health Medical Plans now to include whether the contracted Emergency Medical Service provider is able to provide medical transport from an event. For more information contact: DDPHEInformation@denvergov.org

Presentation: Special Events Health & Medical Plan (HMP Template for Medical Transport)(PDF, 372KB)

Health Medical Plan Template

Drone Shows

Office of Special Events will issue a Drone Show Permit for drone shows at your event. Talk to your permitting specialist for more information.

Presentation: Drone Shows(PDF, 286KB)

Bannock Street Transition

DPR will accept permit applications for public events, admission based events, and assemblies. For more information: https://www.denvergov.org/permits.

Presentation: Bannock Street Transition(PDF, 782KB)

DOTI: Building a Better Denver

Denver is growing and DOTI processes over 30,000 permits, meeting deadlines is of the upmost importance. For questions or concerns email: Seaoa@denvergov.org

Presentation: DOTI - Building a Better Denver(PDF, 828KB)

Let's Talk Trash

You must fill out the Event Waste Management Plan(PDF, 174KB) in order to receive your 2024 event permit.

Presentation: Let's Talk Trash(PDF, 313KB)

Auraria Campus Event Venue Options

Representatives from the Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC) were excited to host the 2024 Forum and presented information about indoor and outdoor event spaces available on the Auraria Campus and provided a tour. You can find details about AHEC's event venue options and pricing online and can emailAmber Cook for more information or a private tour.

2023 Special Events Forum (1/20/23)

More than 100 event organizers attended the 2023 Special Events Forum on Friday, January 20 at the Tivoli Student Union on the Auraria Campus.

Attendees enjoyed coffee and networking with each other and with more than 50 City and partner representatives, and then listened to a presentation that covered the following topics. (View the 2023 Forum presentation(PDF, 13MB).)

WASTE NO MORE TASK FORCE

On November 8, 2022, 70% of Denver voters approved the Waste No More ballot initiative which has significant impacts on event organizers, including requiring three-stream waste management at public events.

Event Organizer Input Needed: The city needs event industry professionals to participate in a task force that will evaluate and recommend revisions to clarify the requirements, define the city’s enforcement process, and adjust the implementation timeline. 

NOISE ORDINANCE REVISION

The City and County of Denver is reviewing and revising its local ordinance that governs noise, including construction, deliveries, music festivals, and other noise sources. It is critical that the event industry’s needs and preferences are included in this effort and there are a couple ways event organizers can weigh in.

If you would like to provide additional feedback or request information related to the ordinance stakeholder process, email phicomments@denvergov.org.

PARKS CONSTRUCTION UPDATES

Stay up to date on construction projects at Civic Center Park and Skyline Park. Visit The Outdoor Downtown project website and sign up to receive email updates.

OSE ONLINE APPLICATION CHANGES

Review the presentation(PDF, 13MB) to see what’s changing with Office of Special Event Permit (OSEP) online application processes, including:

  • Billing and invoicing processes
  • NEW read requirements and acknowledgement steps
  • Requesting OSEP application processing fee waivers
  • Community notification distribution requirements

NEW EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN TEMPLATE

OSE Staff walked Forum attendees through the new Emergency Action Plan (EAP) template(PDF, 379KB) that is available for smaller and simpler events without pre-existing plans. Take a look at the presentation and the template and reach out to us with questions.

SPECIAL EVENT EVACUATION AND PROTECTIVE ACTIONS WORKSHOP

Denver is offering a FREE event safety training opportunity on special event evacuation and protective actions on Wed and Thursday, March 1 and 2, 8 am – 5 pm, in person at the Nicoletti Auditorium at the Denver Police Department Crime Laboratory (1371 Cherokee St).

The MGT-412 Sport and Special Event Evacuation and Protective Actions course will assist event organizers identify actionable decision criteria for almost any type of event as well as prepare and enhance their event action plan.

Notes about registration:

The course registration is managed by the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX). You will need a myTEEX account as well as a Federal Emergency Management Agency Student Identification Number (FEMA SID) prior to registering for the course – to request an SID or if you have forgotten your SID, please visit https://cdp.dhs.gov/femasid/.

AURARIA CAMPUS EVENT VENUE OPTIONS

Representatives from the Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC) were excited to host the 2023 Forum and presented information about indoor and outdoor event spaces available on the Auraria Campus and provided a tour. You can find details about AHEC's event venue options and pricing online and can contact Savanna McKinney for more information or a private tour.

