Fourth of July Weekend in Denver

Fan Expo

WHEN: June 30–July 2, 2023
WHERE: Colorado Convention Center
Experience the ultimate playground for comics, sci-fi, horror, anime and gaming. Three days of citywide events, family-friendly attractions and world-renowned celebrities await you at Fan Expo!

'Sensatia' by Quixotic

WHEN: Thru July 29, 2023
WHERE: The Arch, a Non Plus Ultra Venue
Prepare to be transported into an immersive performance experience blending spectacular acrobatic artistry, state-of-the-art visuals, live music, perfumery and a tantalizing selection of curated craft cocktails. Each extraordinary element is sure to arouse each of the five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. Brought to life by internationally renowned Quixotic, "Sensatia" promises a stunningly seductive encounter like no other.

'Hit & Run: Musical Improv' 

WHEN: Thru Aug. 25, 2023 (Fridays)
WHERE: RISE Comedy
Enjoy Colorado’s premier improvised musical comedy team and Denver’s longest-running improv comedy show! Hit and Run: Musical Improv® creates an hour-long, fully improvised, Broadway-style musical with live musical accompaniment, based on suggestions from the audience. You’ll see a brand new musical every week!

'The Sound of Music'

WHEN: Thru Sept. 30, 2023
WHERE: Boulder's Dinner Theatre, Boulder
Based on the true story of the Trapp Family Singers, this Broadway classic is a tale of courage and love. The winner of several Tony awards, including Best Musical, "The Sound of Music" was the final collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein.

'Miss Rhythm – The Legend of Ruth Brown'  

WHEN: Thru Oct. 15, 2023
WHERE: Garner Galleria Theatre & Bar
This intimate cabaret experience explores the life and times of R&B legend Ruth Brown through story and song, accompanied by a five-piece jazz band. Ruth Brown is a pioneer in the development of rock, blues and jazz, a Tony and Grammy award-winner and an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. A true original who showed grace and strength with a great sense of humor, Ruth Brown took the stage with as much talent as she did warmth. Here’s to Ruth!

'The Book of Mormon'

WHEN: June 21–July 2, 2023
WHERE: Buell Theatre in the Denver Performing Arts Complex
This outrageous musical comedy follows the adventures of a mismatched pair of Mormon missionaries, sent halfway across the world to spread the Good Word. With standing-room-only productions in London, on Broadway and across North America, "The Book of Mormon" has truly become an international sensation.

Bass & Beats Meet The Tease: Burlesque & Aerial Show

WHEN: June 23 and 30, 2023
WHERE: The Clocktower Cabaret
The Clocktower Cabaret's cast is putting a modern twist on the vintage strip! Come for a night of drinks, beats and tease, as the aerialists fly and the burlesque performers “reveal” that the bass has indeed dropped.

'Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville'

WHEN: June 23–July 16, 2023
WHERE: PACE Center, Parker
A musical comedy featuring the most-loved Jimmy Buffett classics, including “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” “Margaritaville,” “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” “Fins,” “Volcano” and many more. This hilarious, heartwarming musical is the party you’ve been waiting for!

Central City Opera's 2023 Festival 

WHEN: June 24–Aug. 6 2023
WHERE: Central City Opera House, Central City
Brush up on your Shakespeare and join Central City Opera for the 2023 Summer Festival! Three musical adaptations of timeless Shakespearian stories are brought to life on the historic opera house stage. This season features the classic opera "Romeo & Juliet" by Charles Gounod, the delightful Cole Porter musical "Kiss Me, Kate" and the exquisite masterpiece "Othello" by Gioachino Rossini.

'The Winter's Tale'

WHEN: June 24–25, June 30–July 1, July 8–9, July 15–16, July 26–27, July 30, Aug. 4–5 and Aug. 11–12, 2023
WHERE: Roe Green Theatre, CU Boulder
Since 1958, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival has delighted audiences with professional theatre on the CU Boulder campus. Complete your Colorado summer with Shakespeare in the elegant indoor Roe Green Theatre. When King Leontes inexplicably accuses his pregnant wife of infidelity he makes a cruel, rash decision that he must spend two decades atoning for. Shakespeare’s nuanced epic explores both the heartrending corrosion of jealousy and the joyous redemption of forgiveness. Borrowing elements from fantasy and mythology, “The Winter’s Tale” weaves an audacious tapestry you have to experience to believe.

