Ringing in the New Year!

December 27, 2018

You have so many choices this New Year’s Eve! Celebrate early with the kids early at one of many Noon Year’s Eve celebrations, or go all out with a grown-up party in the evening. You don’t need to venture far from home to find a stylish and fun celebration—Aurora has a number of theatrical, musical and themed parties to choose from on New Year’s Eve.

Friday, December 28

50TH ANNIVERSARY OF APOLLO 8
It was fifty years ago when the second manned Apollo mission, Apollo 8, was launched. Come and hear space-enthusiasts Stephen Kelly and Chuck Stout as they present the exciting “firsts” of this mission: the first manned spacecraft to leave low Earth orbit, and the first to reach the Moon, orbit it and then safely return to Earth. Tickets for this presentation will also give you entry into the Air & Space Museum for the day.

Wings Over the Rockies, 7711 East Academy Blvd., Denver
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $11.50 – $15
Phone: 303-360-5360

Friday-Saturday, December 28-29

PAW PATROL LIVE!
If your kids are PAW Patrol fans, you can’t miss this opportunity to take them to see the whole gang of pups in their live stage show, The Great Pirate Adventure. When Ryder and his team of pirate pups are called to rescue Cap’n Turbot from a mysterious cavern, they discover a pirate treasure map! It’s all paws on deck for this pirate adventure, including some help from the newest pup … Tracker!

Bellco Theatre, 700 14th St., Denver
Fri./Sat., 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $22 – $62
Phone: 303-228-8260

Friday-Sunday, December 28-30

MARY POPPINS IS IN TOWN!
The whole family will love this Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious musical! Based on the beloved Disney movie, the stage version of Mary Poppins will delight kids and parents alike. With all of the favorite songs from the movie, you’ll be singing along with Chim Chim Cher-ee and Let’s Go Fly a Kite long after the curtain closes!

Vintage Theatre Productions, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $38
Phone: 303-856-7830

Sunday, December 30

THE BEACH BOYS – LIVE!
“Fifty years ago, we started something very big,” says Brian Wilson. “So now we’re celebrating together in a very big way.” To mark their 50th Anniversary, the founding members of The Beach Boys have reunited for a major international tour!

Just as winter is settling in, it’s the perfect time to escape to the forever summer sounds of the Beach Boys! Generations of fans have grooved to the sounds of Good Vibrations and Wouldn’t It Be Nice. The band will be performing music from their earliest surf rock classics, featuring their famous harmonies, as well as all the classic songs everyone knows and loves!

Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Pl., Denver
7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $50-$90

Monday, December 31

NOON YEAR’S EVE AT CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
Little ones don’t need to stay up until midnight to share in the excitement of the Times Square ball drop and countdown—the Children’s Museum will be offering NYE activities all day long! 

Activities for kids include countdowns and ball drops each hour outside; rainbow confetti and bubble wrap fireworks; entertainment by beatboxer, Mr. Kneel; sparkler and noisemaker crafts; more sparkling with special science experiments; and festive treats in the Teaching Kitchen!

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

NOON YEAR’S EVE AT THE AQUARIUM!
The whole family can celebrate New Year’s Eve together at the Denver Aquarium. There will be fun activities for kids including aquatic-themed events like beach ball, balloon drop, animal interactions, a photo app with Starkey the mascot, and a sparkling cider toast! Ticket purchase includes free admission to the Aquarium Adventure Exhibit.

Denver Aquarium, 700 Water St., Denver
11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $19.99 – $28.99
Phone: 303-561-4450

BUNK WITH THE BEASTS – NEW YEAR’S EVE
A special treat for the kids—a New Year’s Eve sleepover at the zoo! Denver Zoo’s Bunk with the Beasts Adventure is an extraordinary way for your children to celebrate the new year in a safe and fun environment—while you are enjoying your own night out on the town! The evening includes a tour of Zoo Lights, a pizza dinner, an evening snack, and a warm morning breakfast. Open to kids ages 5-13.

Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St., Denver
6:00 p.m. – 10:00 a.m. (next day)
Tickets: $65-$75
Phone: 720-337-1400

A NIGHT IN VIENNA WITH THE SYMPHONY
Start your New Year’s Eve celebration 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: $30-$104
Phone: 303-623-7876

NEW YEAR’S EVE WITH STEVE SIMEONE
If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to LAUGH more, then Comedy Works has got you covered! With three NYE shows—including a 6:00 p.m. family-friendly performance—you can pick the one that’s right for you! The late show extravaganza includes party favors, a midnight champagne toast, and countdown with the comics.

