Apollopalooza, Willie Wonka and Mozart in Moonlight!

July 11, 2019

This month marks one of the most exciting anniversaries any of us have ever witnessed: it was fifty years ago this week that Apollo 11 blasted off, landing on the moon four days later. It was the first time a person ever set foot on the moon, when astronaut Neil Armstrong uttered those famous words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” 

Starting on Saturday, Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum will celebrate this momentous occasion with Apollopalooza, a week-long, once-in-a-lifetime collection of lectures, films, and special guest appearances by NASA experts and insiders, including Apollo 11 Flight Director, Gene Kranz, and Apollo 17 astronaut and moonwalker, Senator Harrison Schmitt. Get a daily or weekly pass so you don’t miss a single event!

TODAY/TONIGHT, July 11

DA VINCI SEMINAR
Brush up on all things Leonardo before visiting the da Vinci exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, running through August 25th! This FREE and informative presentation about the original Renaissance man will have your head spinning! As an inventor, artist, scientist, engineer, architect, philosopher and more, Leonardo da Vinci was truly a creative genius. 

Sam Gary Branch Library, 2961 Roslyn St., Denver
1:00-2:00 p.m.
Registration: FREE

U2 TRIBUTE BAND AT SOUTHLANDS
If you are a true U2 fan, you know it’s not possible to pick just one (or two or ten) favorite songs—they’re all amazing! Under A Blood Red Sky is a talented cover band that’s also amazing, bringing to life Bono, the Edge, Larry, and Adam, all in a heartfelt tribute concert that is sure to include many of your favorite hits from the best band on earth!

Southlands, 6155 S. Main St., Aurora
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE

FREE CONCERT WITH TUNISIA
Tunisia gives the high-energy concert of the summer at Stapleton’s MoJaBlu FREE summer concert series! This versatile band plays hits from artists including Earth Wind and Fire, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, The Roots, Katy Perry, Usher, Led Zeppelin and more, covering everything from current hits to classic rock, R&B to disco, Motown to hip-hop, and standard jazz to swing!

Conservatory Green, 49th Pl. and Valentia St., Aurora
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Tickets: FREE

FOLK CONCERT AT THE PEOPLE’S
For a little bit of country right here in the city, come out for an evening of folk music at the People’s Building! Stillhouse Junkies is a band from Durango that plays an energetic mixture of original folk, roots, blues, funk, swing, and bluegrass music.

Their wide-ranging repertoire pays tribute to the iconic sounds of Gillian Welch, the Allman Brothers, Tim O’Brien, the Wood Brothers, John Hiatt, and countless others while breaking new musical ground with their genre-bending original material.

The People’s Building, 9995 E. Colfax, Aurora
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Tickets: $10

COLORADO SYMPHONY PRESENTS MOZART UNDER MOONLIGHT
Enjoy the music of the most revered composer of all time under the stars, in this very special outdoor concert by the Colorado Symphony! Included in this special one-night program are selections from Mozart’s most popular concerto, operatic, and symphonic repertoire.

Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $20-$50
Phone:  720-898-7200

Thursday-Sunday, July 11-14

GET YOUR GOLDEN TICKET!
Willy Wonka is in town, along with Veruca Salt, Augustus Gloop, Violet Beauregarde, and Mike Teavee—all who have just won a visit inside the wonderful Chocolate Factory. You can bet Charlie and Grandpa Joe will be there, too, and you won’t want to miss seeing them LIVE in this family-favorite musical!

Buell Theatre/DCPA, Speer Blvd. & Arapahoe St., Denver
Thurs./Fri./Sat./Sun., 7:30 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $45-$150
Phone: 800-641-1222

Friday, July 12

FOOD TRUCK RODEO!
Head over to the Aurora Municipal Center over your lunch hour for a variety of taste treats – entrees to desserts. The line up this month includes: WE CHEF KITCHEN – Asian Fusion (menu); AREPAS HOUSE – Venezuelan Arepas (menu); SPICY KITCHEN – Traditional Mexican (menu); NIMBUS KOREAN BBQ (menu); THE VEGGIE WHISPERER – Vegetarian/Vegan Elevated Cuisine (menu); COMFORTS OF HOME – Paninis & Ice Cream (menu); HAPPY CONES – New Zealand Style Ice Cream (menu).

DIVE IN MOVIE AT ELITCH GARDENS
Dive-In Movies are shown in Island Kingdom Water Park every Friday night June 28 – August 2, and this Friday catch a screening of Ralph Breaks the Internet. Video game bad guy Ralph and fellow misfit Vanellope von Schweetz must risk it all by traveling to the World Wide Web in search of a replacement part to save Vanellope’s video game, “Sugar Rush.”  Movies are free with any park admission or Season Pass.

Elitch Gardens, 2000 Elitch Circle, Denver
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: Free with Park Admission of $39

Friday-Saturday, July 12-13

FINAL WEEKEND – CINDERELLA EATS RICE AND BEANS
If you haven’t yet caught this delightful Latina twist on the old story, this is your last chance! Cinderella Eats Rice and Beans is the spicy musical that turns the classic fairy tale inside out!

In this version, Cinderella is a Puerto Rican visitor to the U.S., meeting her stepsister Rosa for the first time. The only problem is Cinderella speaks only Spanish and Rosa speaks only English! 

Aurora Fox Art Theatre, 9900 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora
Fri., 2:00 p.m.; Sat., 10:00 a.m.
Tickets: $7
Phone: 303-739-1970

Saturday-Sunday, July 13-14

TRUCK AND JEEP FEST
If you like off-roading, you’ll have a great time at the nation’s largest off-road show – the Truck and Jeep Fest, featuring $500,000 worth of products – from tonneau covers, wheels and tires, to performance parts, Jeep tops and winches. Plus watch product demos, collect freebies and enter to win awesome giveaways. The show is free and and you can meet other enthusiasts, race an RC truck for yourself and more!

