Denver is packed with fun (and free) festivals, pro sports, live music and plenty of late-summer, family-friendly activities before and after this Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 1–3, 2018. Visit Denver has some great suggestions; be sure to check-out our event calendar for even more.
CAN’T-MISS EVENTS
A TASTE OF COLORADO
WHEN: Sept. 1–3, 2018
WHERE: Civic Center Park
A Taste of Colorado stands proud as the end-of-summer celebration of community pride and spirit in the Denver region. Over 500,000 people make the four-day festival their Labor Day Weekend celebration, enjoying the offerings of more 50 area restaurants, 275 marketplace artisans and vendors, six stages and educational programs promoting the diverse cultural and Western heritage of the region.
DENVER FOOD + WINE FESTIVAL
WHEN: Sept. 4–9, 2018
WHERE: Downtown Denver
The Denver Food + Wine Festival is a multi-day extravaganza of food, wine and spirits education, promotion and tastings. Through a series of events, the festival aims to highlight industry impact, promote workforce development and celebrate Denver as a culinary destination.
FIREWORKS AT ELITCH GARDENS THEME & WATER PARK
WHEN: Sept. 2, 2018
WHERE: Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park
Spend the day riding the roller coasters and the water slides at Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park, Denver’s downtown amusement park, then watch a brilliant fireworks display light up the night sky, starting at dusk.
FAMILY FUN
A WALK IN THE WOODS
WHEN: Dec. 27, 2017–Dec. 31, 2018
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
The new family space in the Denver Art Museum features animal-related activities created to complement the exhibition Stampede: Animals in Art.
LEGORADO
WHEN: May. 26–Sept. 3, 2018
WHERE: History Colorado Center
Your little ones will love this giant LEGO® re-creation of Colorado history. It’s the last weekend for the exhibit, so make sure to swing by!
COLORADO STATE FAIR
WHEN: Aug. 24–Sept. 3, 2018
WHERE: Pueblo, Colo.
Load up the kids and head further afield to the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo, Colo., for carnival rides, livestock and horse shows, parades, country concerts, an arts exhibition, a fiesta weekend and one of the largest pro rodeos in the country.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN SHOWDOWN
WHEN: Aug. 31, 2018
WHERE: Sports Authority Field at Mile High
This annual football game between the University of Colorado Buffaloes and the Colorado State University Rams is the perfect start to your holiday weekend.
COLORADO ROCKIES VS. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
WHEN: Sept. 3–5, 2018
WHERE: Coors Field
Cheer on the Colorado Rockies as they take on the San Francisco Giants in a three-day series this Labor Day Weekend.
MUSIC & ARTS
‘AMERICA’S MUSICAL JOURNEY’ IMAX 3D
WHEN: Feb. 16–Dec. 31, 2018
WHERE: Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Tap your toe across America as you experience the sounds of jazz, blues, zydeco and old-time country music, and see how they have shaped our nation’s distinctive musical heritage in this engaging film.
SPECIAL GUEST
WHEN: June. 14–Dec. 1, 2018
WHERE: DPAC/Denver Performing Arts Complex
Meow Wolf is coming to Denver in 2020, but in the meantime, they’re collaborating with local Denver artists to bring this free art show to The Mile High City.
PHISH
WHEN: Aug. 31–Sept. 2, 2018
WHERE: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
This Labor Day weekend concert series has been an annual tradition since 2011. Join Phish and fans at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park for three nights of outdoor jams, dancing and an end-of-summer celebration.
CLYFFORD STILL MUSEUM FREE DAY
WHEN: Aug. 31, 2018
WHERE: Clyfford Still Museum
Enjoy free admission to the nine gorgeous galleries of the Clyfford Still Museum on the last Friday of every month, including a temporary presentation of Highlights from the Collection, which features some never-before-exhibited early anatomical sketches discovered in the Clyfford Still Archives.
UNTITLED FINAL FRIDAYS: THE FLOBOTS
WHEN: Aug. 31, 2018
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
Denver hip hop rockers The Flobots bring their unique talent and vision to Denver Art Museum’s Untitled Final Fridays.
ATMOSPHERE
WHEN: Aug. 31, 2018
WHERE: Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre
Atmosphere kicks off the weekend at Red Rocks with Evidence, Grieves, Dem Atlas and DJ Keezy.
INSPECTOR
WHEN: Aug. 31, 2018
WHERE: Levitt Pavilion Denver
Inspector and Roka Hueka take the stage at Levitt Pavilion.
DENVER ART MUSEUM FREE FIRST SATURDAYS
WHEN: Sept. 1, 2018
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
Enjoy free admission to the Denver Art Museum on the first Saturday of every month, including Labor Day Weekend.
BAD BUNNY
WHEN: Sept. 1, 2018
WHERE: Bellco Theatre
Join urban music sensation Bad Bunny as he embarks on his first North American tour.
GRAMATIK
WHEN: Sept. 1, 2018
WHERE: Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre
Spend your Saturday night at Red Rocks with Gramatik, Gryffin, Haywire, Ramzoid and Balkan Bump.
