Denver New Year's Eve Events

Explore New Year's Eve events happening across Denver.

Celebrate the new year with your family by checking out fireworks, blockbuster museum exhibitions, stunning lights displays like Zoo Lights and art shows all over town. Take advantage of great Denver hotel packages.

We strive to post the most current and accurate event information, but changes and cancellations do occur, so please check the official event website to confirm all details before attending

New Year's Eve Fireworks & Downtown Fun

Downtown Fireworks

WHEN: Dec. 31, 2023; 9 p.m. and midnight
WHERE: Downtown
The sky will once again sparkle over downtown at the close of 2023 with the New Year’s Eve Fireworks. The two 8-minute spectacular fireworks shows will occur at 9 p.m. and midnight. The identical fireworks shows can be seen near the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel and near the middle of downtown near Curtis Street. For the best NYE experience in downtown, book a restaurant reservation before the show and then stay the night at a hotel! The fireworks are presented by the Downtown Denver Partnership and co-sponsored by VISIT DENVER and the Downtown Denver Business Improvement District.

New Year's Eve Fireworks at Luminova Holidays

WHEN: Dec. 31, 2023; 8 p.m.
WHERE: Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park
The Luminova Holidays celebration is getting an extra kick with a New Year's Eve fireworks show at 8 p.m.

New Year's Eve Parties

Here are some great ideas for celebrating New Year's Eve. For more New Year's Eve activities, see our Denver 365 events calendar.

Decadence

WHEN: Dec. 30–31 2023
WHERE: Colorado Convention Center
America's biggest electronic New Year's celebration is the two-night event of the (end of the) year you won't want to miss! Get your two-day pass and dance your way into 2024.

Denver NYE Black Tie Party

WHEN: Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: Asterisk Denver
The Denver NYE Black Tie Party is the perfect way to ring in the new year in style. Enjoy an open bar all night, live music from an incredible local cover band, and top live DJs spinning top 40s, EDM, old school hip hop, R&B, and all your classics. You'll also find Vegas-style casino games and prizes for the top chip holder, as well as a complimentary photo booth and custom selfie stations to capture all of your memories. And when the clock strikes midnight, there will be a giant 2,000 -balloon drop on the main floor, along with NYE party favors for everyone.

The Clocktower Cabaret's Annual New Year's Eve Burlesque Bash

WHEN: Dec. 31, 2023; 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
WHERE: The Clocktower Cabaret, D&F Tower
The Clocktower Clockettes present their best and brightest acts from the past year, with the sassy, classy, high-altitude attitude audiences scream for. This top-shelf, all-star lineup is the best of the best together for one night to ring in the new year! Acts range from classic to modern, from smolderingly sensuous to laugh-out-loud hilarious counting down to a midnight toast and downtown fireworks!

Fire & Ice NYE Party

WHEN: Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: FIRE at the ART hotel
Ring in the New Year with a legendary experience at our second annual FIRE & ICE New Year's Eve Bash at FIRE Restaurant. Perched above Broadway, FIRE offers beautiful views and an elevated atmosphere with beautiful works of art housed in the hotel. Reserve a spot for all your friends and enjoy craft cocktails, bubbly, bottle service, a DJ, live music, dancing and more! Enjoy a complimentary welcome cocktail to kick off your evening celebration. Late-night snacks will be available to purchase if you get hungry.

8th Annual Nocturne New Year's Eve Celebration

WHEN: Dec. 31, 2023; 5:45 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.
WHERE: Nocturne
On a night when we pull out all the stops, sip the night away with Champagne and sublime cocktails and enjoy delectable plates created by Nocturne's culinary team as you take in the sounds of the ever-swinging Wil Swindler/Marion Powers Quintet. With two seatings to choose from, you can get your big night kicked off at Nocturne, or make it your final New Year's destination and join the countdown into 2024 (with a Champagne toast, of course)!

