By Cassidy Ritter, Special to Denverite
From a community blood drive to a sushi making class and 2023 VegFest, there's a lot happening in Denver this weekend. There's also a lot of concerts and free, outdoor concerts, including the City Park Jazz series and a Mac Miller tribute concert.
And of course, the Underground Music Showcase returns this weekend. Here's what you need to know and Denverite's staff picks, if you're unsure what artists to check out.
Whatever you get up to, make it a great weekend!
Notes: Events with an * are taking place virtually or outdoors.
Friday, July 28
Just for fun
*Friday 5 at 5 Book Buzz. Denver Public Library, online. 5-5:15 p.m. Free.
*Friday Night BAZAAR: RiNo. 2424 Larimer St. 5-9 p.m. No cover (general admission), $20 (bottomless Aperol Spritz from 5-6 p.m.).
Kids and family
Little University: Creative Movement with Colorado Ballet. Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales Branch Library, 1498 N. Irving St. 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Ideal for ages 5 and under, when accompanied by an adult.
Summer of Adventure: Erica Sodos and the Mysteries of Grig the Elf. Woodbury Branch Library, 3265 Federal Blvd. 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free. Ideal for ages 5-12, when accompanied by an adult.
Fire Engine Visits the Library. Schlessman Family Branch Library, 100 Poplar St. 2-3 p.m. Free. All ages.
Wellness Circle for Teens. PlatteForum, 2700 Curtis St., Suite 102. 2:3-3:30 p.m. Free.
Built to Fly. Eugene Field Branch Library, 810 S. University Blvd. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Ideal for grades 2-5, when accompanied by an adult.
Comedy and theater
Brian Posehn. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. $29.
Orion Levine. Denver Comedy Underground, 1400 N. Williams St. 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. $20 (includes free drink and pizza).
Arts, culture and media
Traverse. Union Hall, 1750 Wewatta St., Suite 144. Noon-6 p.m. Free.
Untitled: Artist Takeover. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. 6-10 p.m. Free (ages 18 and under), $12-$16.
Once Lost Now Found: One Drop of Blood Between Us Opening. PlatteForum Annex Gallery, 3575 Ringsby Ct., Suite 103. 6-8 p.m. Free.
Eat and drink
*Food Truck Fridays. Butterfly Park, 6280 N Galena Way. 5-7:30 p.m. No cover.
Sushi 101. Stir Cooking School at Ice House, 1801 Wynkoop St., Suite A-175. 6:30-9:30 p.m. $109 (per person).
Music and nightlife
*Summer Concert Series featuring The Royal Street Ramblers. Belmar, 7337 W. Alaska Dr., Lakewood. 6-8 p.m. Free.
*Live Music in the Alley: Many Mountains. Dairy Block Alley, 1800 Wazee St. 6-8 p.m. Free.
B-Side Teen Music Night: Chum Bucket & Jackie's Revenge. MCA Denver, 1485 Delgany St. 7-9 p.m. Free (teens), $15 (general admission).
*Tedeschi Trucks Band. Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway. 7 p.m. Prices vary.
*Larimer Square Summer Market Series. Larimer Square, 1430 Larimer St. 8-10 p.m. Free.
Fitness and sports
*Colorado Rockies vs. Oakland Athletics. Coors Field, 2001 Blake St. Watch on ATT SportsNet-RM, or listen at 94.1 FM. 6:40 p.m. Prices vary.
Saturday, July 29
Just for fun
Community Blood Drive. Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.
2023 Colorado Renaissance Festival. 650 Perry Park Ave., Larkspur. 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. $11-$12 (children), $25-$28 (adults).
Community Pride Flag Unveiling. Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales Branch Library, 1498 N. Irving St. 1-2 p.m. Free.
Kids and family
*SOA Family Sidewalk Chalk Decorating. Virginia Village Branch Library, 1500 S. Dahlia St. 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Ideal for ages 12 and under, when accompanied by an adult.
