Mother's Day in Denver

Flowers and Gifts

Kick off the day with a fragrant bouquet of freshly cut, elegantly arranged flowers. Colorado's largest flower business, Lehrer's Flowers, can help you find the perfect combination for your mom. Order from Bouquets in Lower Downtown—they were named one of America's top 10 florists by Bon Appetit Magazine. Or check out Fern and Bloom in the Historic Tennyson Arts district.

If mom loves vino, get her a bottle of red, white or rose from one of Denver's urban wineries, like Infinite Monkey Theorem, Carboy Winery, E&J Gallo Winery, Deep Roots Winery, Balistreri Vineyards or Bigsby's Folly. 

And of course you can never go wrong with chocolate! Get her a sweet treat from Enstrom's Candies, Temper Chocolates and Confections, Kilwins Chocolates & Ice Cream or The Chocolate Therapist. Explore more of Denver's best chocolate shops. 

Spa Treatments

Oakwell Beer Spa

Give your mom the gift of relaxation with a spa treatment experience at this unique wellness spot that combines a day spa with a craft beer bar. She'll receive complimentary drinks, gourmet chocolates, a private spa suite and a full-body massage. 

Mother's Day Drinks & Dining

In Bloom Mother’s Day Tea

WHEN: May 9, 2024
WHERE: Center for Colorado Women's History
Celebrate motherhood with your loved ones and a delicious cup of tea at the Center for Colorado Women’s History. The In Bloom Mother’s Day Tea will feature Lady Evans black tea and a variety of savory and sweet snacks provided by local and woman-led business Miss Peabody’s Southern Tea Cakes. The event will include a docent-led museum tour in which visitors will learn about the three generations of mothers who lived in the historic house on-site, followed by an hour-long tea seating. After their tea seating, visitors are invited to leisure in the Center’s pollinator and Three Sisters gardens.

Mother's Day Buffet Brunch at Denver Art Museum

WHEN: May 12, 2024
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
Bring the whole family and enjoy scrumptious options like eggs benedict, prime rib, smoked salmon, kid-friendly bites and much more. Call 720-913-2761 to make a reservation.

Mother’s Day Brunch at FIRE Restaurant

WHEN: May 12, 2024
WHERE: FIRE at the ART hotel
Enjoy a spread of culinary delights on Mother’s Day from Chef Ashley Robertson! She'll be dishing out seafood selections, carving stations and an omelet station. Enjoy sweet brunch favorites for mom like mini cakes, chocolates and hot offerings like maple pecan-wood smoked bacon and more. Yes, you can add on bottomless mimosas for mom for an additional charge! Make a reservation to secure a spot for mom and the whole family; it's $80 per adult and $30 for kids ages 5 to 12.

Mother's Day Brunch at Range Restaurant

WHEN: May 12, 2024
WHERE: Range Restaurant
Give Mom the gift of brunch at Range Restaurant this Mother's Day. Raise a mimosa to the special woman in your life. Make your reservation on the website.

Mother's Day Brunch at Guard and Grace

WHEN: May 12, 2024
WHERE: Guard & Grace
To celebrate Mother’s Day this year, the acclaimed Guard and Grace steakhouse is offering an exclusive menu featuring appetizers (‘Done Deal’ Salmon Rillettes, Warm Monkey Bread, Burrata), a raw bar, brunch items (Fancy French Toast; a Four Egg Seafood Omelet; and a Duck Scramble), and mains (Guard and Grace’s award-winning Filet Flight; Alaskan Black Cod; and the Creekstone Farms Burger), all with the distinctive Troy Guard spin.

Mother's Day Brunch

WHEN: May 12, 2024
WHERE: Corinne Restaurant
Treat Mom to brunch at Corinne! Enjoy decadent specials such as Lobster Benedict or an Acai Brunch Bowl served alongside Corinne's usual Sunday Brunch menu. Make your reservation on OpenTable and make this Mother's Day one to remember!

Sofar Sounds || Mother's Day Brunch, the Sofar Way!

WHEN: May 12, 2024
WHERE: Sofar Sounds
What better way to celebrate Mom than with a special surprise that only Sofar can deliver? Your ticket includes a scrumptious brunch buffet and performances by three unique artists. Cocktails will be available for purchase.

