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- 🎨 Art, Music, and Memorial Day Vibes Incoming...
🎨 Art, Music, and Memorial Day Vibes Incoming...
Denver Arts Festival hits this weekend, 16th Street drops the “Mall,” and a big Memorial Day special is landing Friday. Stay tuned.
What's Happenin' Denver
May 21, 2025
Denver Arts Festival Kicks Off Memorial Weekend in Color
Hey Denver!
We’re entering peak patio weather and full-blown festival season, and this weekend’s Denver Arts Festival is the perfect way to ease into Memorial Day mode. Think: 150+ artists, food trucks, live music, a wine garden, and even a kids’ art zone—all packed into Conservatory Green. So stay tuned, and maybe start clearing your calendar now.
📣 Denver Poll – Mile High Meetup?
We’re thinking about launching a What’s Happenin’ Denver Facebook Group—somewhere to share events, recs, photos, memes, and connect with fellow Denverites.
Would you join a What's Happenin' Denver FB group? |
👉 Tap to vote—we’re listening!
🎨 Denver Arts Festival Returns Memorial Weekend
📍 Conservatory Green, Central Park | 🗓️ Saturday, May 24 (10 AM–6 PM) & Sunday, May 25 (10 AM–5 PM) | 🎟️ Free Entry + Free Parking
Get ready to kick off summer festival season with a splash of color—and maybe a new piece for your walls. The 26th Annual Denver Arts Festival is taking over Conservatory Green this Memorial Day weekend with over 150 Colorado and national artists showcasing fine art and crafts.
Expect more than just paintings:
🎶 Live music all weekend
🍷 Wine, beer & spirits garden featuring Carboy Winery, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and Odell Brewing
🎨 Guiry’s Kids Art Zone with hands-on painting and photo booth fun
🍴 Food trucks to keep you fueled while you browse
Whether you’re in the market for one-of-a-kind art, a patio-ready sculpture, or just a perfect weekend vibe, this one’s a must.
🐶 P.S. Leave the pups at home for this one—festival is dog-free!
🖼️ Full details and artist lineup: denverartsfestival.com
💸 Money Moves: Bye ‘Mall,’ Hello 16th Street
 | Denver’s iconic 16th Street Mall is officially rebranding as just “16th Street.” The name change, backed by a $100K campaign, reflects the corridor’s evolution into more than just a retail strip—it’s now a full mile of shops, offices, housing, and experiences. RTD’s “Mall Ride” will soon be known as the 16th Street Free Ride, and renovations continue through fall. 🛍️ New name, new vibe—same ride down the red pavers. |
🌆 Mile High Happenings
Wednesday, May 21 🆓 Free Events 🧵 Chess Night📍 Woods Boss Brewing | ⏰ 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Wednesday) 🧵 Open Mic Comedy📍 Wide Right | ⏰ 8:30 PM – 1:30 AM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Wednesday) 🧵 Mile High Roundup📍 Mile High Spirits | ⏰ 9:00 PM – 12:00 AM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Wednesday) 🧵 Punk Rock Trivia Night📍 Bowman’s Vinyl & Lounge | ⏰ 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Wednesday) Free Live Music @ The Fireside Bar📍 Grand Hyatt Denver | ⏰ All evening | 🎟️ Free 🎟️ Ticketed Events AJ Finney📍 Comedy Works South | ⏰ 7:30 PM | 🎟️ $14 Alex Cuba📍 Dazzle | ⏰ 7:00 PM | 🎟️ $20–$30 Devin Townsend📍 The Ogden Theatre | ⏰ 7:30 PM | 🎟️ $45+ Jimmy Carr📍 Paramount Theatre | ⏰ 7:00 PM | 🎟️ $57 Just the Tip📍 Skylark Lounge | ⏰ 7:30 PM | 🎟️ $12–$15 LA LOM📍 The Bluebird Theater | ⏰ 8:00 PM | 🎟️ $TBD | Thursday, May 22 🆓 Free Events 🧵 Geeks Who Drink Trivia📍 Jagged Mountain Brewery | ⏰ 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Thursday) 🧵 Trivia Night @ Waldschänke📍 Waldschänke Ciders | ⏰ 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Thursday) 📍 Reflections Cocktail Lounge | ⏰ 9:00 PM–1:30 AM | 🎟️ Free Sing your heart out at this weekly karaoke night! Reflections brings the energy with dancing, drinks, and RSVP seating for groups. Happy Hour runs 6–8 PM, and karaoke kicks off at 9. 🎟️ Ticketed Events Arts Caravan’s Circus Variety Show: ‘SPOOF’📍 Golden, CO | ⏰ 7:30 PM | 🎟️ $27 Camila Meza📍 2700 Arapahoe St | ⏰ 7:00 PM | 🎟️ $40–$55 Live @ The Rose – Sweet Child & Linger📍 Buffalo Rose (Golden) | ⏰ 7:00 PM | 🎟️ $20 Rooftop Yoga📍 Catbird Hotel Rooftop | ⏰ 5:30 PM | 🎟️ $19 Shizzlo B2B Brainrack📍 Larimer Lounge | ⏰ 8:00 PM | 🎟️ $20+ Sip & Sway: Zavanai Masango📍 The Maven Hotel | ⏰ 6:00 PM | 🎟️ Free Sting – Night Three📍 Red Rocks Amphitheatre | ⏰ 8:00 PM | 🎟️ $TBD |
That’s your midweek mix, Denver!
Whether you’re scoping out fine art, grabbing drinks along the newly rebranded 16th Street, or belting out karaoke on a Thursday night—your next local adventure is waiting. 📣 Don’t forget to vote in this week’s Facebook Group poll—we want to know if you’d join! And keep an eye out for Friday’s issue: our Memorial Day special edition is comin’ in hot. -The What’s Happenin’ Denver Team 🎆🎨 |
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