Things to do in Denver this weekend, Oct. 15-17

Get in the Halloween spirit with spooky activities, festivals and the Butterfly Pavilion’s spider pavilion.
11 min. read
In time for Halloween, Spookadelia 4: The Curse Of Novo Ita at Spectra Art Space in Denver is an all-ages psychedelic immersive art, augmented reality and theatrical experience. Sadie Young, Spectra’s chief curator and CEO, photographed in a room she created at Spookadelia 4.
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News

By Cassidy Ritter

Denver has a variety of weekend activities to choose from, including a fall flannel festival at the Dairy Block and the re-opening of the Butterfly Pavilion's spider pavilion. Also, comedians Tom Papa and Annie Lederman are coming to town.

(If you're looking for more spooky season activities, check out this list Maggie put together!)

Notes: Events with an * are taking place virtually. 

Friday 

Just for fun

Victorian Horrors. Molly Brown House Museum, 1340 Pennsylvania St. 6-9 p.m. $20. Advanced registration required for timed entry. Proof of vaccine or negative COVID-19 test required for entry.

Colorado Writers' Salon - Spooky Family Night. Tattered Cover Aspen Grove, 7301 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton. 7 p.m. Free. Advanced registration required.

Ghosts of Capitol Hill Tour. Southeast corner of 13th and Gilpin, 1288 Gilpin St. 7-9 p.m. and 8-10 p.m. $28.

Comedy and theater

Tom Papa. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 7:15 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. $33-50. Proof of vaccination required for entry.

Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein. Vintage Theatre Productions, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora. 7:30 p.m. Prices vary. Proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test required for entry.

Annie Lederman. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. $30. Proof of vaccination required for entry.

Art, culture and media

On Denver Larimer Square Pop-Up. 1419 Larimer St. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (music at 1:30 p.m.). Free.

Chain Letter. Union Hall, 1750 Wewatta St. Noon-6 p.m. Free.

Spectrum of Being. Walker Fine Art, 300 W. 11th Ave. 5-8 p.m. Free.

Curiouser and Curiouser Opening. K Contemporary, 1412 Wazee St. 6-9 p.m. Free.

October Movie Nights: Death Becomes Her. Museum of Outdoor Arts at Majorie Park, 6331 S. Fiddlers Green Circle, Greenwood Village. 6-9 p.m. Free (children 3 and younger, park members), $10.

In-Studio and Online: Vibrant Forest. Canvas and Cocktails, 6862 S. University Blvd., Centennial. 6:30 p.m. $20 (online, plus cost of materials), $40 (in-studio).

Eats and drinks

Kolache Workshop. Sur la Table SouthGlenn, 6853 S. Gaylord St., Centennial. 1 p.m. $79.

Date Night: Thai Kitchen. Sur la Table SouthGlenn, 6853 S. Gaylord St., Centennial. 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. $79 (per person).

Music and nightlife

Bourbon Bar & Live Music Series. The Oxford Hotel, 1600 17th St. 5-7 p.m. No cover.

Earl Nelson & The Company. Number 38, 3560 Chestnut Place. 6-8 p.m. No cover.

Lane 8. Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Pkwy., Morrison. 6 p.m. Prices vary.

Lost City Live: Clementine Was Right, Ellsworth, Will Orchard, and Micki Balder. Lost City RiNo, 3459 Ringsby Ct. 6:30-9:30 p.m. $12-200.

Rusty 44. Dairy Block, 1800 Wazee St. 7 p.m. Free.

Eric Church. Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle. Watch on ATL or BSMW. 8 p.m. Starting at $25.

Sports and fitness

On Art Run 5K. 1419 Larimer St. 6 p.m. Free. Advanced registration required.

Saturday

Just for fun

Nick's Pumpkin Patch & Fall Festival. Nick's Garden Center, 2001 S. Chambers Road, Aurora. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. No cover, tokens needed for some activities.

Fall Outdoor Market. Colorado Vintage and Art Market, 9126 W. Bowles Ave., Littleton. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free.

The Crazy Halloween Market. The Crazy Merchant, 1700 W. Belleview Ave., Littleton. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. No cover.

Fall Market and Pumpkin Patch. Resolute Tap & Cellar, 18148 W. 92nd Lane, Arvada. 12:30-4:30 p.m. No cover.

Victorian Horrors. Molly Brown House Museum, 1340 Pennsylvania St. 6-9 p.m. $20. Advanced registration required for timed entry. Proof of vaccine or negative COVID-19 test required for entry.

Ghosts of Capitol Hill Tour. Southeast corner of 13th and Gilpin, 1288 Gilpin St. 7:20-9:20 p.m. $28.

Comedy and theater

Roy Wood Jr. The Gothic Theatre, 3263 S. Broadway, Englewood. 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. $25. Proof of vaccination required for entry.

Annie Lederman. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. $30. Proof of vaccination required for entry.

Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein. Vintage Theatre Productions, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora. 7:30 p.m. Prices vary. Proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test required for entry.