Mother's Day Brunch Bash

WHEN: May 12, 2024
WHERE: Delta by Marriott Denver Thornton, Northglenn
Treat the mothers in your life to an unforgettable Mother's Day brunch extravaganza! Marriott has curated a delectable spread featuring premium carving stations like prime rib and honey-glazed ham, alongside a decadent chocolate fountain and an array of the many brunch favorites.

Mother's Day Afternoon Tea Class

WHEN: May 12, 2024
WHERE: Plot Twist Bakery, Littleton
Spend this special day with Mom preparing a beautiful and memorable afternoon tea service. Together, you’ll create classic and delicious tea-time treats, including Blueberry White Chocolate Scones; Caprese Tea Sandwiches; Ham, Brie, Apple & Dijon Tea Sandwiches; and Chocolate Truffles. After preparing your courses, you’ll sit down and enjoy the fruits of your labor, served with complimentary tea and coffee as well as chef-prepared lemon curd and strawberry bars.

Festivals & Events

Brazilian Chocolate, Cupcakes & More! Sweet Pop Up

WHEN: May 4, 2024
WHERE: Curate: A Local Mercantile, Centennial
Come by on Saturday, May 4 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to support Happiness & Sweets and their delicious brigaderios, cupcakes and more. Brigaderios are a delicious, bite-size chocolate confectionary! They aren't too sweet, and they are very popular at holidays and parties in Brazil! While you're there, shop Curate's wonderful local vendors, including clothing, jewelry, art, Colorado food items, live plants, home décor, gift items and more!

Mother of a Market with Herbal Riot 

WHEN: May 4–5, 2024
WHERE: Ratio Beerworks
Shop local vendors and makers just in time for Mother's Day, get a flash tattoo from local artists, and enjoy the amazing beer from Ratio! There will also be a Cinco de Mayo-themed pug meetup on May 5!

Firefly Handmade Spring Market

WHEN: May 4–5, 2024
WHERE: 1004 S. Gaylord St.
Start your shopping list now for inspired, one-of-a-kind gifts for Mother’s Day, graduations, teachers or yourself! The market will feature 80+ creatively curated artisans, including more than 20 incredible new artists, makers and designers. Admission is free and the market will also feature live music and food and drinks from local restaurants and bars. 

Celebrate Mom Experience: Cupcakes, Creativity, Custom Scarves!

WHEN: May 4, 11–12, 18 & 26, 2024
WHERE: The Scarf Studio
This Mother’s Day, celebrate the special women in your life in an unforgettable way. The Scarf Studio and Happy Bakeshop, two beloved local businesses, have joined forces to present a special ‘Celebrate Mom’ event throughout the month of May, offering a delightful fusion of cupcakes and creativity. This unique celebration promises to dazzle moms and grandmas alike. The Scarf Studio will host the May series of ‘Celebrate Mom’ workshops, where participants will unleash their creativity on paper templates, which will then be transformed into scarves to proudly wear. And you don’t have to be an artist to join in on the fun!

Spring Pottery Sale

WHEN: May 7–12, 2024
WHERE: Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities, Arvada
Shop for functional, hand-crafted pottery for a one-of-a-kind Mother's Day gift! Works offered in this annual show include dinnerware, jewelry and sculpture. There will be hundreds of pieces available and prices to fit any budget. Presented by the Arvada Center's nationally recognized faculty of ceramic artists and advanced students. Proceeds benefit the participating artists and the Arvada Center Ceramics Studio.

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.

State 38 Floral & Cocktails Workshop

WHEN: May 9, 2024
WHERE: State 38 Distilling, Golden
Join State 38 Distilling and TeeLee Floral and Events for a floral arranging workshop, just in time for Mother's Day! Whether you're looking for the perfect Mother's Day gift or simply want to enjoy a fun night out, this workshop is for you. You'll receive step-by-step instructions on creating your own floral bouquet to take home while sipping on cocktails from State 38. All materials are included along with two drinks and light snacks. Bring your mom and celebrate creativity together this Mother's Day, or gather your girlfriends for a fun and memorable evening. Don't miss this opportunity to bond with loved ones and craft your own stunning bouquet!