New Year's Eve Dinner at FIRE Restaurant

WHEN: Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: FIRE at the ART hotel
You're cordially invited to FIRE Restaurant, located in the exquisite ART Hotel, for a spectacular New Year's Eve Dinner. Let's bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one with delicious cuisine, great company and a memorable evening. Sparkling toast included!

NYE Midnight Masquerade

WHEN: Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: 221 E Kiowa St., Colorado Springs
It's time for the grand finale of 2023! This momentous event will be a night to remember as we ring in the new year.

New Year's Eve at Rocky Mountain Rep

WHEN: Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, Grand Lake
Celebrate as Rocky Mountain Rep invites alumnus and Henry Award winner Mitchell Lewis to return to Grand Lake for a one-night-only performance! For the perfect evening, dine out at one of Grand Lake's outstanding restaurants, come to Rocky Mountain Rep for a fantastic performance, then bundle up and watch the Town of Grand Lake fireworks. What a fabulous night!

Blockbuster Exhibitions

Costa Rica: Long Live Peace and Labor

WHEN: Thru Jan. 28, 2024
WHERE: Museo de las Americas
When you think of Costa Rica, do you think of the country’s biodiversity and anti-militarist culture? What you may not know is that beneath the surface, contrasting realities intertwine. Beyond its idyllic image, Costa Rica represents a fresh societal landscape, giving rise to new social groups that voice their opinions and question prevailing national political choices. With this exhibition, the country's rich cultural heritage comes to life as a seamless blend of ancient artifacts and contemporary art illuminates both the country’s intriguing past and vibrant present.

Cowboy

WHEN: Thru Feb. 18, 2024
WHERE: MCA Denver — Museum of Contemporary Art Denver
Cowboy speaks to the museum’s ambition to challenge, revise and reconceive how such a myth originated and might be probed in exciting, courageous and nuanced ways. It brings together loans and new commissions from 27 artists representing a wide range of perspectives, including Asian American, Latinx and Native American/Indigenous.

Golden Legacy: Original Art from 80 Years of Golden Books

WHEN: Thru Feb. 18, 2024
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens
Whimsical children’s book illustrations highlight animals and nature as a source of love, wonder and joy. Featuring more than 30 framed illustrations from the Little Golden Books series, vintage books and a reading nook, Golden Legacy showcases works from some of the best-known children’s books of the past 80 years, including "The Poky Little Puppy," illustrated by Gustaf Tenggren, and Chicken Little, illustrated by Richard Scarry.

Amoako Boafo: Soul of Black Folks

WHEN: Thru Feb. 19, 2024
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
This is the debut solo exhibition for Ghanaian artist Amoako Boafo. It features more than 30 works the artist created between 2016 and 2022 that tells stories about the beauty and complexity of Black life.

All Stars: American Artists from The Phillips Collection

WHEN: Thru March 3, 2024
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
The Phillips Collection showcases some of the best American art from one of the most celebrated collections in the United States. See landmark works by more than 50 artists, including Jackson Pollock, Georgia O’Keeffe, Jacob Lawrence, Childe Hassam and more!

Revolt 1680/2180: Runners + Gliders

WHEN: Thru May 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.

Spotlight: Inside Collections Care and Conservation

WHEN: Thru May 5, 2024
WHERE: Clyfford Still Museum
This unique exhibition highlights how the Clyfford Still Museum stewards and preserves its collections for future generations through careful display; scientific and historical research; and art conservation. The show is organized chronologically, providing visitors with a thorough overview of Clyfford Still’s 60-year career and includes never-before-seen works.

Wild Color

WHEN: Nov. 17, 2023–April 7, 2024
WHERE: Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Delve into the color spectrum like never before as you make your way through immersive rooms, each representing a color of the rainbow. Discover some of the brightest and boldest examples from the museum’s collections—alongside experiences designed to awaken your senses. Anywhere you look in nature, color holds meaning. It evokes emotion, signals alarm, and creates disguise and illusion. In this special exhibition, you’ll learn how to decode the hidden messages that different colors can send. Then, explore some of nature’s mysteries that are hidden in plain sight.

