Things to Do in Denver This Week
8 confirmed events in the next seven days, plus what's coming up and the annual traditions worth planning a trip around.
Read the Denver town guideThis week
NOV1CulturalPhoto: Visit DenverSun, Nov 1 · AEG Presents - The Mission Ballroom
Orville Peck
NOV1CulturalPhoto: Visit DenverSun, Nov 1 · Ball Arena
Teddy Swims
NOV2CulturalPhoto: Visit DenverMon, Nov 2 · AEG Presents - The Mission Ballroom
Brand New
NOV6CulturalPhoto: Visit DenverFri, Nov 6 · Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre
Dabin
NOV6CulturalPhoto: Visit DenverNov 6 to 15 · Throughout Denver
Denver Arts Week
NOV6CulturalPhoto: Visit DenverFri, Nov 6 · AEG Presents - The Mission Ballroom
Houndmouth
NOV7CulturalPhoto: Visit DenverSat, Nov 7 · AEG Presents - The Mission Ballroom
Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country (Mission Ballroom)
NOV7CulturalPhoto: Visit DenverNov 7 to 14 · Astra Point Event Center
Denver Fashion Week
Coming up
NOV8CulturalPhoto: Visit DenverSun, Nov 8 · AEG Presents - The Mission Ballroom
311
NOV11OutdoorPhoto: Visit DenverWed, Nov 11 · Ball Arena
Three Days Grace
NOV14CulturalPhoto: Visit DenverSat, Nov 14 · Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre
mike.
NOV14CulturalPhoto: Visit DenverSat, Nov 14 · AEG Presents - The Mission Ballroom
Smoakland
- NOV15CulturalPhoto: Visit Denver
Sun, Nov 15 · Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre
mike. (Night 2)
NOV20SeasonalPhoto: visitdenver.comNov 20 to Dec 23
Denver Christkindlmarket
A traditional German-style holiday market in Civic Center Park, with timber huts, glühwein, and bratwurst. The most charming way to kill an hour downtown in December.
NOV20CulturalPhoto: Visit DenverFri, Nov 20 · AEG Presents - The Mission Ballroom
Level Up
NOV20CulturalPhoto: Visit DenverNov 20 to Dec 31 · Various viewing locations
Mile High Drone Show
NOV20CulturalPhoto: Visit DenverNov 20 to Dec 31 · Auraria Campus — Tivoli Quad
Mile High Tree Presented by Xcel Energy & Xfinity
- DEC5Seasonal
Sat, Dec 5
9NEWS Parade of Lights
An after-dark, two-mile parade of illuminated floats and marching bands through downtown Denver. Bundle up; the temperatures don't read the schedule.
DEC31SeasonalPhoto: Visit DenverThu, Dec 31 · 16th Street
New Year's Eve Fireworks
JAN9SportsPhoto: nationalwestern.comJan 9 to 24
National Western Stock Show
Sixteen days of rodeo, livestock auctions, and mutton bustin' that have anchored Denver's January since 1906. The grounds smell like hay and funnel cake and feel like the last honest holdover from the city's frontier years.
JAN21CulturalPhoto: Visit DenverJan 21 to 31
2027 Sundance Film Festival
JAN23MusicPhoto: Visit DenverSat, Jan 23 · National Western Complex
Charreria (Mexican Horse Show) & Concert
Every year in Denver
Annual events in calendar order from this month. Dates shift a little each year, so confirm on the official site.
First week of November
Denver Arts Week
A nine-day citywide arts celebration with free or discounted museum admission, gallery walks, theater nights, and studio tours. The best week of the year to see the city's creative footprint.
Art
Early November
Denver Film Festival
A twelve-day showcase of independent, documentary, and international cinema at the Sie FilmCenter and partner venues. The opening night party is a highlight of the Denver arts calendar.
Cultural · Photo: denverfilm.org
Veterans Day
Denver Veterans Day Run & Parade
Veterans Day parade down 17th Street and morning 5K. About 4,000 in the parade including ROTC units from across the Front Range.
Cultural
Early November
Día de los Muertos at Denver Botanic Gardens
Family ofrenda altar, papel picado workshops, and a procession through the Mordecai Children's Garden. Included with garden admission.
Cultural
Mid-November
Fillmore Auditorium Hometown Heroes Night
Featured Denver-based booking at the 3,600-cap Fillmore on Colfax. Balcony seats reserved; floor general admission.
Music · Photo: Collin Wigger on Unsplash
Day after Thanksgiving
Mile High Holidays Tree Lighting
Mile High Holidays kicks off in Civic Center with the tree lighting at City and County Building, plus an evening concert. The light display on the building runs through January.
Seasonal
Late November through early January
Blossoms of Light
More than a million lights threaded through the Denver Botanic Gardens, choreographed in some sections to music. Tickets are timed and tend to sell out close to Christmas.
Seasonal · Photo: botanicgardens.org
December 31
Mission Ballroom New Year's Eve
AEG's 3,950-cap RiNo venue programs a big-room electronic or jam booking on New Year's Eve. Balloon drop at midnight; show ends near 1:30am.
