Halloween and Día de los Muertos!
October 31, 2019
With Halloween so close to the weekend, why not extend the fun for a few more days? There are plenty of events in Aurora and Denver that keep the frightful festivities going! Just as fun are the Day of the Dead celebrations, as well as a number of theatre and symphony performances, to put some culture into the weekend!
TODAY/TONIGHT, October 31
MURDER MYSTERY DINNER
Here’s a novel way to spend Halloween—helping to solve a Murder Mystery over dinner! Sarto’s will be serving an interactive three-course dinner, with a side of murder. Everyone present will be trying to figure it out—was it you? How about your date? Was it the bartender in the kitchen with a knife?
The evening includes a gourmet dinner (exclusive of beverage service and gratuity) and the thrilling interactive performance!
Sarto’s, 2900 W. 25th Ave., Denver
6:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Tickets: $75-$85
THE ROAST OF HALLOWEEN
Grown-ups love Halloween, too! Treat yourself and your date to a special comedy show of Halloween characters roasting other characters! You can’t get much more outlandish than a bunch of comics dressing up as fictitious characters in order to roast each other.
In these wickedly funny Halloween spoofs, you might witness Dracula in a battle of wits with Frankenstein, or any number of your favorite monsters, ghosts and ghouls. This show is for adults 21 and over!
Comedy Works-Downtown, 1226 15th St., Denver
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $14
Phone: 303-595-3637
SPOOKY GHOST TOUR
Take to the streets this Hallowed Eve—on a real-life ghost tour! Fun for the whole family, the walking tour covers about 1.7 miles and lasts about two hours. Your costumed guide will provide you with real ghost-hunting equipment upon checking-in!
You’ll be immersed in the spookier side of Denver’s colorful history through a guided stroll downtown. You’ll visit and hear ghost stories about the haunted Tivoli Brewery, haunted bars, hotels, Union Station, and more!
Tivoli Brewing Company, 900 Auraria Pkwy., Ste. 240, Denver
6:30 p.m.
Reservations: Starting at $15 per person
Thursday-Saturday, October 31 – November 2
SCARIEST HAUNTED HOUSE IN THE CITY!
Not for the faint of heart, the 13th Floor Haunted House is the perfect way to indulge in Halloween! You can choose from three terrifying stories to get your adrenaline pumping—Clown is just as scary as the characters in recent movies Joker and It; Tales of the Unknown takes you, well, into the unknown; and The Other Side is about getting lost in some scary woods. This event is not recommended for children under 12.
13th Floor Haunted House, 3400 E. 52nd Ave., Denver
7:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Tickets: Starting at $29.99
Friday, November 1
DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION
The Latino holiday Día de los Muertos—or Day of the Dead—is a natural extension of Halloween themes—and so much more! Join the City of Aurora in celebrating the Day of the Dead with altars, music, food and drinks, face painting, crafts and more. Bring the whole family for an afternoon of cultural fun!
14200 E. Alameda Ave., Aurora
4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
GROWN-UP HALLOWEEN PARTY
More than just a costume party, A Nightmare on California Street recreates all the fright of Elm Street, with Freddy lurking in the background. This is Denver’s highest open-air rooftop Halloween party, complete with music from FDVM, specialty cocktails, and a Best Costume contest with awesome prizes. The first-place costume wins a one-night stay at Le Meridien, a complimentary cabana rental for up to six friends at 54thirty with a $100 food and beverage credit! You must be 21+ to attend.
54thirty, 1475 California St., Denver
7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Tickets: Starting at $25
Phone: 720-996-1546
HALLOWEEN SPOOKEASY
A special kind of costume party, the theme in Denver’s brand-new Cottonwood Club is Gatsby-inspired glamour! This festive evening for adults only is the perfect combination of 1920s dapper attire with spooky nods to Halloween—like fortune telling, dark corners, a costume contest, and more!
You’ll be transported to an era when everyone dressed impeccably and libations flowed liberally! Enjoy live music and engaging entertainment including nationally-touring acts The Honey Taps and Circus Foundry; DJ fusion band, Black Iris Collective; as well as comedy, drag and burlesque performers. Get inspired by the fashion of the 1920s—swanky cocktail or formal attire is required. If you show up in jeans and sneakers, you’ll have to deal with “Tiny” the bouncer!
