Things to do in Denver this weekend, April 30-May 2

Elitch Gardens reopens and farmers’ markets are roaring back.
7 min. read
Elitch Gardens.
Kevin J. Beaty

By Cassidy Ritter

It's shaping up to be a busy weekend in Denver. Elitch Gardens opens to the public this weekend for the first time since before the pandemic, and several markets are also reopening, including one with vegan offerings.

The annual Furry Scurry race hosted by the Dumb Friends League also kicks off virtually this weekend.

Whatever you get up to, make it a good one!

Note: Events with an * are taking place in-person.

Friday 

Just for Fun

Theme Quiz: Friends. Geeks Who Drink, online. 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. $5.99.

Comedy and theater

*Best of Denver Stand-Up Showcase. Denver Comedy Lounge, 3559 Larimer St. 6:50 p.m. $12.75-18.

*The Colorado Comedy Show: Terence Hartnett. Stein Brewing Company, 2516 49th St., Boulder. 8 p.m. $12-35.

Art, culture and media

*Stonehenge: Ancient Mysteries and Modern Discoveries. Denver Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Free-$29. Advanced tickets required for timed entry.

*Earth Illuminated. Denver Pavilions, 500 16th Street Mall. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Free-$25. Advanced ticketing recommended for timed entry.

*Museum for Black Girls. Museum for Black Girls, 1421 26th St. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. $15-25.

*Colorado in the Present Tense: Narkita Gold, Rick Griffith, Nathan Hall, and Maia Ruth Lee. MCA Denver, 1485 Delgany St. Noon-7 p.m. Free-$10. Advanced registration required for timed entry.

*Jamie Carrejo: Waiting. MCA Denver, 1485 Delgany St. Noon-7 p.m. Free-$10. Advanced registration required for timed entry.

*Keith Haring: Grace House Mural. MCA Denver, 1485 Delgany St. Noon-7 p.m. Free-$10. Advanced registration required for timed entry.

In-Studio and Online: Treescape 10×30 Canvas Class. Canvas and Cocktails, 6862 S. University Blvd., Centennial and Zoom. 6:30 p.m. $15 plus materials (online), $35 (in-person).

Eats and drinks

*Grand Opening - Dave's Hot Chicken. 99 S. Broadway. 11 a.m.-midnight. No cover.

Music and nightlife

*Friday Night Open Mic. Lincoln Station Coffee/Pizza/Music, 9360 Station St., Lone Tree. 5:30-8:30 p.m. No cover.

*Live Music with Danny Fantastic. Poka Lola Social Club, 1850 Wazee St. 6-9 p.m. No cover.

*Lost City Live: Austen Carroll & the Better Neighbors with A. Greene. Lost City RiNo Patio, 3459 Ringsby Court. 6:30-9:30 p.m. $25-200.

*Trevor Hall with Cas Haley. Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Pkwy., Morrison. 7:30 p.m. $59.95-79.95. Advanced registration required.

Sports and fitness

Colorado Avalanche vs. San Jose Sharks. Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle. Watch on ALT. 7 p.m. Tickets starting at $125.

Colorado Rockies vs. Arizona Diamondbacks. Watch on ATT Sports Network-RM or listen at KOA 850 AM. 7:40 p.m.

Saturday

Just for fun

*Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park Opening Weekend. 2000 Elitch Circle. 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. $44.99-69.99.

*Capitol Hill Walking Tour. Historic Denver, throughout Capitol Hill. 1:30-3 p.m. $18-23. Advanced registration required.

*Rooted: A Garden Market. Dairy Block, 1800 Wazee St. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. No cover.

Comedy and theater

*Outdoor Denver Comedy Underground Show: David Gborie. Irish Snug, 1201 E. Colfax Ave. 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. $5-35.

Art, culture and media

*Stonehenge: Ancient Mysteries and Modern Discoveries. Denver Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free-$29. Advanced tickets required for timed entry.

In-Studio and Online: Big Wish 10×30 Canvas Class. Canvas and Cocktails, 6862 S. University Blvd., Centennial and Zoom. 10 a.m. $15 plus materials (online), $35 (in-person).

*Earth Illuminated. Denver Pavilions, 500 16th Street Mall. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Free-$25. Advanced ticketing recommended for timed entry.

Cinco de Mayo: Flor Y Canto Arte Ciencia y Tradition Indigena. Chicano Humanities & Arts Council, online. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free.

*Cinco de Mayo Exhibit Opening Reception. Chicano Humanities & Arts Council Gallery, 6851 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood. Noon-5 p.m.

*Museum for Black Girls. Museum for Black Girls, 1421 26th St. Noon-8 p.m. $15-25.

*Shiki Dreams. 2219 E. 21st Ave. Noon-7:30 p.m. $19.99. Advanced registration recommended.

In-Studio and Online: Keep Palm and Carry On. Canvas and Cocktails, 6862 S. University Blvd., Centennial and Zoom. 6:30 p.m. $15 plus materials (online), $35 (in-person).

Eats and drinks

*Boulder Market. Boulder County Farmers Market, along 13 Street between Arapahoe Avenue and Canyon Boulevard, Boulder. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. No cover.

*Longmont Market. Boulder County Fairgrounds, 9595 Nelson Road, Longmont. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. No cover.

