Things to do in Denver this weekend, June 15-18

Looking for things to do in Denver this weekend? Here’s a big, curated list of options in arts and entertainment, food and drink, causes, sports and more!
15 min. read
Not all was somber at Denver Pride 2016–attendees grooved to electronic music at Pride’s Dance World. (Chloe Aiello/Denverite)

Denver PrideFest 2016. (Chloe Aiello/Denverite)

This weekend, we celebrate PrideFest, Juneteenth and Father's Day, so buckle up.

Thursday

Pride

Pride Kickoff and post-making. 10 Barrel Brewing Co., 2620 Walnut St. 5:30-8 p.m.

Tracks, 3500 Walnut St., starts things off Thursday night with Alex Newell from “Glee.” 8 p.m. $10.

X Bar, 629 E. Colfax Ave.: lip sync and black light graffiti party. 8 p.m. 

And we've got your guide to all things pride -- parade, rally, Big Gay 5K and more -- right here.

Food & drink

Ice cream and bingo. Little Man Ice Cream, 2620 16th St. 7-10 p.m.

Entertainment

Best bet: Art On Film: "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown." Music from DJ Erin Stereo and food from Chuey FU's. Center for Visual Art, 965 Santa Fe Drive. 7:30-10 p.m. Free.

Best bet: Three Things, Any Three Things: Star Wars, Electronic Guitar Loops and A Big Pom Pom. Three things smashed together, no connections made. Museum of Contemporary Art, 1485 Delgany St. 7 p.m. $10-15.

“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.” Winner of five 2015 Tony Awards including Best Play, adapted from Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel about Christopher Boone, an exceptionally smart, autistic 15-year-old who makes a life-changing discovery while trying to find out who killed his neighbor’s dog. Ellie Caulkins Opera House, 1385 Curtis St. 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. $30-$105.

“DragOn.” In a pre-Pride and -ComicCon show, a young drag queen faces a series of comic book-inspired foes. Garner Galleria Theatre, 1101 13th St. 7:30 p.m. $30.

“The Luckiest People.” In its final days: A National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere commissioned by Curious Theatre Company about a man whose difficult father moves in with him and his partner after the death of his mother. Curious Theater Co., 1080 Acoma St. 8 p.m. $24-$44.

Den-Ex Film Festival. An Emerging Filmmakers Project celebration of experimental and art films. Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo St. 8-10 p.m. 

At the Drive-In. Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 Clarkson St. 7 p.m. $39.50.

Dispatch. Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax Ave. 8 p.m. $44.95-50.

Parker Millsap. Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave. 8 p.m. $15-18.

Bear and the Beasts. Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E. Colfax Ave. 9 p.m. $5-10.

Saint Motel (Velorama pre-party). Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St. 8 p.m. $25.

David Dondero. Hi-Dive, 7 S. Broadway. 9 p.m. $10.

Lyle Divinsky's Soul Survivors. Cervantes Other Side, 2637 Welton St. 8 p.m. $5-15.

The Also. Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St. 7 p.m. $10-12.

Jean-Luc Davis' Alternative Reality featuring Shane Endsley. Nocturne, 1330 27th St. 7 p.m. $5.

Whiskey Dick. Lion's Lair, 2022 E. Colfax Ave. 8 p.m. $6.

Bluegrass Thursday featuring Ran Off the Rooster. Stem Ciders, 2811 Walnut St., Unit 150. 7-9:30 p.m.

The SPINS. Hear Vinyl Me, Please’s record of the month,Kevin Morby's "City Music" and enjoy drink specials and bring your own vinyl to spin. Black Shirt Brewing Co., 3719 Walnut St. 6-8:30 p.m.

Flicks for Chicks: "Crossroads." Movie in the courtyard with free popcorn during the movie and free drinks from 9 p.m. to midnight for ladies night. ViewHouse, 2015 Market St. 7:30-10:30 p.m.

The Drunken Bee. Test your spelling skills with a drink in hand at The Rosedale, 1135 E. Evans Ave. 7 p.m.

For your brain

Best bet: The Science Lounge: Space Oddity. Go “stargayzing” in Gates Planetarium and learn about the myths behind constellations. Explore sex and gender in the ancient world and look through telescopes. Cash bar, 21+. Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 6:30-9:30 p.m. $15.

Sports

Colorado Rockies vs. San Francisco Giants, 6:40 p.m.

Friday

Pride

At Charlie’s, 900 E. Colfax Ave., they’re once again taking over the parking lot for a weekend-long bash. They’ll have a waterslide, slip and slide, pool, deck, food vendor, merchandise vendors and drinks. And, of course, there will be DJs and performances inside and out. 10 p.m.