Denver Potters Association Spring Show and Sale

WHEN: May 9–11, 2024
WHERE: 3250 East Sixth Ave.
This highly anticipated biannual show will feature top local artists selling their work in a variety of mediums including ceramics, jewelry, glass, wood, personal care products and fiber. The show is the perfect place to find your Mother’s Day gifts and buy local!

Ukefest

WHEN: May 9–11, 2024
WHERE: JCC Denver’s Ranch Camp, Elbert
Hold onto your ukuleles! The annual Denver Ukefest is coming soon.

Colorado Chocolate Festival

WHEN: May 10–11, 2024
WHERE: JCC Denver’s Ranch Camp, Elbert
This sweet festival features chocolate candy, a chocolate fountain, cakes, cookies, truffles, fudge, brownies, toffees, coffees, zero-proof "choctails" and much more, not to mention a Mother’s Day Gift Market with jewelry, clothes, imports and crafts!​

Wash Park Home Tour & Mother's Day Market Street Fair

WHEN: May 11, 2024
WHERE: Washington Park
This long-standing community event showcases a unique mix of four distinctive homes in the East Washington Park neighborhood. Attendees can tour the properties at their leisure and enjoy local artisans, vendors and entertainment at the Mother's Day Market Street Fair, conveniently located in the same area as the tour. This event hosted by Steele Elementary's PTA raises funds to directly support many programs and services that make Wash Park's neighborhood DPS elementary school a special place. Additionally, a percentage of funds raised this year will directly benefit families in need through the LOVVE Project by providing fresh food, hygiene products and cleaning supplies to our neighbors in Virginia Village in partnership with Steele's sister school, Ellis Elementary.

Mother’s Day Botanical Bazaar

WHEN: May 11, 2024
WHERE: Room for Milly
Every year, Room for Milly transforms their amazing cocktail space into a jungle of greenery and features a special menu for the occasion, along with local artists and vendors selling unique wares. Get your mom a gift OR bring her along to shop and have a delicious cocktail!

Spring Market at The Source

WHEN: May 11, 2024
WHERE: The Source Hotel
Join The Source on Mother’s Day weekend for a springtime festival of art, apparel and accessories and self-care, along with tasty bites and live music. Free and open to all, the expanded market will be held both inside The Source Market Halls and outside in the parking lot. Immerse yourself in the spirit of spring and support Denver’s talented artisans and entrepreneurs. Participating vendors include Baby Jess Art, Bjorn’s Honey, KB Candies, Pazful Designs, Oddities by Cera, Encore Vintage and Healing Vibes Crystals. Stay to shop and dine at the amazing Source Hotel & Market Hall partners, including Safta, Temaki Den, VelArt Denver, Switchwood and Konbini.

Spring Horseshoe Market

WHEN: May 11, 2024
WHERE: 50th & Lowell in Northwest Denver at Regis Campus
The day before Mother's Day, this market is the perfect way to celebrate all the moms in your life with more than 120 local makers, vendors, vintage collectors, culinary artists, food trucks, mobile boutiques, live music and drinks and cocktails! Grab your friends and make a day of fun outdoor shopping in beautiful northwest Denver. Buy mom a gift, buy yourself gifts and shop locally and sustainably from Colorado small business creatives. The market is dog-friendly, family-friendly and free! 

Hangin' N Slangin' Markets

WHEN: May 11, 2024
WHERE: EDENS
Hangin' N Slangin' vintage thrift markets will be in RiNo, in the Lot on Larimer, on the second Saturday (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and last Sunday (12 p.m. to 7 p.m) of every month from March to November right next to the Denver Central Market! Events are always free to attend, and there's always a great group of vendors, food and music.

Colorado Artisan Markets

WHEN: May 11, 2024
WHERE: The Shops at Northfield
The Shops at Northfield will celebrate Colorado’s spirit of community, creativity and craftsmanship with a series of Artisan Markets held on the second Saturday of every month from May to October. Kicking off over Mother’s Day weekend, each market will feature 50–70 local vendors offering a wide variety of treasures, including handmade jewelry, Colorado photography, soaps, clothing, abstract art, artisanal food products and more. Free and open to all, attendees can dine at food trucks and enjoy live local music while also shopping and dining at the Northfield retailers and restaurants. Dogs are welcome!