Steve Simeone is a comedian who is known for his high-energy approach to storytelling, and his positive, family-oriented material makes him popular with audiences everywhere. Simone has appeared on Comedy Central’s Stand Up Revolution and This Is Not Happening.

Comedy Works-Downtown, 1226 15th St., Denver
6:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m., and 10:00 p.m.
Tickets: $30 – $60
Phone: 303-595-3637

PAINT PARTY AT SOUTHLANDS
Here’s a family-friendly way to celebrate NYE together: paint your way into the New Year! This painting workshop is fun for kids and adults alike. A professional artist facilitator will guide you in creating your own original painting. There’s even a champagne toast (sparkling cider for the kids) included in the price! 

The Paint Cellar in Southlands, 24291 E. Orchard Rd, Unit A, Aurora
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Registration: $35
Phone: 303-627-5483

CABARET SHOW IN AURORA
Take a musical journey through the history of American music, with an emphasis on how Broadway and R&B has influenced popular tunes. Talented local vocalists Kenny Moten, Mary Louise Lee, Leonard Barrett, Jr. and Traci Kern will perform from diverse songbooks that pinpoint the exciting intersections of influence in American popular music. Their selections span everything from Broadway to Jazz and even a few things in between!  These talented singers are masters of all these genres.

Aurora Arts Fox Center, 9900 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $22
Phone: 303-739-1970

A JAZZY NEW YEAR IN AURORA
You don’t need to venture far to enjoy an elegant NYE celebration! Forgo the crowds downtown and welcome in the New Year at the Radisson Hotel in Aurora. The celebration features live jazz music and big band sounds from the Hot Tomatoes and WildeFire. Enjoy tasty appetizers and champagne toasts as you mingle with friends and neighbors! Head home after midnight—or you may choose to book a room and wake up to a New Year’s Day breakfast brunch!

Radisson Denver, 3155 S. Vaughn Way, Aurora 
8:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Tickets: $140 – $360
Phone: 303-306-3367

SOUTHLANDS BLACK AND WHITE MASQUERADE
For a happening neighborhood NYE party with a flair, check out Bar Louie’s Black and White Masquerade at Southlands! The theme is an ode to Truman Capote’s infamous Grand Masked Ball, hosted in New York in 1966, and you’re invited to wear your own masquerade mask, but it’s not required. Neither is formal attire, so feel free to kick back and enjoy the food, drinks and music with friends and neighbors. Tickets include a champagne toast, party favors and beverage package, featuring the special New Year’s Eve cocktail, the Velvet 19.

Bar Louie Southlands, 6100 S. Main St., Aurora
8:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Tickets: $50
Phone: 720-463-0460

NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS DOWNTOWN
Looking to go all out this New Year’s Eve? Head to Downtown Denver for a party that stretches on for blocks! There will be two fireworks displays lighting up the skies of the Mile High City, so if you’d rather make it an early evening of it, there’s an earlier show that’s great for families. 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

WHITE ROSE GALA AT THE OPERA HOUSE
For the “Top Denver New Year’s Eve Party” (Denver Post), treat yourself to the most elegant soiree of the year! This high-end charity ball features a stylish Roaring 20s art deco theme, with elegant attire required (flapper dresses, Gatsby-inspired suits, fancy fedoras). Entertainment will be equally extravagant, featuring dance performances by flapper girls, ballroom dance exhibitions, a confetti blast at midnight, and over 40 performers throughout the night!

A variety of music will be happening on multiple levels and rooms. You can dance all night or sit back and enjoy the show! The Je Te’aime Swing Band will be performing live, as well as multiple DJs spinning swing house, Vegas-style mash-up club music, swing, big band & 80’s music, and hip hop. Be transported to a modern renaissance where style, opulence, and grace are the only way to swing! Thanks to Dave Wood Photography for the fun images!

Ellie Caulkins Opera House, 1101 13th St., Denver
9:00 p.m. – 1:30 a.m.
Tickets: $79-$129

Ring in the New Year in Southshore!

There’s no better place to spend the New Year and all of 2019 than in the master-planned community of Southshore! Check out the variety of new homes here by touring the amazing model homes from Toll Brothers, Richmond American Homes or Century Communities. These ranch and two-story designs and the lakeside community of Southshore are priced between the upper $300s and the $700s.