*Colorado Fresh Markets - Cherry Creek. Cherry Creek Shopping Center, 1st Avenue and University Boulevard. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. No cover.

*Derby Day. Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St. Noon-8 p.m. No cover (for bar seating).

*Denver Vegan Market. Pete's Corner House Lounge 1515 Madison St. 1-5 p.m. No cover.

*Culinary Date Night: Italy. Cook Street, 43 W. 9th Ave. 6-9:30 p.m. $119.

Music and nightlife

*Derby Day. Poka Lola Social Club, 1850 Wazee St. Noon-11 p.m. No cover.

*Live Music with Cat Boy Sound. Poka Lola Social Club, 1850 Wazee St. 6-9 p.m. No cover.

*Kaytranada with Sango and Lou Phelps. Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Pkwy., Morrison. 8 p.m. $69-90. Advanced registration required.

Sports and fitness

Virtual Furry Scurry 2021. Dumb Friends League, anywhere. Anytime. $30-50.

Colorado Avalanche vs. San Jose Sharks. Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle. Watch on ALT. 6 p.m. Tickets starting at $180.

Colorado Rockies vs. Arizona Diamondbacks. Watch on ATT Sports Network-RM or listen at KOA 850 AM or KNRV 1150. 6:10 p.m. 

Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers. Watch on ESPN or listen at KKSE 950 AM. 8 p.m.

Sunday

Just for fun

*Bark in the Park. West Arvada Dog Park, 17975 W. 64th Parkway, Arvada. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free.

*Rooted: A Garden Market. Dairy Block, 1800 Wazee St. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. No cover. 

*Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park Opening Weekend. 2000 Elitch Circle. 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. $44.99-69.99.

*LoDo Walking Tour. Historic Denver, throughout LoDo. 1:30-3 p.m. $18. Advanced registration required.

Comedy and theater

*Sin-Day Comedy Standup. Denver Comedy Lounge and Colorado Sake Co., 3559 Larimer St. 7 p.m. $12.75-18.

Art, culture and media

*Stonehenge: Ancient Mysteries and Modern Discoveries. Denver Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free-$29. Advanced tickets required for timed entry.

In-Studio and Online: Giraffe. Canvas and Cocktails, 6862 S. University Blvd., Centennial and Zoom. 6:30 p.m. $15 plus materials (online), $35 (in-person).

*Colorado in the Present Tense: Narkita Gold, Rick Griffith, Nathan Hall, and Maia Ruth Lee. MCA Denver, 1485 Delgany St. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free-$10. Advanced registration required for timed entry.

*Jamie Carrejo: Waiting. MCA Denver, 1485 Delgany St. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free-$10. Advanced registration required for timed entry.

*Keith Haring: Grace House Mural. MCA Denver, 1485 Delgany St. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free-$10. Advanced registration required for timed entry.

*Earth Illuminated. Denver Pavilions, 500 16th Street Mall. Noon-6 p.m. Free-$25. Advanced ticketing recommended for timed entry.

*Shiki Dreams. 2219 E. 21st Ave. Noon-7:30 p.m. $19.99. Advanced registration recommended.

In-Studio and Online: Dandelion Fundraiser Event for S.O.U.L. Canvas and Cocktails, 6862 S. University Blvd., Centennial and Zoom. 2 p.m. $20 plus materials (online), $40 (in-person).

Eats and drinks

*Drag Queen Bingo Brunch. Denver Milk Market, 1800 Wazee St. Noon-3 p.m. 

*Dim Sum Sunday. Colorado Sake Co., 3559 Larimer St. Various times. $10 (goes toward tab).

Music and nightlife

Itchy-O: Noise Bath Series. Online. 6 p.m. $15.

*Kaytranada with Sango and Lou Phelps. Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Pkwy., Morrison. 7 p.m. $69-90. Advanced registration required.

Sports and fitness

*Yoga & Wine. Denver Yoga Social and The Infinite Monkey Theorem, 3200 Larimer St. 1-2:30 p.m. $25 (glass of wine included).

Colorado Rockies vs. Arizona Diamondbacks. Watch on ATT Sports Network-RM or listen at KOA 850 AM or KNRV 1150. 2:10 p.m. 

Virtual Furry Scurry 2021. Dumb Friends League, anywhere. Anytime. $30-50.

All weekend

Just for fun

*Salvador Dali: Gardens of the Mind. Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. $11-15.

Science Smarts. Denver Museum of Nature and Science, online. Anytime. $15-20.

Art, culture and media

*Radiant Season: Paintings by Kevin Sloan. Denver Botanic Gardens York Street, 1007 York St. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Free-$15.

*Paris to Hollywood. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free-$13. Advanced registration recommended for timed entry.

*Translucent Reality. Walker Fine Art, 300 W. 11th Ave. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Advanced registration recommended.

Beer! A Love Story. Online. Anytime. $9.99-$24.99.

Dazzle Online Stage Performances. Online. Anytime. Free.

Museum from Home. Denver Art Museum, online. Anytime. Free.

Sie FilmCenter Virtual Cinema. Sie FilmCenter, online. Anytime. $13.

Until the Flood. Denver Center for the Performing Arts, online. Anytime. Free.

Eats and drinks

*Denver Restaurant Week. Various locations. Times vary. $25-45.

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