Family-Friendly New Year's Events

Noon Year's Eve

WHEN: Dec. 31, 2023; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
WHERE: Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
In conjunction with Snow Days, get all the glitz and glam of New York City's Times Square before bedtime! There will be ball drops at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m., plus music, tasty treats from The Teaching Kitchen and more.

Downtown Aquarium New Year's Eve Family Celebration

WHEN: Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: Downtown Aquarium
Ring in the New Year with Downtown Aquarium's mascot, Sharkey! Celebrate with a delicious buffet, a balloon drop, contests and giveaways for the kids! Reservations required.

Downtown Denver Rink

WHEN: Nov. 18, 2023–Feb. 14, 2024
WHERE: Skyline Park
Bundle up for some free ice skating in the heart of downtown and enjoy special events. Skate rentals for adults are $11 and $9 for kids 12 and under. Bring your own pair and skate for free! If you need a skatewalker for assistance, you can also rent one $5.

More Holiday Events & Activities

Holiday Art and Gift Boutique

WHEN: Oct. 31–Dec. 30, 2023
WHERE: Depot Art Gallery, Littleton
Your holiday shopping solution: a unique collection of hand-made items created by more than 30 local artists and artisans and housed in a historic railroad depot. Browse one-of-a kind jewelry, paintings, pottery, mixed-media, holiday decorations, wreaths and cards.

Ice Castles in Cripple Creek

WHEN: Nov. 10, 2023–Feb. 23, 2024
WHERE: Irene Avenue and 4th Street, Cripple Creek
Each year, Ice Castles brings fairy tales to life for hundreds of thousands of families across North America. For all who enter through the icicle-adorned archways, explore ice tunnels and glide down ice slides, time spent at Ice Castles is a source of joy and inspiration.

Christmas In Color

WHEN: Nov. 17–Dec. 30, 2023
WHERE: Water World (Denver), Arapahoe County Fairground (Aurora), Bandimere Speedway (Morrison)
With not one but three locations, Christmas In Color at Water World , Arapahoe County Fairground and Bandimere Speedway is a can't-miss holiday lights experience! Drive through millions of lights perfectly synchronized to holiday music you’ll hear right through your radio. Drive by giant candy canes, snowmen, arched pathways and more. Take your time enjoying this lighting extravaganza – we won’t judge you if you join the kids with your face pressed against the window!

The Mile High Tree presented by Xfinity

WHEN: Nov. 17–Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: Civic Center Park
Join in the free festivities at the Mile High Tree. It’s a brilliantly lit, 110-foot-tall immersive art installation that provides a dazzling lights-and-music show. And, for the first time, you can experience two of Denver's most popular holiday attractions in one place: America’s tallest digital tree and the Denver Christkindlmarket, the city’s only authentic German holiday market.

Blossoms of Light

WHEN: Nov. 17, 2023–Jan. 7, 2024 (closed Nov. 23 and Dec. 25)
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens
This annual holiday lights extravaganza transforms Denver Botanic Gardens into a twinkling winter wonderland. Sip warm drinks and nibble on tasty treats as you stroll.

Light the Lights

WHEN: Begins Nov. 22, 2023
WHERE: City & County of Denver Building in Civic Center Park
Starting with the kick-off celebration on November 22 , each night, at 5:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m., an eight-minute choreographed light and music holiday show will light up the night. It then goes to a festive, static holiday display until 10:45 p.m. The light and music shows will not play on Mondays because of City Council meetings, but the static light display will still shine. There will be a special light schedule on December 2 to highlight activities as the 9 News Parade of Lights begins in front of the City and County Building. Note: The building will remain completely dark for an annual memorial vigil from 5 to 7 p.m. on December ##, honoring persons experiencing homelessness. The lights will be turned back on after the event is over.