Hand-Painted Pots for Mom

WHEN: May 11, 2024
WHERE: The Sprucery Garden Center, Franktown
Create beautiful memories with Mom as you make hand-painted pots with your choice of annual flower planted in them for just $10.00. Bring your little ones to meet and greet their favorite princesses and superheroes, and don’t miss out on the incredible face painting that will add a touch of magic to the day!

Mom’s Day Out

WHEN: May 11, 2024
WHERE: Outlets at Castle Rock, Castle Rock
It can be hard for Mom to find a day for herself, so gift her one she won’t forget in honor of Mother’s Day! This annual day of shopping and pampering lets mothers take a break from their busy lives and enjoy an unforgettable experience with refreshing mimosas, delicious pastries, freebies, giveaways and exclusive discounts to select stores. Celebrate the amazing women in your life with a fun-filled afternoon where they can be pampered, celebrated and have a shopping spree with their girlfriends! A portion of the proceeds will go toward Help and Hope Center of Castle Rock.

Sloan's Lake Spring Bazaar

WHEN: May 11–12, 2024
WHERE: 1611 Raleigh Street
Spring is in the air and Denver BAZAAR is excited to return to Sloan's Lake for Spring BAZAAR! This outdoor market will feature 80+ carefully curated vendors (including home goods, jewelry, sweet treats, clothing and self-care products), a live DJ, festive springtime sips and local craft beer, food trucks and street food and more! Admission is free for all ages, or upgrade your shop-and-sip experience with bottomless mimosas or a drink token package!

Indian Festival in Denver

WHEN: May 12, 2024
WHERE: Civic Center Park
Experience a glimpse of Indian culture, performing arts and scrumptious food. Bring your family and friends to immerse in the vibrant culture of India for the first time hosted in Downtown Denver!

Second Sundays at Centennial Promenade with Artisan Markets

WHEN: May 12, 2024
WHERE: Centennial Promenade, Centennial
Welcome to Second Sundays at Centennial Promenade! A handmade-only event consisting of 70+ artisans, crafters and food experts from around Colorado. This art festival occurs every Second Sunday of the month, May through October. Bring the whole family to find incredible gifts, clothing and food for everyone to enjoy! Parking is always free, and Artisan Markets' events are pup- and kid-friendly.

Mom’s Free Day At Wings Over the Rockies

WHEN: May 12, 2024
WHERE: Air & Space Museum (Denver) & Exploration of Flight (Centennial Airport)
Celebrate with Mom at Wings Over the Rockies! All moms get in free at both Wings locations on Mother's Day. Family members are welcome to pre-purchase their tickets online. Mom's free admission ticket will be available at check-in.

Music, Film & Performing Arts

'A Year With Frog and Toad'

WHEN: Thru May 17, 2024
WHERE: Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities, Arvada
Based on the award-winning books by Arnold Lobel, "A Year With Frog and Toad" follows the adventures of two best friends—the cheerful Frog and the grumpy Toad—as they hop, sing and dance their way through a year of adventure. Journey through the four seasons alongside Frog and Toad, learning about friendship, caring and what makes each of us special. A theatre production for young audiences, this whimsical musical draws connection to literacy, social-emotional learning, and life sciences and is recommended for grades K through 5.

'Cosmic Journey'

WHEN: Thru May 18, 2024
WHERE: Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Volcanoes tower 80,000 feet above a barren surface. Monstrous hurricanes rage for 400 years. And multicolored rings sit suspended in air. In "Cosmic Journey: A Solar System Adventure," you'll travel through our solar system faster than the speed of light, taking in the wonders of the planets and their moons.

'Destination Solar System'

WHEN: Thru May 18, 2024
WHERE: Denver Museum of Nature & Science
This out-of-this-world tour, departing from Gates Planetarium, takes place on board the Space Express. Travel hundreds of millions of miles in just seconds with Jesse, an enthusiastic, knowledgeable—but inexperienced—tour guide, and Max, a highly advanced, fully integrated onboard computer. Tours of the hottest hot spots and the coldest, stormiest, and most spectacular sights in the solar system await curious space explorers of all ages.