'Much Ado About Nothing'

WHEN: June 24–25, June 29–30, July 12, July 15, July 19, July 22–23, July 28–28, July 30, Aug. 2–3, Aug. Aug. 10 and Aug. 13, 2023
WHERE: Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre, CU Boulder
Since 1958, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival has delighted audiences with professional theatre on the CU Boulder campus. Complete your Colorado summer with Shakespeare under the stars in the historic Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre. Beatrice and Benedick love to bicker. The only thing they might learn to love more? Each other. (They just don’t know it yet!) In this rollicking lampoon of relationships, romance and the influence of town gossip, Shakespeare delivers a near-perfect enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy.

Bryan Callen

WHEN: June 29–July 1, 2023
WHERE: Comedy Works Downtown in Larimer Square
Bryan Callen is an American actor, comedian and podcaster. He is best known for his recurring role as Coach Mellor on ABC’s Schooled and The Goldbergs. Callen got his start as an original cast member of MADtv and has since appeared in such TV and films as Kingdom, 2 Broke Girls, The Hangover, Sex and the City, Old School, Entourage and most recently the new Joker film. Additionally, Callen is co-host of the top-rated iTunes podcast, The Fighter & The Kid, alongside Brendan Schaub.

A Night at the Movies with the Colorado Symphony

WHEN: June 30, 2023
WHERE: Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities, Arvada
For years, directors have used classical music in movies to shape emotional responses, underpin narratives, manipulate perspectives, and connect plot points. Join the Colorado Symphony for a glorious night under the stars, featuring thrilling soundtracks from the films you love! 

Dirty Heads

WHEN: June 30, 2023
WHERE: Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre
Kick off the weekend at Red Rocks with Dirty Heads with Lettuce and Tropidelic.

Itchy-O and The Drood

WHEN: June 30, 2023
WHERE: Levitt Pavilion
Itchy-O is back for a night of live music under the stars! A battery of fourteen-plus power percussionists comprises the spine of the 50-plus strong performance troupe whose orchestral arsenal of avant-instrumentation runs the gamut from guitars, gamelan and synths to less conventional instruments including theremin and vocoders in concert with more experimental trance-inducing appurtenances. The Drood is an experimental psych-rock band from Denver featuring a captivating blend of industrial, post-rock and psychedelic genres that offer a provocative experience for fans of avant-garde music. 

KPOP Night

WHEN: June 30, 2023
WHERE: The Bluebird Theater
KPOP Night is an official FAN EXPO after party at the Bluebird Theater!

90s/2000s R&B Rooftop Party

WHEN: June 30, 2023
WHERE: MCA DENVER — Museum of Contemporary Art Denver
Join MCA Denver and exhibiting artist Tomashi Jackson for a rooftop party that celebrates the golden era in R&B music. Pull out your freshest apparel and get your groove on with DJ Destiny Shynelle and DJ HexKitten as they spin the classic jams from the 90s and 2000s.

Party in the Paseo

WHEN: June 30, 2023
WHERE: Basecamp Market Station
Check out unique, outdoor-focused retailers in one dynamic downtown location while sipping a cocktail from Lolita, the retrofitted Cocktail Caravan camper, listening to live local music by Something Vinyl Club, and chowing on some delicious tacos from R&B Tacos & Grill. The party is free, and all bar proceeds will go to event partner Big City Mountaineers, which provides transformative experiences through connections to nature that strengthen life skills and build community for youth from disinvested communities.

Brothers Osborne

WHEN: July 1, 2023
WHERE: Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, Greenwood Village
The 98.5 KYGO Birthday Bash features Brothers Osborne with Niko Moon, Kameron Marlowe, Hailey Whitters, Randall King and Double Wide.

Dusty Boots

WHEN: July 1, 2023
WHERE: Civic Center Park
Some of the top country music artists will perform at this debut concert. Look for live performances by Colter Wall, Orville Peck, Margo Price, Houndmouth, Futurebirds, Murder by Death, Nick Shoulders, Willi Carlisle, Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners, Casey James Prestwood, Kyle Moon & The Misled, Extra Gold, and Honey Blazer.

