Independence Eve fireworks in Denver

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Fourth of July Weekend in Denver

Denver is the place to be for the long holiday weekend. You’ll be treated to stunning fireworks during Independence Eve in Civic Center Park (stay tuned for 2024 details), blockbuster museum exhibitions, delicious cuisine from farm-to-table restaurants on expanded patios and outdoor activities galore.

Music, Comedy & Performing Arts

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'Broadway’s Next Hit Musical' 

WHEN: June 12–30, 2024
WHERE: Garner Galleria Theatre & Bar

Every song is fresh. Every scene is new. Every night is different. It’s all improvised and it’s all funny. "Broadway’s Next Hit Musical" is the only unscripted theatrical awards show. Have you heard of the TONY Awards? Well, "Broadway’s Next Hit Musical" is…The PHONY Awards! Audience members write down made-up song titles and our master improvisers gather these suggestions and present them as “nominated songs” for this coveted award, creating spontaneous scenes and songs filled with dancing, catchy melodies, and tons of laughter. The audience votes for their favorite song and watches as the cast turns that song into a full-blown improvised musical – complete with memorable characters, witty dialogue and plot twists galore.

'Disney's Frozen' 

WHEN: June 19–July 3, 2024
WHERE: Buell Theatre in the Denver Performing Arts Complex

"Frozen" features the songs you know and love from the original Oscar®-winning film, plus an expanded score with a dozen new numbers by the film’s songwriters. for an unforgettable theatrical experience filled with sensational special effects, stunning sets and costumes, and powerhouse performances. It's everything you want in a musical: It’s moving. It’s spectacular. And above all, it’s pure Broadway joy.

Morgan Wallen

WHEN: June 27–28, 2024
WHERE: Empower Field at Mile High

Morgan Wallen is bringing One Night At A Time 2024 to Empower Field at Mile High with special guests Jon Pardi, Nate Smith and Bryan Martin.

New Kids On The Block

WHEN: June 28, 2024
WHERE: Ball Arena

It's a blast from the past with New Kids On The Block with Paula Abdul & DJ Jazzy Jeff live at Ball Arena! 

Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley & Stephen Marley with the Colorado Symphony

WHEN: June 28, 2024
WHERE: Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre, Morrison

AEG Presents Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley & Stephen Marley with the Colorado Symphony and Burning Spear live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

Kevin James

WHEN: June 28, 2024
WHERE: 
Bellco Theatre
Kevin James began his career as a stand-up on the Long Island comedy scene. After being discovered at the 1996 Montreal Comedy Festival, he signed a network development deal to create his own sitcom, "The King of Queens,' which ran for nine seasons on CBS. James also starred in, and executive produced The Crew, a sitcom set in the world of NASCAR and is currently developing a single-camera comedy for Netflix.

'Legally Blonde The Musical'

WHEN: June 28–July 21, 2024
WHERE: PACE Center, Parker

A fabulously fun award-winning musical based on the adored movie, "Legally Blonde The Musical" follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. Action-packed and exploding with memorable songs and dynamic dances, this musical is so much fun, it should be illegal!

Central City Opera's 2024 Festival

WHEN: June 29–Aug. 4, 2024
WHERE: Central City Opera, Central City

Discover the rich tapestry of love, drama, and community at Central City Opera's captivating 2024 Festival as a trio of spellbinding productions light up the historic opera house stage. Experience the timeless hilarity of Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta "The Pirates of Penzance," savor the grandeur of Puccini's beloved "The Girl of the Golden West" ("La fanciulla del West") and embrace the heart and soul of Kurt Weill's iconic American musical, "Street Scene."