Forging Youth Resilience & Montbello CrossFit Program. Montbello Branch Library, 12955 Albrook Dr. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Ideal for ages 12-18 (families welcome).
The Learning Lab: Hammer Time-ICE AGE in the Park. Dailey Park, 1 S. Cherokee St. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Ideal for ages 2-6.
Science of the Titanic with Molly Brown House. John "Thunderbird Man" Emhoolah Jr. Branch Library, 675 Santa Fe Dr. 2-3 p.m. Free. Ideal for ages 7-12.
Comedy and theater
Tim Dillon. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 7:15 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. $45-$55.
Rotating Tap Comedy. Second Dawn Brewing, 2302 Dayton St., Aurora. 8-10 p.m. Free.
Brian Posehn. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 9:45 p.m. $29.
Orion Levine. Denver Comedy Underground, 1400 N. Williams St. 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. $20 (includes free drink and pizza).
Art, culture and media
Traverse. Union Hall, 1750 Wewatta St., Suite 144. Noon-6 p.m. Free.
Gonzales Movie Club: Yojimbo. Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales Branch Library, 1498 N. Irving St. 2-4:30 p.m. Free.
Lumonics Immersed. Lumonics Light & Sound Gallery, 800 E. 73 Ave., Unit 11. 8-10:30 p.m. $15-$25.
Eat and drink
*City Park Farmers Market. City Park Esplanade, East Colfax Avenue and Columbine Street. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. No cover.
*Boulder County Farmers Market. Boulder County Fairgrounds, 9595 Nelson Road, Longmont. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. No cover.
*Southwest Plaza Farmers Market. Southwest Plaza, 8501 W. Bowles Ave., Littleton. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. No cover.
*Union Station Farmers Market. Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. No cover.
*Cherry Creek Fresh Market. Cherry Creek Shopping Center, 1st Avenue and University Boulevard. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. No cover.
Avery 30th Anniversary Invitational. Avery Brewing Co., 4910 Nautilus Ct. N., Boulder. 1-5 p.m. $93.
2023 VegFest. Tivoli Quad at Auraria Campus, 1000 Larimer St. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Prices vary.
2023 Denver Summer Tequila Tasting Festival. Orchard Denver, 1448 Market St. 2:30-6 p.m. $36 (from 4-6 p.m.), $76 (from 3-6 p.m.).
Music and nightlife
All Day I Dream of Denver Divine. Sculpture Park, 1736 Speer Blvd., Suite 1848. 2 p.m. $35.
*Tedeschi Trucks Band. Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway. 7 p.m. Prices vary.
*Saturday Night Live Music. Little Man Ice Cream, 3455 S. University Blvd. 7-9 p.m. Free.
Luke Bryan. Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle. 7 p.m. Prices vary.
*Buddy Guy & Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Fiddler's Green, 6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Greenwood Village. 7:30 p.m. Prices vary.
Mac Miller Tribute Night with Brisco Jones. Black Box Denver, 314 E. 13th Ave. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Free before 10 p.m. with RSVP.
Fitness and sports
*Yoga on the Rocks. Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway. 7 a.m. Starting at $47.
*Fitness on the Plaza. Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St. 8 a.m. Free.
*Skyline Flow Rooftop Yoga. The Rally Hotel, 1600 20th St. 9-10 a.m. Free. Advanced registration required.
*Let's Roll: DPL's Bike Club for Folks Age 50+. Hadley Branch Library, 1890 S. Grove St. 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Advanced registration required.
*Colorado Rockies vs. Oakland Athletics. Coors Field, 2001 Blake St. Watch on ATT SportsNet-RM, or listen at 94.1 FM. 6:10 p.m. Prices vary.
Sunday, July 30
Just for fun
2023 Colorado Renaissance Festival. 650 Perry Park Ave., Larkspur. 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. $11-$12 (children), $25-$28 (adults).
Comedy and theater
Tim Dillon. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 4 p.m. $45-$55.
Troy Walker. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 7 p.m. $14.
Jeff Allen. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 7 p.m. $35-$50.
