Hip Hop Nutcracker Ushers in the Holidays!

November 21, 2019

The Mile-High City gears up for the holidays this weekend, with a vast array of theater performances, shopping extravaganzas, and Christmas-themed activities for the kids! Check out the Hip Hop Nutcracker for a lively twist on the beloved classic—a holiday event the entire family will love!

TODAY/TONIGHT, November 21

HAND-LETTERED PLACE CARDS FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER
Make your Thanksgiving table especially festive with handmade place cards you make yourself! This workshop is perfect for beginners, as well as accomplished crafters, and provides quality materials to make your handiwork shine.

You’ll receive instruction and hands-on assistance so that you can leave the workshop with 10 place cards to put on your Thanksgiving table. You’ll be able to choose from different designs and styles—you can make them all the same, or get creative and do one-of-a-kind cards! No hand-lettering experience is necessary.

Craftsman & Apprentice, 1325 E 22nd Ave., Denver
6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Tickets: $40
Phone: 720-515-8611

TELL ME I’M PRETTY
This FREE stand-up comedy show tells it from the woman’s perspective and features touring headliners as well as local favorites. The venue is a great place for comedy, with a speakeasy-style vibe that promises an intimate show, tucked away in the basement of Hooked on Colfax. Enjoy the show, grab a drink, and relax at one of the trendiest spots in Denver, offering coffee, booze, and baked goods. This event is free but you need a ticket to enter!

Hooked on Colfax, 3213 E. Colfax Ave., Denver
7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
Phone: 303-398-2665

Thursday-Sunday, November 21-24

CAMP CHRISTMAS
Denver’s brand-new holiday experience will have everyone talking! Be among the first to experience this over-the-top immersive installation that cranks the holiday spirit all the way up, with mesmerizing displays of decorations that shift time and reality. All ages are welcome, as long as you have a hearty sense of festive!

This is not merely a Christmas light show, with some mistletoe and holly thrown in. This is a crazy mash-up of “what if” scenarios, all in the name of identifying what it is about this time of year that makes the human species go slightly insane. This is where Marie Antoinette commands a Rococo sleigh, where ancient Roman festivals become Santa-fied, and where pink is more than just a color—it’s a place. Bring the entire family to delve into the great holiday rituals that have brought light to the darkness of winter for thousands of years.

The Hangar at Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St., Aurora
Thurs., 2:00 – 8:00 p.m.; Fri./Sat./Sun., 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. 
Tickets: $8 – $20
Phone: 303-893-4100

FINAL WEEKEND FOR DOLL’S HOUSE
The groundbreaking repertory performances of A Doll’s House and A Doll’s House Part 2 will be closing this weekend, so this is your final chance to see the theatrical event of the season before it’s too late!

A Doll’s House is Henrik Ibsen’s renowned classic about the joyless marriage of Nora and her scandalous decision to walk out on her domestic responsibilities. A Doll’s House Part Two was written by Lucas Hnath decades later, bringing Nora back home to revisit her actions through a contemporary lens. One part searing drama, another part biting comedy, this is an experience best seen in full.

Ricketson Theatre/DCPA, 1400 Curtis St., Denver
Thurs., 6:30 p.m.; Fri. 7:00 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. (Double Feature)
Tickets: $25-$70
Phone: 303-571-4401

SHAKESPEARE IMPROVISED!
You can be sure you have never seen this Shakespeare play before—because it hasn’t been written yet! This talented company of Shakespeare performers knows the Bard inside out, so they can take a mere suggestion from the audience and create an improvised Shakespearean masterpiece before your eyes!

The authentic 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, November 22

SISTERS WHO SWING
Four of the most talented female vocalists in Denver come together for a night that’s guaranteed to rock your socks off! Mary Louise Lee, JoFoKe, Rajdulari, and Stephanie Hancock are among the nation’s finest vocalists.

You’ve likely seen one or more of them solo, but when these four ladies get together, they are a force to reckon with! 

The People’s Building, 9995 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora
7:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Tickets: $27
Phone: 720-432-9162

Friday-Saturday, November 22-23

L’ESPRIT DE NOËL HOLIDAY HOME TOUR
Without a doubt, one of the best things about the holidays is the uplifting effects of the glorious decorations that take over the city! In the spirit of getting in the holiday spirit, don’t miss this spectacular tour of homes that is also a holiday fundraising event!