Music · Photo: Collin Wigger on Unsplash
December 31
New Year's Eve Fireworks on 16th Street
Two rounds of fireworks above 16th Street at 9pm and midnight. The 9pm round is for kids; midnight crowd is rowdier.
Seasonal
December 31
Ogden Theatre New Year's Eve
The 1700-cap East Colfax venue runs a New Year's Eve booking that's usually a jam-leaning Colorado act. Floor sells out two weeks ahead.
Music · Photo: Collin Wigger on Unsplash
Mid-December
Zoo Lights at Denver Zoo
Two million lights wrapped through the zoo's animal habitats and walking paths. Buy timed-entry tickets a week ahead; admission separate from the regular zoo ticket.
Seasonal
MLK Day
Denver MLK Marade
Four-mile march and rally from City Park to Civic Center on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Speeches at the rotunda after the march.
Cultural
Early January
National Western Stock Show Parade
Cattle drive down 17th Street through downtown to kick off the National Western. The longhorns walk; the high school marching bands try to follow.
Cultural
Late February into early March
Denver Restaurant Week
Ten days of fixed-price multi-course menus at more than 200 restaurants across the metro. The best stretch of the year to try a place that usually requires a month's notice.
Food & drink · Photo: denver.org
Late March
Denver March Powwow
Three days of intertribal dancing, drumming, and craft markets at the Denver Coliseum, drawing nearly a hundred tribes from across North America. A quietly important event on the regional calendar.
Cultural
Saturday before St. Patrick's Day
Denver St. Patrick's Day Parade
Two-hour parade down 17th Street between Wynkoop and Broadway. One of the largest St. Patrick's parades west of the Mississippi.
Cultural
Last Sunday of April
Cherry Creek Sneak
Sunday morning road race through the Cherry Creek neighborhood. Five distances from 1.5 to 10 miles; about 6,500 finishers.
Sports
Early April
Colorado Rockies Opening Day
A 50,000-person LoDo block party, regardless of the team's record. Denver effectively takes the afternoon off.
Sports
Mid-April
Doors Open Denver
A weekend of free, behind-the-scenes access to architecturally notable buildings around the city — bell towers, courthouses, hidden penthouses. Reservations book up fast.
Cultural
April 20
Mile High 420 Festival
Free festival in Civic Center Park with a hip-hop headliner at 4:20pm. About 50,000 attendees.
Cultural
First weekend of May
Cinco de Mayo Festival
One of the country's largest Cinco de Mayo celebrations, held in Civic Center Park with a green-chili showdown, lowrider show, and Chihuahua races.
Cultural
Mid-May
Colfax Marathon
Marathon, half, and 10-mile relay along Colfax Avenue, starting and finishing at City Park. About 18,000 finishers across distances.
Sports
Saturday before Memorial Day
Denver Day of Rock
A free, all-day, multi-stage festival along the 16th Street Mall. A reliable way to kick the patio season into gear without spending anything.
Music · Photo: Collin Wigger on Unsplash
Mid-to-late May
Five Points Jazz Festival
A free street festival honoring Five Points' history as the 'Harlem of the West,' with multiple stages along Welton Street. Among the most authentic music days on Denver's calendar.
Music · Photo: Collin Wigger on Unsplash
Mid-June
Ball Arena Summer Headliner
An arena-tour stop booked into the Avalanche/Nuggets home arena. About 18,000 seats; concourse food is the same as game nights.
Music · Photo: Collin Wigger on Unsplash
Late June, two days
Cherry Blossom Festival at Sakura Square
Japanese American Community Graduate School's festival at Sakura Square in LoDo. Taiko drumming, the bon odori dance, and tempura from the temple's kitchen.
Cultural
Late June
Denver Bike to Work Day
Regional commuter event with about 250 free breakfast stations along bike routes across metro Denver. Closing party at Civic Center after work.
Cultural
First weekend of June
Denver Chalk Art Festival
Larimer Square's pavement becomes a temporary canvas for hundreds of pastel artists. Best visited Sunday afternoon, just before a thunderstorm has any say.
Art
Mid-June
Denver Greek Festival
Three days of food and dance at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Cathedral on Leetsdale. The lamb spit-roast and pastry tent are the draws.
Cultural
Mid-June
Denver International Buskerfest
Three days of about 20 street performers from around the world on Larimer Square. Hat money is the entire economic structure.
Art
Last weekend of June
Denver PrideFest
One of the largest Pride celebrations in the Mountain West, with a Civic Center festival and a Sunday parade up Colfax. Built and run by The Center on Colfax.
Cultural
Mid-June
Highland Square Street Fair
Block party on 32nd Avenue in West Highland with about 200 vendors and three music stages. Most of the LoHi-Highland restaurants put booths on the street.
Cultural
June 19 weekend
Juneteenth Music Festival Five Points
Free festival along Welton Street in the Five Points historic district. Two stages of hip-hop, R&B, and gospel, plus a juried Black artisan market.