Hudson Holidays

WHEN: Nov. 24–Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: Hudson Gardens & Events Center
You'll be enchanted by even more towering trees draped in thousands of colorful lights. A grove of dancing Christmas trees, a multi-colored forest inhabited by giant snowmen, the holiday light tunnel and glowing reindeer will light up Hudson Gardens into an extravaganza of holiday cheer. Purchase a delicious cup of hot cocoa or adult beverage before stopping by for a perfect free family photo opportunity with Santa.

Luminova Holidays

WHEN: Nov. 24–Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park
This family-friend event brings larger-than-life holiday displays and immersive experiences for all to enjoy. It features millions of dazzling lights, a 65-foot-tall Christmas tree, twinkling snowmen who never melt, a 300-foot-long candy cane tunnel, giant presents and ornaments, a wall of lights, rides on Elitch Gardens attractions, interactive activities like a light-up hopscotch, strolling holiday entertainers, Old Saint Nick and his elves, and more.

Trail of Lights

WHEN: Nov. 24, 2023–Jan. 1, 2024; 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (closed December 25)
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms, Littleton
Stroll through the Colorado countryside along a winding path glistening with lights. Features this year include singing Christmas trees, three-sided light tunnels, illuminated antique and model tractors, a children's play area with synchronized music, and warm holiday food and drink for purchase. Visit the Holiday Market to purchase holiday gifts Nov. 24–27, Dec.1–3, 8–10 and 15–17.

Holiday Lights & Sights Bus Tour

WHEN: Nov. 25–Dec. 30, 2023
WHERE: Downtown Denver
This holiday season, embark on a fun-filled, 90-minute Denver holiday lights bust tour as you take in all of the magic and cheer of this festive time of year in The Mile High City. Enjoy the unique history, architecture and beauty of Denver’s holiday lights and top sights at night during this limited-run Denver holiday lights experience! This experience was designed to give you views and great photo opportunities of Denver’s most beautiful and famous landmarks, magnificently lit up for this cheery time of year. Besides getting the inside scoop on the famous and incredibly lit-up sights, you'll hear about holiday traditions that got their start right here in Denver.

Tinseltown: Christmas Bar

WHEN: Dec. 1–30, 2023
WHERE: Denver Pavilions
Tinseltown is coming, just in time for winter! The all-encompassing Christmas-themed pop-up is overflowing with holly jolly Christmas spirit, with Santa, elves, presents, tinsel, festive tunes and lots of winter warmer drinks, including a fabulous Christmas cocktail menu! The halls are more than fully decked with baubles, bows, hanging trees, wreaths and just about every festive goodie ever. Tickets include entry to the themed bar and a bespoke cocktail on arrival.

Bridge of Lights

WHEN: Dec. 1–4, 8–11, 15–31, 2023 (closed Christmas Day)
WHERE: Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, Cañon City
In an experience sure to become a time-honored Christmas tradition, you're invited to drive across the Royal Gorge Bridge, 1,000 feet above the Arkansas River, while it's decked out in thousands of holiday lights. Driving across the Royal Gorge Bridge is not regularly offered outside of pre-arranged car club groups, so this is truly something special! Guests can purchase hot cocoa, coffee or cider in a Bridge of Lights souvenir cup and holiday cookies to enjoy while driving through the light display. Hours: 5:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; 5:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Zoo Lights

WHEN: Dec. 2, 2023–Jan. 7, 2024
WHERE: Denver Zoo
It's official: Zoo Lights has been making magic, memories and even marriages for more than 30 amazing years! This illuminating annual event transforms Denver Zoo into Colorado's WILDEST winter wonderland. Don't miss this year's historic celebration, with more than a million lights sparkling over 60 acres — animated animal sculptures, Santa and Mrs. Claus visits, animal encounters, exciting entertainment and treats for kids of all ages.

10 Days of Brunch

WHEN: Dec. 23, 2023–Jan. 1, 2024
WHERE: FIRE at the ART hotel
Enjoy 10 days of tasty and festive holiday brunch specials at FIRE Restaurant, with mouth-watering options like the steak skillet, French toast or acorn squash crostini.

