Springtime in Colorado can be fickle. Soon after packing away down coats and dusting off rollerblades while dreaming in cherry blossoms, Mother Nature rolls in with a snowstorm just to keep things interesting.

While the weather may not be reliable, one beloved downtown Boulder tradition is: The Taste of Pearl.

Back for its 12th year, and between a pandemic-induced hiatus, the event of gastonomic proportions returns on Sunday with 18 stops that will feature curated food, drink and retail pairings.

The event will happen, rain, shine — or in this weekend’s case, snow. So dive back into those storage bins, take the long puffer out of its brief retirement and head to Pearl Street for a day designed for snacking, sipping and shopping during a day of whatever version of spring Colorado decides to serve up.

The 21-and-older ticketed event invites guests to wander through downtown Boulder, enjoying small bites and local sips inside 15 retail and gallery locations. For those who like a bonus pour (or, in this case, three), Sunday’s lineup includes three additional beverage-focused stops, rounding the day out to 18 total stops.

Anna Salim, vice president of operations and programming for Downtown Boulder Partnership, called it “a pretty solid way to spend a Sunday.”

“We’ve traditionally had 15 stops, but so many businesses wanted to participate this year that we added more,” said Salim. “We had a lot of enthusiasm from new partners this year, and we didn’t want to turn anyone away. So we expanded to include three stand-alone beverage stops — Silver Vines Winery, which has a downtown tasting room, Boulder Spirits, which just opened a gorgeous new space on the Mall, and Savannah Bee Company, which makes their own mead in-house. All three were really eager to be involved, and they each bring something unique to the experience.”

For those who like to start the party early, the VIP experience ($130) at Taste of Pearl comes with a lineup of thoughtful, only-in-Boulder extras. VIP ticket holders can enjoy early access by checking in an hour before general admission, at 12:45 p.m.

The VIP ticket will also include three exclusive offerings: a hands-on cooking demo at Food Lab, a specialty cocktail at Boulder Spirits’ new Pearl Street tasting room and a mini wine tasting class at Frasca Food and Wine.

“Last year was the first time we added the Food Lab demo, and it was a huge hit,” said Salim.

“So we wanted to build on that idea of offering something that felt fun and personal. The Frasca wine class is short — just 15 minutes — but it’s taught by one of their in-house sommeliers, and it gives guests a chance to really learn how to taste and think about wine, not just sip it.”

And if you’re going to learn how to taste wine, Frasca is probably the place to do it. The Pearl Street mainstay is both Michelin-starred and James Beard Award-winning, with a national reputation for excellence in food, hospitality and, yes, wine. Just on Wednesday, the spot that plates up Northern Italian fare was announced as a finalist for a James Beard Award for outstanding restaurant.

Salim added: “It’s Frasca. Enough said.”

VIPs will also get to sample a cocktail crafted exclusively for the event at Boulder Spirits’ new downtown space.

“It’s just a nice way to elevate the experience,” she said. “VIPs get a little bit of everything — education, exclusive access and some great drinks to go along with it.”

Of course, every guest — VIP or not — benefits from the event’s carefully curated pairings.

Each stop along the route is the result of a little behind-the-scenes matchmaking between chefs, beverage makers and boutique owners, designed to create the most memorable (and mouthwatering) combinations possible.

Part of what makes Taste of Pearl special is the thoughtful matchmaking behind each restaurant, beverage maker and host location. According to Salim, creating these perfect pairings starts by listening to the businesses themselves.

“We reached out to each restaurant first and asked, ‘Who would you love to partner with?’” Salim said. “We wanted to make sure restaurants could pick beverage partners that really complemented their food, and even select retail shops that align with their brand and style.”

In some cases, Salim said, that meant pairing partners who were geographically close or whose visions clearly matched.

“For example, River and Woods specifically requested to be paired with Patagonia because they felt like their values and visions aligned nicely,” Salim said. “That thoughtful pairing adds another layer of connection for guests. It helps the businesses tell a cohesive story.”

Silver Vines Winery, 2015 13th St., Boulder, returns to Taste of Pearl this year not just as a beverage stop, but as a host location, serving both wine and food from its welcoming downtown tasting room. After partnering with a restaurant last year, co-owner Kristin Chayer said the team was excited to take on the full experience themselves this time around.

“Six hundred people coming through our front door to actually see the space? That’s gold,” Chayer said. “Once people walk in, they usually want to come back. It’s such a warm, welcoming environment, and this event is a great way to introduce new people to what we do.”

This year’s tasting lineup includes a bruschetta bite with tomato, mozzarella and basil; a charcuterie-style cracker with goat cheese, fig and prosciutto and a little dessert bite featuring Silver Vines’ house-made fudge with fresh fruit. Each will be paired with one of three wines: a red, a white and a sweet.

All bottles will be 20% off during the event, so guests don’t have to go home empty-handed.

“We’ll be set up by the windows, but if someone wants to try something else from the menu, we’ll have someone at the bar to help,” Chayer said. “We try to keep it easy — and delicious.”

At Japango, Taste of Pearl is more than just a fun afternoon — it’s a tradition. The Pearl Street sushi spot has been participating in the event for over a decade, and this year they’re serving up one of their signature specialties: a bright and elegant tangerine hamachi crudo.

The dish features yellowtail sashimi layered with orange supremes, Thai chilies, daikon radish salad, a pomegranate-yuzu vinaigrette and microgreens, served in a bamboo boat. It’s light, fresh and just citrusy enough to convince you that spring is really on the way — even if you’re wearing a parka.

“It’s a bright, citrusy dish that really reflects spring,” said owner Jonathan Banis. “Sashimi is something we’re known for, and this gives people a taste of what our chefs are creating every day.”

For Banis, Taste of Pearl is one of the few events that brings together both Japango regulars and first-time visitors in one buzzing, wine-glass-sporting crowd.

“It’s a really great community event,” he said. “You get to meet so many different faces — people who come downtown all the time, and people who never do. It’s a great mix, and always a fun day to be part of.”

Since Taste of Pearl crops up during Boulder Arts Week, this year’s event comes with a dash of artistic flair. In a new collaboration with Boulder Arts Week, guests may be sipping wine among live art — like a violinist in concert, or during Poets on Pearl’s improv poetry readings.

“It’s a great way to add energy and showcase what’s happening during Boulder Arts Week,” said Salim.

If grazing your way down Pearl Street isn’t enough of a prize, every retail purchase made during the event comes with a perk: a chance to win a downtown staycation.

One lucky attendee will score an overnight at the St Julien Hotel & Spa, breakfast at Jill’s Restaurant and a Downtown Boulder gift card.

“It’s just a way to remind people that this is also a shopping event,” said Salim. “There are so many amazing local businesses participating, and we wanted to encourage people to browse and support them while they’re enjoying the food and drink.”

While the event is indulgent, it’s not without a little built-in cardio. Attendees — especially VIPs — may find themselves trekking from Food Lab, just past 18th Street, down to 10th Street, while basking in culinary delights.

“It’s kind of like hiking while eating,” Salim said. “Totally Boulder.”

Taste of Pearl runs from 2-6 p.m. Sunday. VIP ticket holders get early access just before 1 p.m. Event check-in is located on the 1300 block of Pearl Street, and all guests must be 21 or older with valid ID. General admission tickets are $90, VIP tickets are $130 and prices increase the day of the event (if it’s not already sold out).

All participants will leave with a cute commemorative wine glass to take home (or to catch snowflakes in).

For tickets and more information, visit boulderdowntown.com/taste-of-pearl.