DANA CAIN, Owner/Director. Dana (center) was a "Let's put on a show!" kind of kid in the '60s, and it's no surprise she grew up to own and operate Dana Cain Events. She was teleported into major event planning in 1977 when, assigned to cover a Star Trek convention for her college paper in New Orleans, she joined the convention committee during the interview. After spending more than a decade learning all the ins and outs of science fiction convention management (programming, guest coordination, vendor room mapping, art show management, ticketing, etc), she launched her first commercial event, a Twilight Zone Festival, which drew some big guns to Denver from LA and even landed her an interview in USA Today alongside Rod Serling's widow.
In 1991, Cain (and her then-partner Kent Cordray) founded Baby Boomerama, an event celebrating all things from the 1950s-60s-70s. Over the years, Baby Boomerama, and it's companion event, The Zowie Show (which catered to the Sci-Fi/Comics/Trading Cards fans) brought a slew of guests to Denver, including Tiny Tim, Bill Mumy, Donna Douglas, Dawn Wells, Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, Van Williams, Julie Newmar, Butch Patrick, Jonathan Frid, Maureen McCormick, Adam West, Linnea Quigley, Dirk Benedict, Dave Prowse and more. By the new millennium, the two shows were combined to form the Toy & Doll Supershow that is still a fixture in the Dana Cain Events lineup.
Gradually, more shows were added to the mix, including a string of very popular Chocolate Festivals and even a Unicorn Festival. Cain also co-founded Denver County Fair in 2011, which received numerous awards and global press for its groundbreaking programming over the years (including the world's first Pot Pavilion and Blue Ribbons for "Best Marijuana Plant," Best Pot Brownie," etc., when Denver became the first city to legalize recreational marijuana). Six years later, the Fair was sold to the National Western Stock Show Association.
Other shows Cain has owned and operated over the years include the Denver Modernism Show (2006-2019), the Athena Festival (2005 - 2021), Denver Style Expo, the Imagine Peace Paint-In (on John Lennon's Birthday, 2008 in Civic Center Park) and more.
In 2022, Cain launched Cat Fest Colorado, an instant hit that spawned a second Cat Fest in Colorado Springs. And, by popular demand, the Denver Dog Fair is launching in 2024, fulfilling a plan that Cain first hatched in 1981, long before her event company even existed. Both events feature free booths to shelters and adoption agencies, and on-site adoptions are big!
Cain has won 16 "Best of Denver" awards for her events, including "Best Annual Festival" (3 years in a row), "Best New Festival," Best Food Fair," and many more.
In 1991, Cain (and her then-partner Kent Cordray) founded Baby Boomerama, an event celebrating all things from the 1950s-60s-70s. Over the years, Baby Boomerama, and it's companion event, The Zowie Show (which catered to the Sci-Fi/Comics/Trading Cards fans) brought a slew of guests to Denver, including Tiny Tim, Bill Mumy, Donna Douglas, Dawn Wells, Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, Van Williams, Julie Newmar, Butch Patrick, Jonathan Frid, Maureen McCormick, Adam West, Linnea Quigley, Dirk Benedict, Dave Prowse and more. By the new millennium, the two shows were combined to form the Toy & Doll Supershow that is still a fixture in the Dana Cain Events lineup.
Gradually, more shows were added to the mix, including a string of very popular Chocolate Festivals and even a Unicorn Festival. Cain also co-founded Denver County Fair in 2011, which received numerous awards and global press for its groundbreaking programming over the years (including the world's first Pot Pavilion and Blue Ribbons for "Best Marijuana Plant," Best Pot Brownie," etc., when Denver became the first city to legalize recreational marijuana). Six years later, the Fair was sold to the National Western Stock Show Association.
Other shows Cain has owned and operated over the years include the Denver Modernism Show (2006-2019), the Athena Festival (2005 - 2021), Denver Style Expo, the Imagine Peace Paint-In (on John Lennon's Birthday, 2008 in Civic Center Park) and more.
In 2022, Cain launched Cat Fest Colorado, an instant hit that spawned a second Cat Fest in Colorado Springs. And, by popular demand, the Denver Dog Fair is launching in 2024, fulfilling a plan that Cain first hatched in 1981, long before her event company even existed. Both events feature free booths to shelters and adoption agencies, and on-site adoptions are big!
Cain has won 16 "Best of Denver" awards for her events, including "Best Annual Festival" (3 years in a row), "Best New Festival," Best Food Fair," and many more.
Traci Anderson, Event Director. Dana and Traci met in 2007, when Cain launched the Colorado Chocolate Festival at the Denver Merchandise Mart. Traci managed the Denver Mart for 3 decades before Covid forced its closure, and by that time, she had lured a string of Dana Cain Events into her well-run and popular venue. Despite the tragic loss of the iconic Denver Mart, both women were excited to work together again when, in June 2023, Traci accepted a position as Event Director with Dana Cain Events.
Traci's people skills are second to none, and she knows the Event Business from the inside, out. As Event Director, Traci oversees all festivals and events, handles all staffing, works with venues, caterers, vendors, sponsors ... and keeps everyone happy!
Traci's people skills are second to none, and she knows the Event Business from the inside, out. As Event Director, Traci oversees all festivals and events, handles all staffing, works with venues, caterers, vendors, sponsors ... and keeps everyone happy!