JASON MRAZ
WHEN: Sept. 2, 2018
WHERE: Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre
“The Remedy” for the Sunday night blues? Jason Mraz and Brett Dennen at Red Rocks!
JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 UNIT
WHEN: Sept. 3, 2018
WHERE: Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre
Celebrate Labor Day with Grammy-winning Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, along with Aimee Mann and Amanda Shires.
MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS
STAMPEDE: ANIMALS IN ART
WHEN: Sept. 10, 2017–May 19, 2019
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
Whether depicted as faithful companions or threatening adversaries, animals have been the subjects of human art for centuries. Stampede allows visitors to consider the roles animals play in our lives and in our art through more than 300 paintings, sculptures and more.
AI WEIWEI: CIRCLE OF ANIMALS/ZODIAC HEADS
WHEN: Oct. 18, 2017–Oct. 17, 2018
WHERE: Civic Center Park
The 12 bronze heads of Ai Weiwei’s Circle of Animals represent the 12 animals of the traditional Chinese zodiac. See it for free at Civic Center Park!
PAST THE TANGLED PRESENT
WHEN: Nov. 14, 2017–Oct. 28, 2018
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
Ever wanted to step inside the pages of your favorite children’s book? This family-friendly exhibit by Denver artist Jaime Molina imparts that very feeling. Sit on boxes painted with friendly faces, play in a garden of fabricated cacti and marvel at the ever-expanding mural.
ZOOM IN: THE CENTENNIAL STATE IN 100 OBJECTS
WHEN: Nov. 21, 2017–Dec. 31, 2018
WHERE: History Colorado Center
History Colorado created a brand-new space, the Tim Schultz Gallery, to house this 3,700-square-foot exhibit of 100 objects, each of which had a role in shaping the history and culture of Colorado.
GANESHA THE PLAYFUL PROTECTOR
WHEN: Feb. 16–Oct. 28, 2018
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
Ganesha is a Hindu god widely worshiped as a remover of obstacles and known for granting wealth and success. View sculptures, paintings and textiles depicting Ganesha from the Denver Art Museum‘s collection, along with a very special pre-Angkor statue of the elephant god on loan from the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh.
DEAD SEA SCROLLS
WHEN: March 16–Sept. 3, 2018
WHERE: Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Labor Day Weekend is your last chance to see authentic Dead Sea Scrolls, ancient manuscripts that include the oldest known Biblical documents, along with their full English translation. The exhibit also features the largest collection of artifacts from the Holy Land ever assembled for display, including weapons, terra cotta figurines, a re-creation of the Western Wall from the old city of Jerusalem and a three-ton stone from the actual wall.
PLAY BALL!
WHEN: April 7–Sept. 30, 2018
WHERE: History Colorado Center
Play Ball! showcases one of the greatest collections of baseball artifacts ever assembled outside the Hall of Fame, from the glove donned by Willie Mays to the uniform Joe DiMaggio wore in his final World Series.
PIXELATED: SCULPTURE BY MIKE WHITING
WHEN: April 28–Sept. 23, 2018
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens
Mike Whiting’s geometric sculptures explore the relationships between the natural world and the artificial world of digital media, as well as the intersection of two distinct visual styles: 8-bit pixel graphics and minimalist sculpture.
LA MUSIDORA
WHEN: May 29–Sept. 3, 2018
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
Take part in this interactive art exhibition, which combines music and rocking chairs. It’s located just outside Denver Art Museum’s Hamilton Building.
NEW TERRITORY: LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY TODAY
WHEN: June 24–Sept. 16, 2018
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
This exhibition of more than 80 landscape photographs showcases how artists manipulate materials and processes for expressive purposes, blurring the distinction between “observed” and “constructed” imagery and stretching the boundaries of traditional landscape photography to reflect the environmental attitudes and values of our time.
MINDBENDER MANSION
WHEN: July 20, 2018–Jan. 6, 2019
WHERE: Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Gather hidden clues and secret passwords as you work your way through puzzles, brainteasers and interactive challenges of Mindbender Mansion, designed to put minds of all ages to the test.
EYES ON: JULIE BUFFALOHEAD
WHEN: July 29, 2018–Jan. 20, 2019
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
Eyes On is a multi-year art series that features the work of contemporary artists. Minnesota-based Julie Buffalohead, a citizen of the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma, often uses animals in her artwork to illustrate the commercialization of American Indian culture.
EYES ON: SHIMABUKU
WHEN: July 29, 2018–Jan. 20, 2019
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
Eyes On: Shimabuku features a video by Japanese artist Shimabuku that follows a group of Japanese snow monkeys in a Texas sanctuary.
INVISIBLE LINKS: BOTANICAL ART & ILLUSTRATION
WHEN: Aug. 15–Oct. 14, 2018
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens
This exhibit explores the complex and sometimes hidden relationships between plants and other organisms.
Author: Mile High Mamas
