By Cassidy Ritter, Special to Denverite
Happy Thanksgiving, Denverites! Whether you're celebrating with family and friends or enjoying some much-needed downtime, here are some things to keep you (and your guests) occupied this weekend.
There are a handful of holiday markets and comedy shows across the metro. Union Station is also having a tree-lighting ceremony and hosting Santa. If you're looking for ways to donate to those in need this Thanksgiving, check out Desiree's article.
Whatever you get up to, make it a great weekend!
Notes: Events with an * are taking place virtually or outdoors.
Thursday, Nov. 23
Just for fun
*Watch Thanksgiving Day Parade. Watch on NBC or Peacock. 6:30-10 a.m. Free.
*Geeks Who Drink Trivia. Dairy Block, 1800 Wazee St. 7-9 p.m. No cover.
Eat and drink
Homemade Thanksgiving Plated Special. View House, 2015 Market St. Times vary. $22.95. Advanced registration recommended.
Sports and fitness
DTR Thanksgiving Morning: Turkey Trot Trail. Mount Falcon Park Morrison Trailhead, Castle Trail, Morrison. 8 a.m.
Friday, Nov. 24
Just for fun
Applewood Holiday Festival. The Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Free (children ages 12 and under, veterans), $6 (adults).
Grand Illumination. Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St. 4 p.m. Free.
*Olde Town Arvada Holiday Pop-up Market. Olde Town Arvada Square, 5726 Olde Wadsworth Blvd. 4-7 p.m. No cover.
Christmas Pop-Up Bar. Mile High Spirits - Tasting Room, 2201 Lawrence St. 10 p.m.-1:30 a.m. No cover.
Kids and family
Denver Zoo Pop Up & Play. Ford-Warren Branch Library, 2825 High St. 10 a.m.-noon. Free. All ages.
Game Club. Hampden Branch Library, 9755 E. Girard Ave. 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Ideal for ages 10-17.
Comedy and theater
Sam Adams. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 7:15 p.m. $14-$22.
Sam Tallent. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. $26.
Drunk Christmas. Odell Brewing Co., 1625 Perry St. 8-8:45 p.m. Pay what you can donation, $15 (reserved seating).
Arts, culture and media
Pop Culture Art & Cosplay Expo. 747 Sheridan Blvd., Lakewood. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. No cover.
Revealing Radiance. Walker Fine Art, 300 W. 11th Ave, Unit A. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.
Through Flesh to Infinity. Union Hall, 1750 Wewatta St., Suite 144. Noon-6 p.m. No cover.
Immersive Jazz Art Experience. Lumonics Light & Sound Gallery, 800 E. 73 Ave., Unit 11. 7-9:30 p.m. $20 (in advance), $25 (at the door).
Eat and drink
French Regional Cooking: Alsace. Cook Street School of Culinary Arts, 43 W. 9th Ave. 6 p.m. $125.
Music and nightlife
Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon. Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8 p.m. $7 (members), $26.95 (youth ages 3-18), $28.95 (seniors 65 and older), $31.95 (adult, non-members). Advanced registration required.
Lil Darkie and the Collapse of Modern Society. Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 N. Clarkson St. 7 p.m. Prices vary.
*Merry Melodies. Dairy Block, 1800 Wazee St. 7-9 p.m. No cover.
Morgan Evans. The Grizzly Rose, 5450 N. Valley Highway. 8 p.m. $20.
All You Can Drink Silent Disco. Mile High Spirits - Tasting Room, 2001 Lawrence St. 10 p.m.-midnight. $25.
Sports and fitness
*Denver Nuggets vs. Houston Rockets. Watch on Altitude or listen at 92.5 FM. 6 p.m.
*Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild. Watch on Altitude. 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 25
Just for fun
Small Business Saturday. Stanley Marketplace, 2501 N. Dallas St., Aurora. 7 a.m.-10 p.m. No cover.
Applewood Holiday Festival. The Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Free (children ages 12 and under, veterans), $6 (adults).
Christmas Craft Market & Toy Drive. Barnett & Son Brewing Co., 18425 Pony Express Dr., Parker. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. No cover.
Pop Culture Art & Cosplay Expo. 747 Sheridan Blvd., Lakewood. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. No cover.
*Olde Town Arvada Holiday Pop-up Market. Olde Town Arvada Square, 5726 Olde Wadsworth Blvd. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. No cover.
*Mistletoe Market. Dairy Block, 1800 Wazee St. Noon-5 p.m. No cover.
*Olde Town Arvada Tree Lighting. Olde Town Arvada Square, 5726 Olde Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada. 4-8 p.m. Free.
*Merry & Bright Lights. Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St. 5-10 p.m. Free.
Kids and family
The Learning Lab Presents: Hammer Time - Clay Day. Ross-Broadway Branch Library, 33 E. Bayaud Ave. 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Ideal for ages 2-7.
Comedy and theater
Comedy Night - A Laugh Odyssey. Odyssey Beerwerks, 5535 W. 56th Ave., Unit 107, Arvada. 7-9 p.m. Free.
Phil Palisoul. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 7:15 p.m. $22.
