This week, we bring you a slightly abbreviated list in anticipation of the holiday weekend to come. Look for a gigantic list of all things Independence Day coming your way later this week. Fireworks displays and celebrations galore, people! We’ll also get your holiday off to a great start with an early post of activities for late next week and beyond. Are guests invading? Look no further than the Mamas for great ideas on where best to take the out-of-towners.

In the meantime, relax, take in a concert or a movie, and enjoy the warm weather we’re finally having. A pre-holiday trip to Estes Park might be in order to check out the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival. Or head down to Sakura Square and enjoy some Japanese culture. As always, Denver is rich with fun things to do. . . enjoy!

Summer Concerts

Friday, June 26

Noon – 1:30 pm: Noon Tunes, 1300 Block of Pearl, Boulder. This series runs through August 14. This week, enjoy a long lunch with the The Cantrells.

Sunday, June 28

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: City Park Jazz, at the Bandstand at City Park Pavilion. This popular series runs Sundays through August 9. Park for free at the Zoo or the Museum, then take the shuttle to the bandstand. Free bike parking is also available. This week’s band is the Michael Friedman Jazz Quartet.

6:30 pm: Summer Concerts in the Park, Memorial Park at 25th and Chase, Edgewater. 303-238-7803 x28. This series runs through July 6. This week: The Juice of the Barley (they’re an Irish band, just in case you were wondering).

Tuesday, June 30

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm: Concerts at the Crescent, Crescent Ampitheater, DTC Boulevard and Belleview (just east of Yia Yia’s Euro Café) in the Denver Tech Center. This new addition to our list features fun concerts in a nice little area down south. Bring your own food, but leave Fido at home. This week’s band: One on One, featuring Motown, soul, and rhythm and blues.

Wednesday, July 1

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Evergreen Lake Summer Concert Series, Evergreen Lake House, Evergreen. Another new addition to our list! This week, the Catfish Kray Blues Band entertains in high altitude style. Relax by the lake, but don’t forget your sweater. Parking is limited around Evergreen Lake; the good folks in Evergreen offer shuttle service from Evergreen High School, or VIP parking for $10 at the Lake House. Check the website for complete details.

6:30 pm: Northglenn Summer Concert Series, E.B. Rains, Jr. Memorial Park, 11701 Community Center Drive (across from City Hall), Northglenn. Northglenn’s World Beat series runs through July 29. In case of inclement weather, head across the street to the D.L. Parsons theater for the performance. This week, enjoy the Zimbabwean sounds of Kuntundara.

6:30 pm: (doors open at 6:00 pm) Swallow Hill’s Shady Grove Picnic Series at Four Mile Historic Park, 715 Forest Street, Denver. This week: Bruce Hayes. Tickets are $10/adults, $2 kids 12 and under.

7:00 pm: Lakewood Summer Concert Series, 801 South Yarrow Street in the Lakewood Heritage Center, Lakewood. Lakewood kicks off it’s summer series with the Hazel Miller Band. Tickets for most of these shows are $6.00 the day of the show (a little less if purchased in advance), or buy a season ticket package for $37.80 for all six shows. Food and beverages available for purchase. Bring your own chairs or blanket.

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Littleton Historic Museum Concert Series, 303-795-3950, 6028 S. Gallup St., Littleton. This week: The Mile High Banjo Society.

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Bands on the Bricks, 1300 Block of Pearl, Boulder. This one runs through August 12—catch a different band every Wednesday night. This week it’s The Champions.

Thursday, July 2

6:30 pm: Sounds of Summer, CityCenter Englewood Ampitheater, 1000 Englewood Parkway (at the base of the light rail station). This week’s performer: 101st Army Band.

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm: Banks in Harmony Summer Concert Series, Del Mar Park, 12000 E. 6th Avenue, Aurora. Runs through August 6th, and concessions are available. This week, it’s the Queen City Jazz Band.

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm: Confluence Concerts, Confluence Park, 15th and Little Raven, LoDo (across the river from REI). Parking is available at the Downtown Aquarium for $6.00. This series runs Thursday evenings, but only in July, so catch it while it’s hot. The Shuffletones start the series off right.