Considered Denver’s signature holiday event, the two-day walking tour will feature six magnificent homes in Denver’s University Park neighborhood, beautifully decorated for the holidays by the metro area’s most accomplished florists and table designers.

University Park Neighborhood, 2160 S. Cook St., Denver
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: $28-$30
Phone: 303-292-6700

Friday-Sunday, November 22-24

WINTER WONDERLAND WITH RUDOLPH
The classic children’s TV special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, has been delighting children since the 1960s. These puppet-like characters are the inspiration for a local winter wonderland, with scenes carved from more than two million pounds of colorful ice. Crafted by master artisans from across the globe, these spectacular holiday scenes will delight your entire family, and children will love the ice slides on site! 

Gaylord Rockies Resort, 6700 N. Gaylord Rockies Blvd., Aurora
10:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Tickets: $13.99 Child | $24.99 Adult
Phone: 720-452-6900

A MESMERIZING NIGHT AT THE SYMPHONY
This concert is full of the complexities of symphonic music, featuring Tchaikovsky’s colorful Violin Concerto. This work was regarded so difficult to perform that the premiere was delayed after Tchaikovsky’s first two soloists declined the invitation. 

Also on the program is one of Verdi’s finest symphonic works, which incorporates the “Fate” motif that plays such a large role in La forza del destino. Rounding out the evening is Jennifer Higdon’s Concerto for Orchestra, a mercurial masterpiece, complete with a percussion-only fourth movement that will leave you spellbound.

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

TUCK EVERLASTING: THE MUSICAL
A magical and evocative story based on the best-selling children’s classic, Tuck Everlasting is a treat for the entire family! This musical celebration tells the tale of 11-year-old Winnie Foster, an adventurous girl who inadvertently discovers the secret to everlasting life. She meets the mysterious Tuck family, and they offer her an extraordinary choice: to return to her own family or join the Tucks for eternity.

Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $15-$89
Phone: 303-856-7830

Saturday, November 23

WOMEN’S BEAN PROJECT HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE
Making a difference in the world can be as simple as making wise choices about where you shop. The Holiday Open House, hosted by Women’s Bean Project, is a great place to buy gifts and goodies for the holidays while making a real impact on women’s lives.

Women’s Bean Project believes every woman has the power to transform her life through employment. With every purchase you make of products from the store, you create jobs for women in your community. 

Women’s Bean Project, 3201 Curtis St., Denver
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
Phone: 303-292-1919

SOUTHLANDS HOLIDAY HOMETOWN PARADE
Bundle up the kids and head out to the annual Southlands Holiday Hometown Parade! You’ll be ready for the holidays after this big dose of festivities! There will be over 1,000 performers, along with  Aurora community groups and organizations participating, as well as the Southlands stores. The Mayor of Aurora will be there—and Santa, too! 

Southlands, 6155 S. Main St., Aurora
Tickets: FREE
6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday, November 23-24

HIP HOP NUTCRACKER
Ready to see The Nutcracker in a whole new way? This contemporary take on the beloved holiday dance performance features supercharged hip hop moves to the classic Tchaikovsky score.

The classic story remains as well—from the Christmas party in Clara’s home where she receives the gift of the Nutcracker to the magical midnight journey to the land of the Sugarplum Fairy with the Nutcracker Prince who has come to life! Except in this production, the setting has moved from 19th century Germany to current-day New York City! Don’t miss this holiday mash-up—it’s here for one weekend only!

Buell Theatre, 1350 Curtis St., Denver
Sat., 7:00 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $30 – $96
Phone: 303-893-4100

Sunday, November 24

FREE ARTIST BRUNCH
If you’ve vowed to have your holiday shopping completed by Thanksgiving this year, you won’t want to miss this chance to score some artsy gifts—like paintings, ceramics, photography, jewelry, and sculpture. With a fun and free brunch, you can make a festive morning of it in the Art District on Santa Fe.

Art District on Santa Fe, 747 Santa Fe Dr., Denver
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Phone:  303-573-5903

Holiday Arts, Music and More Near Southshore!

Enjoy the holidays and 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.