Vendor Lunch and Learn: How to Avoid Fines through Licensing and Compliance (3/9/22)

View the recording of the Event Vendor Lunch and Learn:  How to Avoid Fines through Licensing and Compliance that was presented on March 9, 2022. The program included the following presentations which provided important updates on fire safety and public health and licensing requirements related to selling and sampling food at outdoor markets and events. The recording also includes a Q&A session after each presentation.

Denver Fire Department (DFD), Jaxon Shelburne

View the DFD PowerPoint(PDF, 1MB).

  • DFD Permits – When and How to Apply
  • Permit Fees
  • Cooking and Propane Use

Denver Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE), Maggie Steele and Kirstin McEachran

View the DDPHE PowerPoint(PDF, 4MB).

  • Food Safety – preparation, sampling and handwashing
  • CBD
  • Inspections and Fines

Excise and Licenses (EXL), Abbey Borchers and Crystal Reyes

View the EXL PowerPoint(PDF, 309KB).

  • Liquor Special Event Permits, Temporary Modifications, and Temporary Salesroom
  • Marijuana
  • Food Trucks and Temporary Restaurants

Resources Shared During the Lunch and Learn

Denver Fire Permit Application

Denver Fire Special Event Guidelines

Questions related to the collection and filing of sales tax (Event sales tax is at the bottom)

EXL Special Event Liquor Licensing and training videos on how to apply

Temporary Modification of Premises

EXL Temporary Restaurant Licensing and training videos on how to apply

Retail Food Mobile License (Food Truck or Food Cart)

Marijuana Advertising Rules(PDF, 517KB)

Guide for CBD Product Distribution and Sales at Special Events(PDF, 222KB)

Temporary Use Permit Project Guide

Event Emergency Action Plan Workshop (3/1/22)

View the recording of the virtual Event Emergency Action Plan Workshop delivered on March 1, 2022 which included presentations(PDF, 3MB)  on how to develop an appropriate EAP and the following resources:

A special event Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is a required and enforceable component of the Office of Special Events Permit (OSEP). An EAP clearly and comprehensively outlines an event's response plan for a variety of emergency situations. Every EAP must be tailored to site-specific conditions as well as the scope of the event, the risks to spectators and participants, community impacts, and the support (including personnel, equipment and logistics) required to respond effectively.

2022 Special Events Forum Recording, Slides and Resources (1/26/22)

2022 Special Events Forum Recording, Slides and Resources

The 2022 Special Events Forum was held virtually on Wednesday, Jan. 26 and consisted of a “Coffee Talk” networking session followed by formal presentations.

Coffee Talk

During the Coffee Talk session, event organizers connected with each other, City agencies and partner organizations to get their pre-event-season questions answered. Coffee Talk participants were encouraged to visit one or more breakout rooms on the topics of Events in the Right of Way (with DOTI and RTD staff), Events in Parks (with DPR staff), Licensing for Events (with EXL, DDPHE Food Safety and DDPHE Noise staff) and Event Safety (with DFD, DDPHE, OEM and CPD staff).

The following resources below were some that were discussed in the Coffee Talk breakout rooms.

Forum Presentations

The Forum was recorded and included the following presenters and topics.

Welcome

OSE Executive Director, Katy Strascina, kicked off the Forum with some important news about staff changes and educational programming coming in 2022.

The Importance of Life Safety Planning

(view Life Safety Planning PowerPoint(PDF, 6MB))

Denver Fire Marshal, Chief Cory DeBaere, delivered an educational message about the importance of life safety planning and the critical need for organizers to thoroughly address life safety planning for all their events.

Managing Noise at Events

(view Managing Noise PowerPoint(PDF, 1MB))

Justin LaMascus, Environmental Public Health Investigator with the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment, provided an overview of the Denver noise ordinance, permitting processes and fines, and share recommendations as well as industry best practices about effectively managing noise at events.

The following resources were shared during the Managing Noise at Events presentation:

OSE: What's New in 2022

(view What's New PowerPoint(PDF, 1MB))

OSE Deputy Director, Rose Watts, shared relevant updates on the OSE application system; enforcement of the Office of Special Events Permit (OSEP) and related processes and fees; upcoming education programs; and a new approach to organizer surveys.

The following resources were shared during the OSE: What's New in 2022 presentation:

2021 Special Events Forum Recording, Slides and Resources (1/28/21)

The 2021 Special Events Forum was held virtually for the first time on January 28, 2021 and included a keynote presentation from Bob McDonald, Executive Director of DDPHE as well as invaluable information sharing from OSE staff and a panel of event organizers.

View a recording of the 2021 Forum program that includes the following:

At the Coffee Talk networking session, the Community Planning and Development Department discussed a summary document of building codes, policies and guides(PDF, 323KB) and a link to its Building Permit Policy.