Colorado Music Festival

WHEN: July 4–Aug. 4, 2024
WHERE: Chautauqua Auditorium, Boulder

This summer, the Colorado Music Festival brings phenomenal music right to the heart of Colorado under the guidance of renowned conductor Peter Oundjian. Festival highlights will include unforgettable performances by Augustin Hadelich, Olga Kern, Christina and Michelle Naughton, Alisa Weilerstein, and more; the premiere of a new concerto by Gabriela Lena Frank performed by the Grammy-winning Takács Quartet alongside the Orchestra; the Robert Mann Chamber Music Series; and more, all with the help of the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra and some of the world’s most accomplished soloists.

Art & Museum Exhibitions

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Clarence Shivers: Experimenting with Form

WHEN: Thru July 6, 2024
WHERE: Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, Colorado Springs

Over the course of his career, Clarence Shivers demonstrated a commitment to artistic experimentation, working across different media—both two- and three-dimensional—and cultivating a range of stylistic approaches. A Tuskegee Airman—and career military person—one of Shivers’ most celebrated works is his statue dedicated to these pilots and their legacies, located at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Shivers often returned to forms of portraiture, whether images of friends, families, musicians, civil rights leaders or others, and he represented his subjects with poignant and expressive insight. Shivers also created abstract works that demonstrate his ongoing exploration into geometric form, color and movement. This exhibition presents more than 30 works, paintings, prints and sculptures that offer an expansive view of the artist’s prolific career.

Revolt 1680/2180: Runners + Gliders

WHEN: Thru July 14, 2024
WHERE: History Colorado Center

Transport yourself to the year 2180 at History Colorado Center's new multi-sensory exhibition. Created in partnership with world-renowned artist Virgil Ortiz, a visionary hailing from Cochiti Pueblo, this unprecedented experience brings Indigenous Futurism to The Mile High City through a combination of history, science fiction, art, fashion and fantasy.

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. 

Process Makes Perfect: Printmakers Explore the Natural World

WHEN: Thru July 28, 2024
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens

Learn about contemporary lithographic printmaking through artworks exploring the beauty of nature. Featuring color lithographs and process works from the University of Colorado Art Museum’s Sharkive, Process Makes Perfect presents works by Don Ed Hardy, Hung Liu, Emmi Whitehorse and Red Grooms. Through drawings, preparatory materials and test proofs displayed alongside the completed artworks, experience prints inspired by the natural world, and the unique artistic practices that went into creating them.

Mile High Magic

WHEN: Thru Aug. 15, 2024
WHERE: History Colorado Center

Focusing on the history of the Denver Broncos, this exhibition uses game-worn memorabilia from more than 60 years of Broncos history to explore fairytale seasons, epic comebacks, legendary players, and the heated rivalries of Colorado’s only National Football League franchise.

Hand in Nature

WHEN: Thru Sept. 1, 2024
WHERE: MCA DENVER — Museum of Contemporary Art Denver

Gala Porras-Kim is a multi-disciplinary artist whose work questions how knowledge is acquired and tests the potential for artworks and objects to function as meaning-makers outside of traditional museum contexts. For this exhibition, Porras-Kim extends lines of questioning into conservation, preservation and care within institutional contexts to the broader natural world and lived environment. The artworks on view distill natural processes into sculptures, paintings and drawings that will grow, evolve or degrade throughout the span of the exhibition. From sculptures rendered with salt-saturated concrete or copal resin wetted with local rainwater to paintings created from slow drips of water drawing from the museum’s humidity and projections from light refractions off of brass panels, Porras-Kim’s work imagines what might be possible if natural forces and phenomenon had the agency to self-determine. 

Fazal Sheikh: Thirst | Exposure | In Place

WHEN: Thru Oct. 20, 2024
WHERE: 
Denver Art Museum
This exhibition was created from three projects photographer Fazal Sheikh made on the Colorado Plateau from 2017 to early 2023. Sheikh’s portraits and landscapes of displaced communities and marginalized people shed light on the far-reaching consequences of extractive industry and climate change. Through this beautiful and sometimes frightening new work, Sheikh encourages viewers to witness the consequences of the past and imagine the shape of the future.

