Give Dad an Experience This Weekend!
June 17, 2021
This Father’s Day, pick the perfect event for your unique dad and cool off at the same time! Choose from a day on the water at Aurora Reservoir, an air-conditioned museum visit, a monster show or a comedy show, and of course, a wide range of outdoor concerts and movies!
TODAY/TONIGHT, June 17
GET BLONDE AT THE DRIVE-IN
Keep it light with the 2000s comedy classic, Legally Blonde, starring Reese Witherspoon in her iconic role as the smartest blonde in courtroom history! Since it’s screening at the Red Rocks Drive-In, you’ll also enjoy a Colorado night under the stars!
Red Rocks Park Lower South Parking Lot, 18300 W. Alameda Pkwy., Morrison
8:30 p.m.
Tickets: $59.50 per car
Thursday – Sunday, June 17-20
CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH AT MURAL FESTIVAL
There’s no better way to celebrate the weekend of Juneteenth than at the Black Love Mural Festival! Be a part of modern history as the festival addresses and rewrites the wrongs of the past with powerful messages of unity and love by Denver’s Black artists! Spend a day or evening taking in the murals painted on the walls of Civic Center Park.
Civic Center Park, 101 W. 14th Ave., Denver
Information: FREE
COOL DOWN AT THE AURORA RESERVOIR
If you’re wondering why we’re having August weather before the first official day of summer, take that worry off your mind and head over to the Aurora Reservoir to cool down! Kayak and stand-up paddleboards are available to rent, and the swimming beaches are open! You can also bring your own non-motorized watercraft, as long as you have life jackets for everyone on board.
Aurora Reservoir, 5800 S. Powhaton Rd., Aurora
5:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. (park hours); 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (rentals); 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (lifeguard on duty)
Entry Fee: $10/car
Phone: 303.739.7000
COOL OFF AT STONEHENGE
Another great way to beat the heat is to wander through relics of ancient England via the air-conditioned haven of the Museum of Nature & Science! Stonehenge: Ancient Mysteries and Modern Discoveries features 400 artifacts and the breakthrough science behind some of the latest discoveries about the prehistoric monument.
The World Heritage Site is one of the most famous landmarks in the U.K. and continues to intrigue the world with the mysterious question—how and why was it built? While modern science has made some fascinating discoveries, we still don’t know the answers. Scientific analysis has revealed that some of the stones were transported an incredible distance from the Preseli Mountains in Wales, over 150 miles away, with no modern means of transportation!
Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tickets: $7-$9 (in addition to Museum entry free)
Phone: 303-370-6000
MONSTER WORLD DOWNTOWN
Summer is as good a time as Halloween to get up-close and personal with your favorite monsters! This interactive outdoor installment in downtown Denver is a nightmare in broad daylight—you’ll walk through a series of cinematic environments featuring infamous creatures and characters, many of whom are from your favorite horror films and stories!
Denver Pavilions, 500 16th Street Mall, Suite 180, Denver
Thurs./Fri./Sat., 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Sun., 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Tickets: $18-$25
ILLUMINATED EARTH EXHIBIT
If your tastes run to the more peaceful and ethereal, you may want to check out the other Pavilions immersive exhibit, Earth Illuminations. Dubbed a “selfie-style” outdoor museum, you can put yourself in natural and digital media backgrounds and capture as many photos as you’d like!
Wander through a 13,000-square-foot space showcasing our planet’s beauty from air, land, and sea. Explore a series of interactive environments and large-scale art installations that will change the way you experience art and nature. The exhibit is appropriate for all ages, so bring the family!
Denver Pavilions, 500 16th Street Mall, Suite 180, Denver
Thurs./Fri./Sat., 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Sun., 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Tickets: $18-$25
Phone: 720-897-3855
ROCKIN’ ALICE IN WONDERLAND
How did no one ever come up with this idea before? This new musical reboots Lewis Carroll’s classic tale by putting a rock-n-roll spin to it! In Wonderland: Alice’s Rock and Roll Adventure, Alice leaps through that legendary looking glass and embarks upon a journey to find…herself!
We all know the story—the fears she must face come in the form of “The Jabberwocky” and other less-than-benevolent characters. But a cast of talented actor-musicians update Alice’s adventures with an eclectic soundtrack ranging from classic rock and punk, to ska and even a little bit of Bollywood!
Aurora Fox Arts Center, 9900 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora
Thurs./Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $15-$40
Phone: 303-739-1970
Friday, June 18
KIDS NIGHT OUT = PARENTS NIGHT OUT
Are your kids itching for an evening out on their own? Are you feeling the same? The Southlands’ YMCA Kids Night Out is the answer for both! Drop off your kids ages 3-12 for an evening of games, crafts, and a movie. You’ll have peace-of-mind knowing they are in good hands so you can have a fun night out, too!