Dead & Company

WHEN: July 1–3, 2023
WHERE: Folsom Field, CU Boulder
Jam out to three nights of Dead & Company - The Final Tour live at CU Boulder's Folsom Field! 

City Gates 2023 

WHEN: July 2, 2023
WHERE: Civic Center Park
City Gates will feature live performances by Omar Apollo, Matt Maeson, Stephen Sanchez, & Thee Sacred Souls with more artists to be announced.

City Park Jazz: Wellington Bullings

WHEN: July 2, 2023
WHERE: City Park
Wellington Bullings adds a soulful touch to everything she sings. Her music is a balance of classic soul, R&B and Jazz. With a rich sultry voice and soulful presence, it's easy to see why she is making a name for herself in the world of neo-soul and beyond. 

Zeds Dead

WHEN: July 2–3, 2023
WHERE: Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre
Enjoy two nights of music from Canadian electronic music duo Zeds Dead at Morrison's iconic Red Rocks!

blink-182 2023 Tour

WHEN: July 3, 2023
WHERE: Ball Arena
Head to Denver's Ball Arena for blink-182's 2023 Tour with special guests Turnstile.

Zeds Dead & Friends

WHEN: July 4, 2023
WHERE: Civic Center Park
AEG Presents is thrilled to announce Deadbeats Backyard Jamboree: Zeds Dead live at Civic Center Park.

Cirque du Soleil - KOOZA 

WHEN: July 5–Aug. 13, 2023
WHERE: Ball Arena
KOOZA combines acrobatic performance and the art of clowning, while exploring fear, identity, recognition and power. 

Cherry Creek Arts Festival

WHEN: July 1–3, 2023
WHERE: Cherry Creek North
The Cherry Creek Arts Festival is an innovative outdoor fine art event featuring more than 200 juried artist exhibitors selling original artworks, family-friendly art activities for people of all ages, live music, immersive art experiences and amazing food and drink. The three-day event gives patrons the rare and special opportunity to meet and purchase art from artists from around the country.

Rainbows & Revolutions

WHEN: Thru June 30, 2023
WHERE: History Colorado Center
LGBTQ+ people have always been part of Colorado communities. They have pushed against stereotypes, transforming the way mainstream society views them. Rainbows & Revolutions is about more than just Pride — the exhibit explores how LGBTQ+ people’s very existence in Colorado has been a rebellious act beyond the rainbow, from quiet assertions of identity to loud and proud demonstrations for civil rights and equality.

Beneath the Biophony

WHEN: Thru June 30, 2023
WHERE: Meow Wolf Denver
Beneath the Biophony in the Galleri Gallery of Meow Wolf features paintings, sculptures and soundscapes by Denver artist Abby Gregg that are imaginings of microscopic, amphibious and unseen underwater realms.

19th Annual Mile High International Pastel Exhibition

WHEN: Thru July 1, 2023
WHERE: Curtis Center for the Arts, Greenwood Village
This exhibit showcases 85 paintings in a variety of styles and subject matter. This year’s juror is Aaron Shuerr, an accomplished pastel artist from Montana. Throughout the exhibit on certain weekends, the Pastel Society of Colorado will be holding demonstrations presented by their members, which is an excellent way to become familiar with this fabulous medium. PSC will be celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024 and has more than 300 members, making it one of the largest in the country.

Black Bird

WHEN: Thru July 2, 2023
WHERE: Artists On Santa Fe
David E Clark’s show consists of small-scale, mixed-media images on paper that explore the abstraction of recognizable floral forms using digital wet-plate process together with various traditional methods of working with and hand-manipulating 2-D form, including drawing and painting. 

4th Annual “Us” Art Exhibition

WHEN: Thru July 13, 2023
WHERE: Bitfactory Gallery
LGBTQ+ artists have been, and always will be, active in the art world, but they are often underrepresented in galleries and exhibits. Bitfactory Gallery aims to bring attention and awareness to marginalized groups of artists and demonstrate the universal nature of art while fostering inclusion across communities. This year’s show will feature work by Christopher La Fleur and Raven Rohrig, both members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Her Brush: Japanese Women Artists from the Fong-Johnstone Collection

WHEN: Thru July 16, 2023
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
This exhibition takes a nuanced approach to questions of artistic voice, gender and agency through more than 100 works of painting, calligraphy and ceramics from 1600s to 1900s Japan. Many of these artworks will be on view for the first time to the public. 

