Ringing in the New Year!

December 26, 2019

It’s not only the end of the year but also the end of a decade. Let’s hope the new 20s are as fun as the Roaring 20s were! There will be plenty of celebrations for families as well as couples as we ring in the New Year. Let the kids do a sleepover at the zoo while you choose from an upscale White Rose charity gala or a Night in Vienna at the symphony. Or maybe you want to celebrate together as a family—you can go to a family-friendly comedy show or watch the epic fireworks display on the 16th Street Mall!

Thursday-Monday, December 26-30

FINAL CHANCE FOR ZOO LIGHTS
In case you were too busy before Christmas to get to Zoo Lights, you’ve still got one weekend left! The millions of lights that deck the walkways of the zoo will inspire childlike wonder in everyone! Even the animals are in the holiday spirit!

Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St., Aurora
5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Tickets: $15-$20
Phone: 720-432-9162

Thursday-Tuesday, December 26-31

CAMP CHRISTMAS CONTINUES
Years from now you’ll be able to say you attended the inaugural year of Denver’s most exciting Christmas celebration! Camp Christmas is a hands-on mash-up of holiday history and pop culture—an installation filled with fantastic “what if” scenarios, like Santa at an ancient Roman festival or Marie Antoinette at the helm of a Rococo sled. The whole family will be enchanted!

The Hangar at Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St., Aurora
10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. 
Tickets: $10 – $15
Phone: 303-893-4100

DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY CAROUSEL 
You can hop aboard the festive carousel anytime you’re on the 16th Street Mall between now and New Year’s Eve, but on Friday, all rides are FREE! Treat your family to this magical Christmas tradition in downtown Denver. Speaking of New Year’s Eve, the carousel will be open until 1:00 a.m. after the celebrations are over!

Denver Pavilions, 16th and Glenarm, Denver
Thurs./Fri./Sat./Sun./Mon., 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.; Tues., 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m. next day
Tickets: FREE to $3
Phone: 303-260-6000

$1 KIDS ADMISSION AT THE AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM
Whether you’ve been meaning to check out the fascinating and fabulous exhibits at the Air and Space Museum or you’re a seasoned fan, the special $1 admission for kids ages 4-16, now through the end of winter break, makes it a no-brainer for a fun afternoon outing.  

Wings Over the Rockies, 7711 E. Academy Blvd., Denver
12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: $1 (Kids) – $16.95
Phone: 303-360-5360

LIGHTS BLOSSOM IN THE GARDENS
One of the highlights of spending the holidays in Denver is the magical display of lights at the Botanic Gardens! Everyone in the family will be enthralled by this twinkling winter wonderland with fresh and exciting new features, including a 360-degree immersive light experience.

Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St., Denver
Thurs./Fri., 8:00 p.m.; Sat., 7:00 and 8:00 p.m.; Sun./Mon./Tues., 6:00, 7:00, and 8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $18-$21
Phone: 720-865-3500

ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE
If you know and love the iconic Jimmy Buffett song, you won’t want to miss the musical comedy that was inspired by it! With a lay-back vibe and invitation to get away from it all, Margaritaville is a destination you will be thrilled to take part in!

Written by Emmy Award-winning writers and filled with the best-loved Jimmy Buffett classics, this feel-good musical was dubbed “a little slice of paradise” by USA Today. So escape from the winter weather for an evening in Margaritaville! 

The Buell Theatre, 1350 Curtis St., Denver, CO 80204
7:30 p.m. 
Tickets: $35-$110
Phone: 303-893-4100

Friday, December 27

PIANIST JIM BRICKMAN IN CONCERT
This talented musician not only knows how to write one hit song after another, he’s also the best-selling solo pianist of our time and has revolutionized the popularity of modern instrumental music. Jim Brickman’s distinctive piano style and captivating live performances make him a must-see act this holiday season!

Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Pl., Denver
7:30-9:30 p.m.
Tickets: Starting at $72
Phone: 802-255-1826

Sunday-Tuesday,  December 29-31

JAMES TAYLOR TRIBUTE SHOW
Just in time for the New Year, travel back to years past when poetic songwriting melded with melodic guitar riffs. This special tribute concert celebrates the prolific career of singer/songwriter James Taylor and his long-time collaborators Carole King and Carly Simon.

Talented musician Kenny Moten and friends play Taylor’s Top 40 hits like Carolina In My Mind, Mexico, and Fire and Rain, as well as chart toppers from Simon and King, including I Feel The Earth Move, It’s Too Late, and You’re So Vain, in an immersive set. 

Aurora Arts Fox Center, 9900 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora
Sun., 2:00 p.m.; Tues., 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $28
Phone: 303-739-1970

Tuesday, December 31

NOON YEAR’S EVE
No need to travel to Times Square—or even stay up until midnight—in order to celebrate New Year’s Eve! The sights, sounds, and excitement of the big ball drop at Times Square are coming to the Children’s Museum of Denver—all before bedtime! 

