St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Parties!
March 14, 2019
Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day weekend, and this is especially true in Denver, where the biggest St. Paddy’s parade west of the Mississippi takes place on Saturday! Rain or shine, the Irish and Western themed parade will wind through the downtown streets, clocking in at over four hours long! Dress the family in green layers and come down to join in the fun!
TODAY/TONIGHT, March 14
SIGN-UP FOR MARCH MADNESS!
The inaugural Southshore Community March Madness Bracket Challenge is open for sign-ups! Join the madness and participate in one of the biggest and most exciting events in all of sports: the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament, a single-elimination tournament of 68 teams that compete in seven rounds for the national championship.
To sign up to participate in the challenge, just send an email and your invite to join the group will be sent back to you via email. You must sign up by March 18—the first game is March 19! There will be prizes awarded for the top 3 brackets and a championship watch party on April 8 at the Lakehouse!
The Lakehouse, 27151 E. Lakeview Dr., Aurora
Now through March 18
Information: FREE
Email: lwalker@denverymca.org
Thursday-Saturday, March 14-16
NEW YORK’S FUNNIEST – RICKY VELEZ
Considering the competitive comedy scene in New York, being named “New York’s Funniest Comedian” by Caroline’s Comedy Club is quite an accomplishment! Ricky Velez has a unique perspective and strong voice, making him one of the most captivating young comedians in New York City!
Velez was a correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore. He has appeared on FX’s Totally Biased, Aziz Ansari’s critically-acclaimed Netflix series Master of None, and will appear in the upcoming season of HBO’s Crashing.
As a comic, Valez was named a “Comic to Watch” by Variety, Comedy Central, and The New York Comedy Festival.
Comedy Works-Downtown, 1226 15th St., Denver
Thurs., 8:00 p.m.; Fri., 7:30 and 9:45 p.m.; Sat., 9:45 p.m.
Tickets: $17-$25
Phone: 303-595-3637
Thursday-Sunday, March 14-17
A SPOOF FOR ALL AGES
This hilarious stage play is a parody of the classic whodunit murder mystery. If you can imagine it going wrong, it will—times two! Murphy’s Law is the foundation for this madcap play.
In the play within a play, it’s the opening night of The Murder at Haversham Manor, and things are going from bad to utterly disastrous. With an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead and actors who trip over everything (including their lines), it’s “tons of fun for all ages” (Huffington Post).
Buell Theatre/DCPA, 1350 Curtis St., Denver
Thurs./Fri./Sat./Sun., 7:30 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $35-$105
Phone: 303-571-4401
A PLAY ABOUT MEMORIES
A poignant and powerful play about going back in time to a golden setting with the power to heal, The Happiest Place on Earth takes place in a memory of a childhood trip to Disneyland. One talented actress plays all the roles in a family that is dealing with the sudden heartbreaking loss of the father and husband. The play allows all the women in the family to grow up and move on in ways that honor the man and family they cherish.
Aurora Fox Arts Center, 9900 E. Colfax, Aurora
Thurs./Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $18-$33
Phone: 303-739-1970
FINAL WEEKEND FOR UNCLE VANYA PARODY
Life Sucks pretty much sums up the sentiments of the characters in this play that’s a modern rendition of Chekov’s Uncle Vanya. The story brings together a group of friends, ex-lovers, acquaintances and family members who all seem to be in love with the wrong person—and spend most of their time hilariously lamenting about it.
While capturing the “love, longing, and loss” themes of Chekov, this play makes one important departure from the original—characters advise each other to “do something to make your life better!” Don’t miss this hilarious community theatre production!
Aurora Fox Arts Center, 9900 E Colfax Ave., Aurora
Thurs./Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $20-$37
Phone: 303-739-1970
Friday-Saturday, March 15-16
FIESTA FOR ALL CONCERT
Join the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus for a spirited celebration of great Hispanic and Latin artists! The Fiesta for All concert highlights Hispanic and Latin heritage and the colorful and moving impact this special music and dance has in our community.
Ellie Caulkins Opera House/DCPA, 1385 Curtis St., Denver
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $20-$75
Phone: 720-865-4239
LOOKING ON THE SUNNY SIDE
A play that has the protagonist looking for the brightest things in life in order to bolster the spirits of his despondent mother can’t help but inspire you. Every Brilliant Thing is equal parts heart-wrenching and hilarious as he makes a list of the most brilliant things he can find to pull his mother back from the brink of despair.