'Dynamic Earth'

WHEN: Thru May 18, 2024
WHERE: Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Narrated by Liam Neeson, "Dynamic Earth" explores the inner workings of Earth's climate system. With visualizations based on satellite monitoring data and advanced supercomputer simulations, this cutting-edge production follows a trail of energy that flows from the sun into the interlocking systems that shape our climate: the atmosphere, oceans, and biosphere. Audiences will ride along on swirling ocean and wind currents, dive into the heart of a monster hurricane, come face-to-face with sharks and gigantic whales, and fly into roiling volcanoes.

'One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure'

WHEN: Thru May 18, 2024
WHERE: Denver Museum of Nature & Science
This brilliant spectacle of light and color follows Sesame Street's Big Bird and Elmo as they explore the night sky with Hu Hu Zhu, a new friend from China. Together, they take an imaginary trip from Sesame Street to the moon, where they discover how different it is from Earth. This cross-cultural adventure opens children's eyes to the sky, helping them see how people all over the world are connected.

'Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon”'

WHEN: Thru May 18, 2024
WHERE: Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd's legendary album, "The Dark Side Of The Moon," in a mind-bending planetarium experience like no other. Step into a mesmerizing world of music and visuals as you journey through the solar system and beyond. With state-of-the-art technology, NSC Creative and Pink Floyd's collaborator Aubrey Powell have crafted a visually stunning production that brings each song to life, blending futuristic aesthetics with nods to the band's iconic imagery. 

'Inherit the Wind'

WHEN: Thru May 19, 2024
WHERE: Dairy Arts Center, Boulder
A science teacher in a small Southern town defies the law when he teaches the theory of evolution to his students. His case prompts a renowned fundamentalist politician/lawyer named Matthew Harrison Brady to offer his services as the prosecuting attorney. To combat this, Brady’s idealistic rival, Henry Drummond, arrives in town to defend the teacher and inadvertently ignites a media frenzy. "Inherit the Wind" is a fictionalized account of the 1925 Scopes “Monkey” Trial, which resulted in John T. Scopes‘ conviction for teaching Charles Darwin's theory of evolution to a high school science class, contrary to a Tennessee state law.

'Rent'

WHEN: Thru May 26, 2024
WHERE: Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, Colorado Springs
Based loosely on Puccini’s "La Boheme," Jonathan Larson’s "Rent" follows a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York’s Lower East Side under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. The physical and emotional complications of the disease pervade the lives of Roger, Mimi, Tom and Angel. Maureen deals with her chronic infidelity through performance art; her partner, Joanne, wonders if their relationship is worth the trouble. Benny has sold out his Bohemian ideals in exchange for a hefty income and is on the outs with his former friends. Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, feels like an outsider to life in general. How these young bohemians negotiate their dreams, loves and conflicts provides the narrative thread to this groundbreaking musical. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and Pulitzer Prize for Drama. 

'Where Did We Sit on the Bus?'

WHEN: Thru June 2, 2024
WHERE: Singleton Theatre
What follows is a theatrical mixtape of Bee’s life. It’s a one-person show that immerses the audience in elaborate, layered soundscapes by fusing Latin rhythms, hip-hop, and spoken word poetry. And it’s all made, in-person, in real time, through the magic of live music and storytelling. "Where Did We Sit on the Bus?" captures both the innocence of youth and the pressures that come with being the child of immigrants and asks, “What is my place? Where do I fit in?”

'Full Monty'

WHEN: Thru June 2, 2024
WHERE: Miners Alley Playhouse, Golden
This pop-rock musical send-up of gender expectations and stereotypes takes it all off! The 10-time Tony Award nominee musical mixes razor-sharp humor with toe-tapping pizzazz, for a must-see upbeat comedy. While spying on their wives at a girls' night out, a group of unemployed steelworkers from Buffalo sees how much they enjoy watching male strippers. The jealous guys come up with a bold, unclothed idea for making some quick cash. As they conquer their fears, self-consciousness, and prejudices, the men come to discover that they're stronger together. With their new courage and convictions, can these lovable misfits really pull it off? Packed with honest affection, engaging melodies, and the most highly anticipated closing number ever!

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

'Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity'

WHEN: Thru Dec. 31, 2024
WHERE: Denver Museum of Nature & Science
There's a place from which nothing escapes, not even light, where time and space literally come to end. It's at this point, inside this fantastic riddle, that black holes exert their sway over the cosmos ... and our imaginations. In this Museum-produced show, zip through other-worldly wormholes, experience the creation of the Milky Way Galaxy and witness the violent death of a star and birth of a black hole. Mathematical equations, cutting-edge science, and Einstein's theories fill in holes along the way, providing the most complete picture yet of this mysterious phenomenon. Can you feel the pull?

