Memorial Day Weekend – Live and In Person!

May 27, 2021

With a great mix of entertainment—from fireworks at Elitch’s to drive-in movies at Red Rocks to outdoor classical music—this may be the most exciting Memorial Day Weekend ever! One thing NOT on this week’s list: virtual events! Everything is live and in-person! 

TODAY/TONIGHT, May 27

DENVER PHILHARMONIC IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD!

Pack a picnic and bring a blanket or chairs to set up on the grass, then sit back and enjoy an open-air concert by the Denver Philharmonic! Even better, enjoy the food and drinks of more than 20 vendors at the Stanley Marketplace.

The concert will be a joyful performance of four familiar and optimistic works—Rossini’s playful overture to The Barber of Seville; Mendelssohn’s lyrical Hebrides about reemergence from dark times; Elegía Andina, a Peruvian adventure by Gabriela Lena Frank; and closing the concert, Beethoven’s magnificent Seventh Symphony!

Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St., Aurora
7:00 – 8:15 p.m.
Tickets: $0-$25

Thursday – Monday, May 27-31

BLACK LOVE MURAL FESTIVAL
Local Black artists have been sketching and planning their murals for months, and now they are ready to paint them for the world to see! In recognition of Black Lives Matters, and in partnership with Denver Parks and Recreation, this meaningful work in progress begins today! Stop by to watch painters painting, listen to a workshop, or join in the activism. Murals will remain on display through August 2!

Civic Center Park, 101 W. 14th Ave., Denver
Information: FREE (Just Show Up)

JURASSIC EMPIRE
One of the more brilliant drive-through exhibits, this event mimics the safari experience seen in Jurassic Park, where cars drive through herds of grazing dinosaurs. When you purchase a ticket for your car and all the passengers in it, you’ll experience over 60 moving, breathing, and walking dinosaurs from the comfort and safety of your own vehicle. You must purchase tickets online in advance.

National Western Complex, 4655 Humboldt St., Denver
Thurs./Fri., 2:00-8:00 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Mon., 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tickets: $61-$97 per vehicle 

FILM ON THE ROCKS DRIVE-IN
A silver lining of the pandemic was the comeback of drive-in movies. Red Rocks is continuing its popular Film on the Rocks series, with a variety of blockbuster classic movies to watch from the comfort of your car. Even better, all tickets include a bag of popcorn, a theater-size box of candy, and two soft drinks!

This weekend, you can catch Bruce Lee’s 1973 martial arts action film Enter the Dragon on Friday, the heartwarming and hilarious The Sand Lot on Saturday, Tim Burton’s spooky Beetlejuice on Sunday, or the truly scary Aliens on Monday night!

Red Rocks Park Lower South Parking Lot, 18300 W. Alameda Pkwy., Morrison
8:30 p.m.
Tickets: $59.50 per car

Friday, May 28

RINO’S BAZAAR
Nothing is more festive than springtime in the city when you hang out at a Friday night open-air festival! There will be booths filled with handcrafted items, yummy food, cocktails, wine, and beer. Live music will put you in a party mood!

2424 Larimer St., Denver
4:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE (Just Show Up)
Phone: 720-432-8125

COMEDY SHOWCASE
Stand-up comedy fans will be ecstatic to catch a live show again! The Denver Comedy Lounge features the best local and national talent, many who have been featured on Comedy Central, NBC, TBS, HBO Netflix and Amazon.

Due to social distancing, you must purchase tickets in pods of 2-6 people, so gather a group of friends and split the cost! There’s also full service dining available on site from Denver Sushi House!

Colorado Sake Co., 3559 Larimer St., Denver
Fri., 6:50 and 8:45 p.m.; Sat., 6:00, 8:00, and 10:00 p.m.; Sun., 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $12.75 – $18 per person

Friday-Sunday, May 28-30

DISCO BISCUITS AT RED ROCKS
Red Rocks Amphitheatre has been given the green light to begin raising their audience capacity limits—just in time to catch the most fun act of the summer! The Disco Biscuits have been around since the mid-90s, bridging the gap between electronic music and jam bands. Their music has evolved over the years, but their concerts remain firmly in the camp of marathon dance parties!  

Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Pkwy., Morrison
Fri./Sat./Sun., 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $55-$75

Friday – Monday, May 28-31

ELITCH GARDENS IS BACK
Kicking off the summer with their traditional fireworks display on Sunday night, Elitch Gardens reminds us why we love the Mile High city so much! Families who postponed visits to the theme park last summer can make up for it now—2020 Day Tickets will be valid any regular operating day in 2021!

