Saturday
Food & drink
Gingerbread house decorating party and competition. Make a decorate your own gingerbread house and enjoy free ice cream, hot cocoa and live music. A $10 suggested donation will benefit Habitat for Humanity. {rizes include limited edition skis and snowboards or four-pack passes to Copper Mountain. Little Man Ice Cream, 2620 16th St. 1-3 p.m.
Ugly Christmas sweater party and toy drive. Wear an ugly sweater and donate a toy and you’ll get a free 8-ounce pour of a special holiday beer. Toys will be donated to the Denver Santa Claus Shop. Denver Beer Co., 1695 Platte St. 11 a.m.-midnight.
Celebrating two years with champagne, cake and more at the Denver Cat Company, 3929 Tennyson St. 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Third annual Epic Holiday cookie contest. Five local bakers will compete. Attendees will taste cookies paired with beer and vote for their favorite. Santa will be on site there for pictures. Epic Brewing Co., 3001 Walnut St. Noon-3 p.m.
LA’s GoldenBoys Chinese pop up. Guerilla Chinese restaurant by chefs Hunter Pritchett (former Denverite) and Adam Midkiff. RiNo Yacht Club, 3350 Brighton Blvd., #100. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
80s Ski Party. Level 1 will be screening their latest ski film, “Pleasure.” Plus: special beer releases, giveaways and ’80s music. Costumes encouraged. Alpine Dog Brewing Co., 1505 Ogden St. 7 p.m.-midnight.
Entertainment
“The Nutcracker.” Ellie Caulkins Opera House, 1385 Curtis St. 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. $30-90.
Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker. Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Place. 1 p.m. $28.
“The Santaland Diaries.” David Sedaris’ off-beat tales from his stint as a Macy’s elf in New York City. The Jones, Speer Boulevard and Arapahoe Street. 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets start at $25.
“A Christmas Carol.” Stage Theatre, Speer Boulevard and Arapahoe Street. 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $35.
“An Act of God.” In a play the New York Times called “deliriously funny,” God takes on a human form and sets the record straight. Garner Galleria Theatre, 1101 13th St. 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $47.
“Hand to God.” Sweet but troubled teen Jason is coping with his father’s recent death and is forced to join his mother’s Church-led puppet group. Curious Theater Company, 8 p.m. $24-34.
Earth Night Winter 2016: Papadosio, Wildlight and TNERTLE. Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 N. Clarkson St. 7:30 p.m. $22.50.
Sing it to Me Santa: Michael Franti Trio. Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax Ave. 7:30 p.m. $35-40.
Brent Cowles. Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St. 9 p.m. $12-15.
The Travelin’ McCourys. Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, 2637 Welton St. 9 p.m. $20-25.
Corn Meal and Henhouse Prowlers. Cervantes Other Side, 2637 Welton St. 8:30 p.m. $12-15.
A Mac DZ. Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E. Colfax Ave. 9 p.m. $10-12.
Plastic Daggers album release. Hi-Dive, 7 S. Broadway. 9 p.m. $10.
Denver Black Sky IV featuring Demolition Hammer, Exhumed vs. Skinless, Weekend Nachos and more. Gothic Theatre, 3263 S. Broadway. 5:30 p.m. $20-25.
The Nadas. Oriental Theater, 4335 W. 44th Ave. 8 p.m. $20-25.
Helmet. Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St. 7 p.m. $20-22.
Midnight Madness: “Lethal Weapon.” Esquire Theatre, 590 Downing St. Midnight. $9.
Madchild. The Roxy Theatre, 2549 Welton St. 7 p.m. $15.
Third annual KrampusFest. Celebrate Krampus with HashSquatch, Douche Hammer, Giant puppets, carnival games and prizes. Mutiny Information Café, 2 S. Broadway. 6-11 p.m.
Spells. The Overland, 1967 S. Broadway. 9 p.m.
Art
“Star Wars” live artist event. Artist Christopher Clark will be painting his newest “Star Wars” (Darth Vader) original. Free wine and hot cocoa will be served. Clark will sign and add hand embellishments to your artwork. Incredible Art Gallery, 1020 15th St., Suite 1V. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Cabalidays Art Market. Local art and photos with Krampus. Cabal Gallery, 1875 S. Broadway. Noon-10 p.m.
