Holiday Fun Abounds This Weekend!
December 13, 2018
There are lots of holiday-themed happenings this season to help you find some extra family time, plus there are also plenty of events out there especially for adults! Veteran Second City writers put an outrageously funny spin on A Christmas Carol; the Lakehouse at Southshore hosts a grown-up holiday party; David Sedaris’ hilarious Santaland Diaries offers a cynical take on the holidays; and John Legend will provide a romantic holiday date for you and your sweetheart!
TODAY/TONIGHT, December 13
EXPLORING MARS
With the recent landing of the latest space probe on Mars comes a fascinating discussion about NASA’s ongoing Mars Exploration Program. Kobie Boykins, a mechanical engineer at NASA, will talk about his own involvement with the rovers’ success in this National Geographic Live! presentation.
As one of the scientists who helped design and build the solar arrays that allowed the rovers to capture samples and photographs that are pushing space exploration forward, Boykins will give you an inside look at how we came to land on the Red Planet, as well as a glimpse into what the future might hold.
Newman Center for the Performing Arts, 2344 E. Iliff Ave., Denver
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $18-$34
Phone: 303-871-7720
Thursday-Saturday, December 13-15
FINAL WEEKEND FOR WHITE CHRISTMAS
See Irving Berlin’s classic holiday tune come to life in the stage version of this favorite Christmas movie! A pair of song and dance entertainers get stranded at a picturesque country inn and fall in love with a sister-act team who are also on the marquee. The charming costumes and witty repartee are nostalgic reminders of Christmases past. And the music is simply the best!
Buell Theatre/DCPA,1350 Curtis St., Denver
Thurs./Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Fri./Sat., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $30-$115
Phone: 303-571-4401
Thursday-Sunday, December 13-16
CHRISTMAS AT THE ZOO
Come out to celebrate the holidays with the animals, and check out all of the family-friendly events during Denver Zoo Lights! The magical decorations and lighting display will get you in the holiday spirit, and you can check out the new 4D theatre, with a showing of Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas. Little ones will enjoy a train ride among the festive lights or a spin on the carousel!
And a limited number of tickets are available for a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus!
Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St., Denver
5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Tickets: $9-$20
Phone: 720-337-1400
SANTALAND DIARIES
David Sedaris’ sardonic account of working as a Christmas elf at the famous Macy’s department store in New York will leave even the most cynical holiday denier reduced to tears—of laughter! This adult theatre event is sure to become a holiday favorite and a perfect excuse for a parents’ night out. So gather a bunch of your most humbug-prone friends and get ready to thoroughly enjoy a different kind of Christmas story!
Jones Theatre, Speer Blvd. & Arapahoe St., Denver
Thurs./Fri./Sat./Sun., 7:00 p.m.; Fri., 10:00 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $35-$50
Phone: 303-571-4401
SECOND CITY’S TWIST ON DICKENS
You’ve never seen A Christmas Carol like this! With their signature outrageous style, Second City alums Peter Gwinn and Bobby Mort re-design Dickens’ tale of Scrooge, Tiny Tim and the Christmas ghosts for a special holiday treat! This zany series of holiday sketches turns the classic on its ear! Don’t miss this adult comedy the Chicago Sun-Times deems a “fresh and bountiful feast of funny.”
Aurora Arts Fox Center, 9900 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora
Thurs./Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $20-$37
Phone: 303-739-1970
A PLAY ABOUT A RADIO SHOW ABOUT SCROOGE
It’s Christmas Eve and an old-time radio show is scheduled to begin a live broadcast of A Christmas Carol, but a raging blizzard prevents the actors from arriving at the station. So it’s up to a clever sound-effects engineer to put on the show himself! This funny, inventive adaptation of the classic Dickens story is performed live on stage and will leave you laughing—and appreciating anew the heartwarming story we all know and love.
Vintage Theatre Productions, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora
Thurs./Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 2:30 p.m.; Sun., 6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $32
Phone: 303-856-7830
Friday, December 14
GROWN-UP CHRISTMAS PARTY AT THE LAKEHOUSE
A special holiday party right in the neighborhood! Christmas lights glistening on the lake, holiday songs putting everyone in a festive mood, catered appetizers and drinks for the adult palette—this is the ultimate grown-ups’ night out! Come join your neighbors and friends for some holiday cheer. RSVP to reserve your spot!