From Chaos to Order: Greek Geometric Art from the Sol Rabin Collection

WHEN: Thru July 30, 2023
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
This exhibition, traveling to Denver from the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, presents 57 artworks from 900 to 700 BCE, an expressive period of Greek art characterized by balance, symmetry and rhythm, all aimed at refining the concept of beauty down to its elemental core. These works, many of which have never before been on public display, open new windows into this formative period of Greek art history, revealing what beauty (Greek: kallos) meant to Greeks of the Geometric period.

I Invite Myself Vol. II

WHEN: Thru July 30, 2023
WHERE: Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, Colorado Springs
In the first museum solo exhibition by the award-winning inter-disciplinary artist Eiko Otake, the artist's experimental, movement-based art practice engages and pushes traditions of dance, exploring themes of mortality, time and place. The Fine Art Center’s exhibition foregrounds Otake’s recent film and video works, which have developed alongside her dance, choreography and performance installations. The works feature a body as it moves in and through various places, including the urban infrastructure of Tokyo and New York, irradiated post-nuclear disaster Fukushima, and the vast landscapes of Wyoming and California. Viewers are strongly encouraged to return, as select media will rotate over the course of the exhibition in recognition of changing seasons.

Colombia: The Corn, The River, and The Grave

WHEN: Thru Aug. 20, 2023
WHERE: Museo de las Americas
An identity story of the anxiety and the calm of the Colombian territory, this exhibition weaves a possible fabric about the complexities of the land as a point of divergence between the sacred and the mercantile. Exhausted from development driven by selfish interests, the alteration of the rivers, and the uneven expansion of the tombs of war, Colombia has reached a historical crossroads.

Preserving Our Place: Knowledge is Power

WHEN: Thru Aug. 20, 2023
WHERE: National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Mesa Lab, Boulder
The collaborative exhibition illustrates the devastating effects of climate change on Indigenous coastal homes and celebrates the work of two Indigenous photographers: Chantel Comardelle, Tribal Executive Secretary of the Jean Charles Choctaw Nation, Louisiana and Dennis Davis, community artist of the Native Inupiat Village, Shishmaref, Alaska. Additional photography was taken by and/or is provided courtesy of Pete Mueller, Nathan Jessee and Thomson Reuters.

Bugs

WHEN: Thru Aug. 27, 2023
WHERE: Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS)
Precision flight, swarm intelligence, mind control … enter the world of bugs! This exhibition, created by Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand and Weta Workshop (the creative studio behind the Lord of the Rings films’ fantastical sets), reveals the secrets of insects and arthropods in delightful, dazzling ways. From immersive activities that get you thinking to hands-on games that get you moving, Bugs inspires us to be curious about the tiny-but-mighty creatures among us, appreciative of the vital role they play in the natural world, and energized to help them thrive. 

Las Adelitas Living the Arts: Community, Creativity, and Empowerment

WHEN: Thru Aug. 31, 2023
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
A grassroots non-profit organization, Las Adelitas supports women who have endured acts of violence and trauma through the healing power of community, the arts and creative empowerment. This exhibition showcases the creative work of the organization’s artists, including paintings, poetry, video art and the vibrant dresses, stories and performances of the Las Adelitas Ballet Folklorico Dance Group.

Beyond Laser Light Experience & Art Gallery

WHEN: Thru Aug. 31, 2023
WHERE: International Church of Cannabis
This immersive light experience takes place inside the sanctuary of a 125-year-old restored church. Dive into a 360º audiovisual masterpiece, indulge your inner child in a retro arcade lounge with 10,000+ video games on free play, explore the curated art gallery, play Mario Kart on a 26-foot screen, and take stunning Instagram-worthy photos in Gandhi's Graffiti Garden.

