Ghost Tours and Boo at the Zoo!
October 17, 2019
Ghost stories and tours are beginning to haunt familiar surroundings—like the Aurora Fox Theater and the Denver Botanic Gardens. Adults and older children will get a thrill—not a jump scare—from these historical spooky tours. Meanwhile, younger children will be delighted by a special Colorado Symphony performance just for them—or a day of trick-or-treating at the Denver Zoo!
TODAY/TONIGHT, October 17
HALLOWEEN PARTY AT SOUTHLANDS
Attention all Cub Club members: don’t miss the YMCA’s annual Halloween Party to kick off the Halloween season! Dress up in your costume and have your parents bring you to Town Square for a fun afternoon of crafts, activities, and games. The party is FREE but an RSVP is required!
Town Square, Southlands, 6155 S. Main St., Aurora
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
RSVP: FREE
Phone: 303-627-5000
LIBATIONS AT THE ZOO
Who says the zoo is just for kids? It’s fun for adults, too! Grab a bunch of your best pals and head out for an adult evening of drinks and tasty bites around fire pits, surrounded by 3,500 wild animals!
Taps and Tails is Denver Zoo’s open-air beer hall, with your favorite local craft brews, themed cocktails, sustainably-farmed culinary creations, live music, outdoor games, and animal encounters—with zookeeper supervision! Denver nightlife meets global wildlife!
Denver Zoo, 2900 E. 23rd Ave., Denver
6:00 – 10:00 p.m
Tickets: $30-$35
Phone: 720-337-1400
Thursday-Sunday, October 17-20
GHOSTS IN THE GARDENS
This eerie after-dark ghost encounter is perfect for families with older children, as well as adults. Your tour guide will take you on one of four ghost tours, each with haunting stories of the one-hundred-year history of the Denver Botanic Gardens. You’ll pass by and through what used to be called The Boneyard, and you’ll hear actual ghost stories about real overnight security staff ghost encounters. You’ll even get to see the old Waring House Mansion, usually not open to the public.
Denver Botanical Gardens, 1007 York St., Denver
6:00 and 8:30 p.m.
Tickets: $29 – $34
Phone: 720-865-3500
HAUNTED THEATRE GHOST TOUR
An old theatre full of history and lost opportunities is the perfect setting for an immersive ghost tour! Luckily there’s one right in the neighborhood—the Aurora Fox Theater. The Cutting Room Floor is a cross between a theatrical presentation and an atmospheric haunted house, but no jump scares or splatter gore!
Instead, through live dance and theatre, film projections, and escape-room design, you’ll experience a show that’s thrilling but not terrifying. This event is appropriate for ages 10 and up. Content includes occasional foul language, mild sexual innuendo, fake blood, and moderately scary moments.
Aurora Fox Arts Center, 9900 E. Colfax Ave, Aurora
Thurs., 7:00 p.m.; Fri./Sat. 7:00 and 9:30 p.m.; Sun., 4:00 and 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $24-$32
Phone: 303-947-2827
SHAKESPEARE IMPROVISED!
Watch a new Shakespeare drama created before your very eyes! This theatrical company of Bard performers know all things Shakespeare to the extent that they can take a mere suggestion from an audience member and create an improvised Shakespearean masterpiece on the spot!
You can be guaranteed a 100% original show because none of it has been planned out or rehearsed. The authentically-Shakespearean dialogue is being spoken for the very first time as you watch. Who knows where the story will go? Not the actors! They are just along for the ride!
Garner Galleria Theatre, 1101 13th St., Denver
Thurs./Fri./Sat./Sun., 7:30 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $42
Phone: 303-893-4100
Friday, October 18
BLACKLIGHT PAINT PARTY!
Just in time for Halloween, cast a spell and do some magic—on a canvas, that is! This super-fun art party turns the lights off and the blacklights on as you are guided through the creation of your very own one-of-a-kind glowing masterpiece!
Let It Glow is a fun-art (not fine art!) class—no experience necessary! All ages are welcome.
Painting with a Twist, 14132 E. Cedar Ave., Aurora
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Tickets: $40
Phone: 303-343-2826
DOCUMENTARY DOUBLE FEATURE
This special double-feature focuses on the miracles of modern medicine and the dedicated people who bring it to those who need it the most. Saving Face is an award-winning film about a doctor who returns to Pakistan to help those scarred by acid attacks. The second movie is Open Heart, a film about eight gravely-ill Rwandan children who travel to the Salam Center, Africa’s only free-of-charge, state-of-the-art cardiac hospital, to receive life-saving heart surgery.
Dr. Vincent Piturro will be present to lead an educational discussion before the films are screened. there will be a concession stand where you can buy beer, wine, soda, and popcorn.
