May the Fourth Be With You Weekend!

May 2, 2019

And that means Star Wars celebrations for adults as well as the entire family! Hang out at the Air and Space Museum’s May the 4th celebration, run a virtual four-mile race in honor of the day, or attend a grown-up Star Wars cosplay party! There are also concerts, theatre, ballet, and a derby of mini-horses on this Kentucky Derby weekend! It’s also Cinco de Mayo, so there will be no shortage of fun festivities in the Denver/Aurora area this weekend!

TODAY/TONIGHT, May 2

WOMEN WITH HATTITUDE
A stylish spring luncheon that benefits a wonderful cause and gives you the chance to show off your best hat! The Women with Hattitude event begins with wine and mingling, followed by an elegant Epicurean-catered lunch with stunning views in the dramatic Seawell Ballroom at the Denver Center for Performing Arts.

A surprise performance and the dramatic Macy’s Parade of Hats will follow, featuring the best 50 hats at the event—and even prizes! All this and you’ll also be supporting the  Women’s Voices Fund, established by the DCPA in 2005 to commission, develop and produce new plays by women.

Seawell Ballroom/Helen Bonfils Theatre/DPAC, Speer Blvd. & Arapahoe St., Denver
10:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $65-$150
Phone: 303-893-4100

MUSIC FROM FINAL FANTASY
Inspired by one of the most popular video games of all time, Final Fantasy, this international concert phenomenon will be a favorite with music lovers and gamers alike! Nobuo Uematsu’s stirring music is conducted by Grammy Award-winner Arnie Roth, and the Colorado Symphony and Colorado Symphony Chorus play beneath the awe-inspiring HD video from Square Enix. Don’t miss this treat for your eyes as well as your ears!

Boettcher Concert Hall/DCPA, Speer Blvd. & Arapahoe St., Denver
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $15-$89
Phone: 303-623-7876

Thursday-Sunday, May 2-5

FINAL WEEKEND – CAROLINE OR CHANGE
A dramatic musical that takes on themes of race relations, family ties, and loyalty, Caroline, or Change is set in the Deep South during the Civil Rights Movement. Caroline is a black maid who works for a middle-class Jewish family. When some household money goes missing, Caroline is caught in the crosshairs between the two families.

This Tony Award-nominated musical features a virtuosic score that blends blues, gospel, and traditional Jewish melodies into a magical, show-stopping musical masterpiece.

Aurora Fox Arts Center, 9900 E. Colfax, Aurora
Thurs./Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $20-$37
Phone: 303-739-1970

Friday, May 3

KIDS’ NIGHT OUT
Drop the kids off to a safe and fun Kids’ Night Out and you know your kids will be well-cared for! There will be a movie screening of the Princess and the Frog, about a waitress, desperate to fulfill her dreams as a restaurant owner, sets out on a journey to turn a frog prince back into a human being, but she has to face the same problem after she kisses him. Join the film fun, as well as dinner, arts and crafts, and games for kids through the age of 12 who are potty-trained. Registration is required.

The Lakehouse, YMCA Southshore, 27151 E. Lakeview Dr., Aurora
6:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Cost: $15-$17
Phone: 720-870-2221 

PAULA POUNDSTONE LIVE

If you are a fan of NPR’s Wait, Wait—Don’t Tell Me, you’ll instantly recognize this hilarious comedian as a frequent panelist on the weekly comedy quiz show. With her smart, observational humor and a legendary spontaneous interaction with the crowd, Paula Poundstone is one of the preeminent comedians in the country.

Truly a legend, she was named on Comedy Central’s list of The 100 Best Standup Comics of All Time. Her guest appearances include The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Star Talk with Neil deGrasse Tyson, Late Night with Carson Daly, and Nerdist with Chris Hardwick. Poundstone voiced the character Forgotten Paula in Disney/Pixar’s Inside Out. She has had numerous HBO specials and starred in her own series on HBO and ABC. Her second special for HBO, Paula Poundstone Goes to Harvard, marked the first time the elite university allowed its name to be used in the title of a television show.

Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Pl., Denver
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: Starting at $65
Phone: 802-255-1826

Friday-Saturday, May 3-4

FANCY FOOTWORK BY THE DANCERS
The Colorado Ballet dancers themselves organize and perform in this special fundraising evening, to benefit the Colorado Ballet’s Career Transition Fund, Next Step. A dancer’s career flares brilliantly yet briefly, and the next step in their lives is always on the horizon. Help them to move on gracefully!

Selections include excerpts from the great classics to new contemporary works by choreographers within the Colorado Ballet family. All proceeds from the event will go towards Next Step.

Armstrong Center for Dance, 1075 Santa Fe Drive, Denver
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $30
Phone: 303-837-8888

Saturday, May 4

MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU
On this special weekend of honoring everyone’s favorite space movies, Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum offers a a premier Star Wars event in Denver—a full day of family-friendly activities! 