Awful Bigness

WHEN: Thru Sept. 10, 2023
WHERE: Clyfford Still Museum
Awful Bigness fills the museum’s largest, skylit galleries and celebrates Still’s biggest, most ambitious works. This installation follows a chronological display of Still’s works in the museum's first four rooms, offering an overview of Still’s groundbreaking path to abstraction.

Across the Universe

WHEN: Thru Sept. 10, 2023
WHERE: MCA DENVER — Museum of Contemporary Art Denver
Tomashi Jackson creates vibrant, research-driven works grounded in a painting practice and utilizing printmaking, video, photography, fiber and sculpture. Influenced by California muralist traditions reflecting peoples’ movements of the 1950s to 1990s, her often immersive work scrutinizes the mechanics of societal power and recognizes the triumphs for the empowerment of communities of color.

Novo Ita Immersive Art Experience

WHEN: Thru Sept. 18, 2023
WHERE: Spectra Art Space
Experience the wonder of Novo Ita presented by Spectra Art Space! Go on an immersive art experience, self-guided and theatrical adventure in the solar punk-inspired city, where sustainability and hope reign supreme, and art, technology and nature blend seamlessly. All ages are welcome!

Return of the Corn Mothers

WHEN: Thru Sept. 30, 2023
WHERE: History Colorado Center
Return of the Corn Mothers marks a three-year effort to honor 22 new Corn Mothers in 2022. What began in 2007 with a small grant from the Rocky Mountain Women’s Institute and eight local women has now expanded to include more than 70 women. Join in the rich tradition of honoring Southwest women through this revitalized exhibit.

Ansel Adams: Early Works

WHEN: Thru Oct. 1, 2023
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens
Discover the early work of renowned landscape photographer Ansel Adams with photos of the American West. Known best for his high-contrast photos made in the 1970s and 1980s, Adams’ earlier prints feature a softer focus, smaller scale and warmer tones, providing a glimpse into the evolution of the photographer’s signature style. The exhibition features 39 vintage photographs, including some of his best-known works. Adams was a giant in the field of landscape photography, using his art to celebrate and protect the West.

Justin Favela: Vistas in Color

WHEN: Thru Oct. 1, 2023
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens
Justin Favela's large-scale piñata-paper installations exist at the intersection of cultural identity and pop culture. Vibrant and immersive, Vistas in Color honors and celebrates the sweeping desert landscapes of the U.S. and Mexico and the role that they have played in Latinx identity. A tissue paper floor-to-ceiling mural, created specifically for the Gardens’ exhibition, combines imagery from desert landscapes. The single panoramic image wraps the walls of the entire ellipse-shaped gallery. Plants from different deserts are featured, as well as plants from the artist’s own home and photos. Favela is a Latinx and first-generation American artist based in Las Vegas.

Fantastic Brush: Twentieth-Century Chinese Ink Art from the Robert and Lisa Kessler Collection

WHEN: Thru Nov. 1, 2023
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
The 23 ink paintings featured in this exhibit showcase some of the most important artists in twentieth-century China, including Zhang Daqian, Qi Baishi, Xu Beihong, Wu Changshuo and Wu Guanzhong. The collection includes examples by teachers and students, friends and colleagues. The artists come from very different backgrounds: some traveled to Europe to study Western art, some went to Japan to study Japanese art and Western art as filtered through Japanese experience, and others never went abroad. Nevertheless, all were well versed in traditional Chinese ink art.

Confection Perfection: Jolly Rancher Company

WHEN: Thru Dec. 30, 2023
WHERE: Golden History Museum & Park, Golden
Seeking additional income for her family, homemaker-turned-entrepreneur Dorothy Harmsen heard about people making a fortune in Florida selling ice cream from newly invented soft serve machines. In 1949, Harmsen rented a store in downtown Golden and made a down payment on a new machine. Within a few years, she and her husband, Bill, built one of the most iconic confectionery companies in the world.

Epic Events

WHEN: Thru Dec. 30, 2023
WHERE: Golden History Museum & Park, Golden
Epic Events walks you through over three dozen moments that shaped Golden’s past. Those times range from big to small, happy to sad. Some are memorable and some are best forgotten. Step inside this exhibit and feel what it’s like to live through 150 years in Golden.