Cultural
Early June
Levitt Pavilion Denver Season Opener
First free show of the summer at Ruby Hill Park's Levitt Pavilion. Lawn opens at 6, set begins at 7:30.
Music · Photo: Collin Wigger on Unsplash
Last Friday of June
Untitled Final Friday at Denver Art Museum
Curator-led after-hours night at DAM with live music in the Hamilton atrium and rotating local-artist collaborations. Cash bar.
Art
Late June
Westword Music Showcase
Single-day festival in the Golden Triangle anchored by an outdoor mainstage at Civic Center. Five smaller indoor stages at neighborhood bars and the Convention Center.
Music · Photo: Collin Wigger on Unsplash
Mid-July
Cherry Creek North Sidewalk Sale
Four-day sale across the Cherry Creek shopping district. Many retailers move racks to the sidewalk; the Bayou Bob's gator-on-a-stick tent returns.
Cultural
Last weekend of July
Colorado Dragon Boat Festival
About 80 boat teams race the 250-meter course at Sloan's Lake. Three stages and an Asian-American food court line the south shore.
Cultural
Late July, three days
Denver County Fair
Urban county fair at the National Western Complex with home-brew judging, drag queen bingo, and a dog stunt show. Started in 2011.
Cultural
Early July, three days
Denver Pop Culture Con
Comic and pop-culture convention at the Colorado Convention Center, formerly Denver Comic Con. About 100,000 attendees; cosplay parade on Saturday.
Cultural
Mid-July
Empower Field at Mile High Summer Concert
Stadium-headliner show booked annually at Empower Field, capacity around 70,000. Lots open three hours pre-show.
Music · Photo: Collin Wigger on Unsplash
July 3
Independence Eve at Civic Center Park
Free concert at Civic Center followed by fireworks over the City and County Building. The crowd is densest on the lawn between the Capitol and the Greek amphitheater.
Seasonal
July 4
Levitt Pavilion: Fourth of July Show
Free Fourth of July concert at the Levitt Pavilion with the Ruby Hill fireworks visible over the stage. Lawn fills by 6pm.
Music · Photo: Collin Wigger on Unsplash
Mid-July
Slow Food Nations
Three days of taste workshops, panels, and a Larimer Square street market run by Slow Food USA. Most workshops cost; the market is free.
Food & drink
Late July
Underground Music Showcase
Three days, dozens of bands, and a takeover of South Broadway's bars and clubs. Denver's best chance to see acts on the verge before they're priced out.
Music · Photo: undergroundmusicshowcase.com
Mid-August
Cherry Creek North Food & Wine
One-night strolling food event with about 50 restaurants and wineries setting tables along Fillmore Street. Tickets cap at 1,500.
Food & drink
Late August
Denver Modernism Show
Mid-century modern furniture, fashion, and design fair at the National Western Complex. About 200 dealers; a tiki bar tent serves all weekend.
Art
Labor Day weekend
A Taste of Colorado
Civic Center fills with restaurant booths, beer tents, and stages of mid-tier touring bands. A reliable last-of-summer outing.
Food & drink
September through January
Denver Broncos Home Games
Eight or nine home Sundays at Empower Field at Mile High, plus the occasional Monday or Thursday. The South Stands tradition isn't quite what it was but still louder than most stadiums.
Sports
Late September
Denver Startup Week
Free week of talks and panels across about 30 LoDo venues with about 20,000 attendees. The opening party fills Wynkoop Plaza.
Cultural
Late September / early October
Great American Beer Festival
The country's largest professionally-judged beer festival, with more than 500 breweries pouring at the Colorado Convention Center. Wear comfortable shoes and pace yourself; this is not a sprint.
Food & drink
Mid-September
Levitt Pavilion Denver Closing Show
Final free Levitt show of the year at Ruby Hill Park. Lawn fills earlier than usual because it's the last one.
Music · Photo: Collin Wigger on Unsplash
First Friday of September
RiNo First Friday: Crush Walls Edition
First Friday during the annual Crush Walls mural festival. About 70 artists paint live across the district through the weekend.
Art
Mid-October
Bluebird Theater Anniversary Show
Annual booking marking the East Colfax venue's reopening as a music hall in 1994. Capacity 500; tickets cheap, drinks cheaper.
Music · Photo: Collin Wigger on Unsplash
October through April
Colorado Avalanche Home Games
Mountain-time hockey at Ball Arena, sharing the building with the Nuggets all winter. The fanbase is quieter than Toronto's but more knowledgeable than people give it credit for.
Sports
October through April
Denver Nuggets Home Games
Forty-one regular-season nights at Ball Arena, plus playoff runs that have lately gone long. The 2023 championship made the upper deck mean something again.
Sports
Halloween weekend
DMNS Spooky Science
Halloween-themed adults-only evening at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science with mad science demos, a haunted gem and mineral hall walk, and a planetarium horror show.
Cultural
Mid-October
Rock 'n' Roll Denver Half Marathon
Half marathon and 10K through downtown Denver and Cap Hill, ending in Civic Center Park. Bands at every mile marker on the half.
Sports
More Colorado events
The events worth circling, weekly.
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