The Cube, 8371 Northfield Blvd., Denver
7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $5
Friday-Sunday, October 18-20
MUSICAL GIANTS CONCERT
This heavyweight program performed by the Colorado Symphony begins with two cornerstone works by Tchaikovsky. Cellist Cicely Parnas solos in Variations on a Rococo Theme, a nostalgic look back at his eighteenth-century musical influences. One of the most recognizable melodies in the world follows, Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Overture. This magical fantasy is based on Shakespeare’s famous tragedy and features the iconic love theme that has graced many a movie.
The program closes with Dvořák’s Seventh Symphony, a departure from his traditionally bright, folk theme-filled melodies. Just in time for Halloween, this sinister, emotional composition will leave you with a lingering hint of the darkness of the season.
Boettcher Concert Hall/DCPA, Speer Blvd. & Arapahoe St., Denver
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 1:00 p.m.
Tickets: $15-$89
Phone: 303-623-7876
HI-STRUNG WITH WONDER
The professional dance troupe Wonderbound is dedicated to bringing the wonder of dance and live performance to members of the community who may not otherwise have the opportunity—from school children to senior citizens in every socioeconomic sector.
This playful and inspiring performance is a sumptuous evening of dance and live music, with musicians from the Colorado Symphony playing contemporary and classic compositions. Beautifully choreographed pieces reflect the wide-ranging repertoire, including Sarah Tallman’s Son of Man, Edvard Grieg’s Holberg Suite, Garrett Ammon’s Serenade for Strings, and finishing with the music of Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky.
The Performing Arts Complex at PCS, 1001 W. 84th Ave., Denver
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $25-$50
Phone: 303-292-4700
THE ADDAMS FAMILY LIVE!
You grew up watching them on TV, and there’s a new movie out now—but what could be better than seeing The Addams Family live on stage? Your kids will love this theatre version of everyone’s favorite freaky family. With an all-new storyline that picks up after Wednesday has grown up and finds a boyfriend, The Adams Family on stage has all the kooky characters you remember—Morticia and Gomez, Cousin It, and the rest!
Vintage Theatre Productions, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $38
Phone: 303-856-7830
Saturday, October 19
PETIT MUSIQUE CONCERT
The Colorado Symphony presents a FREE community concert, geared especially for young audiences! This age-appropriate musical telling of The Three Little Pigs will delight young children, their parents, and teachers. The 16-piece orchestra and narrator perform a program which incorporates storytelling, singing, and movement with music. This specially-designed interactive program introduces the instruments of the orchestra to very young children in venues throughout the metro area.
Denver Coliseum, 4600 Humboldt St., Denver
10:00 and 11:30 a.m.
Tickets: FREE
Phone: 303-623-7876
TAMALE FESTIVAL
It’s more than just delicious tamales, it’s an all-day family-friendly festival, with fun activities like bounce houses, rock climbing wall, face painting and more! Of course, there will also be the main event—tamale samplings and full offerings of a variety of authentic Mexican food. There’s even a craft beer sampling event!
After you’ve eaten your fill, enjoy dancing to the Selena tribute band, Anything for Salinas. Local Mariachi bands round out the day, along with a Folklorico dancing performance!
Town Center at Aurora, 14200 E. Alameda Ave., Aurora
12:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $5 – $60
GET YOUR EARS SWOLL
The music event that everyone in the neighborhood has come to look forward to is back! This is the premier local independent musician showcase that’s a great chance to get together with your neighbors. Tonight’s bands are the Landgrabbers and The Vagrant Sea—don’t miss your chance to see the hottest local entertainment!
The People’s Building, 9995 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora
8:30 – 11:00 p.m.
Tickets: $10
Saturday-Sunday, October 19-20
BOO AT THE ZOO IS BACK!
Hands-down the best place to trick-or-treat is the Denver Zoo! Get a head start on Halloween and try out your costumes now. The whole family will enjoy creepy-crawly animal demonstrations, trick-or-treat stations, jugglers, character meet-and-greets and other family-friendly live entertainment—all surrounded by vibrant fall foliage.
Not to mention all those adorable, fascinating, and sometimes scary wild animals!
Denver Zoo, 2900 E. 23rd Ave., Denver
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m
Tickets: $14 – $20
Phone: 720-337-1400
Family-friendly activities in the Southshore area!
There’s always something to do near the family-friendly community of Southshore! Enjoy Life at the Lake with plenty of cultural and entertainment activities in the surrounding area! Check out the beautiful model homes from Richmond American Homes, Toll Brothers, and Century Communities, and picture yourself in your very own dream house! With ranch and two-story models available, new homes are priced from the upper $400s to the $700s.