By Cassidy Ritter, Special to Denverite
From Lunar New Year events and crafts to movie showings at local libraries to the 6th Annual Petite Parade at Dairy Block, there's plenty of events to pick from this weekend. There are also more Galentine's and Valentine's Day events taking place Saturday.
If you're looking to get out of the city, check out our new "worth the drive" section below.
Whatever you get up to, make it a great weekend!
Notes: Events with an * are taking place virtually or outdoors.
Friday, Feb. 16
Kids and family
Lunar New Year Dragon Puppets. Decker Branch Library, 1501 S. Logan St. 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Ideal for ages 3-12.
Movies at APL: "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse." APL Central Library, 14949 E. Alameda Parkway, Aurora. 3:30-5:45 p.m. Free. Advanced registration encouraged. Ideal for ages 9-12
PJ Movie Night. Hoffman Heights Library, 1298 Peoria St., Aurora. 5-6 p.m. Free. All ages.
Comedy and theater
Charlie Berens. Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Place. 7 p.m. Starting at $35.
LaughLocked. Rotating Tap Comedy at LandLocked Ales, 3225 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood. 8-10 p.m. No cover.
Annie Lederman. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 9:45 p.m. $30.
Catfish Comedy. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 9:45 p.m. $15.
Arts, culture and media
Nomadic Daydreams. Walker Fine Art, 300 W. 11th Ave., Unit A. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.
Poetry Open Mic. Mercury Cafe, 2199 California St. 9:30-11:30 p.m. No cover.
Eat and drink
Lonely Hearts Night. Poka Lola Social Club, 1850 Wazee St. 6-11:30 p.m. No cover.
Music and nightlife
Jazz Jam with Gabe Gravangno Trio. Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St. 6-9:15 p.m. $5.
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).
Freddy Rodriguez Jr. Dazzle, 1080 14th St. 11 p.m.-1 a.m. No cover.
Sports and fitness
CHS State Wrestling Championship. Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle. 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. $15-$18.
*Denver Nuggets vs. Portland Trail Blazers. Watch on Altitude or listen at 92.5 FM. 8 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 17
Just for fun
Orchid Sales. Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free (entrance for members), $7.50-$15 (entrance for non-members), prices of orchids vary.
February Makers Market. The Source Hotel, 3330 Brighton Blvd. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. No cover.
The Vintage and Artist Market. Rogue Market Denver, 918 W. 1st Ave. Noon-5 p.m. Free (admission).
Fur-Ever Valentine. The Maven, 1850 Wazee St. 1-4 p.m. No cover.
Museum of Memory Workshop. History Colorado at Ford-Warren Branch Library, 2825 High St. 1-4 p.m. Free.
Galentine's Day. Poka Lola Social Club, 1850 Wazee St. 4-7 p.m. No cover.
Kids and family
Baby Rave. Mercury Cafe, 2199 California St. 10-11:30 a.m. Free (children under 1), $5 (ages 1 and older, when accompanied by an adult and child). All ages.
Lunar New Year Storytime and Craft. Woodbury Branch Library, 3265 Federal Blvd. 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Ideal for ages 5-12, when accompanied by an adult.
Bookish Accessories for Library Lover's Day. Kelver Library, 585 S. Main St. 1-2 p.m. Free. Advanced registration required. Ideal for ages 9-18.
Crafting Black History: Children's Craft Activities. Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library, 2401 Welton St. 1-3 p.m. Free. Ideal for ages 5-12, when accompanied by an adult.
Movies at APL: "Kung Fu Panda 3." Tallyn's Reach Library, 23911 E. ARapahor Road, Aurora. 2-4 p.m. Free.
Comedy and theater
Rotating Tap Comedy. SomePlace Else Brewery, 6425 W. 52nd Ave., Arvada. 7-9 p.m. No cover.
Teeny Tiny with Joey Greer. Chaos Bloom Theater, 70 S. Broadway. 9-10 p.m. $5.
Catfish Comedy. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 9:45 p.m. $15.
Annie Lederman. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 9:45 p.m. $30.
Art, culture and media
Shaping the Future, inspired by the Past. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free (college students), $15 (members), $20 (adults).
Nomadic Daydreams. Walker Fine Art, 300 W. 11th Ave., Unit A. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.
Lumonics Immersed. Lumonics Light & Sound Gallery, 800 E. 73rd Ave., Unit 11. 8-10 p.m. $15-$25.
Eat and drink
2024 Kickoff Party. Colorado Brewery Running Series at Barquentine Brewing, 5505 W. 20th Ave., Suite 178, Edgewater. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.
