Jack Black, Salsa Showdown and On-Tap Beer Fest!
July 25, 2019
Looking for ways to beat the heat? A Salsa Showdown or an On-Tap Beer Festival might be just the ticket! Or maybe laughter is the best antidote to the warm weather with an evening of comedy at the Denver Zoo! Family activities also abound, including day-trips to Wonderland and the funnest health fair you’ve ever seen—held in City Park!
TODAY/TONIGHT, July 25
COMEDY AT THE ZOO!
If you’re a fan of Zookeeper, Kevin James’ hilarious and heartwarming movie about this very special breed of human, you won’t want to miss this entertaining evening of comedy featuring real-life Zoo Keepers! The Rocky Mountain Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers invites you to party with the animals and their caretakers at their 19th Annual Comedy Night!
Get up close and personal with the elephants, rhinos, leopards, and more! Enjoy appetizers, dinner, dessert, and an open bar while visiting with Denver Zoo Animal Ambassadors. Cocktail party attire is recommended! The party will wrap up with a live auction, featuring trips to Kauai and South Africa, followed by a hilarious performance by comedian Stephanie McHugh! This is an 18 and over event with adult content.
Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St., Denver
6:00 – 9:30 p.m.
Tickets: $55
Phone: 720-934-5090
JACK BLACK AND THE SYMPHONY
Whether you’re a fan of Jack Black, the Colorado Symphony, or both, you won’t want to miss this incredible evening of music history in the making! The Greatest Band in History (aka Tenacious D) is made up of the incomparable Jack Black and Kyle Gass.
Tenacious D has been playing rock music together since the last millennium, including on an HBO series back in 1999. Now they’re making their Red Rocks debut with the release of their latest album, Post-Apocalypto—with accompaniment by the Colorado Symphony!
Red Rocks Amphitheater, 18300 W. Alameda Pkwy., Morrison
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $55-$89.50
Phone: 303-623-7876
NACHO MEN AT SOUTHLANDS
For almost thirty years, The Nacho Men have been entertaining the Denver area with their wacky stage antics and impersonations of superstar performers like Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars, Prince, David Bowie, Mic Jagger, Elvis Presley and others.
Their music and choreography is as impressive as their stylish delivery, as they bring over five decades of music to life, from a capella 1950s to 70s disco to the latest dance music. This FREE concert is part of the Southlands Summer Concert Series!
Southlands, 6155 S. Main St., Aurora
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
MOJABLU BRINGS YOU PG6IX!
Pronounced “Page Six,” this is Denver’s hottest party band, appearing live on the lawn at the MoJaBlu Concert Series at Stapleton! You can bring a blanket or lawn chair, but you will not be able to stay in your seat, as this energetic band plays all the hits from classic Motown to old-school funk to hip-hop and modern pop songs.
Stapleton’s Conservatory Green, 49th Pl. and Valentia St., Denver
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
Phone: 303-388-0724
Thursday-Sunday, July 25-28
TAKE A STAYCATION IN WONDERLAND!
Follow Alice down the Rabbit Hole and you’ll find a ton of things to do in Aurora’s own Wonderland! The Gaylord Rockies Resort is hosting an Alice-themed SummerFest, with many activities open to the general public!
Younger kids will love helping the Cheshire Cat find his missing amulet on this unique and fun Scavenger Hunt all around the resort! Older kids and adults will have a blast in the Mad Hatter’s Escape Room. And on weekends, the whole family can enjoy a delicious Breakfast in Wonderland buffet with interactive characters! For a true staycation, the resort is also offering a locals’ special rate of $189 per night!
Gaylord Rockies Resort, 6700 N. Gaylord Rockies Blvd., Aurora
Times vary by event
Cost: Varies by event; $7.99 – $32.99
Phone: 720-452-6900
FINAL WEEKEND – CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
Don’t miss this delectable musical adaptation of the charming book and movie that has been every kid’s favorite for the past fifty years! The stage production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is full of all the whimsy and magic of the original story!
Willy Wonka will be there, along with Veruca Salt, Augustus Gloop, Violet Beauregarde, and Mike Teavee—all who have just won a visit inside the wonderful Chocolate Factory. You can bet Charlie and Grandpa Joe will be there, too, and you won’t want to miss seeing them LIVE in this family-favorite musical!
Buell Theatre/DCPA, Speer Blvd. & Arapahoe St., Denver
Thurs./Fri./Sat./Sun., 7:30 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $45-$150
Phone: 800-641-1222
Friday, July 26
SALSA SHOWDOWN
What better way to celebrate summer than with a Salsa Showdown? EarthLink Gardens will offer a spread of great salsas to try from several restaurants around town, as well as brews from local breweries! Your ticket includes five voting stubs to give to your favorite salsa makers to help decide the Salsa Champion!