Have a Seat: Mexican Chair Design Today

WHEN: Thru Nov. 3, 2024
WHERE: Denver Art Museum

Have a Seat: Mexican Chair Design Today is an interactive exhibition featuring three historical artworks, 17 contemporary seats designed by 22 Mexican artists, and a site-specific art installation. Through their pioneering designs, the artists embark on a journey through history and traditions, exploring the enduring legacy of the cross-cultural world that emerged in Mexico following the Spanish conquest, which incorporated elements of Indigenous, Asian, African and European cultures and continues to inspire new types of objects and furniture for the 21st century. Have a Seat showcases furniture by contemporary Mexican designers represented in the museum’s permanent collection, including Andrés Lhima, Cecilia León de la Barra, Daniel Valero, Bárbara Sánchez-Kane, Jorge Diego Etienne and many more.

Get Involved: Civic Engagement in Lakewood

WHEN: Thru Dec. 1, 2024
WHERE: Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park, Lakewood

How do you interact with your community? Historic Lakewood residents got involved with their local schools, agricultural organizations, outdoor youth movements and many other special interest groups. Discover how making a difference in the quality of life in our city has evolved over the past century.

Lumonics Immersed 

WHEN: Thru Dec. 28, 2024
WHERE: Lumonics Light & Sound Gallery

“Entering a performance at Lumonics Light & Sound Gallery is like stepping through a looking glass and into a sci-fi wonderland. The gallery’s Lumonics Immersed installation was originally created by the late Dorothy and Mel Tanner, pioneering light artists whose singular style fuses elements of light, music and sculptures to produce captivating experiences for the audience.” – Denver Westword

Weaving a Foundation: Cornerstones of the Textile Arts Collection

WHEN: Thru Dec. 31, 2024
WHERE: Denver Art Museum

This new exhibition features 60 objects from the museum’s permanent collection, two-thirds of which have never been shown. Throughout the museum’s history, textile arts have played a fundamental role in the development of its collecting philosophies and exhibition programs. The first textile entered the museum almost 100 years ago, and since that time, textile arts have been regular additions to the collection. Among the handful of early patrons, the Douglas Family of Evergreen, Colorado, emerged as the most steadfast donors of textiles. This exhibition highlights a selection of the family’s donations that demonstrates their celebration of traditional and living cultures and the value of exhibiting them together. 

Museum of Illusions

WHEN: Thru Dec. 31, 2024
WHERE: Museum of Illusions

Discover a brilliant collection of perspective-changing rooms, enthralling installations, and spellbinding images. The mesmerizing exhibits will teach you that nothing is ever quite as it seems, especially in the Museum of Illusions Denver.

Danielle SeeWalker: But We Have Something to Say

WHEN: Thru Dec. 31, 2024
WHERE: History Colorado Center

Danielle SeeWalker is a Húŋkpapȟa Lakȟóta citizen from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. She is an artist, writer, activist and boy mom of two, based in Denver. This exhibition uses storytelling to explore a variety of issues important to Indigenous peoples and communities. Striking nineteenth-century hair ornaments, beaded spoons and moccasins are paired with SeeWalker’s art in ways that illuminate censored and erased histories.

By Design: Stories and Ideas Behind Objects

WHEN: Thru Jan. 1, 2025
WHERE: Denver Art Museum

Design is all around us. Whether it takes the form of objects and spaces, images and interactions, or systems and processes, design shapes our lives in fundamental ways. But what shapes design? A series of thematic installations drawn primarily from the architecture and design collection, By Design: Stories and Ideas Behind Objects illustrates the abundance and versatility of approaches to design. 

Flow: On the River with John Fielder

WHEN: Thru Jan. 27, 2025
WHERE: History Colorado Center

This exhibition focuses on the many uses and importance of the Colorado River, taking visitors inside majestic canyons and atop the most awe-inspiring vistas along the Yampa, Gunnison and Dolores Rivers as they flow toward their confluence with the Colorado. Flow: On the River with John Fielder features a number of iconic large-format Fielder prints, as well as quotes from the renowned landscape photographer gathered carefully from his publications and interviews over the years.