Arts, culture and media
Nepali Jatra. City of Longmont Museum, 400 Quail Road, Longmont. 1-4 p.m. Free.
Eat and drink
*Highlands Farmers Market. Highlands Square, W. 32nd Avenue and Lowell Boulevard. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. No cover.
*South Pearl Street Farmers Market. 1400 and 1500 blocks of South Pearl Street, between Iowa and Arkansas. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. No cover.
*Orchard Farmers Market. Macy's parking lot, 14535 Delaware St., Westminster. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. No cover.
*People + Produce. Belleview Station, Newport Street and Chenango Avenue. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. No cover.
*Highlands Ranch Farmers Market. Highlands Ranch Town Center, 9288 Dorchester St., Highlands Ranch. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. No cover.
2023 VegFest. Tivoli Quad at Auraria Campus, 1000 Larimer St. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Prices vary.
Drag Queen Bingo Brunch. Milk Market, 1800 Wazee St., Suite 100. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. No cover.
Music and nightlife
*July Artist on the Rise Concert: Carly King. Dairy Block Alley, 1800 Wazee St. 4-6 p.m. Free.
*City Park Jazz: The Burroughs. City Park, 1600 City Park Esplanade. 6-8 p.m. Free.
Jam Session Sundays. Little Man Ice Cream, 4411 Colfax Ave. 6-9 p.m. Free.
*Los Lonely Boys with Three Sinseers and The Altons. Levitt Pavilion, 1380 W. Florida Ave. 7-10 p.m. $40-$65.
*Dispatch with the Colorado Symphony. Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway. 7 p.m. Prices vary.
Sports and fitness
*bRUNch Club. Side Pony, 4635 W. Colfax Ave., Suite 100. 8 a.m. Free, $15 (Yeti tumbler and donation).
*Colorado Rockies vs. Oakland Athletics. Coors Field, 2001 Blake St. Watch on ATT SportsNet-RM, or listen at 94.1 FM. 1:10 p.m. Prices vary.
All Weekend
Just for fun
Cirque Du Soleil Kooza. Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle. 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (Friday), noon, 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. (Saturday), and 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Sunday). Starting at $43.
Kids and family
Disney Animation Immersive Experience. Lighthouse Artspace, 3900 Elati St. 10:15 a.m.-8:15 p.m. Starting at $23. Advanced registration required for timed entry. All ages.
Bugs. Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members, children 2 and under), $17.95 (youth ages 3-18), $19.95 (seniors 65 and older), $22.95 (adult, non-members). Advanced registration recommended. All ages.
Art, culture and media
*John Fielder's Favorite Place. History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway, and online. By appointment (in-person), anytime (online). Free.
*Denver Public Art Self-Guided and Virtual Tours. Various locations and online. Anytime. Free. All ages.
Reptile Logic: A Corporate Dismemberment. Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora. 7:30 p.m. (Friday and Saturday) and 2:30 p.m. (Sunday). $30.
Ansel Adams: Early Works. Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Free (members and children 2 and under), $11 (children ages 3-15 and students), $11.50 (seniors 65 and older and military members), $15 (adults).
Anna Tsouhlarakis: Indigenous Absurdities. MCA Denver, 1485 Delgany St. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (children 18 and under), $7 (college students, teachers, military, seniors), $10 (adults and members).
Arts of Africa Gallery. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members and children ages 18 and younger), $12-$19.
Desert Rider: Dreaming in Motion. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members and children ages 18 and younger), $12-$19.
Space Command. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members and children ages 18 and younger), $12-$19.
Tomashi Jackson: Across the Universe. MCA Denver, 1485 Delgany St. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (children 18 and under), $7 (college students, teachers, military, seniors), $10 (adults and members).
Music and nightlife
Underground Music Showcase 2023. 21 S. Broadway. 3-11:59 p.m. $$65 (one day pass), $120 (weekend pass).
Fitness and sports
*Summer at Skyline Park. Skyline Park, 16th and Arapahoe streets. Times vary by activity. Free (skate rentals $7-$9).