Summer Movie Programs

Friday, June 26, Dusk: Iron Man, Stapleton Summer Movie Series, Founders Green, 29th and Roslyn, Denver.

Saturday, June 27, 3:00 pm. Kids Saturday Nickelodeon at the Starz FilmCenter, 900 Auraria Parkway, Denver This week’s feature is Garfield’s Pet Force.

Saturday, June 27, dusk: E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial, Movies in the Parks. This week’s screening is at Skyline Park, 1775 Arapahoe. Free popcorn, cotton candy, and sno-cones; other concessions available for purchase. E.T.? At Skyline? This is the must-do event of the weekend!

Tuesday, June 30, 7:00 pm: Film on the Rocks, Red Rocks Ampitheater, Morrison. Not every film makes the cut for the Mamas, because some are just not family-friendly. But this week’s film is The Princess Bride, and I think I’ve mentioned my fondness for the fair Princess Buttercup. Plus, you get to hear live music from Carbon Leaf to boot. $10 general admission; parking is free. Not familiar with the Film on the Rocks series? In short: Live music at the world’s best venue, followed by a movie. Best idea ever. Check the website for the complete schedule.

Tuesday, June 30, 10:00 am Summer Movie Clubhouse at the Century 16 in BelMar, 440 S. Teller Street, Lakewood. Tuesdays through August 4, the Century 16 in BelMar offers a different PG or G rated movie for the kids. Buy a 10-pack for all 10 movies for $5, or pay as you go for a buck a show. This week’s movie is Horton Hears a Who, which has to be one of the best G-rated movies since Curious George.

Tuesday, June 30, and Wednesday, July 1, 10:00 am: Regal Free Family Film Festival, West Village Stadium, 14225 West Colfax; Greenwood Plaza 12, 8151 E Arapahoe Road; Park Meadows 12, 9355 Park Meadows Drive; Continental 10, 3635 S Monaco Pkwy. Free movies for the family; movies vary by location, so check the website for complete listings.

Wednesday, July 1, and Thursday, July 2, 10:00 am: Kerasotes Free Summer Movie Program, Old Town 14 in Arvada, Chinese 16 at Arapahoe Crossing in Aurora, Southlands 16 in Aurora, Castle Rock 12, Cherry Creek 8, Bowles Crossing 12 in Littleton, and 20 Mile Village 10 in Parker. Doors open at 9:00 am, and seating is on a first come-first serve basis. Series runs through August 6. This week’s film: Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa. So “move it, move it” on down to the theater and see this movie.

Monday – Friday, 9:45 am: Harkins Kid Summer Movie Program, Northfield Theater, 8300 E 49th Avenue. This movie program runs through August 1st; movies cost $2.00. Adults must be accompanied by a child. Check the website for complete details and movie listings specific to this program.

Happenings and Other Fun Things to Do

Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28, beginning at 11:00 am both days: The Cherry Blossom Festival, Between Larimer and Lawrence Streets, and 19th and 20th, Downtown Denver. Celebrate Japanese-American culture with traditional food, dancing, music, arts and crafts.

Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm: Scandinavian Midsummer Festival, Bond Park, at Elkhorn Avenue and MacGregor, Downtown Estes Park, Colorado. Celebrate the summer solstice (and who wouldn’t want to celebrate the longest day of the year, when one lives so far north?) the Scandinavian way. Scandinavian food, drink, dance, music, and arts and crafts. Also, a Viking encampment, and a raffle with a chance to win two tickets to Scandinavia.

Theater and Music

Through September 5: Annie at Boulder’s Dinner Theatre, 5501 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder. The Broadway musical you love. . . with dinner! Special matinees added for families, so you can bring the little ones and you can all leave singing “It’s a hard knock life. . .” Check the website for show times and ticket prices.

Through June 28: Mouse Tales at the Denver Puppet Theater, 3156 West 38th Avenue, Denver. 303-458-6446

Show Times: Thursdays and Fridays, 10:00 am and 1:00 pm, Saturdays and Sundays, 1:00 pm Doors open 30 minutes prior to show time. Tickets are $6.00. Group discounts and discounted ticket packs available.