Espiritu Hermosx/Beautiful Spirit

WHEN: March 28–July 14, 2024
WHERE: Museo de las Americas

Museo de las Americas is honored to present this innovative exploration into contemporary LGBTQ+ Latinx artists' diverse experiences. Through novel and traditional practices, 10 artists highlight the breadth and possibility of identity stemming from their experiences of double marginalization as Latinx and queer individuals.

Biophilia

WHEN: May 5–Aug. 11, 2024
WHERE: Denver Art Museum

Biophilia: Nature Reimagined brings together more than 70 imaginative works, including architectural models and photographs, objects, fashion, digital installations, and immersive art experiences that collectively highlight the transformative power of nature. "Biophilia" is a term popularized by American biologist and author Edward O. Wilson to describe his theory that, as humans have evolved as a species, they have been intricately intertwined with the natural world. Organized by Darrin Alfred, Curator of Architecture and Design, Biophilia provides a space for leading architects, artists, and designers to re-examine and reanimate our intrinsic bond with the natural world.

Dialogue and Defiance: Clyfford Still and the Abstract Expressionists

WHEN: May 10, 2024–Jan. 12, 2025
WHERE: Clyfford Still Museum

Clyfford Still withdrew his paintings from the Betty Parsons Gallery in 1951, refusing to participate in a market prioritizing the fame of an artist and the price of their artworks. The following year, he surprised many by agreeing to participate in a group show at the Museum of Modern Art. His rationale for doing so was because the curator, Dorothy Miller, agreed to show Still’s works together in their own gallery. As Still saw it, his work could be viewed on its own terms and not in direct comparison to other artists—but visitors could still see the scope of American painting in the mid-century. Even with his turn away from the art world, Still saw himself participating in something larger and remained in dialogue with his contemporaries. This exhibition considers the nuanced ways in which Clyfford Still was part of an artists’ community in the late 1940s and early 1950s, despite his protestations to the contrary, and how his paintings, through their scale and composition, promote ideas of community.

Coalescing Connections

WHEN: May 21–July 6, 2024
WHERE: Walker Fine Art

As a species, we are constantly evolving, but we never retract from our instinctive need for nature. These fascinations with nature stem from an innate biologically driven need to interact with other forms of life, such as animals and plants. This group exhibition features seven artists (Julie Anderson, Mark Penner Howell, Sara Sanderson, Brian Comber, Cara Enteles, Sharon Strasburg, and Norman Epp) who work with unique combinations of mediums to explore and project their deep connections to the natural world around us. Utilizing watercolor, ceramic, oil, wood, silkscreen and more, Coalescing Connections showcases collaborative efforts between artistic styles, mediums and, of course, nature.

 

Colorado Rockies vs. Milwaukee Brewers

WHEN: July 1–4, 2024
WHERE: 
Coors Field - Home of the Colorado Rockies
Come cheer on the Rockies at Coors Field as they take on the Milwaukee Brewers!

Colorado Rapids vs. Sporting Kansas City

WHEN: July 4, 2024
WHERE: Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City

Soccer fans won't want to miss the Colorado Rapids playing Sporting Kansas City!

Colorado Rockies vs. Kansas City Royals

WHEN: July 5–7, 2024
WHERE: 
Coors Field - Home of the Colorado Rockies
Head to Coors Field as the Rockies take on the Kansas City Royals!

Colorado Rapids vs. St. Louis City SC

WHEN: July 7, 2024
WHERE: Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City

Don't miss the Colorado Rapids soccer team battling St. Louis City SC!

Urban Exploration

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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.

Outdoor Activities

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Civic Center EATS

WHEN: May 8–Oct. 16, 2024; Wednesdays and 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. 

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