Tom Papa. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 9:30 p.m. $33-50. Proof of vaccination required for entry.

Art, culture and media

Denver Design Week. Locations vary by event. 10 a.m.-noon, 1-3 p.m. and 3-5 p.m. $10.

In-Studio and Online: The Cutest Unicorn. Canvas and Cocktails, 6862 S. University Blvd., Centennial. 10 a.m. $20 (online, plus cost of materials), $30 (children under 12, in-studio, includes one free drink), $35 (adults, in-studio, includes one free drink).

Spectrum of Being. Walker Fine Art, 300 W. 11th Ave. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.

Chain Letter. Union Hall, 1750 Wewatta St. Noon-6 p.m. Free.

Denver Design Week: The Intersection of Craftsmanship and Digital Tooling Class. Raw Creative, 80205 38th Ave. 1 p.m. $10.

Pumpkin Painting. Resolute Tap & Cellar, 18148 W. 92nd Lane, Arvada. 1-4 p.m. $35.

October Movie Nights: Beetlejuice. Museum of Outdoor Arts at Majorie Park, 6331 S. Fiddlers Green Circle, Greenwood Village. 6-9 p.m. Free (children 3 and younger, park members), $10.

In-Studio and Online: Colorado Lights (painting and a movie). Canvas and Cocktails, 6862 S. University Blvd., Centennial. 6:30 p.m. $20 (online, plus cost of materials), $40 (in-studio).

Goatflix & Chill: Hocus Pocus. RMGY Studio, 5555 W. Evans Ave. 7-10 p.m. $15. Advanced registration recommended.

Eats and drinks

City Park Farmers Market. Denver East High School, 1600 City Park Esplanade. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. No cover.

Chocolate Macarons. Sur la Table SouthGlenn, 6853 S. Gaylord St., Centennial. 9 a.m. $79.

Union Station Farmers Market. 1701 Wynkoop Plaza. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. No cover.

University Hills Summer Farmers Market. University Hills Plaza, 2500 S. Colorado Blvd. 9 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.

Chinese: Wok Classics. Sur la Table SouthGlenn, 6853 S. Gaylord St., Centennial. 1 p.m. $79.

Date Night: Chilly Nights in Italy. Stir Cooking School, 3215 Zuni St. 6-9 p.m. $198 (for two). Proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test required.

Music and nightlife

Honey Blazer & Dave Tamkin. Number 38, 3560 Chestnut Place. 1-8:30 p.m. No cover.

The One and Only Jon Ham. Grange Hall, 6575 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Greenwood Village. 6 p.m. No cover.

Vokab Kompany. Dairy Block, 1800 Wazee St. 8 p.m. Free.

Julianna Zachariou, Isadora Eden and Molly Bush. Hi-Dive, 7 S. Broadway. 9 p.m. $12-15. Proof of vaccine or negative COVID-19 test required for entry.

Sports and fitness

Denver Colfax Marathon (marathon, half marathon, urban 10 miler and marathon relay). Colfax Avenue, locations vary by race. 6:45 a.m. (marathon, half and relay), 9-10 a.m. (staggered start, urban miler). Prices vary. Advanced registration required.

Colorado Avalanche vs. St. Louis Blues. Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle. Watch on ATL or BSMW. 7 p.m. Starting at $50.

*Colorado Rapids vs. RSL. Watch on ESPN+ or Altitude. Listen at Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM. 8:30 p.m. 

Sunday

Just for fun

Nick's Pumpkin Patch & Fall Festival. Nick's Garden Center, 2001 S. Chambers Road, Aurora. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. No cover, tokens needed for some activities.

Fall Flannel Festival. Dairy Block and Denver Milk Market, 1800 Wazee St. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (all ages) and 3-6 p.m. (adults only). Free. Proof of vaccination required at the Milk Market, not in the Dairy Block Alley.

Pumpkin Carving Party. Grange Hall patio, 6575 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Greenwood Village. Noon-4 p.m. $5 (includes pumpkin only), $20 (kids, includes pumpkin, drink, slice of pizza), $25 (adults, includes pumpkin, drink, slice of pizza). Advanced registration recommended.

Ghosts of Capitol Hill Tour. Southeast corner of 13th and Gilpin, 1288 Gilpin St. 6:30-8:30 p.m. $28.

Comedy and theater

Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein. Vintage Theatre Productions, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora. 2:30 p.m. Prices vary. Proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test required for entry.

Brian Simpson & Frank Castillo. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 7 p.m. $20-50. Proof of vaccination required for entry.

Art, culture and media

Denver Design Week: Maker Marketplace. McNichols Civic Center, 144 W. Colfax Ave. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free.

In-Studio and Online: Halloween Castle. Canvas and Cocktails, 6862 S. University Blvd., Centennial. 6:30 p.m. $20 (online, plus cost of materials), $35 (in-studio, includes one free drink).

Goatflix & Chill: Hocus Pocus. RMGY Studio, 5555 W. Evans Ave. 7-10 p.m. $15. Advanced registration recommended.