Buy your tickets in advance online and shave off a bunch of money from the front gate general admission price. The Water Park will also be open on Saturday and Sunday until 6:00 p.m. Treat the family to a classic summer day!

Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park, 2000 Elitch Cir., Denver
Fri./Sat./Sun., 10:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.; Mon., 10:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Tickets: $44.95 – $64.95; Kids 2 and under are FREE
Phone: 303-595-4386 

Saturday, May 29

COLORADO REMEMBERS
If you’ve never visited the Colorado Freedom Memorial in Aurora, today is the perfect time to do it. With glass panels that reflect the mountains and skies, the memorial holds the names of over 6,000 Coloradans killed or missing in action. 

The Colorado Remembers ceremony will include displays of military artifacts and themed entertainment. A pancake breakfast will be served in the morning on a donation basis. After the ceremony, tours of the memorial will be held.

Springhill Community Park, 756 Telluride St., Aurora
8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Information: FREE (Just Show Up)
Phone: 303-739-7170

Saturday-Sunday, May 29-30

BELLEVIEW STATION SPRING BAZAAR
For a taste of springtime in the Rockies, visit the lively outdoor marketplace at Belleview Station this weekend! Over 70 craft, food, art, and fashion vendors will be there to check out. This event is kid and dog friendly, so bring the whole family!

Entry is free OR you can buy a Shop & Sip Ticket, which includes unlimited mimosas and Aperol Spritz during your visit. Shop & Sip Tickets also include a Denver BAZAAR glass and shopping tote bag.

Belleview Station, 4910 S. Newport St., Denver
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE (Just Show Up) or $25 Shop & Sip Ticket (Advance Purchase)

COLORADO MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL
This major arts festival includes a wide lineup of national country music recording artists, as well as juried visual artists. There will be a Taste of Denver Food Garden as well as a Wine and Cheese Garden. The music alone is well worth the drive up to Westminster! Concert line-up includes Stone Senate from Nashville, the Wilder Blue with Zane Williams from Dallas, Texas Hill from Nashville, and many more!

The Artists Market features the works of more than 80 talented visual artists. Art for sale includes paintings, photography, sculpture, stained glass, and unique handcrafted jewelry, candles, and gifts. Each afternoon there’s a Classic Car Show, with 20 restored classic and antique display vehicles. Kids will love playing Ultimate Laser Tag and trying to guess magicians’ secrets. There’s even an Army pull-up/push-up contest!

Westminster City Park, 10455 N. Sheridan Blvd., Westminster
11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Tickets: $10 – $15; Kids 12 and under are FREE

OUTDOOR CHAMBER MUSIC
The Colorado Symphony is bringing smaller ensembles of musicians to perform open-air chamber music concerts under the glass in the Arts Complex Galleria. You’ll enjoy soaring classical repertoire in a safe, physically distanced manner.

Tickets are sold as physically-distanced tables of two or four people, with no combining of tables permitted. Colorado Symphony strongly encourages the u​se of facial coverings as a kindness and courtesy to your fellow patrons when moving in and about the venue and when not actively eating or drinking. Cash bar and limited grab-and-go-snacks will be available for purchase in the Boettcher lobby.

Arts Complex Galleria, 1400 Curtis St., Denver
Sat./Sun., 3:00 p.m.; Sun., 6:00 p.m.
Tickets: $120 (Table for 2) – $240 (Table for 4)

Saturday-Monday, May 29-31

WATER WORLD OPENS!
The return of fun summer activities is something your kids have been looking forward to. With the opening of Water World this weekend, their dreams can begin to come true! This mega family water park features more than 50 aquatic attractions on 70 beautifully landscaped acres.

Take a thrilling ride on the first water coaster in the Rockies or try your luck in the giant wave pool, white-water rapids, or speed slides. Themed attractions include Voyage to the Center of the Earth, Big Top Family Fun Zone, and Wally World for little ones!

Water World, 8801 N. Pecos St., Denver
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tickets: $21.99-$49.99
Phone: 303-650-7644 

Sunday, May 30

FREE JAZZ BRUNCH!
Head over to The People’s Building for a set of fantastic jazz with the , followed by a jam session led by Daryl Gott. Entry to the concert is free, and you can order some of your favorite food from nearby Third Culture Bakery or Baba & Pops and bring it into the gallery!

The bar will be open and stocked with wine, canned cocktails, and beer from Lady Justice Brewing. 

The People’s Building, 9995 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE

The Arts, Music and So Much 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? With beautiful model homes from Toll Brothers, Taylor Morrison, and Richmond American Homes, it’s easy to picture yourself in your own new home, priced from the upper $400s to the $700s.