By Lucy Haggard, for Denverite
Happy Independence Day, Denver! Hopefully you get at least a little bit of time off to soak up the sun, eat some tasty food, and do whatever else your tradition is, if you have one. (I'll be chowing down on some berry trifle, thank you very much.)
Some places already had their fireworks shows earlier this week, including Coors Field and Civic Center Park. Today, though, there are shows at Dick's Sporting Goods Park and Elitch Gardens, and in Lakewood, Englewood, Aurora and more. If you're feeling extra adventurous, take a drive up to Boulder to watch from Folsom Field!
The proper weekend is also really busy. The Avett Brothers are at Red Rocks for three nights and Dead and Company are at Folsom Field in Boulder -- if you're lucky, you can snag tickets for either. The Cherry Creek Arts Festival will be on the streets Friday through Sunday. First Friday and Saturday events around the arts community ensure free admission to many an art exhibit.
Get out there and see the city, Denver!
Thursday
Fourth of July
Mile High Young Professionals and Grab-A-Beer Colorado's Fourth of July Celebration. Infinity LoHi, 2298 W. 28th Ave. Noon to 5 p.m. $15-20.
10th Annual Park Hill 4th of July Parade. Greater Park Hill Community, Along 23rd Ave. between Dexter St. and Krameria St. 1:30 p.m. Free.
Festival and fireworks. Cornerstone Park and Belleview Park (Englewood). Fun starts at 3 p.m.; fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Free.
Big Boom Bash. Jeffco Stadium, 500 Kipling St. (Lakewood). Gates open at 5:30 p.m.; fireworks start around 9:15 p.m. Free.
Fourth of July Spectacular. Aurora Municipal Center, 15151 E. Alameda Pkwy. (Aurora). Begins at 6 p.m.; fireworks start around 9:30 p.m. Free.
Fireworks show. Elitch Gardens, 10 p.m. Included with entry ($29.99 upwards).
Festivals, markets and fairs
Park Hill Farm and Flea. Oneida Park neighborhood, 2255 N. Oneida St. 4-9 p.m. Free.
Learn a thing
GEM night. Mariposa Bikes Together, 1060 Osage St. 7-9 p.m. Free.
Comedy and theater
Opening night of "Paris Is Burning" new restoration showings. Sie FilmCenter, 2510 E. Colfax Ave. 1:20 p.m., 4:20 p.m., 7:20 p.m., 9:50 p.m. $10.
Eats and drinks
Fourth of July party. 54thirty, 1475 California St. 1 p.m. onwards. Free entry.
Fourth of July Kickoff. NATIV Hotel Denver, 1612 Wazee St. 4 p.m. onwards. Free entry.
Fourth of July Party. Pride and Swagger, 450 E. 17th Ave. 4 p.m. onwards. Free entry.
Fourth of July party and "Wet Hot American Summer" screening. Avanti, 3200 Pecos St. 5 p.m. No cover.
Red White & Revel. REVEL Social, 2299 Blake St. 9 p.m. No cover.
Music and nightlife
Blues Traveler. Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Pkwy. 5:30 p.m. $50-65.
Rubedo's Independence Day V. Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave. 8 p.m. $18.
Post Fireworks Party. Neon Baby, 1942 Market St. 9 p.m. No cover.
Fourth of July After Dark Party. Black Box, 314 E. 13th Ave. 9 p.m. $20-25.
Sports
Denver Outlaws vs. Chesapeake Bayhawks (with fireworks afterwards). Broncos Stadium at Mile High, 1701 Bryant St. 7 p.m. $15 upwards.
Colorado Rapids vs. New England Revolution (with fireworks afterwards). Dick's Sporting Goods Park, 6000 Victory Way. 7 p.m. $29 upwards.
Friday
Festivals, markets and fairs
Cherry Creek Arts Festival. Cherry Creek North, between 2nd Ave. and 3rd Ave., and Clayton St. and Steele St. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Free.
Friday Night Bazaar. Ironton Distillery, 3636 Chestnut Pl. 5-10 p.m. Free.
Learn a thing
Mental Health First Aid. Mental Health Center of Denver, 4141 E. Dickensen Pl. 8 a.m. $20.
Science and nature
Midsummer Nights Tour. Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St. 6 p.m. $14.
Art, culture and media
Cultural First Friday: Life Con Frida. Museo de las Americas, 861 Santa Fe Dr. 5-9 p.m. Free entry.
First Friday Party. Foolproof Contemporary Art, 3240 Larimer St. 5 p.m. Free (RSVP needed).
B-Side Music Fridays feat. Justin R Bank and Brianna Straut. Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, 1485 Delgany St. 5 p.m. $5.
First Friday Art Walk. Santa Fe Art District, between 7th Ave. and 10th Ave. 5:30-9:30 p.m. Free.
First Friday art and live music. Improper City, 3201 Walnut St. 6 p.m. Free.
Beet Poetry feat. Grace Mitchell. The Corner Beet, 1401 Ogden St. 6 p.m. Free entry.
Beat Speak. Dazzle, 1512 Curtis St. 9:30 p.m. $7.
Comedy and theater
The Grawlix. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 7:30 p.m. $28.
"First Man" in IMAX 2D. Denver Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 7:30 p.m. $9.95.
Scream Screen presents "Black Christmas." Sie FilmCenter, 2510 E. Colfax Ave. 9:30 p.m. $12.
Music and nightlife
Cayucas with Walker Lukens. Levitt Pavilion Denver, 1380 W. Florida Ave. 7 p.m. Free.