Legendary People

WHEN: Thru Dec. 30, 2023
WHERE: Golden History Museum & Park, Golden
People are the ingredient that makes Golden a vibrant community. Over the years, so many have called the area home, from nomadic Native Americans, adventurous miners and cunning politicians, to innovative business owners, hard-working students and curious tourists. Their interesting stories make for a rich history. Learn the biographical highlights of some little-known characters, like beloved educator Gertrude Bell, Olympic athlete Lindsey Horan and many more.

Signs O’ The Times

WHEN: Thru Dec. 30, 2023
WHERE: Golden History Museum & Park, Golden
Old signs are powerful evidence of the changes Golden has experienced. Simply put, signs are visual graphics we use to communicate information to each other. We’ve used them for thousands of years, and if you stop and look around, they’re everywhere. The permanent City of Golden collection currently cares for more than two dozen commercial and business signs.

By Design: Stories and Ideas Behind Objects

WHEN: Thru Jan. 1, 2024
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
A series of thematic installations drawn primarily from the architecture and design collection, this exhibition illustrates the abundance and versatility of approaches to design. How does it come into being? Who creates it and for what purpose? What trends inspire it? And how does it serve society?

agriCULTURE: Art Inspired by the Land

WHEN: Thru Jan. 7, 2024
WHERE: Longmont Museum, Longmont
A collaborative, contemporary art exhibit created by the Longmont Museum and the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, agriCULTURE: Art Inspired by the Land pairs more than 15 local and national artists with farmers throughout Boulder County to create three site-specific visual works. The exhibit draws on the expertise of farmers and the inspiration of nature and invites visitors to examine their own connections to the land and natural world. This multi-venue exhibition features art at both museums, plus three local farms: Ollin Farms in Longmont, the Boulder JCC Milk & Honey Farm and the Agricultural Heritage Center in Longmont. Experience multi-media artwork that explores how farming is connected to issues such as climate change, water rights, ancestral lands, local history, environmental impacts, cultural heritage and much more.

The World in Denver: Photography by Robert Weinberg

WHEN: Thru Jan. 10, 2024
WHERE: History Colorado Center
Over the course of his career, Robert Weinberg captured images of those who left their mark on Denver. Best known for his work with the Intermountain Jewish News, Weinberg focused on portraits of people in the Denver community. Weinberg's photography adds a valuable dimension to the visual record of the Mile High City during the 1980s and 1990s. Now legally blind, Weinberg created braille labels to accompany his work, ensuring that his photographs are accessible to all. He continues to advocate for the visually impaired community by promoting organizations to assist people with low vision to live independently.

Gio Ponti: Designer of a Thousand Talents

WHEN: Thru July 19, 2024
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
Gio Ponti was one of the most inventive Italian architects and designers of his time. For more than 60 years, Ponti’s exuberant approach found expression in public and private commissions from buildings, interiors and furniture to glass, ceramics and flatware, influencing international design for more than 50 years. 

Deborah Bryon & Gary Manuel with Annalee Schorr in the North Gallery

WHEN: June 22–July 16, 2024
WHERE: Spark Gallery
Experience Deborah Bryon's Life on Life's Terms, featuring paintings that are a record of impressions the artist has absorbed over the last year that are close to Byron's heart and need a voice. Gary Manuel's In and Out showcases new sculptures designed to be outdoors. The smaller metal pieces are conceptual and meant to be larger, so the design can change when they are enlarged. Manuel is also showing wall reliefs, which are wood and metal combined. Finally, Annalee Schorr's Mirror, Mirror on the Wall features walls covered floor to ceiling with mirrored mylar, plexiglass paintings, a stack of plexiglass cubes and more in a fun-house mystery of twisted reality.

Air Uprising - Maria Sheets

WHEN: June 23–July 9, 2024
WHERE: CORE New Art Space, Lakewood
Having been recently praised and contracted by feminist art icon Judy Chicago for her painting skills, artist Maria Valentina Sheets will exhibit kiln-fired glass paintings made during her research into personal and political themes around the concept of “anarchy.” 