'Blue Whales: Return of the Giants 3D'

WHEN: Thru March 3, 2025
WHERE: Infinity Theater
Take part in a breathtaking journey with “Blue Whales: Return of the Giants 3D.” In this giant screen film narrated by English actor Andy Serkis, you will explore the world of the magnificent blue whale, a species rebounding from the brink of extinction. Following two scientific expeditions—one to find a missing population of blue whales off the exotic Seychelles Islands, the other to chronicle whale families in Mexico’s stunning Gulf of California—this inspirational story transforms our understanding of the largest animal ever to have lived.

'Cities of the Future'

WHEN: Thru March 3, 2025
WHERE: Infinity Theater
“Cities of the Future” invites you to step into an exciting new world of innovation and exploration to address the challenges of a rapidly changing planet. Discover the thrilling technological breakthroughs—electric autonomous vehicles and aerial highways, solar energy beamed down from space to power entire cities and smart buildings and greener infrastructure to keep us cool—that engineers are working on right now and meet a team of middle school students competing in the Future City Competition. Narrated by actor John Krasinski, this film will energize kids and adults of all ages to think about engineering as a meaningful way to help others and leave a positive mark on the world.

'The Cher Show'

WHEN: May 3–5, 2024
WHERE: Buell Theatre in the Denver Performing Arts Complex
For six straight decades, only ONE unstoppable force has flat-out dominated popular culture, breaking down barriers, pushing boundaries and letting nothing and no one stand in her way. "The Cher Show" is the Tony Award®-winning musical of her story, and it’s packed with so much Cher that it takes three women to play her: the kid starting out, the glam pop star, and the icon.

'What the Constitution Means to Me'

WHEN: May 3–19, 2024
WHERE: Dairy Arts Center, Boulder
During its 2019 run on Broadway, "What The Constitution Means to Me" received a tidal wave of critical praise, two Tony Award nominations and ultimately became a Pulitzer finalist. In this smart and timely comedy, Heidi Schreck resurrects her 15-year-old self who traveled the country competing in American Legion speech competitions to save money for college. Unearthing her perspective on the Constitution then and now, she delves into four generations of women in her family and how the founding document shaped their lives. 

'The Lehman Trilogy'

WHEN: May 3–June 2, 2024
WHERE: The Dorota & Kevin Kilstrom Theatre
In 1847, the Lehman brothers open a modest clothing shop in Alabama. But they have big dreams. They evolve as new opportunities arise. They capitalize on railroads, oil booms, personal computers, and, eventually, capital itself. They become so intertwined with the U.S. government and in the daily lives of millions of stakeholders that some begin to believe that Lehman Brothers, the institution, is too big to fail. Hailed as “a genuinely epic production” by The New York Times.

'MAD LIBrarians'

WHEN: May 4, 11 and 18, 2024
WHERE: Dairy Arts Center, Boulder
Whenever this team of buttoned-up librarians hears about a fantastic new book, they go wild. In each episode, buttons go flying as the MAD LIBrarians craft a new book title based on your suggestions and then—right before your very eyes—they act, sing, and shout that book out full-blast. Come visit the library that can’t ever keep quiet…no matter how hard its terribly serious and wonderfully silly librarians may try.

'The Emperor's New Clothes'

WHEN: May 4–June 1, 2024
WHERE: Miners Alley Playhouse, Golden
The Emperor loves his clothes! In fact, he cares more about his clothes than his people. Along come a pair of swindlers ready to take advantage of the gullible Emperor and his two town officials, and the story begins. Bring the kiddos and help the Emperor learn appearances are not everything and that honesty is the best policy.

Ukefest

WHEN: May 9–11, 2024
WHERE: JCC Denver’s Ranch Camp, Elbert
Hold onto your ukuleles! The annual Denver Ukefest is coming soon.