Shows at the Denver Puppet Theater are appropriate for children ages 3 and older.

*Please note: Times change during the summer months. Check before you go!

The Denver Puppet Theater is a funky little hidden gem in North Denver. Puppets truly are art, and take on a life of their own (but not in a creepy, Poltergeisty way). Definitely worth a visit.

Thursday, July 2 (and every Thursday night during the summer) Music on the Streets in Old Town Arvada, Old Wadsworth and Grandview Avenue. Stroll through Old Town Arvada as live music plays. A lovely way to spend a warm spring evening.

Farmers’ (and other) Markets

Sweet William Market, Founders Green in Stapleton, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. This summer market runs the last Saturday of the month through September. It’s a neighborhood fave, but they’ll probably still let you in. All sorts of stuff to please every type of shopper. Relax and enjoy yourself before the hectic holiday weekend coming our way.

The Farmers’ Markets have been rearranged by region, to improve your shopping experience.

Central:

Saturday, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm. Cherry Creek Fresh Market, 1st Avenue and University (in the Bed, Bath, and Beyond parking lot), Denver. www.coloradofreshmarkets.com

Sunday, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm: Stapleton, 29th and Roslyn, Denver. www.coloradofreshmarkets.com.

Sunday, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. Old South Pearl Street Farmers’ Market, 1500 Block of South Pearl Street, Denver. This market makes its debut this weekend. Check it out!

Sunday, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. City Park Esplanade Fresh Market, East Colfax Avenue and Columbine Street, Denver. www.coloradofreshmarkets.com.

Tuesday, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm: Denver Civic Center Outdoor Market and Café, Colfax and Broadway, Denver. www.coloradofreshmarkets.com.

Wednesday, 9:00 am – 1:00. Cherry Creek Fresh Market, 1st Avenue and University (in the Bed, Bath, and Beyond parking lot), Denver. www.coloradofreshmarkets.com.

South:

Saturday, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Highlands Ranch Farmers’ Market, Highlands Ranch Town Center, 9288 Dorchester Street, Highlands Ranch. www.denverfarmersmarket.com

Monday, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm. Tamarac Square, Tamarac and Hampden, Denver. www.denverfarmersmarket.com.

North:

Saturday, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm. Northfield Stapelton, Northfield Stapleton Shopping Center, I-70 and Quebec. www.laughingdogfarms.net

Saturday, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm. Boulder Farmer’s Market, Downtown Boulder on 13th Street between Canyon and Arapahoe 303-910-2236.

Sunday, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. Orchards Farmers’ Market, 144th Avenue and I-25. www.laughingdogfarms.net

Northwest:

Thursday, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm. 4260 Wadsworth Boulevard, Wheat Ridge. www.denverfarmersmarket.com.

Southwest:

Saturday, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm. Metro Denver Farmers’ Market, Southwest Plaza SE Parking Lot, Wadsworth and Bowles, Littleton. www.denverfarmersmarket.com

Wednesday, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm. Aspen Grove, 7301 South Santa Fe, Littleton.www.denverfarmersmarket.com

East:

Tuesday, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm. Aurora Farmers’ Market, 333 N. Havana, in the Maya Sports Bar and Grill parking lot. www.denverfarmersmarket.com

Southeast:

Saturday, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. Lone Tree, Yosemite and Maximus. www.laughingdogfarms.net.

Saturday, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. Southlands, E-470 and Smoky Hill Road, in the Southlands Shopping Center, Aurora. www.laughingdogfarms.net. This market opens this weekend, and will then be open Saturdays, 9:00 – 1:00 and Thursdays, 10:00 – 1:00.

Sunday, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm. Parker Farmer’s Market, Northwest corner of Parker and Main Street, in the Crossroads Shopping Center. www.laughingdogfarms.net. Runs through October.

Thursday, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm: Southlands, E-470 and Smoky Hill Road, in the Southlands Shopping Center, Aurora. www.laughingdogfarms.net.

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