What is on your plate? (Body and Soul) - Deborah Abbott 

WHEN: June 23–July 9, 2024
WHERE: CORE New Art Space, Lakewood
Abbott’s work explores the question, “What is on your plate?” From mental health to healthy eating, the show will challenge the viewer to honor themselves so they can honor others. Abbott uses non-traditional media that will make you smile while also helping you self-reflect. 

Awful Bigness

WHEN: Thru Sept. 10, 2023
WHERE: Clyfford Still Museum
Awful Bigness fills the museum’s largest, skylit galleries and celebrates Still’s biggest, most ambitious works. This installation follows a chronological display of Still’s works in the museum's first four rooms, offering an overview of Still’s groundbreaking path to abstraction.

Ansel Adams: Early Works

WHEN: June 11–Oct. 1, 2023
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens
Discover the early work of renowned landscape photographer Ansel Adams with photos of the American West. Known best for his high-contrast photos made in the 1970s and 1980s, Adams’ earlier prints feature a softer focus, smaller scale and warmer tones, providing a glimpse into the evolution of the photographer’s signature style. The exhibition features 39 vintage photographs, including some of his best-known works. Adams was a giant in the field of landscape photography, using his art to celebrate and protect the West.

Justin Favela: Vistas in Color

WHEN: June 11–Oct. 1, 2023
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens
Justin Favela's large-scale piñata-paper installations exist at the intersection of cultural identity and pop culture. Vibrant and immersive, Vistas in Color honors and celebrates the sweeping desert landscapes of the U.S. and Mexico and the role that they have played in Latinx identity. A tissue paper floor-to-ceiling mural, created specifically for the Gardens’ exhibition, combines imagery from desert landscapes. The single panoramic image wraps the walls of the entire ellipse-shaped gallery. Plants from different deserts are featured, as well as plants from the artist’s own home and photos. Favela is a Latinx and first-generation American artist based in Las Vegas.

Dave Yust

WHEN: June 21–Oct. 1, 2023
WHERE: Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art
Kirkland Museum will host an exhibition of work by longtime Colorado artist and educator Dave Yust. The show, organized by the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery in Lindsborg, Kansas, will feature the artist’s most recent work and will be supplemented when it comes to Kirkland Museum with historical pieces from the museum’s permanent collection.

Indigo

WHEN: July 2–Nov. 5, 2023
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens
Rich and alluring, the striking blue color known as indigo has served as inspiration for weavers, dyers, designers and sculptors across the globe. This exhibition features contemporary artists from the United States, Nigeria, Japan, South Korea and beyond. Indigo dye is derived from a variety of plants, most often true indigo (Indigofera tinctoria), Japanese indigo (Persicaria tinctoria) and woad (Isatis tinctoria). With a complex history that spans millennia and traverses thousands of miles, indigo holds an influential place in global art, trade and culture. Several large-scale installations are presented, including indigo-dyed yarn by local artist Theresa Clowes and indigo-dyed fabric by Rowland Ricketts, as well as a denim quilt by Anissa Mack and small sculptures by Luisa Uribe.

Colorado Rockies vs. Detroit Tigers

WHEN: June 30–July 2, 2023
WHERE: Coors Field - Home of the Colorado Rockies
Cheer on the home team and enjoy the views at Coors Field during this three-night series!

Colorado Rapids vs. Portland Timbers

WHEN: July 4, 2023
WHERE: Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City
Celebrate Independence Day as the Colorado Rapids take on the Portland Timbers.

The Colorado Summit Ultimate Disc Home Games 

WHEN: TBA 2023
WHERE: Peter Barton Stadium, Colorado Springs
Pro Ultimate Disc has come to Colorado! Join the state's newest professional sports team, the Colorado Summit, at their home games at Peter Barton Stadium for their inaugural season. All games have pre-game tailgating activities along with musical acts.

The Ascendant at TPC Colorado

WHEN: TBA 2023
WHERE: TPC Colorado, Berthoud
The Ascendant at TPC Colorado will return to Berthoud, Colo., for the fourth annual PGA TOUR, Korn Ferry Tour golf tournament. Tickets and volunteer registration can be found at theAscendant.com.