Alliance Francaise presents: New Origin Trio. Dazzle, 1512 Curtis St. 7 p.m. $15-25.
Mastodon. Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax Ave. 9 p.m. $15-27.
Creature Canopy. Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St. 9 p.m. $10-12.
Poor Moxi. Lost Lake, 3602 E. Colfax Ave. 9 p.m. $10-12.
Pictureplane. Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St. 9 p.m. $12-15.
Lipgloss: An Indie Dance Party. Milk Bar, 1037 Broadway. 9 p.m. $5-10.
First Friday Silent Disco. The District, 1320 E. 17th Ave. 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. No cover.
Saturday
Festivals, markets and fairs
Cherry Creek Arts Festival. Cherry Creek North, between 2nd Ave. and 3rd Ave., and Clayton St. and Steele St. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Free.
Just for fun
Yoga with the sharks. Downtown Aquarium, 700 Water St. 8 a.m. $15.
Yoga on the plaza. Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St. 8 a.m. Free.
Learn a thing
Hustler Talks: Overcoming. Bruz Beers, 1675 W. 67th Ave. 1 p.m. Free (RSVP required).
Community
POC Community Yoga and Journaling. HEAL Denver, 938 W. 8th Ave. 7 p.m. Free ($10 donation requested). *Note: This event is intended for people of color only.
T4T. Gladys: The Nosy Neighbor, 500 Santa Fe Dr. 10 p.m. $3-5 suggested donation.
Science and nature
Midsummer Nights Tour. Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St. 6 p.m. $14.
Art, culture and media
Penny admission for Colorado residents. Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, 1485 Delgany St. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. One cent.
Free First Saturday. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free.
Comedy and theatre
The Grawlix. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 7:30 p.m. $28.
"First Man" in IMAX 2D. Denver Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 7:30 p.m. $9.95.
Eats and drinks
Truck Stop: Food Truck Rally Series. Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St. (Stapleton). 1-8 p.m. Free entry.
Music and nightlife
Compound Sound Refuge Party. Cervantes' Other Side, 2637 Welton St. 4 p.m. $20-25.
Concert on the Green feat. That Eighties Band. Founders' Green, 7601 E. 29th Ave. 6 p.m. Free.
August Burns Red. Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 Clarkson St. 6 p.m. $25.
Dustbowl Revival with The Woodpile. Levitt Pavilion Denver, 1380 W. Florida Ave. 7 p.m. Free.
Chase Atlantic. Summit, 1902 Blake St. 7 p.m. $18-22.
Bryce Merritt. Walnut Room, 3131 Walnut St. 8 p.m. $12-18.
Heart Bones. Oriental Theater, 4335 W. 44th Ave. 8 p.m. $13.
Jello Biafra's Incredibly Strange Dance Party. Lion's Lair, 2022 E. Colfax Ave. 9 p.m. $15.
Carson McHone. Hi-Dive, 7 S. Broadway. 9 p.m. $10.
Short Shorts. Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St. 9 p.m. $12-15.
Kronen (EP release). Lost Lake, 3602 E. Colfax Ave. 9 p.m. $10-12.
Kiltro (album release). Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St. 9 p.m. $10-15.
Sunday
Festivals, markets and fairs
Cherry Creek Arts Festival. Cherry Creek North, between 2nd Ave. and 3rd Ave., and Clayton St. and Steele St. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free.
The Great Phil Family Reunion: Watkins Glen Revisited. Civic Center Park, Colfax and Bannock. Noon to 11 p.m. Free (RSVP requested to ensure spot).
Just for fun
Yoga Rocks The Park. Sunken Gardens Park, between Speer Blvd., Elati St. and W. 8th Ave. 8 a.m. Free ($10 for kids).
Skylines Yoga and Beer. Epic Brewing Company, 3001 Walnut St. 10:30 a.m. $18.
Comedy and theater
Robert Schenkkan's "Building The Wall" and discussion afterwards. Curious Theatre Company, 1080 Acoma St. 2 p.m. $30.
The Grawlix. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 7 p.m. $28.
Music and nightlife
Strange Sundaze. RiNo Beer Garden, 3800 Walnut St. 2-10 p.m. Free entry.
Sunday Series feat. New Ben Franklins. Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St. 3 p.m. $10-12.
Villalobos Brothers with El Javi. Levitt Pavilion Denver, 1380 W. Florida Ave. 5 p.m. Free.
City Park Jazz feat. Invisible Bird. City Park, 1600 City Park Esplanade. 6 p.m. Free.
Melissa Etheridge. Hudson Gardens, 6115 S. Santa Fe Dr. (Littleton). 7:30 p.m. $55.
Conan. Hi-Dive, 7 S. Broadway. 8 p.m. $12-15.
Priests. Lost Lake, 3602 E. Colfax Ave. 8 p.m. $15-17.
The Artisanals. Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St. 8 p.m. $10-12.
Natural Born Leaders. Walnut Room, 3131 Walnut St. 8 p.m. $12-18.
Sports
Women's World Cup Finals Watch Party. Dick's Sporting Goods Park, 6000 Victory Way. 9 a.m. Free.
Didn't find what you're looking for? Here's a link to Meetups near Denver. Or you might try MileHighOnTheCheap.com's calendar.
Want to submit a thing? Do it at our Google form!
Lucy Haggard is a student journalist at University of Colorado Boulder. She's News Director at Radio 1190 KVCU, the student radio station, and was previously Editor-In-Chief for CU Independent, the student news site. When she's not ditching class to report the news, she's probably geeking out over a map. Follow her on Twitter @lucy_haggard.