Free Comedy Show. Max Taps Highlands Ranch, 2680 E. County Line Road, Suite A, Highlands Ranch. 7:30 p.m. Free.
Sam Tallent. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. $26.
Drunk Christmas. Odell Brewing Co., 1625 Perry St. 8-8:45 p.m. Pay what you can donation, $15 (reserved seating).
Art, culture and media
Through Flesh to Infinity. Union Hall, 1750 Wewatta St., Suite 144. Noon-6 p.m. No cover.
Lumonics Immersed. Lumonics Light & Sound Gallery, 800 E. 73rd Ave., Unit 11. 8-10 p.m. $15-$25.
Eat and drink
Ramen. Cook Street School of Culinary Arts, 43 W. 9th Ave. 6 p.m. $132.
Fitness and sports
*Too Much Turkey 5K. Colorado Tap House, 14982 W. 69th Ave., Arvada. 10 a.m. $35-$70.
Pindustry on Ice Grand Opening Party. Pindustry, 8536 E. Arapahoe Road, Centennial. 5-9 p.m. No cover.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Calgary Flames. Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle. Watch on Altitude. 8 p.m. Prices vary.
Sunday, Nov. 26
Just for fun
Pop Culture Art & Cosplay Expo. 747 Sheridan Blvd., Lakewood. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. No cover.
*Olde Town Arvada Holiday Pop-up Market. Olde Town Arvada Square, 5726 Olde Wadsworth Blvd. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. No cover.
Santa at The Station. Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free.
*Merry & Bright Lights. Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St. 5-10 p.m. Free.
Kids and family
Kids Create. Central Library, 10 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. 4-4:30 p.m. Ideal for ages 5 and under when accompanied by an adult.
Comedy and theater
Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada. 2 p.m. $31.50-$93.
Catfish Comedy. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 7 p.m. $12.
Vinnie Montez. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 7 p.m. $20.
Art, culture and theater
Crafting Queer Connections - A Friendsgiving Social. Grandma's House, 1710 S. Broadway. Noon-8 p.m. Free.
Music and nightlife
*Holiday Carolers: The Jingle Belles. Dairy Block, 1800 Wazee St. 1-3 p.m. No cover.
Sports and fitness
Denver Broncos vs. Cleveland Browns. Empower Field at Mile High, 1701 Bryant St. Watch on NBC or listen on 94.1 FM. 2:05 p.m. Prices vary.
*Denver Nuggets vs. San Antonio Spurs. Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle. Watch on Altitude or listen at 92.5 FM. 6 p.m.
All Weekend
Just for fun
Ice! Featuring a Christmas Story. Gaylord Rockies, 6700 N. Gaylord Rockies Blvd., Aurora. Times vary. Starting at $17.99 (children ages 4 and up), $27.99 (adults).
4th Annual Cherry Creek Holiday Market. Cherry Creek North on Fillmore Plaza. Noon-3 p.m. (Thanksgiving day), 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (Fridays and Saturdays) and Noon-7 p.m. (Sundays).
Holiday Tree Lot. Little Man Ice Cream, 2620 16th St. Noon-9 p.m. Prices vary.
Blossoms of Light. Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St. closed (Thanksgiving), 4:30-9 p.m. $19-$25. Advanced registration required.
Kids and family
Mysteries of the Ice Ages. Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (Thanksgiving), 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (everyday). Free (members, children ages 2 and under), $19.95 (guests ages 3-18), $21.95 (seniors ages 65 and older), $24.95 (adults). All ages. Advanced registration recommended.
Camp Christmas. Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St., Aurora. Closed (Thanksgiving), 4-9 p.m. (Fridays), 10 a.m.-9 p.m. (Saturdays) and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (Sundays). Prices vary. Advanced registration required for timed entry
Art, culture and media
Winter Warriors: The 10th Mountain Division in World War II. History Colorado Center, 1200 N. Broadway. Closed (Thanksgiving), 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members and children), $15 (adults).
All Stars. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. Closed (Thanksgiving), 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members and guests ages 18 and under), $15 (Colorado residents that are college students and seniors), $18 (Colorado residents ages 19 and older), $19 (non-resident college students and seniors), $22 (non-resident adult).
Museum of Illusions Denver. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (Thanksgiving), 10 a.m.-9 p.m. (Friday and Saturday) and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (Sunday). $20 (children ages 5-12), $22 (seniors and active military), $24 (adults). Advanced registration required for timed entry.
Cowboy. MCA Denver, 1485 Delgany St. Closed (Thanksgiving), Noon-7 p.m. (Fridays) and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Saturdays and Sundays). Free (children 18 and under), $9 (college students, military members, teachers, seniors ages 65+), $12 (adults).
Sports and fitness
Skating in the Square. Olde Town Arvada. Closed (Thursday), 3-9 p.m. (Fridays), 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (Saturdays) and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (Sundays). $7 (children 12 and under), $10 (adults).
Downtown Denver Rink. Skyline Park, 1600 Arapahoe St. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (Thursday), 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (Friday and Saturday), 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (Sunday). Free, rentals are extra.