Vintage Theatre Productions, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $10-$32
Phone: 303-856-7830
Friday-Sunday, March 15-17
TCHAIKOVSKY AT THE SYMPHONY
The centerpiece of this Colorado Symphony performance is Russian composer Tchaikovsky’s final symphony, Symphony No. 6, Pathétique, (“impassioned suffering”). Considering the psychological drama the piece depicts, and the fact that he died just nine days after the world premiere, makes Tchaikovsky’s final efforts all the more weighty. Also on the program is the inspired and exotic Egyptian Piano Concerto No. 5 by Saint-Saëns, and the patriotic Grammy Award-winning Made in America by Joan Towers.
Boettcher Concert Hall/DCPA, Speer Blvd. & Arapahoe St., Denver
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 1:00 p.m.
Tickets: $20-$94
Phone: 303-623-7876
A MUSICAL COMEDY ABOUT LOVE AND MURDER!
Monty Navarro is down on his luck, juggling two girlfriends and the constant threat of landing in the slammer. When he finds out he’s the heir to a family fortune, he can’t believe how his luck has turned—until he realizes he first has to eliminate the eight pesky relatives who are in line before him.
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder is the hilarious Tony Award-winning musical that will have you laughing out loud!
Vintage Theatre Productions, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $38
Phone: 303-856-7830
Saturday, March 16
PARADE PARTY (BEFORE AND AFTER!)
Scruffy Murphy’s Irish Pub has been getting ready for this day all year—are YOU ready for it? The famous pub is only two blocks from the parade route and opens at 7:00 a.m. if you want to “pre” as well as “post” party!
There will be a huge band line-up and the beer tent will be over twice the size of last year’s. Irish fare, including corned beef and cabbage, will be abundant, as well as all your favorite drinks. Entertainment will include step dancers and bag pipers, live music on two stages, four bars, and a heated beer tent on Murphy’s back patio.
Scruffy Murphy’s Irish Pub, 2030 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205
7:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. (next day)
Cost: No cover
ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE
Did you know Denver’s St. Paddy’s Day parade is the largest one west of the Mississippi and Denver’s largest annual parade, with over 200,000 people lining the streets to watch? As a celebration of Irish culture, the four-hour-long parade also heralds the start of spring, with marching bands, dancers, floats, horses and stagecoaches, and Irish-themed fun with a Western flair.
Bring your entire green-clad family downtown to stake out your favorite spot! The best place to catch the parade entries’ full performances (dancing and full music sets) is south of 20th Avenue on Blake Street. Families may find the end of the parade on Blake Street from 23rd to 27th Avenues more convenient. Since March weather is known to be wildly unpredictable, be sure to dress in layers!
Starts at Wynkoop and 19th ad ends at Blake and 27th., Denver
9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Cost: FREE
ST. PADDY’S DAY CRAFT
On your way home from the parade, stop by the library for a shamrock-inspired family art project! Each person in the family can make their own felt shamrock pin, or come up with one creation as a family! Then proudly wear your pins on St. Patrick’s Day—after all, you don’t want to get pinched by not wearing any green!
Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, 9898 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora
3:30 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Phone: 303-739-1940
Sunday, March 17
OLD TIME SONGS CONCERT
For a St. Patrick’s Day celebration with an American flair, check out the Old Time Songs concert at The People’s Building! This will be a night or true old-time American music with folk singers/songwriters Clara and Bridger, who bring a deeply-rooted passion and appreciation for traditional fiddle styles to the stage.
The concert will begin with music by Colorado banjoist Sam Armstrong-Zickefoose.
The People’s Building, 9995 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora
7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $10
Phone: 720-819-6680
FAN FAVORITE JOHN CUSACK
John Cusack is beloved by his fans for his 1980s classic comedies Say Anything and Better Off Dead. Now you can see him in person in a Live Conversation with John Cusack following the screening of his 1997 romantic thriller Grosse Pointe Blank, which he co-wrote.
In the film, Cusack plays Martin Blank, a professional assassin who returns home to Grosse Pointe, a Detroit suburb, where his ten-year high school reunion is taking place. He runs into Debi Newberry (Minnie Driver), an old girlfriend that he stood up for the prom, and he starts reconsidering his life. After the screening, Cusack will share stories about the making of the film and answer audience questions.
Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Pl., Denver
7:00-10:00 p.m.
Tickets: $39.95-$69.95
Phone: 303-623-7876
The Greening of…Southshore!
The wearing of the green will shortly be eclipsed by the spring “greening” of the master-planned community of Southshore! Come visit and explore Life at the Lake and find culture and entertainment within easy reach! Looking for a new home you can add your signature style to? Tour the beautiful model homes from Toll Brothers, Century Communities, and Richmond American Homes. Available in ranch and two-story designs, Southshore homes are priced between the $400s and the $700s.