Southlands YMCA, 6155 S. Main St. #220, Aurora
5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Register: $15
Friday-Saturday, June 18-19
LIVE COMEDY
Catch a set of the best new comedy in the Mile High City! Live comedy is back and better than ever—from up-and-coming local talent to established comedians you’ll recognize from their gigs on TV and the internet.
Colorado Sake Co., 3559 Larimer St., Denver
Fri., 6:50 and 9:00 p.m.; Sat., 6:00, 8:00 and 10:00 p.m.
Tickets: $12.75 – $18 per person
Saturday, June 19
SOUTHLANDS FARMERS MARKET
Spend a lovely summer morning strolling amidst booths of locally-grown foods, including Colorado-famous produce, fresh dairy products, tasty baked goods, homemade salsas, honey, flowers, and more. Be sure to bring plenty of shopping bags—you’ll have a bounty to take home with you!
Southlands, 6155 S Main St., Aurora
8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Information: FREE
ALL THE GOOD CELEBRATION
“Throw all the good that you can out into the world… and see what comes back!” This is a quote from Denver Discovery School teacher Allyson Jane Marisch, known to her students as “Miss Ally.” Sadly, she passed away at age 34 from an aortic rupture due to a rare underlying condition called Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (VEDS) while attending a fundraising gala at the Hangar in March 2020.
To honor her memory and to help fulfill her mission of bridging the gaps in diversity to build equity for all, the first All The Good Celebration of Life and Fundraiser kicks off today. The celebration starts with a memorial walk along the Westerly Creek Trail, followed by a dedication, celebration of life, and fundraiser inside the Hangar. There will be food and drinks for purchase as well as live music.
Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St., Aurora
4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Information: FREE
TUNISIA OUTDOOR CONCERT
Finally it feels like summer again, with Denver’s favorite bands performing free concerts in the park! Come out and dance ’til you drop—or just sit back and enjoy the sounds of Tunisia, one of the Mile High City’s best cover bands. This family-friendly event is a great way for the whole family to come together and enjoy music under the stars.
Founders Green, 29th Ave & Roslyn St., Denver
6:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
BENEFIT CONCERT UNDER THE STARS
To celebrate the summer solstice, you need music, dancing, art, and flora! This special outdoor event at the Children’s Museum has it all! What’s more, this urban garden dance event brings the community together as it also gives back to local non-profit Blu Haven.
Flora Nocturna with Ciszak, JAdore, DJ Charisma & Casey Russell, Polyphoni, and Bubblegum will be performing live at this one-of-a-kind garden party with views of the Denver skyline and Mile High Stadium. This 21+ event will benefit Blu Haven, a non-profit dedicated to serving emotional trauma victims in Colorado.
The Plaza @ the Denver Children’s Museum, 2121 Children’s Museum Dr., Denver
7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $35
Phone: 720-280-7507
Sunday, Father’s Day, June 20
DAD’S DOLLAR DAY
There’s something cool about spending Father’s Day in Denver’s own Air & Space Museum—that’s why dads get in for just $1! Check out all the exciting exhibits including the Titan Missile Project, the Wright Propeller, and the Star Wars X-Wing Starfighter! Pre-purchased tickets are encouraged but not required. Remember, ONLY dads get in for $1; everyone else pays the normal price!
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, 7711 E. Academy Blvd., Denver
12:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Tickets: $1 – $16.95
Phone: 303-360-5360
STANLEY FREE CONCERT
Local musicians Wrenn & Ian will blow you away with their talent! This pair of young musicians turned heads at the Arise Music Festival in 2019 with their eclectic mix of original music and cover songs. Don’t miss this up and coming music act—live on the lawn at Stanley Marketplace!
Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St., Aurora
1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
SIN-DAY COMEDY SHOW
A special Father’s Day comedy show is the perfect gift for dads who love to laugh. This is an adult-only show, so give dad a chance for a date-night or a night out with his buddies.
Colorado Sake Co., 3559 Larimer St., Denver
7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $12.75 – $18 per person
THE SHINING AT RED ROCKS
It may be something of a stretch to call The Shining a Father’s Day movie, but hey, there is a father in it… If your family’s idea of a good time is watching a classic scary movie, then head over to the Red Rocks Drive-In for a screening of Jack Nicholson at his most terrifying!
Red Rocks Park Lower South Parking Lot, 18300 W. Alameda Pkwy., Morrison
8:30 p.m.
Tickets: $59.50 per car
Father’s Day at Southshore!
Away from it all, but close to everything, the lakeside community of Southshore offers access to plenty of things to do every weekend, not the least of which is access to the Aurora Reservoir and fun times on, in and near the water! If you’re new to Life at the Lake, drive around and check out the beautiful model homes from Taylor Morrison, Richmond American Homes and Toll Brothers. Available in ranch and two-story designs, Southshore homes are priced between the upper $400s to the $700s.