The Lakehouse, 27151 E. Lakeview Dr., Aurora
7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
RSVP: FREE
Phone: 720-870-2221
Friday-Sunday, December 14-16
A COLORADO CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Popular vocalist Devin DeSantis joins the Colorado Symphony for a special Christmas concert, featuring your favorite holiday songs. ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas will be narrated live on stage, setting a festive tone for this treasured holiday program. Other favorite works on the program include Sleigh Ride, We Wish You A Merry Christmas, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Irving Berlin’s Christmas, Gloria, and more! You’ll have a chance to sing along to a few of your favorite winter songs, and Santa and Mrs. Claus will stop by to update the Naughty and Nice List!
Boettcher Concert Hall/DCPA, Speer Blvd. & Arapahoe St., Denver
Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 2:30 and 6:00 p.m.; Sun., 1:00 p.m.
Tickets: $15-$89
Phone: 303-623-7876
Saturday, December 15
DENVER INDIE GAMES EXPO 2018
If you are into all things video, including games still in development, tabletop games, virtual reality, eSports and more, this expo is for you! The 7th Annual Denver Indie Game Expo brings together gamers, indie developers, musicians, artists, and sound composers. Bring your portfolio, stuff to trade, portable consoles, and games to play, especially the classic games that started it all. You can even bring your old systems and games to play or trade.
Dry Dock North, 2801 Tower Rd., Aurora
12:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Cost: $10
Phone: 720-206-9528
A CANTO DEO CHRISTMAS
The Canto Deo Festival Choir and Orchestra present a classic Christmas concert that is sure to become one of your family traditions! This family-friendly celebration of the holidays presents traditional carols, new works, and fresh arrangements of old favorites. Enjoy Vivaldi’s Gloria, John Rutter’s Sans Day Carol and Nathan Hofheins’ The Little Drummer Boy. There’s even a sing-along to favorite carols like O Come All Ye Faithful, Silent Night, and Joy to the World. And the youngest members of the audience will have a chance to conduct the orchestra!
Christ Church Denver, 2950 S. University Blvd., Denver
3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Cost: FREE
JOHN LEGEND – A LEGENDARY CHRISTMAS
The hugely popular crooner and winner of every major award (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony) doesn’t disappoint in his first holiday show! With his signature classic flair, John Legend puts on a performance reminiscent of yesteryear singers like Sinatra, but with a contemporary twist that reminds you what a big superstar he is today!
With sets and costumes that are as polished and stylish as a Christmas card, Legend and his jazzy back-up band and singers perform classics like What Christmas Means to Me, Silver Bells, Merry Christmas Baby, Please Come Home for Christmas, and a snappy rendition of the old Peanuts’ Christmas Time is Here. Bring your favorite date to enjoy this romantic holiday concert!
Bellco Theatre, 700 14th St., Denver
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $39.50 – $149.50
Phone: 720-476-5561
Saturday-Sunday, December 15-16
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA AND SOME FISH!
What could be more fun than having breakfast with Santa? Watching him swim with the fish—30 minutes after he’s finished his meal, of course! Bring your kids to the Downtown Aquarium to meet Santa and enjoy a delicious breakfast in the company of the aquatic creatures in the tanks. The breakfast buffet offers something for everyone! Registration required.
Downtown Aquarium, 700 Water St., Denver
8:30 a.m.
Tickets: $13.99-$19.99
Phone: 303-561-4450
DENVER PAVILIONS HOLIDAY CAROUSEL
Just in time for holiday shopping in downtown Denver, the Holiday Carousel opens at Denver Pavilions! As you are crossing off items on your Christmas list, treat the kids to a magical ride on the carousel. This is a fantastic photo op for Christmas cards! Rides are free with purchases from certain Denver Pavilions restaurants, retailers and entertainment venues.
Denver Pavilions, 500 16th St., Ste. 10, Denver
11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Tickets: $3
Sunday, December 16
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO STANLEY
Santa will be right in the neighborhood when the Aurora Police Department escorts him and Mrs. Claus to The Hangar at Stanley! This festive event includes a chance for kids to sit on Santa’s lap to have their pictures taken and story time with Mrs. Claus. There will also be an impressive collection of vehicles from APD on display!
The Hangar at Stanley, 2501 N. Dallas St., Aurora
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Holiday Happenings in Southshore!
From around the corner and across the street to downtown Denver and stops in between, the master-planned community of Southshore is near lots of holiday-themed things to do. Explore the models from Toll Brothers, Richmond American Homes or Century Communities in ranch and two-story designs. You’ll find the lakeside home of your dreams, priced between the upper $300s and the $700s.