Christmas Carol Rides

WHEN: Dec. 26, 2023–Jan. 2, 2024
WHERE: Great Outdoors Adventures LLC, Pikes Peak Region
Enjoy a winter sleigh ride in a cozy off-road vehicle with Great Outdoors Adventures this holiday season for a merry, merry time. Tour the stunning Pike National Forest in your own rented off-road vehicle as a self-guided tour with GPS navigation, or book a guided tour.

Music & Performing Arts

'Spookadelia: Doubt's Echo'

WHEN: Thru Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: Spectra Art Space
Each room and section of this indoor/outdoor experience is immersive, interactive and full of surprises. The installations and experience, while “spooky” are also family-friendly and full of delight! Go on a self-guided journey through the Mirror Realm, aka Doubt's Echo, on a mission to conquer Doubt and his duplicitous minions. The only way to complete the mission and return to reality is to choose truth and overcome deceit. This all-ages, narrative-driven psychedelic immersive art, theatrical, and highly interactive experience is presented by Spectra Art Space, along with performance artists curated by Darshan Dance Company, several artists now featured at Denver Meow Wolf, and many more.

'Sensatia' Cabaret

WHEN: Thru Feb. 17, 2024
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. Brought to life by internationally renowned Quixotic, "Sensatia" promises a stunningly seductive encounter like no other. In partnership with Non Plus Ultra.

'Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella'

WHEN: Nov. 24–Dec. 29, 2023
WHERE: Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities, Arvada
When a young woman is forced to be a servant by her evil stepmother, it takes knowing her self-worth, some wonderful friends, and a little magic to help her get out. "Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella" takes a whimsical turn in the Arvada Center’s production this holiday season, creating a mysterious but playful world where magic is real and dreams come true. This stylish, contemporary take of the fairy tale classic promises fantastical costumes, hilarious dialogue, romantic lyrics, and unforgettable music for a truly magical experience.

'A Christmas Story'

WHEN: Nov. 24–Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: Miners Alley Playhouse, Golden
All the elements from the beloved motion picture are here, including the family's temperamental exploding furnace; the boys' experiment with a wet tongue on a cold lamppost; the Little Orphan Annie decoder pin; Ralphie's father winning a lamp shaped like a woman's leg in a net stocking; Ralphie's fantasy scenarios and more. "A Christmas Story" is destined to become a theatrical holiday tradition!

'Elf The Musical'

WHEN: Nov. 30–Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, Colorado Springs
Beloved the world over, "Elf The Musical" can easily become an annual tradition. Based on the cherished film and featuring songs by Tony Award nominees Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin, "Elf" tells the story of Buddy, a young orphan who crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole, where he is raised as an elf. Eventually, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Faced with the harsh realities that his father is on the naughty list and his half-brother doesn’t even believe in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.

'Matilda'

WHEN: Dec. 1–31, 2023
WHERE: Littleton Town Hall, Littleton
Roald Dahl’s trademark wit comes to life in this family-friendly musical about a clever little girl with astonishing powers. Matilda Wormwood is unloved by her cruel parents, and sent to an oppressive school run by an even crueler headmistress, Miss Trunchbull. But during her first term at school, Matilda forges an unbreakable bond with her kind-hearted teacher Miss Honey. The two inspire each other to be courageous, to embrace their own power, and to build their own family. Packed with high-energy dance numbers, catchy songs and exciting onstage magic, "Matilda the Musical" is a perfect holiday show for the whole family.

'The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical'

WHEN: Dec. 2–31, 2023
WHERE: Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, Golden
A sequel to "The Great American Trailer Park," the Christmas version takes audiences back to Florida’s favorite trailer park community, Armadillo Acres, where there’s a healthy dose of kitschy holiday cheer and non-stop shenanigans. Just watch out for cranky new resident Darlene, who disrupts the usual holiday routine and brings a whirlwind of drama, romance and downright hilarious surprises to the trailer park. This ca n’t-miss musical takes the audience along with the residents of Armadillo Acres as they navigate the treacherous holiday season with humor, heartwarming moments, tinsel and keg nog (yes, keg nog!).