'Bluey's Big Play'

WHEN: May 11–12, 2024
WHERE: Buell Theatre in the Denver Performing Arts Complex
When Dad feels like a little bit of Sunday afternoon time out, Bluey and Bingo have other plans! Join them as they pull out all of the games and cleverness at their disposal to get Dad off that bean bag. "Bluey’s Big Play" is a brand-new theatrical adaptation of the Emmy® award-winning children’s television series, with an original story by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, and new music by Bluey composer, Joff Bush. Join the Heelers in their first live theatre show made just for you, featuring brilliantly created puppets brought to real life.

Doug Benson

WHEN: May 12, 2024
WHERE: Comedy Works Downtown in Larimer Square
Comedian Doug Benson is known for his popular podcasts ("Doug Loves Movies" and "Getting Doug With High"), his films ("Super High Me," "The Greatest Movie Ever Rolled," "Chronic-Con: Episode 420"), appearances on TV shows like "@midnight," "The Trailer Park Boys" and "You're The Worst," and for presiding over "The High Court" as Judge Doug on Comedy Central. Tired of the same old Mother's Day blah? This year, show Mom how much you love her with the incomparable Doug Benson and his traditional Denver Comedy Works Mother's Day show! Doug is bringing his funniest friends to make sure Mom's special day is filled with laughter and revelry.

Geoff Tice

WHEN: May 12, 2024
WHERE: Comedy Works South
Geoff Tice is a Denver-based comedian, writer, podcaster, actor and artist. He is a regular at the world-famous Comedy Works and has toured his upbeat, energetic style of stand-up comedy across the country. In addition to performing at festivals such as SF Sketchfest, High Plains Comedy Festival, Red Clay and Limestone, Geoff hosted Comedy Central’s South Park 25th Anniversary Tailgate two-day event at Red Rocks. Geoff has also appeared on Adult Swim and can be found in nationwide commercial campaigns. He is the co-host of the Grid Penalty podcast, a weekly Formula 1 podcast.

Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre Concerts

No summer in Denver is complete without at least one—or two, or five—trips to the awe-inspiring Red Rocks Amphitheatre, just 15 miles from downtown Denver. More than 70 million years in the making, the 9,450-seat venue is flanked by enormous 300-foot red sandstone rock formations and always boasts a star-studded musical schedule.

• May 9, 2024: Turnpike Troubadours with The Red Clay Strays and American Aquarium
• May 10, 2024: Turnpike Troubadours with Wyatt Flores and Sierra Hull
• May 11, 2024: Black Coffee with LP Giobbi, Themba and DJ Holographic
• May 12, 2024: Sleep Token with Empire State Bastard

Art & Museum Exhibitions

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. 

Meandered

WHEN: Thru May 26, 2024
WHERE: MCA DENVER — Museum of Contemporary Art Denver
Meandered features recent painting, drawing, sculpture and video works by Denver-based artist Steven J. Yazzie, whose work often reflects on his shifting perception of and relationship with the landscape. He draws inspiration from revisiting sites in the northern region of Arizona and New Mexico’s Navajo reservation (where Yazzie grew up) and locations in Colorado. Yazzie likens his recent practice to meandering fieldwork, where he begins his artistic research in the natural environment, allowing days-long trips into rural areas to intuitively inform how his multimedia works will unfold and take shape. Meandered is both a metaphor for Yazzie’s artistic process and a framework for exploring organic patterns or phenomena in nature.

The Lost Paradise

WHEN: Thru May 26, 2024
WHERE: MCA DENVER — Museum of Contemporary Art Denver
Marking the South Korean artist’s first museum solo exhibition, Ken Gun Min’s The Lost Paradise examines a major throughline in his work: landscapes and the natural world. Comprising recent, expansive paintings, the exhibition foregrounds Min’s use of real and imagined landscapes as the primary subject or idyllic setting through which to explore issues around race, gender, sexuality and the immigrant experience. These lushly rendered scenes, often embellished with embroidery and beading, depict the natural world as an enigmatic place ripe with beauty and the sublime, but also with turmoil, melancholy, and contradiction.

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.

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.

Espiritu Hermosx/Beautiful Spirit

WHEN: Thru 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. 

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. 