EPIC Arts Youth Exhibition. Catered reception for exhibit featuring grade school students of all ages. RedLine Contemporary Art Center, 2350 Arapahoe St. Noon-4 p.m.
For families
Disney On Ice: Worlds of Enchantment. Pepsi Center, 1000 Chopper Circle. 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. $15-50.
Family Screening: “A Muppet Christmas Carol.” Sie Film Center, 2510 E. Colfax Ave. Hot chocolate bar at 9:30 a.m. Movie at 10:30 a.m. Ornament making noon-1 p.m. $5. Free for kids 6 and younger.
Tennyson Street Holiday Market & Rumpus. Shopping, live music, donation collections, food, drinks and more. Call to Arms Brewing Co., 4526 Tennyson St. Noon-8 p.m.
For a cause
Whether the election and its aftermath have you feeling a powerful need to do good for others or you’re simply in the holiday spirit of giving, Denver has plenty of opportunities for you.
Sports
Colorado State basketball vs. Northern Colorado, 2 p.m.
Denver Nuggets at Orlando Magic, 5 p.m.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Montreal Canadiens, 5 p.m.
Denver hockey vs. Minnesota Duluth, 7 p.m.
Colorado basketball at BYU, 8 p.m.
Sunday
Entertainment
“The Nutcracker.” Ellie Caulkins Opera House, 1385 Curtis St. 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. $30-90.
“The Santaland Diaries.” David Sedaris’ off-beat tales from his stint as a Macy’s elf in New York City. The Jones, Speer Boulevard and Arapahoe Street. 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets start at $25.
“A Christmas Carol.” Stage Theatre, Speer Boulevard and Arapahoe Street. 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $35.
“An Act of God.” In a play the New York Times called “deliriously funny,” God takes on a human form and sets the record straight. Garner Galleria Theatre, 1101 13th St. 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. with an audio-described mantinee. Tickets start at $47.
“Hand to God.” Sweet but troubled teen Jason is coping with his father’s recent death and is forced to join his mother’s Church-led puppet group. Curious Theater Company, 2 p.m. $24-34.
Dave Simonett and Dave Carroll (Trampled By Turtles). Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St. 8 p.m. $15-18.
Afton Showcase ft. Croxz, Psyland, Xkape and more. Cervantes Other Side, 2637 Welton St. 6:30 p.m. $12-15.
10th annual How the Grouch Stole Christmas Tour featuring Living Legends. Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, 2637 Welton St. 9 p.m. $32-35.
Winter Is Here featuring Seren. Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E. Colfax Ave. 6:30 p.m. $8-10.
Against the Current. Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St. 6 p.m. $16-18.
Heavy Metal Flea Market. Live music at noon from When Darkness Falls
and Slingfist. Black Sky Brewery, 490 Santa Fe Drive. Noon-5 p.m.
Art
Music in the Galleries: Altius Quartet. Clyfford Still Museum, 1250 Bannock St. 2-3 p.m. Free with $6-10 admission.
For families
Disney On Ice: Worlds of Enchantment. Pepsi Center, 1000 Chopper Circle. 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. $15-50.
The Music Train family concert series featuring GAMB Band playing festive New Orleans soul and jazz. Oriental Theater, 4335 W. 44th Ave. 8 p.m. $20-25.
For a cause
Whether the election and its aftermath have you feeling a powerful need to do good for others or you’re simply in the holiday spirit of giving, Denver has plenty of opportunities for you.
Way Back Winter Formal. Fundraiser for Protect Our Winters. Wear your favorite high school formal clothes. The Way Back, 4132 W. 38th Ave. 7-11 p.m. $22.19.
Impact – Clothing for the Homeless. Help hand out shirts, shoes, socks, jeans, jackets, backpacks, sleeping bags and other items to those who need them.Cervantes Masterpiece, 2635 Welton St. Noon-3 p.m. Donations are necessary. $10 per person, $20 per family.
Sports
Denver Broncos at Tennessee Titans, 11 a.m.
Colorado Avalanche at Toronto Maple Leafs, 5 p.m.