'Holly, Alaska!'

WHEN: Dec. 7–31, 2023
WHERE: Dairy Arts Center, Boulder
In the tiny town of Holly, Alaska, a merry band of community theater players have been keeping the tradition of an annual holiday pageant alive for 119 years. Due to recent cutbacks, the town council has decided this year’s show can’t happen. In a last-ditch effort to save the pageant (and the town itself), the actors pull out all the stops in this heartwarming tale of love, connection, and holiday revelry of the goofiest kind.

'Bubbles: A Top Popping Burlesque Revue'

WHEN: Dec. 27–30, 2023
WHERE: The Clocktower Cabaret, D&F Tower
Kick off your New Year's Eve celebrations as Indy Fire Presents 'BUBBLES: A Top Popping Burlesque Revue'!

Nikki Glaser

WHEN: Dec. 30–31, 2023
WHERE: Paramount Theatre
Comedian Nikki Glaser graces the Paramount Theatre for two nights of her "The Good Girl Tour."

CloZee

WHEN: Dec. 30–31, 2023
WHERE: AEG Presents - The Mission Ballroom
AEG Presents is thrilled to announce CloZee live at Mission Ballroom for the last two nights of 2023!

'A Night in Vienna'

WHEN: Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: Boettcher Concert Hall
A Colorado cultural tradition returns featuring your symphony waltzing along with you into 2024! Start your celebration in style with the Colorado Symphony’s presentation of "A Night in Vienna," a rousing selection of polkas, waltzes and marches.

Neal Francis

WHEN: Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: The Ogden Theatre
Live For Live Music Presents: Neal Francis - Francis Comes Alive with The Texas Gentlemen live at the Ogden Theatre

Museum & Gallery Exhibitions

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.

More Than Place: Colorado, Women, and Land

WHEN: Thru Dec. 30, 2023
WHERE: El Pueblo Museum, Pueblo
From Indigenous keepers of the land in Colorado’s mountains and plains to Mexican Land Grants and the Homestead Act of 1862, to building communities in rural Colorado, women have played an integral and often invisible role in shaping the land of our state. In More Than Place: Colorado, Women, and Land, the Center for Colorado Women’s History examines the legacies of Western women, their role and place on the land, challenges perceptions of access, and centers diverse communities of Colorado women.

Solo Exhibitions

WHEN: Thru Dec. 30, 2023
WHERE: Robischon Gallery
View exhibitions by multiple artists: Kim Dickey's Auguries (sculpture), Kiki Smith's From the Jacquard Tapestry Series (tapestry), Kahn + Selesnick's Vision Under the Influence: Selections from Truppe Fledermaus (drawings) and works by Stephen Batura in the Viewing Room.

Borderlands of Southern Colorado

WHEN: Thru Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: History Colorado Center
Presented in English and Spanish, Borderlands explores the shifting geopolitical history of southern Colorado. This area, framed by mountains and rivers, is naturally conducive to unique and resilient forms of cultural connection. An international border crossed over the people in this region, changing their lives forever, when the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo moved a portion of the US–Mexico border from the Arkansas River—which flows through the middle of Colorado—down to the Rio Grande in 1848.

Vision and Resolve

WHEN: Thru Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: Center for Colorado Women's History
This exhibition illuminates how women and their social movements have impacted Colorado’s History. Focusing on suffragist Ida Clark DePriest, gay rights activist Mary Lopez Dussart, disability rights activist Laura Hershey, civic activist Anne Evans and the women leaders of Casa Verde Mothers of Pueblo, this Vision and Resolve allows visitors to experience their stories along with artifacts from the History Colorado Collection. Highlights include Equal Rights Amendment protest wear from the late 1970s and “Western Women Wild with Joy,” a newly acquired contemporary sculpture celebrating suffrage.