Ironworks, 2027 W. Colfax Ave., Denver
8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Tickets: $25-$100
Friday-Saturday, November 1-2
THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS AT THE SYMPHONY
Don’t put away those Halloween costumes yet, especially if they were inspired by the kind of spooky characters in Tim Burton’s cult-classic movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas! Wear them again when you come to see the full film projected on the big screen, while the Colorado Symphony plays the score live underneath!
The entire family will love this quirky movie with lovable dark characters and music. Danny Elfman’s charming score will stand out even more with the live orchestra performing it!
Boettcher Concert Hall/DCPA, Speer Blvd. & Arapahoe St., Denver
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $30-$104
Phone: 303-623-7876
Friday-Sunday, November 1-3
AMUSEMENT PARK SCREAMS
Halloween continues for a few more days at Denver’s favorite amusement park—Elitch Gardens presents Fright by Night when the sun goes down. Recommended for ages 12 and over, this scary event is full of blood-curdling screams and three haunted attractions that will give you nightmares for weeks to come.
Elitch Gardens, 2000 Elitch Cir., Denver
Fri./Sat., 6:00 – 11:00 p.m.; Sun., 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Tickets: Park Admission starts at $39.99; additional charge for some attractions
A COMEDY ABOUT BEING LOOPED
What happens when an aging film star needs to be brought back to the editing room to “loop” or re-do one of the lines of her dialogue in the otherwise finished film? Based on a true story from 1965, eccentric actress Tallulah Bankhead shows up in the studio to record that one line. What ensues is a hilarious battle of wills between the diva and the film’s editor.
Vintage Theatre Productions, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $12-$32
Phone: 303-856-7830
Saturday, November 2
DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS FESTIVAL
The Denver Botanic Gardens is the perfect backdrop for a day dedicated to observing Día de los Muertos! Start with an indoor screening of Disney’s Pixar film Coco, then make your way all around the gardens to view Alters of Remembrance, have your face elaborately painted, or watch a Mexican folk dance performance with a live Mariachi band! Kids can participate in the Craft Corner, and artist vendors will be on hand with original art pieces, prints, folk art, jewelry, t-shirt designs and more, all available for purchase.
Denver Botanical Gardens, 1007 York St., Denver
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Tickets: $9.50 – $12.50; kids under 15 are free
Phone: 720-865-3500
Saturday-Sunday, November 2-3
SEASON OPENING – AURORA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Beginning their new season with Fire and Passion, the Aurora Symphony Orchestra puts on a powerhouse concert featuring unbridled drama and sweeping intensity! It’s Rossini’s birthday, so it’s only fitting to open the program with his renowned Il Signor Bruschino Overture. Then ASO’s principal cellist Kenneth Martin is featured in the incomparable Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85 by Edward Elgar. The program closes with an electrifying performance of Stravinsky’s timeless ballet music from The Firebird Suite (1919 version).
Don’t forget to arrive 30 minutes early for Maestro Gamboa’s pre-concert talk featuring insightful discussions and interesting facts about the repertoire. Pre-concert talks are included with your concert ticket.
Aurora Fox Arts Center, 9900 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora
Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 3:00 p.m.
Tickets: $15 – $20
Phone: 720-262-3850
Sunday, November 3
CELEBRATE LEMURS!
If you have had enough Halloween already, how about celebrating something that has nothing whatsoever to do with it—lemurs! It’s World Lemur Day, and Denver Zoo is throwing a party for them!
Everyone in the family will love learning all about these adorable creatures, with zookeeper talks, activities for kids, and special opportunities to see the animals close-up. Learn more about the lemurs who call Denver Zoo home and the Animal Care teams who work with them every day—and how you can help lemurs to thrive in our ever-changing world.
Denver Zoo, 2900 E. 23rd Ave., Denver
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m
Tickets: Included in admission price, $5-$15
Phone: 720-337-1400
HALLOWEEN MUSIC CONCERT
The Colorado Symphony puts on a special concert for kids—and parents will appreciate it, too! This family-favorite concert features music from Halloween films, television, and more! Dress up in your costume one last time! The best of the bunch will be invited to show off their creations on stage for the whole crowd!
Boettcher Concert Hall/DCPA, Speer Blvd. & Arapahoe St., Denver
2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $10-$27
Phone: 303-623-7876
The Arts, Music and More Near Southshore!
Enjoy Life at the Lake in the master-planned community of Southshore—and find culture and entertainment within easy reach! Looking for a new home you can add your signature style to? Tour the beautiful model homes from Century Communities, Richmond American Homes and Toll Brothers. Available in ranch and two-story designs, Southshore homes are priced between the upper $400s and the $700s.