This child-centric celebration is filled with countdowns and ball drops every hour! There will be rainbow confetti, bubble wrap fireworks, crafts, music, special characters, and more!

Children’s Museum of Denver, 2121 Children’s Museum Dr., Denver
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: $14-$16
Phone: 303-433-7444

ZOO YEAR’S EVE
Give your children the adventure of a lifetime—a sleepover with the animals at the Denver Zoo! This will be no ordinary New Year’s Eve for children ages 5-13 as they have a chance to explore the zoo after dark and learn about the resident animals—all in a safe and fun environment.

Bonus for parents: you get to have your own night out on the town!

Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St., Aurora
6:00 p.m. – 10:00 a.m. next day
Tickets: $65-$75
Phone: 720-432-9162

COMEDIC NEW YEAR’S EVE
Start the new year and new decade with a laugh! Jordan Rock will headline three hilarious New Year’s Eve shows—one for ALL AGES! This talented comedian is best-known for his three seasons on Judd Apatow’s Netflix series LOVE, and he’s appeared in the Netflix films The After Party, Big Time Adolescence, and Take The 10.

The family show (PG-13) starts at 6:00; the later shows are for adults 21 and over. The 10:00 p.m. extravaganza includes party favors, a midnight champagne toast and countdown with the comics!

Comedy Works, 1226 15th St., Denver
6:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m., and 10:00 p.m.
Tickets: $40-$60
Phone: 303-595-3637

COLFAX OLD-TIME JAM
The People’s Building monthly Old-Time Jam series just happens to fall on New Year’s Eve! How lucky! Old-time musician, teacher, and producer Matt Brown leads the jam, which is open to all levels of string band players. Listeners are also invited and welcome!  There will be a cash bar to start your New Year’s Eve celebration early!

The People’s Building, 9995 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora
6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE

A NIGHT IN VIENNA WITH THE SYMPHONY
This is a Colorado tradition! Start your new year and decade with an uplifting and festive performance by the Colorado Symphony. Waltz into the New Year with A Night in Vienna, featuring a selection of polkas, waltzes, and marches, including works by Strauss, Verdi, Bernstein, and Nicolai. And the performance will conclude just time to catch the 16th Street Mall fireworks!

Boettcher Concert Hall/DCPA, Speer Blvd. & Arapahoe St., Denver
6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $20-$94
Phone: 303-623-7876

SMOOTH CITY HARMONIES
For a smooth and soulful New Year’s Eve, join four powerhouse vocalists for one unforgettable evening!  Denver’s First Lady, Mary Louise Lee, will be joined the cabaret stage by Leonard Barrett, Randy Chalmers and Rajdulari for a celebration of fun, music and harmony. You’ll also enjoy a complementary glass of champagne! Feel free to stay after the concert to drink, dance, and celebrate with your local theatre!

Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora 
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $39-$49
Phone: 303-856-7830

THE ROARING 20S MAKE A COMEBACK!
If ever there was a New Year’s Eve to don a flapper dress or fancy fedora, this is it! Start the new Roaring 20s decade with a high-end celebration that embraces everything fancy and sequined! 

The White Rose Gala is an elegant charity event where you will be immersed in classic musical and theatrical performances. Be transported to an era of a modern renaissance where style, opulence, and grace were the only way to swing.

Ellie Caulkins Opera House, 1385 Curtis St., Denver
8:00 p.m. – Midnight
Tickets: $63
Phone: 720-865-4239

NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS DOWNTOWN
Begin the new decade gazing skyward at beautiful lights! The New Year’s Eve fireworks display in Downtown Denver is legendary. There are two times to catch the Mile High City fireworks display, so if you want to bring the kids and make an early evening of it, there’s a show for that! 

Both shows are identical and include DJs set up along the Mall who will be playing tunes from 8:00 p.m. through the midnight show. 

16th Street Mall, Downtown Denver
9:00 p.m. and Midnight
Information: FREE

“WHAT A YEAR” NYE PARTY
With all its ups and downs, 2019 was quite a year. Celebrate the end of this complex decade as we embark upon 2020! This exclusive “What A Year” party will highlight the wins and losses of the year. Buy your ticket in advance online—none will be available at the door.

The party features Alidane & DJ Ambitious Boy spinning all your favorite beats! You must be 18 to get lit and 21 to sip.

The People’s Building, 9995 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora
10:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. next day
Tickets: $7 – $10

Happy New Year From Southshore!

Make 2020 the year you live away from it all, but close to everything, in the lakeside master-planned community of Southshore! If you’re new to Life at the Lake, drive around and check out the beautiful model homes from William Lyon Homes, Century Communities, Richmond American Homes and Toll Brothers. Available in ranch and two-story designs, Southshore homes are priced between the upper $400s to the $700s.