Eats and drinks

South Pearl Street Farmers Market. South Pearl Street between Iowa Avenue and Arkansas Ave. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. No cover.

Flavorful Pasta Favorites. Sur la Table SouthGlenn, 6853 S. Gaylord St., Centennial. 10 a.m. $79.

Woodland Animal Cupcakes. Sur la Table SouthGlenn, 6853 S. Gaylord St., Centennial. 1 p.m. $79.

Date Night: Japanese Izakaya. Stir Cooking School, 3215 Zuni St. 5-8 p.m. $190 (for two). Proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test required.

Music and nightlife

NFL Sunday Funday with DJ. Number 38, 3560 Chestnut Place. 11 a.m. No cover.

Dance 4 Pink. Dead Hippie Brewing, 3701 S. Santa Fe Dr., Sheridan. 1 p.m. Free. Advanced registration recommended.

Vokab Kompany. Dairy Block, 1800 Wazee St. 3 p.m. Free.

Bluegrass Jams. Seedstock Brewery, 3600 W. Colfax Ave. 5-7 p.m. Free.

Black Tiger Sex Machine. Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Pkwy., Morrison. 6 p.m. Prices vary.

Marc Anthony Pa'lla Voy Tour. Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle. 7 p.m. Starting at $59.

Billy Strings. Mission Ballroom Outdoors, 4242 Wynkoop St. 8 p.m. Starting at $35. Proof of vaccination required.

Sports and fitness

Denver Colfax Marathon (5K). City Park, near York Street and Colfax Avenue. 9 a.m.-noon. Prices vary.

Denver Broncos vs. Las Vegas Raiders. Empower Field at Mile High, 1701 Bryant St. Watch on CBS, or listen at KOA 850 AM or 94.1 FM. 2:25 p.m. Prices vary.

All weekend

Just for fun

Spider Pavilion Re-Opening. Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members, children under 2), $9 (children 2-12), $11 (seniors), $13 (adults).

Corn Maze. Denver Botanic Gardens - Chatfield Farms, 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Road, Littleton. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. $10 (child member), $13 (adult member), $15 (adult non-member). Advanced registration required for timed entry.

Doors Open Denver. Denver Architecture Foundation, throughout Denver, Boulder and Colorado Springs, and online. Anytime (online), Times vary (Saturday and Sunday). $25 (in-person, members), $30 (in-person, non-member). Advanced registration required.

Monster to Midnight. 500 16th Street Mall. 6-11:30 p.m. (Friday-Saturday). Free (children 5 and younger), $27 (children ages 6-11), $35 (adults). Advanced registration recommended for timed entry.

13th Floor Haunted House. 3400 E. 52nd Ave. Hours vary. General admission starting at $19.99.

Comedy and theater

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

Art, culture and media

Seeing the Invisible. Denver Botanic Garden, 1007 York St. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Free (children 2 and under, members), $11 (children 3-15 and students), $11.50 (military and seniors), $15 (adults). Advanced registration required.

Fervor: Ana María Hernando. Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Free-$15. Advanced registration required.

Of Sky and Ground: Yoshitomo Satio. Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Free-$15. Advanced registration required.

Birdly Virtual Reality Experience: Jurassic Flight. Denver Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. (Friday) and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Saturday-Monday). $8-9 in addition to admission to the museum. Advanced tickets required for timed entry.

Convergence Station. Meow Wolf Denver, 1338 1st St. 10 a.m.-midnight. (Friday and Saturday), 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (Sunday). $40-45.

The Denver Art Tour. Denver Central Market, 2669 Larimer St. 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. Free (children five and younger), $40 (ages 6-11), $45 (12 and up).

Jason Moran: Bathing the Room with Blues. MCA Denver, 1485 Delgany St. Noon-5 p.m. (Friday), 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday). $20 (members), $25 (non-members). Advanced registration required. Proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test required.

Deborah Roberts: I'm. MCA Denver, 1485 Delgany St. Noon-5 p.m. (Friday), 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday). $20 (members), $25 (non-members). Advanced registration required. Proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test required.

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

Earth Illuminated. Denver Pavilions, 500 16th Street Mall. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (Monday-Saturday) and noon-6 p.m. (Sunday). Free-$25. Advanced ticketing recommended for timed entry.

The Lifespan of a Fact. Curious Theatre Company, 1080 Acoma St.  7:30 p.m. (Friday and Saturday) and 2 p.m. (Sunday). $36-45.

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

*Kirkland Museum. Online. Anytime. Free.

*Gardens Navigator. Denver Botanic Gardens, online. Anytime. Free.

Eats and drinks

*Cooking School at Home. Stir Cooking School, online. Anytime. $25.

*Cooking on Demand. The Seasoned Chef, online. Anytime. $35.

Music and nightlife

*Dazzle Online Stage Performances. Online. Anytime. Free.

Sports and fitness

Beyond: Guided Meditation & Laser Light Experience. The International Church of Cannabis, 400 S. Logan St. Noon-8 p.m. (starts every 20 minutes past the hour). $10-25.

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