X Bar, 629 E. Colfax Ave.: happy hour with VJ Aaron. 4-8 p.m. 

Pride kickoff party at The Wrangler, 3090 Downing St. 9 p.m.

Women’s Pride Party and Drag Nation at Tracks, 3500 Walnut St. 7 p.m. $10.

Blush & Blu, 1526 E. Colfax Ave., is throwing its official Queer Party for non-binary, transgender, nonconforming humans and “everyone in between and beyond” starting at 9:30 p.m. 

And we've got your guide to all things pride -- parade, rally, Big Gay 5K and more -- right here.

Entertainment

Best bet: Summer Film Series: "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." As Kevin wrote: The theater that screened Colorado’s first motion picture will open its doors to moviegoers once again on June 16. The showing kicks off the 2017 Summer Film Series, a fundraising effort to restore a gem of Denver history. Historic Elitch Theatre, 4655 W. 37th Ave. 7 p.m. $5.

Best bet: B-Side Music: Venus Cruz & Big Wheel featuring Greg Tanner Harris. Museum of Contemporary Art, 1485 Delgany St. 5-10 p.m. $5.

Best bet: Midnight Madness: "Space Jam." Esquire Theatre, 590 Downing St. Midnight. $9.

“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.” Winner of five 2015 Tony Awards including Best Play, adapted from Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel about Christopher Boone, an exceptionally smart, autistic 15-year-old who makes a life-changing discovery while trying to find out who killed his neighbor’s dog. Ellie Caulkins Opera House, 1385 Curtis St. 7:30 p.m. $30-$105.

“DragOn.” In a pre-Pride and -ComicCon show, a young drag queen faces a series of comic book-inspired foes. Garner Galleria Theatre, 1101 13th St. 7:30 p.m. $30.

“The Luckiest People.” In its final days: A National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere commissioned by Curious Theatre Company about a man whose difficult father moves in with him and his partner after the death of his mother. Curious Theater Co., 1080 Acoma St. 8 p.m. $24-$44.

“The Rocky Horror Show.” Bug Theater, 3654 Navajo St. 7:30 p.m. and midnight. $17-20.

Dispatch. Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway. 7 p.m. $39.95-65.

Black Lips. Gothic Theatre, 3263 S. Broadway. 9 p.m. $20-25.

Dion Timmer. Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave. 9 p.m. $15-18.

NYM. Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St. 8 p.m. $10-15.

Wildermiss. Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E. Colfax Ave. 9 p.m. $10-15.

Badflower and Goodbye June. Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St. 9 p.m. $12-15.

Electric Funeral Fest 2017 featuring Corky Laing's Mountain. Hi-Dive, 7 S. Broadway. 4 p.m. $32-55.

Eric Bellinger, Mila J, Brhandi Rae. Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, 2637 Welton St. 9 p.m. $25-40.

Honey Touché’s Vixens of Vinyl Burlesque Review. Oriental Theater, 4335 W. 44th Ave. 8 p.m. $16-21.

Bearracuda. Summit Music Hall, 1902 Blake St. 8:30 p.m. $10.

The Redlands. Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St. 7 p.m. $10-12.

Steve Kovalcheck Band: Modern Sounds in Country & Western. Nocturne, 1330 27th St. 7 p.m. $10.

Mountain to Sound Presents: Patrick Dethlefs and Anna Tivel. The Deer Pile, 206 E. 13th Ave. 9 p.m. $10.

Butch Clancy. The Black Box, 314 E. 13th Ave. 9 p.m. $15-20.

Purnell Steen and Le Jazz Machine. Dazzle Jazz, 1512 Curtis St. 6:30 and 9 p.m. $20.

Ice cream social, hip-hop showcase and art show. Spectra Art Space, 1836 S. Broadway. 7 p.m. $5-20.

Art

Black Americas Project - Shade: Clyfford Still/Mark Bradford. Rebecca Hart, Vicki and Kent Logan discuss this exhibit and how it explores the artists' relationships to black in their paintings. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. 6 p.m. $8.

For families

Denver Greek Festival. Assumption Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 4610 E. Alameda Ave. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Free-$3.

That '80s Band. Sunset Park, Pontiac and Second St. 6-9 p.m. Free.

Kids ukulele workshop with Swallow Hill Music. Ideal for grades K-5. Please arrive early. Space is limited to 20 kids. Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library, 2401 Welton St. 11 a.m.-noon.