EarthLinks, 2746 W. 13th Ave., Denver
5:00-7:00 p.m.
Cost: $15-$45, FREE for ages 10 and under
Phone: 303-389-0085
MOVIE ON THE GREEN – CRAZY RICH ASIANS
With Awkwafina hosting SNL and appearing on every late-night talk show this month, isn’t it time to see Crazy Rich Asians again—this time for FREE in the park?
Better than a drive-in movie, the Movie on the Green Series brings an outdoor movie experience to Founders Green Park at Stapleton! Movies are FREE to attend and open to the public. Arrive early to get a good seat, and bring your own lawn chairs and blankets. Complete with a concessions stand selling freshly popped popcorn, candy, sodas and bottled water!
Founders Green Park, 29th Ave & Roslyn St, Denver
Dusk (approximately 8:00 p.m.)
Cost: FREE
Phone: 303-388-0724
Friday-Sunday, July 26-28
EMMA – ON STAGE!
Based on the beloved Jane Austen novel with the same name, this stage adaptation is a romantic comedy that captures the wit and charm of the original story! Emma Woodhouse is a self-proclaimed matchmaker, always ready to help her friends and acquaintances with their romantic endeavors. As vivacious Emma takes on a new project—finding a suitor for her shy friend, Harriet—she unwittingly does the unthinkable: she falls in love herself!
Vintage Theatre Productions, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $32
Phone: 303-856-7830
INDIGENOUS POP!
In collaboration with the Denver American Indian Commission, Native Realities presents Indigenous POP X Denver, the most exciting pop culture convention to hit the Mile High City! Born from the Indigenous Comic Con, IPX Denver is a three-day Comic Convention and Pop Culture Festival highlighting the incredible artistic and creative contributions of Native American and Indigenous people in the areas of comics, film, futurisms, fashion, and much, much more!
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tickets: $35-$225
Saturday, July 27
DESTINATION HEALTH FAMILY FEST
Who knew a health fair could be so much fun? The Destination Health Family Fest takes place in City Park’s beautiful pavilion by the lake and features music by DJ K-Tone! This is one health fair the kids will love to attend, with awesome activities like an inflatable dragon obstacle course, giant puzzles, balloon art, hula hoops, and face painting!
Meanwhile, you can check out the Movement Zone and try out some yoga, Zumba, line dancing, belly dancing, or rent a paddle boat on the lake! Healthy and delicious food includes gourmet salads and wraps, BBQ, smoothies, and a Farmers’ Market. Don’t miss out on this wholesome fun for the whole family!
City Park, 1700 N. York St., Denver
8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
Phone: 303-355-3423
SOUTHLANDS FARMERS’ MARKET
It’s the peak of the summer season, so check out the bounty of Colorado’s farms and homemade goodies! For the freshest fruits, vegetables, baked goods, honey, jams and more, get up early for the best pickings! And don’t forget to bring plenty of shopping bags for the plethora of produce available at the Farmers’ Market!
Southlands, 6155 S. Main St., Aurora
8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Phone: 303-627-5000
REFLECTION GARDEN ON-TAP BEER FEST
Join the Aurora community at the On Tap Beer Festival and help raise money for an important cause. The festival surrounds Ascentiate, the artwork that was installed last year to honor those whose lives were lost or changed forever by the Aurora theater tragedy.
This is a family-friendly event with free admission that includes live music by DJ Sinna G and Shelvis, booths, and sidewalk chalk artists creating masterpieces in an intimate garden setting! For those 21 and over, you may also purchase tickets for unlimited beer tastings from over a dozen local breweries.
Aurora Water Wise Garden, 15151 E. Alameda Pkwy., Aurora
5:00-8:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE admission; Beer Tickets $20-$35
Sunday, July 28
DASH FOR SMILES
This is a 5K run/walk dedicated to raising awareness of cleft lip and palate, while helping families struggling with the financial difficulties of healthcare costs related to having a child affected by cleft.
The day begins with a silent auction prior to the race, then participants line up to run or walk around beautiful Stapleton Central Park! There will be refreshments as well as a beer garden at the finish line for participants 21 and over!
Stapleton Central Park, 8601 E. Martin Luther King Blvd., Denver
8:30-11:30 a.m.
Tickets: $15-$35
Phone: 720-231-3124
Beat the Heat in Southshore!
There’s the pool at the Lakehouse, and there’s always 800 scres of cool blue water at the Aurora Reservoir – a bike ride away from the family-friendly community of Southshore! Enjoy Life at the Lake with plenty of recreational and entertainment activities nearby! 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.