Despite blistering temperatures Saturday, Denver’s City Park was full of people, art, music and food for the Colorado Black Arts Festival.

The 40th edition of the festival, which this year followed the theme “Through Our Eyes,” kicked off Friday and will run through Sunday at 7 p.m. Colorful displays and stands featuring paintings, clothing, jewelry and more filled the park as live music hung in the air.

Attendees could also enjoy a wide variety of food and drink, as well as sit in shaded spots to watch live music and dance performances.

The festival first started in 1986 when a group of artists and art lovers came together to provide a space for Black visual and performing arts, of which there was limited opportunities at the time. The goal of the festival is to provide a space for community building and to support and preserve Black culture and arts.

The festival is estimated to draw in tens of thousands of attendees through the weekend.

Emmanuel Tetteh, a painter, was selling some of his artwork at the festival, which consisted of colorful paintings of African animals like lions and elephants, as well as depictions of people. Originally from Ghana, he said he sees painting as a way to heal one’s soul.

“Art is what really feeds the soul,” Tetteh said. “Astrology tells us that colors really heal the soul.”

Tetteh also said it allows him to connect with his father and grandfather, both of whom are artists. He said he has developed his artistic style over the years and draws upon a lot of ideas he learned growing up in Ghana about nature, life and culture.

Now nearing 40, he said he has been painting since he was eight.

“Art is part of my religion,” Tetteh said. “Art is part of my soul.”