There will be no shortage of seriously cool activities and exhibits to participate in, including a chance to jump on a speeder bike in Green Screen Adventures, Shoot-A-Trooper, Bounty Hunter Training, live Lego build stations, and the chance to meet tons of your favorite characters from your favorite Far, Far Away Galaxy. There will be plenty of refreshments and a limited supply of foam sabers available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, 7711 E. Academy Blvd., Denver
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: $8.50-$10
Phone: 303-360-5360

DENVER MINI-DERBY
No animals are hurt in this fun derby with mini-horses! This Kentucky Derby-themed party gives you the opportunity to dress up in your biggest hat and pastel suit for a day at the races…a live mini-horse “race.” With all the pomp and circumstance of the Kentucky Derby, this fun “mini-derby” benefits charities and features adorable mini horses!

You can watch the actual Kentucky Derby as well, projected live on large screens. You’ll have a chance for photo ops with the mini-horses, and charitable betting raises the stakes! After the races, there will be a live band and DJ for dancing, best costume contests, lawn games, mint juleps, and a barbecue! This event is for ages 21 and over.

The North Green, 8303 E. 49th Pl., Denver 
1:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Tickets: Starting at $99

MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU VIRTUAL RACE
It’s a four-mile challenge you can walk or run to celebrate May the 4th Be With You Day, but with a special twist—this is a virtual race that can be run any time, any where, during the month of May! When you complete the race, you’ll receive a cool glow-in-the-dark medal of Yoda that says: “In a dark place we find ourselves, and a little more knowledge lights our way.”

A virtual race is a race that can be run (or walked) from any location you choose. You can run, jog, or walk on the road, on the trail, on the treadmill, at the gym or on the track (or even at another race). You get to run your own race, at your own pace, and time it yourself. Run on your own, or with friends! When you complete your race, submit your time to have your medal shipped out to you. Complete your race any time in May 2019— even better if you complete it on May the 4th!

Any location (It’s a Virtual Race!)
Starting at 1:00 p.m. through the end of May
Registration: $9 – $20

GROWNUP MAY THE FOURTH PARTY
Don’t miss ArtWar, the Star Wars-themed Art Party, held every May the Fourth to celebrate Star Wars the way only artists can! Cosplay (dressing up as your favorite Stars Wars character) is highly encouraged!

There is simply no better way to celebrate your love for these iconic movies! Special galactic drinks from The Dark Side and Rebel Alliance will be available, and there will be dancing at a not-so-silent disco! Artists’ prints and shirts will be available for purchase, and the entire space will be transformed specifically for this event. Must be 21 and over to attend. You may even find that droid you’ve been looking for!

Curtis Hotel, 1405 Curtis St., Denver
8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Tickets: $20 (FREE with advance registration)
Phone: 720-500-3409

Saturday-Sunday, May 4-5

AURORA CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION
Aurora knows how to throw a fiesta! This FREE family-friendly Cinco De Mayo event will include great music, games, arts and crafts activities, dance, theater, and cultural performances. This event came about when area residents asked to have their own Cinco De Mayo celebration in Aurora, reflecting the culturally diverse mix of people in our community.

Fletcher Plaza, 9898 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora
Sat., 12:00 – 8:00 p.m.; Sun., 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
Phone: 303-360-5360

Sunday, May 5

MOOSE MUDDER AND 5K  
Everyone loves a good mudder, and this 1st Annual Moose Mudder promises to be a tradition the entire community looks forward to year after year! There will be a 5K timed run, followed by a one-mile walk/run. Registration includes your race bib, t-shirt, and moose antlers, as well as the super-fun muddy obstacle course that awaits after the race is over. There’s even a shower!

You’ll be hungry by the time you’re finished, so bring an extra $5 along for a delicious stack of pancakes and sausage served by Flippin’ Flapjacks. There will be winners announced in multiple age categories.

Altitude Elementary School, 27300 E. Southshore Pkwy, Aurora
8:00 a.m.
Registration: $25 – $30

CINCO DE MAYO CONCERT AND FIESTA 
The Colorado Symphony will be performing a festive concert celebrating the rich cultural heritage that makes our community so special. Bring the entire family! There will be fun activities for all ages revolving around Mexican culture, music, and regional dancing.

Prior to the concert, a FREE celebration will be held in the Denver Performing Arts Complex Galleria, featuring local Mariachi and Folklorico talent. Local food carts with authentic Mexican food and beverages will add to the fun.

Boettcher Concert Hall/DCPA, Speer Blvd. & Arapahoe St., Denver
12:00 – 2:00 p.m. – Celebration; 2:30 p.m. – Concert
Tickets: Celebration – FREE; Concert: $10-$27
Phone: 303-623-7876

No shortage of activities near Southshore!

There’s no shortage of things to do near the master-planned community of Southshore! You get the tranquility of lakeside living with easy access to your favorite urban activities. Stop by and see for yourself how great Life at the Lake can be! With beautiful model homes from Toll Brothers, Century Communities, and Richmond American Homes, it’s easy to picture yourself in your own new home, priced from the upper $400s and the $700s.