All ages, bilingual storytime. Athmar Park Branch Library, 1055 S. Tejon St. 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

For your brain

Matthew Sullivan reading from "Midnight at the Bright Ideas Book Store" at Tattered Cover, 2526 E. Colfax Ave. 6:30-8 p.m.

Sports

Colorado Rockies vs. San Francisco Giants, 6:40 p.m.

Saturday

Pride

PrideFest takes over Civic Center Park from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Chad Michaels, winner of the first season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars” and Cher impersonator of 20 years, will perform at 3 p.m.

At Charlie’s, 900 E. Colfax Ave., they’re once again taking over the parking lot for a weekend-long bash. They’ll have a waterslide, slip and slide, pool, deck, food vendor, merchandise vendors and drinks. And, of course, there will be DJs and performances inside and out. 11 a.m.

X Bar, 629 E. Colfax Ave., is having a pre-game party from noon-8 p.m., then a Flamingos Gone Wild dance party 8 p.m.-close.

Two Steppin', Pride edition, at The Wrangler, 3090 Downing St., 9 p.m., followed by Pride Retro Sweet at 10 p.m.

LeAnn Rimes performs at Tracks, 3500 Walnut St. 7 p.m. $15.

Blush & Blu, 1526 E. Colfax Ave.: the Denver Dyke March & Rally, with the rally at 1 p.m. and the march at 3 p.m.

And we've got your guide to all things pride -- parade, rally, Big Gay 5K and more -- right here.

Food & drink

Super Pride IPA release. $1 for every pint sold will benefit Colorado's own One Colorado. Factotum Brewhouse, 845 Lipan St. Noon-10 p.m.

Entertainment

Best bet: JuneteenthThe parade steps off from Manual High School at 11 a.m. Vendors open along Welton Street from Park Ave to 28th Street at noon. The #DREAMBIG ceremony begins on stage at 26th and Welton Streets at 1 p.m., as does the music festival (Slick Rick headlining). The afterparty at Privé At Dorchester, 1448 Market St., starts at 10 p.m.

Best bet: The Denver DeluxeLive music, beer and burgers. 100 percent of proceeds benefit RiNo Arts. Between 26th and 27th on Walnut St. 2-8 p.m. $10-25.

“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.” Winner of five 2015 Tony Awards including Best Play, adapted from Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel about Christopher Boone, an exceptionally smart, autistic 15-year-old who makes a life-changing discovery while trying to find out who killed his neighbor’s dog. Ellie Caulkins Opera House, 1385 Curtis St. 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. $30-$105.

“DragOn.” In a pre-Pride and -ComicCon show, a young drag queen faces a series of comic book-inspired foes. Garner Galleria Theatre, 1101 13th St. 7:30 p.m. $30.

“The Luckiest People.” In its final days: A National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere commissioned by Curious Theatre Company about a man whose difficult father moves in with him and his partner after the death of his mother. Curious Theater Co., 1080 Acoma St. 8 p.m. $24-$44.

“The Rocky Horror Show.” Bug Theater, 3654 Navajo St. 7:30 p.m. and midnight. $17-20.

Gramatik. Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway. 7 p.m. $39.75-45.

XXXTENTACION. Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax Ave. 8 p.m. $28-33.

Saint Pé. Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St. 9 p.m. $5-15.

Dressy Bessy. Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E. Colfax Ave. 9 p.m. $12.

Shane Smith & The Saints. Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St. 9 p.m. $10-12.

Electric Funeral Fest 2017 featuring Acid King. Hi-Dive, 7 S. Broadway. 4 p.m. $32-59.

Afrodisiac. Cervantes Other Side, 2637 Welton St. 9 p.m. $15-20.

Overload Festival. Summit Music Hall, 1902 Blake St. 6 p.m. $20-50.

Hail the Sun. Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St. 6 p.m. $13-15.

Mortified: Summer School. Oriental Theater, 4335 W. 44th Ave. 7 p.m. $16.

Paula Poundstone. Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Place. 8 p.m. $35-55.

Opera on Tap: An Evening of Bite-Sized Opera. Syntax Physic Opera, 554 S. Broadway. 6-8 p.m. $8.

Swingin' Under the Stars with the Flatirons Jazz Orchestra at Little Man Ice Cream, 2620 16th St. 7:30-10 p.m.

Shakesbeer presents: A Midsummer Night’s Dram. Shakespeare, but with drinking actors. Thin Man Tavern, 2015 E. 17th Ave. 7:30-10:30 p.m. 