MATT GRAFF, Site Manager. This former Burning Man VIP is the guy who makes sure our vendors are happy, move-in goes smoothly, everything is in its place and more. With a walkie-talkie in his hand and a smile on his face, Matt strolls the floor answering questions, working with venue staff and, in general, keeping things flowing smoothly. If a giant crack opened up in the middle of the event floor and the world was splitting in two, Matt could handle it without batting an eye.
THEA HUTCHESON, Operations Manager. Details. Even in the biggest, wildest festivals, there are little tiny details. And Thea is the boss of those. Thea and her operations team make sure all of the equipment, supplies, and people are in the right place at the right time. The guests, the microphones, and even the toothpicks in the tiny chocolate samples. Thea has worked with Dana since the 1980s when they were both volunteering at science fiction conventions. In fact, today, Thea is also a critically-acclaimed science fiction author with loads of published stories and a couple of novels on the way. She has been on our team longer than anyone else, and we couldn't do it without her.
CERENE SHAPARD, Ticketing Manager. Cerene and her team are the first people that greet our attendees! And she knows how to make a great first impression! When she's not selling tickets, Cerene organizes, performs and runs performance teams at events all over the country - including some biggies - like Coachella! She is super-talented and super cool!
ANNIE MEDINA, MC. You may know her as Princess Penelope Palisade (shown here, at the Unicorn Festival); or Miss Babette BonBon at the chocolate festivals, or purrhaps you know her as Miss Purrcilla Pawzley from our Cats Fests! Annie creates the most enchanting characters to host our events - each one fitted to the theme and each one a wonder! When she's not onstage, announcing things, hosting stage events and contests or introducing contestants, she's out with the crowd, meeting fans, snapping pics and having a blast! She brightens up everyone's day!
HARMONY DAVIES, Audio-Visual Manager. What can you say about a gal who's a tech nerd and a goatherd? She's brilliant and quirky and passionate about the coolest things! Her "day job" is owning a goat business, and her "fun job" is making sure our events sound spectacular!
NEW IN 2024!
Dana Cain Events is EXPANDING, with new "departments" and projects launching in 2024, 2025 and beyond! We're so excited to introduce our new team members, heading up these exciting new ventures!
Dana Cain Events is EXPANDING, with new "departments" and projects launching in 2024, 2025 and beyond! We're so excited to introduce our new team members, heading up these exciting new ventures!
JEFF LAGRECA, Musicals Director. A Denver native who's also lived and worked in New York City and Los Angeles, Jeff has an incredible resume of musical theater, sci-fi, comedy and rock band experience, having worked as a writer, director, producer and event manager. After a National Tour of Bye, Bye, Birdie, he cut his comedy teeth under the guidance of the Groundlings East, The Second City and Upright Citizens Brigade, working alongside original members Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Matt Besser and Matt Walsh.
Jeff's written and staged several Off-Broadway productions, including the award winning Minimum Wage (with executive producer Ken Dennison of The Lion King.) among others. He’s also worked and written in television with The Food Network, American Movie Classics and Nickelodeon and is currently adapting his newest book, The Pumpkin Kid, into a musical for the NYC stage. He plays in two nerd rock bands, H2Awesome! and Daenerys and the Targaryens.
Jeff's first project with Dana Cain Events is to direct The Android's New Soul, a sci-fi musical Cain began writing in high school in 1974! The double-album was released on vinyl in 2018. More info is at wwwDanaCainEntertainment.com. The Android's New Soul premieres at Denver's historic Bug Theater September 6, 2024.
Jeff's written and staged several Off-Broadway productions, including the award winning Minimum Wage (with executive producer Ken Dennison of The Lion King.) among others. He’s also worked and written in television with The Food Network, American Movie Classics and Nickelodeon and is currently adapting his newest book, The Pumpkin Kid, into a musical for the NYC stage. He plays in two nerd rock bands, H2Awesome! and Daenerys and the Targaryens.
Jeff's first project with Dana Cain Events is to direct The Android's New Soul, a sci-fi musical Cain began writing in high school in 1974! The double-album was released on vinyl in 2018. More info is at wwwDanaCainEntertainment.com. The Android's New Soul premieres at Denver's historic Bug Theater September 6, 2024.
GRETCHEN BARTEK / Adelska, Immersive Director. Gretchen is the founder and CEO of Adelska, a Denver-based event company with a different focus than Dana Cain Events. She comes from a corporate finance background, but left it behind to follow her passion to thrive in an atmosphere where creativity and business minds collide. She loves all of her jobs as wife, mom and relentless entrepreneur and literally dreams up ideas in her sleep. The name “Adelska” means “to love” and stems from her dual citizenship in the US and Iceland. Gretchen’s mission is to cultivate new experiences that will give both her clients and event attendees the warm fuzzies.
Gretchen's first outing with Dana Cain Events is to produce The Unicorn Journey, a project Cain literally dreamed up in 2021. A narrative, musical fantasy told in the form of a 12-room immersive walk-through adventure. It's no easy feat to manifest. But Gretchen and her capable team at Adelska are up to the task! Look for this one to launch in summer, 2025!
Gretchen's first outing with Dana Cain Events is to produce The Unicorn Journey, a project Cain literally dreamed up in 2021. A narrative, musical fantasy told in the form of a 12-room immersive walk-through adventure. It's no easy feat to manifest. But Gretchen and her capable team at Adelska are up to the task! Look for this one to launch in summer, 2025!