The Denver Mart, 451 E. 58th Ave., Denver
Sat., 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Sun., 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Sponsored by 4WheelParts.com

Saturday-Wednesday, July 13-17

APOLLOPALOOZA BLASTS OFF!
Beginning Saturday and every day this week, Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum has a jam-packed schedule of activities and events all revolving around the 50th anniversary of the lunar launch and moon landing! Get daily or weekly passes and attend all but the special VIP ticketed events at one all-inclusive price.

Daily activities feature keynote speakers including astronauts Joe Engle and Vance Brand; space journalist Leonard David; a panel of veterans of the Apollo program; Spaceport American CEO Dan Hicks, and many more! View the schedule and mark your calendar for must-see events!

Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, 7711 E. Academy Blvd., Denver
Sat. 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Sun. 12:00-4:00 p.m.; Mon./Tues./Wed., 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tickets: Daily Pass: $17.95-$27.95; Weekly Pass: $75-$185
Phone: 303-360-5360

Saturday, July 13

SPECIAL APOLLOPALOOZA KEYNOTE SPEAKER
To kick off the week-long celebration, Apollopalooza welcomes a more contemporary astronaut and moonwalker from Apollo 17, former New Mexico Senator Harrison Schmitt, who will share his insights on the entire Apollo program. 

Senator Schmitt is also a planetary geologist, aerospace and earth science consultant—and one of the last remaining men to have set foot on the moon. This special ticketed event is NOT included in the daily or weekly pass.

Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, 7711 E. Academy Blvd., Denver
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Tickets: $40-$45
Phone: 303-360-5360

Sunday, July 14

APOLLOPALOOZA PRESENTS STEAM FOR ALL!

This all-day, hands-on STEAM workshop is geared towards kids 8 and older, but what adult wouldn’t also love learning about the history of NASA?

There will be all kinds of interactive activities to bring out the inner-scientist in everyone! Laura Roettiger, author of the book Aliana Reaches for the Moon, will also be on hand for a book talk and signing!

Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, 7711 E. Academy Blvd., Denver
12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: $5; Children 16 and under are FREE
Phone: 303-360-5360

JAZZ WITH A SALSA FLAIR
If you are a fan of Salsa Dura (Hard Salsa), which emphasizes percussion and horns over vocals, you will love Conjunto Colores, one of the few bands that specializes in it! This energetic band will have you up and dancing in the park with their spicy take on jazz! Denver’s City Park is a great place to wind down the weekend with their FREE jazz in the park concert series!

City Park Denver, 1600 City Park, Denver
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Cost: FREE

CROONERS JOIN THE SYMPHONY AT RED ROCKS
Summers are made for great Red Rocks concerts—and this has to be one of the best! The Colorado Symphony joins audience favorites Pink Martini and Mary Chapin Carpenter for an encore performance with these stunning vocalists! 

Pink Martini is the contemporary band that sounds old-fashioned—in all the best ways! Influenced by cabaret, jazz, and old movies, you’ll hear nostalgic sounds delivered in a wonderfully modern way. Mary Chapin Carpenter is the multi-Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter who long ago won America’s heart. Don’t miss this amazing night under the stars!

Red Rocks Amphitheater, 18300 W. Alameda Pkwy., Morrison
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $46.75 – $79.50
Phone: 303-623-7876

Tuesday, July 16

APOLLOPALOOZA’S BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS
It’s Launch Day—50 years later—and one of the pivotal members of Apollo 11 will be the guest of honor at a breakfast you can attend! Gene Kranz was THE flight director for Apollo 11 and inside mission control during the launch that set the first men on the moon. Listen as he recreates the day while you enjoy a hearty astronaut breakfast of steak and eggs. This event is NOT included in the weekly or daily Apollopalooza pass.

Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, 7711 E. Academy Blvd., Denver
6:00-8:00 a.m.
Tickets: $30-$35
Phone: 303-360-5360

LAUNCH DAY KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Fifty years ago today the whole world was glued to their television sets to watch the Apollo 11 blast-off! Americans, in particular, held their collective breath as the rocket rose from the fiery ignition pad at Cape Canaveral to disappear into the clouds…and beyond.

Apollopolooza presents a very special guest speaker, Apollo 11 Flight Director Gene Kranz, who will reminisce about his part in this historical event, including his experience putting the first men on the moon. This event requires a ticket in addition to any daily or weekly pass.

Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, 7711 E. Academy Blvd., Denver
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Tickets: $40-$45
Phone: 303-360-5360

Wednesday, July 17

APOLLO 11 FILM SCREENING
This film by Todd Douglas Miller will make you feel like you were there! A cinematic masterpiece crafted from newly-discovered footage, the film takes on the perspective of the astronauts, the team in Mission Control, and the millions of spectators on the ground, who waited with bated breath to see the outcome we know now but which was anything but certain at the time. This event is NOT included in the daily or weekly Apollopalooza passes.

Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, 7711 E. Academy Blvd., Denver
6:00-9:00 p.m.
Tickets: $9.95 – $12.95
Phone: 303-360-5360

Location, Location, Location: Southshore!

There’s no shortage of things to do near the master-planned community of Southshore! You get the tranquility of lakeside living with easy access to your favorite urban activities. Stop by and see for yourself how great Life at the Lake can be! With beautiful model homes from Toll Brothers, Century Communities, and Richmond American Homes, it’s easy to picture yourself in your own new home, priced from the upper $400s to the $700s.