Seeds of a Nation

WHEN: Thru Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: Center for Colorado Women's History
Seeds of a Nation takes visitors through an investigation of the complexities that sprouted with the development of Victory Gardens. Grown out of the necessity of war, Victory Gardens allowed American civilians to contribute to the war effort by planting, harvesting and storing their own food. Even after the war was over, the gardens remained as symbols of resilience, unity and self-sufficiency and contributed to the complex beliefs around what it means “to be American,” especially in turbulent times.

Zoom In

WHEN: Thru Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: History Colorado Center
This exhibition has 100 stories to tell. Culled from the vast collections of History Colorado, every object on view had a role in shaping our state—from the age of the Paleoindians to Jack Swigert’s Apollo 13 flight suit and beyond. You could never distill Colorado’s rich history into only 100 objects. But the ones we’ve selected, both ordinary and extraordinary, combine into a telling mosaic of the past—and, just maybe, a glimpse into our future.

What's Your Story?

WHEN: Thru Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: History Colorado Center
Each of us is on a journey toward making a difference. Explore your superpower and those of Coloradans past, present and future. Find out how they made an impact on our state, whether by fighting school segregation or being a world-class athlete. See how your experience compares to the challenges and opportunities faced by generations of Coloradans before you. Through one-of-a-kind multimedia experiences, you can tell the world what’s important to you, and share it on the big screen for all to see.

After the Asteroid: Earth's Comeback Story

WHEN: Thru Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: Denver Museum of Nature & Science
A trove of remarkably preserved fossils found at Corral Bluffs near Colorado Springs brings into sharp focus how Earth recovered after the devastating asteroid impact 66 million years ago that wiped out the dinosaurs. This discovery is a watershed scientific moment, and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science's bilingual exhibit brings it to life.

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: Multiple venues in Boulder and 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.

Taiko Chandler: Thoughtful Intuition

WHEN: Thru Jan. 7, 2024
WHERE: Littleton Museum, Littleton
This solo exhibition of abstract artwork by Denver-based artist Taiko Chandler features prints, sculptures, paintings and cyanotypes that were created during the COVID pandemic period, as well as a brand new site-specific installation.

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.

19th Century Patchwork Divas

WHEN: Thru Jan. 13, 2024
WHERE: Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, Golden
This group of talented quilters celebrates more than 25 years of quilting. It all began in 1997 when Betsy Chutchian and Carol Staehle started a small block exchange group with friends who either worked or taught classes at a local quilt shop. Their first exchange was in 1998, and later, they became the 19th Century Patchwork Divas. They began with a small, enthusiastic group of 12 members with one rule: to make their quilt blocks using only 1800s reproduction fabrics. The Divas have done more than 65 exchanges and have made more than 600 quilts from their exchanges, along with developing lifelong friendships. You will marvel at the designs and talent of this remarkable group of quilters.

Mysteries of the Ice Ages

WHEN: Thru Jan. 21, 2024
WHERE: Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS)
Embark on a journey through Earth's icy history and discover the fascinating stories and mysteries of ice and adaptation through hundreds of artifacts and fossils, models and interactive experiences. See authentic tools and artifacts, some never before exhibited, used by Neanderthals, early humans and Arctic peoples. Get ready to discover lands lost long ago under the world’s oceans. Come hang out with animals adapted for cold — some long extinct, others still alive today — from wooly mammoths to American lions and learn about the important role that ice has played in Earth’s history.

Mi Gente: Manifestations of Community in the Southwest

WHEN: Thru Feb. 3, 2024
WHERE: Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Colorado Springs
Community can be defined as a group of people who have shared characteristics or inhabit the same space. Drawing from works in the collection stewarded by the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Mi Gente: Manifestations of Community in the Southwest considers community within a landscape that has been shaped by colonization and migration. Focusing primarily on works by Chicanx/a/o, Hispanic, and Mexican-American artists based in New Mexico and Colorado, Mi Gente considers the politics and complexities of community, including those who are perceived as outsiders.