Sandra Vásquez de la Horra: The Awake Volcanoes

WHEN: Thru July 21, 2024
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
Vásquez de la Horra was born in 1967 in Viña Del Mar, Chile, growing up during Augusto Pinochet’s 17-year military regime and leaving her home nation to study in Germany in the 1990s. Her drawings often include symbols from different cultures, and her female figures perform contrasting roles in narratives that deal with freedom, spirituality and nature. Her works frequently show female bodies melding with surrealistic landscapes, and her practice is known for its poetic and artistic experimentation that weaves the absurd with the affirmation of affection and pleasure. The Awake Volcanoes highlights paintings, drawings and prints by Vásquez de la Horra, exploring notions of fantasy, desire, fear and pleasure to explore the relationship between the human body and the world around it.

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.

Winter Warriors: The 10th Mountain Division in World War II

WHEN: Thru Nov. 12, 2024
WHERE: History Colorado Center
Using photos, video and first-hand personal accounts from the troops themselves, Winter Warriors: The 10th Mountain Division in World War II explores the history of the U.S. Army's first winter warfare division from its training at Camp Hale in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains through their crucial breakthrough against the Nazi German Army in the mountains of Italy. This exhibition introduces a new generation of Coloradans to this incredible story of ingenuity, perseverance, heroism and sacrifice in a deeply personal way through hundreds of photos, accounts, videos and objects from the soldiers themselves.

Orcas: Our Shared Future

WHEN: Thru Nov. 15, 2024
WHERE: Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Trace the evolution of our beliefs about orcas, from fear to admiration and awe, as we discover their stunning intelligence and complex social structures. Meet a life-sized replica of an orca family as you listen to their soothing harmonies in an immersive underwater environment. Deepen your appreciation for the art of the Indigenous peoples of North America’s Northwest Coast. Discover stories that reveal a profound respect for orcas, highlighting the deep connection between humans and these powerful beings. Examine the global movement to protect our ocean ecosystems, reflect on the consequences of captivity and celebrate the future we share with the fascinating and awe-inspiring orca.

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.

Rumors of Bloomers

WHEN: Thru March 30, 2025
WHERE: Center for Colorado Women's History
Rumors of Bloomers explores women’s experiences as expressed through undergarments. Using rarely displayed objects – such as corsets, bloomers, swimming costumes, petticoats and Mother Hubbard gowns – the exhibition highlights the ways “unmentionables” have given form and shape to bodies, while also expressing identity, autonomy, agency, and protest.

Fitness & Professional Sports

BYB 26 Mile High Brawl

WHEN: May 10, 2024
WHERE: Stockyards Event Center
BYB Bareknuckle returns to Denver's Stockyards Event Center! Two of BYB's biggest stars clash in the Trigon when BYB Super Middleweight champion LT "Smash" Nelson takes on "The Samurai," hard-hitting Tommy Turner.

Colorado Rockies vs. Texas Rangers

WHEN: May 10–12, 2024
WHERE: Coors Field - Home of the Colorado Rockies
Grab Mom and come cheer on the Rockies as they take on the Texas Rangers in a three-game home series.

Colorado Rapids vs. San Jose Earthquakes

WHEN: May 11, 2024
WHERE: Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City
Is Mom a soccer fan? Then head to Dick's Sporting Goods Park this Mother's Day weekend to watch the Colorado Rapids take on the San Jose Earthquakes.

Musical Yogis: A Yoga Class for the Entire Family

WHEN: May 11, 2024
WHERE: Washington Park Early Learning Center
Immerse yourself in a delightful blend of yoga poses and enchanting melodies, where movement is synchronized with the rhythm of live orchestral music. Designed for ages 3 and up, this energizing yoga session is suitable for the whole family and features live music to enhance relaxation and elevate your practice and a child-friendly introduction to social/emotional concepts such as self-management, self-awareness, emotional articulation and more. Bring your own mats, towel, water bottle and any yoga essentials needed.

Yoga at Red Rocks (with optional hike after)

WHEN: May 12.  2024
WHERE: Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre
This flowing vinyasa-style class takes place at the iconic Red Rocks park. Meet in the amphitheater for class and then join for the optional group hike after. This class is an all-levels, slower-flow style of yoga, and the optional hike is 1.5 miles long with an elevation gain of approximately 360’ and is rated moderate. The group takes breaks when needed and keeps a pace that is comfortable for everyone. All classes are weather dependent, so sign up on the waitlist, and when the weather gives us the clear, you'll be booked in!

Outdoor Activities

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.

Denver's 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.

Denver 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.