Street Art

Denver street artists have been busy brightening (and enlightening) the urban landscape for decades by making canvases of the city’s alleyways, building exteriors, warehouses, garage doors and storefronts. Grab your camera and take a stroll past some of the city's favorite murals. 

Outdoor and Patio Dining

There’s no better way to soak up summer than on one of The Mile High City’s splendid patios. From skyward rooftop terraces to lushly landscaped gardens, these are the ultimate spots to eat and drink alfresco in Denver.

Denver Beer Trail

Denver is a mecca for craft beer. But with 100 brewpubs, breweries and tap rooms in the metro area, where do you begin? Let the Denver Beer Trail be your guide with this sampling and interactive map.

Civic Center EATS

WHEN: Thru Oct. 20, 2022; Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
WHERE: Civic Center Park
Every Thursday From May through October, Civic Center EATS transforms Civic Center Park into a lunchtime extravaganza with Denver's best food and fashion trucks and live music. It's your chance to savor a variety of cuisines while supporting our city's small local business scene and the Civic Center Conservancy's mission to restore and enhance Civic Center Park, Denver's only National Historic Landmark.

Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park

Head to the only downtown theme and water park in the country for roller coasters, water slides, family entertainment and much more!

Water World

Beat the heat, relax in the park's beautifully landscaped 64 acres — and ride some serious waterslides.

Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre

Carved from towering red rock monuments, Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre in Morrison is one of the world's most renowned concert venues. The surrounding park has hiking trails that weave in, around and over the colorful red rocks.

Farmers' Markets

The Mile High City's more than 20 farmers' markets aren't just about locally grown produce, delicious baked goods and prepared foods — though you'll find those in abundance! Each market is a festive, weekly street fair, many with live entertainment and family-friendly activities. 

Denver Zoo

With over 3,500 animals on 84 gorgeous acres, Denver Zoo is an amazing experience year-round. Your donation helps to provide world-class care for the lions, giraffes and elephants, as well as other wild animals and wild places, from the Rockies to Mongolia.

Denver Botanic Gardens

One of the top five botanic gardens in the nation, Denver Botanic Gardens is an oasis in the city, offering year-round events, a children’s garden, lifelong-learning opportunities and research to preserve Colorado’s precious natural resources. Meanwhile, Chatfield Farms, located in nearby Littleton, takes pride in its exemplary nature preserve and gardens. Located on 750 acres, this picturesque site includes display gardens and a historical farm with a rustic barn.

Hudson Gardens 

Enjoy thirty acres of natural beauty offering recreational, educational, and social opportunities for all ages. 

Museum of Outdoor Arts 

Despite the name, MOA's Englewood collection includes both outdoor sculptures as well as indoor exhibits, including the always-popular Cabinet of Curiosities.

Outdoor Movies

Catch everything from classic drive-in flicks to blockbuster movies in the park or even films at iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre!

City Parks

No matter where you find yourself in The Mile High City, you’re likely only a few steps away from a lush and relaxing green space. Memorial Day weekend is the perfect time to explore Denver's more than 5,000 acres of traditional parks and parkways, as well as an additional 14,000 acres of spectacular mountain parks in neighboring counties that are maintained by the City and County of Denver.

Lesser-Known, Hidden-Gem Parks

If you’re looking for a quiet spot to have a picnic, take in great views or experience a different side of the city, check out these lesser-known Denver parks.

How to Explore the South Platte River by Bike

Take a two-wheeled tour through the heart of the city along this beautiful river. You'll cruise by some of the city's biggest attractions. 

Denver's Best Urban Hikes

Denver is a city with boundless outdoor fun and has an ideal location next to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. While The Mile High City is conveniently close to major peaks for hiking, there's actually no need to head into the mountains when Denver's regional trail system encompasses hundreds of miles for all ages and abilities to explore. 

How to Explore the Colorado Trail in Waterton Canyon

Many people think that Denver’s prettiest, closest and most accessible bit of mountain scenery is Waterton Canyon. This is the start of the famous Colorado Trail, one of the great long-distance hikes (or mountain bike rides) of the Rocky Mountains.   

Pet-Friendly Denver

Denver is home to dozens of pet-friendly activities and destinations, including dog-friendly hotels and dog parks. Find the best on-leash and off-leash fun for your best friend.