Midnight Madness: "Space Jam." Esquire Theatre, 590 Downing St. Midnight. $9.

Art

Denver Zine Fest. Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, 2637 Welton St. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.

For families

Denver Greek Festival. Assumption Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 4610 E. Alameda Ave. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Free-$3.

Fairmount Cemetery Movie Night: "Rogue One." Histroic Riverside & Fairmont Cemeteries, 430 S. Quebec St. 8-11 p.m. Free.

Green Valley Ranch Movie Night: "The Incredibles" with free popcorn and other snacks. Town Center Park, 4890 Argonne Way. 8-11 p.m.

"The Secret Life of Pets" on the field at DU's Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium, 2240 Buchtel Blvd. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Free.

Mad Science: use the power of the sun to cook a snack and make a craft, write with invisible ink and create giant bubbles. Bluff Lake Nature Center, 3400 Havana Way. 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Sports

Colorado Rockies vs. San Francisco Giants, 1:10 p.m.

Colorado Rapids vs. Portland Timbers, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday

Pride

The Coors Light PrideFest Parade begins in Cheesman Park at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. It’ll travel north along Franklin St., turning west on Colfax Ave., which it will traverse the rest of the way to Civic Center Park.

PrideFest takes over Civic Center Park from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Jennifer Holiday, who starred as Effie White in the Broadway musical “Dreamgirls,” will perform at 3 p.m. and Peppermint (Agnes Moore), a New York City nightlife fixture and contestant on the ninth season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” will perform at 3:30 p.m.

At Charlie’s, 900 E. Colfax Ave., they’re once again taking over the parking lot for a weekend-long bash. They’ll have a waterslide, slip and slide, pool, deck, food vendor, merchandise vendors and drinks. And, of course, there will be DJs and performances inside and out. 7 a.m.

X Bar, 629 E. Colfax Ave., Pink Flamingo Glitter and Parade Party 7 a.m.-8 p.m. and their wet underwear shower contest at 8 p.m.

The Wrangler, 3090 Downing St., will host its biggest beer bust of the year. 4-8 p.m. $10-12.

Blush & Blu, 1526 E. Colfax Ave.: celebrating/watching the parade.

Queer in the Headlights 2017 PrideFest party. Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St. 3 p.m. $5-10.

And we've got your guide to all things pride -- parade, rally, Big Gay 5K and more -- right here.

Father's Day

Father's Day Half Marathon/5K/10K. Get a discount when you register as a family. Central Park, 8801 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. 8 a.m. $25-50.

Surf & Turf & Surf. Beers, surf-and-turf taco plates from Barbed Wire Reef and music from The Royal Aces Surf Band. Station 26 Brewing Co., 7045 E. 38th Ave. 3 p.m.

Father's Day whiskey and beer tour. Mile High Spirits, Great Divide Brewing Company and First Draft Tap House. Mile High Spirits Distillery and Tasting Bar, 2201 Lawrence St. 2-5:30 p.m. $32-40.

Father's Day at Zuni Street. Yoga, El Gallo Blanco Food Truck, live music from Tight Five Trio. Dads get their first pint free when accompanied by kid(s). Zuni Street Brewing Co., 2355 W. 29th Ave. 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m.

Food & drink

2-Millionth Scoop Celebration with games, live bluegrass and more. Little Man Ice Cream, 2620 16th St. 2-10 p.m.

Entertainment

“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.” Winner of five 2015 Tony Awards including Best Play, adapted from Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel about Christopher Boone, an exceptionally smart, autistic 15-year-old who makes a life-changing discovery while trying to find out who killed his neighbor’s dog. Ellie Caulkins Opera House, 1385 Curtis St. 2 p.m. $30-$105.

Portugual. The Man and Local Natives. Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway. 6:30 p.m. $39.50-45.

George Clinton & Parliament. Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax Ave. 8 p.m. $32-35.

Mason Jennings. Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave. 8 p.m. $26-30.

The Common Good. Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E. Colfax Ave. 8 p.m. $8-10.

A Live One playing Phish. Cervantes Other Side, 2637 Welton St. 9 p.m. $10-15.

Wednesday 13. Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St. 7 p.m. $15.

Art

Foul-Mouthed Cross-Stitch Sundays. Get crafty and do some cross-stitching. All materials provided with purchase. Grandma’s House, 1710 S. Broadway. Noon-9 p.m.

For families

Denver Greek Festival. Assumption Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 4610 E. Alameda Ave. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free-$3.

Sports

Colorado Rockies vs. San Francisco Giants, 1:10 p.m.

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