No thanks, Trader Joe, we will make our own Gimbap and Mandu. Far East Center, 333 S. Federal Blvd. Noon-2 p.m. Donation-based entry fee. Advanced registration required.
2024 Denver Winter Tequila Tasting Festival. 1930 Blake St. 2:30-6 p.m. $30-$90.
Soul Food Genius with Asia Dorsey. Park Hill Branch Library, 4705 Montview Blvd. 3-4:30 p.m. Free.
Saturday Night Out: Cooking with Friends. Stir Cooking School, 3215 Zuni St. 6:30-9:30 p.m. $109. Advanced registration required.
Bao Buns and Boogies. Bao Brewhouse, 1317 14th St. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. No cover before 10:45 p.m.
Music and nightlife
Chamber Music Concert. Decker Branch Library, 1501 S. Logan St. 2-3:30 p.m. Free.
HerStory, Our Future. Central Presbyterian Church, 1660 Sherman St. 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. $25.
Tierney Sutton & Tamir Hendelman. Dazzle, 1080 14th St. 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. No cover.
Sports and fitness
CHS State Wrestling Championship. Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle. 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. $15-$20.
*Colorado Mammoth vs. Albany Firewolves. Watch on ESPN+. 5 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 18
Just for fun
*6th Annual Petite Parade. Dairy Block, 1800 Wazee St. Noon-2 p.m. Free (float participants must register in advance).
Learning Calligraphy 101 and Dragon Craft Fun. Far East Center, 333 S. Federal Blvd. Noon-2 p.m. Donation-based entry fee. Advanced registration required.
Kids and family
The Goats are Back. Station 26 Brewing Co., 7045 E. 38th Ave. Noon-2 p.m. No cover. All ages.
Comedy and theater
Tomás and the Library Lady. Elaine Wolf Theatre, 350 S. Dahlia St. 10-11 a.m. $11.50.
Ben Roy. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 7 p.m. $14.
Catfish Comedy. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 7:30 p.m. $14.
Art, culture and media
Have a Seat - Opening. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (guests ages 5 and under), $5 (members, guests ages 6-18), $23 (Colorado resident), $27 (non-resident).
Eat and drink
Cooking with Cast Iron. Stir Cooking School, 3215 Zuni St. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $109. Advanced registration required.
Drag Queen Brunch. Apple Blossom, 822 18th St. 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. No cover.
Music and nightlife
Sunday Night Jitterbug featuring the Jeremy Mohney Band. Mercury Cafe, 2199 California St. 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. (classes), 8-11:30 p.m. (band). $15 (band), $18 (classes and band).
Sports and fitness
Sunday Yoga. Mercury Cafe, 2199 California St. 10-11 a.m. $17.
Arizona Coyotes vs. Colorado Avalanche. Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle. Watch on ESPN+. 4 p.m. Prices vary.
*Denver Nuggets vs. Golden State Warriors. Watch on Altitude or ESPN, or listen at 92.5 FM. 5 p.m.
All Weekend
Just for fun
*Ruby Hill Rail Yard. Ruby Hill Park, 1200 W. Florida Ave. 5 a.m.-11 p.m. Free. (Read more here).
2024 Colorado Golf Expo. Colorado Covention Center, 700 14th St. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (Friday), 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Saturday) and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (Sunday). Free (children 15 and under), $13 (seniors ages 50+ and military members), $15 (adults).
Orchid Showcase. Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members), $7.50-$15 (non-members).
LoveBites. 13th Floor Haunted House, 3400 E. 52nd Ave. Starting at $29.99.
Art, culture and media
Black History Month Public Art Tour. Locations vary across the Denver metro. Anytime. Free.
Wild Color. Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 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.
All Stars. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (guests ages 5 and under), $5 (members, guests ages 6-18), $23 (Colorado resident), $27 (non-resident).
Blaxplanation. History Colorado Center, 1200 N. Broadway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members and children 18 and under), $15 (adults).
Museum of Illusions Denver. 951 16th Street Mall. 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.
The Museum for Black Girls. 500 16th Street Mall. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. $30. (Read more about the museum and its creator here.)
Cowboy. MCA Denver, 1485 Delgany St. 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).
Worth the Drive
Saturday
Colorado Springs Chinese Cultural Institute 2024 Chinese New Year Festival. 5225 N. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (ticketed performances at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.). No cover (festival entrance), $12-$17 (ticketed performances).
Saturday and Sunday
Winterfest Weekend. YMCA of the Rockies, 2515b Tunnel Road, Estes Park. Times vary. Prices vary.