Personal Geographies: Trent Davis Bailey ǀ Brian Adams

WHEN: Thru Feb. 11, 2024
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
This exhibition presents a selection of images by two artists who seek to understand themselves and the places they treasure through photography. Colorado photographer Trent Davis Bailey reflects on his personal history and the relationship between images and memory. Personal Geographies presents work from his series The North Fork, which draws inspiration from childhood memories, small-scale family farms and the landscape of western Colorado. Anchorage-based Iñupiaq photographer Brian Adams has traveled across Alaska and beyond to make pictures that celebrate the Arctic landscape and sensitively share the stories, cultures and perspectives of Inuit people and communities.

The Tropical Paintings of Manabu Saito

WHEN: Thru Feb. 11, 2024
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens
Experience Manabu Saito’s passion for botanical art in this exhibition of watercolor paintings of tropical flora. For more than 60 years, Saito painted flowers and plants from his native Japan and from travels throughout the United States, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Mostly created at the Wilson Botanical Garden in Costa Rica, the paintings in this exhibit highlight Saito’s love for the striking beauty of tropical plants.

Unreal Garden

WHEN: Thru Feb. 24, 2024
WHERE: Verse Denver- Southwest Plaza Mall, Littleton
Unreal Garden is a fully immersive holographic experience divided into multiple acts. Visitors explore surreal landscapes, interact with a variety of animals, and complete puzzles and challenges. The interactive elements and unique behaviors of the mythical animals make it unlike any other immersive experience. It's an unforgettable journey that challenges the mind and stimulates the senses. Be the first to tell your friends about the future of storytelling with cutting-edge holographic headsets also used by NASA!

The Skeletal World of José Guadalupe Posada

WHEN: Thru May 12, 2024
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
This exhibition presents the work of the iconic 19th-century Mexican artist and lithographer whose illustrations of skeletal figures known as calaveras and catrinas have become an essential part of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations. Featuring a select set of Posada’s prints, including many of his most famous calaveras, Skeletal World also includes art that showcases his enduring legacy.

Islands Beyond Blue

WHEN: Thru May 14, 2024
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
This presentation showcases the work of Niki Hastings-McFall, a celebrated contemporary artist of Sāmoan and Pākehā descent who has been credited with shepherding contemporary Pacific art onto an international stage. Known for her large-scale and immersive "lei bombing" installations, she used hundreds of synthetic lei to create the installation. Her work is presented in dialogue with approximately 25 treasures from the DAM's collection that illustrate regional historic arts alongside new innovations. This inaugural exhibition aims to dispel romantic notions of the Pacific Islands as a tourist’s paradise through a nuanced exploration of the area’s vibrant cultural landscape.

Good Vibrations

WHEN: Thru June 14, 2024
WHERE: Museum of Outdoor Arts, Greenwood Village
Nine emerging artist interns came together over the summer through MOA's annual Design and Build Summer Internship Program to collaboratively create several unique, site-specific installations for Marjorie Park.

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.

Through Flesh to Infinity

WHEN: Nov. 2, 2023–Jan. 6, 2024
WHERE: Union Hall
This exhibition conveys the nuances of opposing ideas coexisting within a single being, embodying figurative and non-figurative expressions, akin to the intertwined nature of bodily functions and spiritual expansion. At this moment, when humanity grapples with its own contradictions and complexities, this combination becomes essential. In this symbiotic relationship between the work of A Grix and Vinni Alfonso, the depths of the human predicament become illuminated, offering viewers a transcendent journey through the realms of flesh and infinity.

Tanya Marcuse: Laws of Nature

WHEN: Nov. 19, 2023–March 31, 2024
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens
Tanya Marcuse’s large-scale photographs evoke awe and wonder for the natural world. Interspersing flowers, fruits, plants and animals at different stages of life, her artworks resemble incredibly detailed still lifes up close, while from afar, they appear like abstract paintings. In an intensive process that often lasts months, Marcuse collects flora and fauna from her surrounding environment and composes and photographs them in intricate tableaux. Marcuse’s works hover between beauty and destruction, landscape and still life, and fact and fiction, inviting viewers to reflect on the laws of nature.

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