🎶 Music, Markets & Memorial Day Magic in Denver

From LoHi BAZAAR to Wash Park block parties—kick off summer with two of Denver’s best Memorial Day festivals.

Two Festivals. One Long Weekend. Endless Summer Vibes.

Hey Denver!

Ready to flip the switch to summer? This weekend, we’ve got back-to-back block parties happening in two of the city’s most iconic neighborhoods. Whether you’re browsing 80+ vendors and sipping Claw-rnold Palmers in LoHi, or dancing in the streets of Wash Park at the Memorial Weekend Festival on Historic South Gaylord Street, your Memorial Day plans just planned themselves. Let’s dive into the good stuff.

💪🏼 Mile High Trivia

Which Denver street is home to one of the city’s second oldest shopping districts and hosts the annual Memorial Weekend Festival?

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Answer in the outro 👇

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Fun Fact:

Denver: Sports City, USA

Denver is one of the few cities in the U.S. with six pro sports teams—yep, that’s NHL, NBA, NFL, MLB, MLS, and lacrosse. Add in 90 golf courses, pro rodeo, horse racing, and bike paths galore… it’s basically an athlete’s playground.

🍔 Craving: Cherry Cricket

Serving up Denver’s best burgers since before your parents were born (1945, to be exact). Build your own with 21+ toppings, grab a Colorado craft beer, and settle into the Cherry Creek black sheep that everyone loves.

🎉 Memorial Day Weekend: Two Must-Do Festivals in Denver

📍 1000 Block of S. Gaylord St (Wash Park)

🗓️ May 24–26 | Times vary by day | 🎟️ Free – VIP Upgrades Available

Three days. Twelve bands. One legendary Denver block.

Head to Historic South Gaylord Street for the annual Kickoff to Summer Festival—a local favorite filled with live music, food trucks, drinks, and family fun. Highlights include:

  • 🎸 Bands like Last Train to Juarez, Paizley Park, and Hazel Miller

  • 🍔 Food trucks, local beer, and a brand new VIP Lounge with shaded seating and a premium bar

  • 🐾 A puppy play area, kids activities, and small biz shopping all weekend

Proceeds benefit the Denver South Giving Grocery, supporting South High School students with fresh food and essentials each week.

📍 Lower Highlands – 2219 W 32nd Ave

🗓️ Saturday, May 24 | 11 AM – 5 PM | 🎟️ Free Entry

Kick off the long weekend with sunshine, cocktails, and 80+ local vendors at this festive open-air market in LoHi. The Spring BAZAAR brings all the spring vibes with seasonal drinks, DJ sets, and patio lounging. Look out for:

  • 🧘‍♂️ Free yoga mats with a $15 drop-in class

  • 🍹 Bottomless Claw-rnold Palmers featuring White Claw™ Vodka

  • 🎨 $5 Glendalough Gin Spritzes during the “Gin O’Clock” happy hour

  • 🛍️ The freshest fashion, art, and home goods in town

Perfect for sipping, strolling, and snagging that new favorite find.

Whether you’re in LoHi, Wash Park, or both—this weekend is built for Denver locals who know how to do it right. 🥂

🌆 Mile High Happenings ☀️

Friday, May 23

🆓 Free Events

🧵 Free DJs @ Hapa Sushi📍 Hapa Sushi LoDo | 10:00 PM – 12:00 AM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Friday & Saturday)

🧵 Happy Hour Gone to the Dogs📍 Spirit Hound Denver | 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Friday)

🧵 Poetry Open Mic📍 Mercury Cafe | 9:30 PM – 11:30 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Friday)

🎟️ Ticketed Events

Dear Luna📍 Dazzle | 10:00 PM | 🎟️ $15–$20

Experimental Alt-Comedy📍 Chaos Bloom Theater | 9:00 PM | 🎟️ $5

Florist📍 Meow Wolf Denver | 8:00 PM | 🎟️ $29.75

Leon Bridges📍 Red Rocks Amphitheatre | 8:00 PM | 🎟️ $56+

Malaa📍 Mission Ballroom | 8:00 PM | 🎟️ $35–$45

LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring – in Concert📍 Boettcher Concert Hall | 7:00 PM | 🎟️ $15+

Saturday, May 24

🆓 Free Events

🧵 Free DJs @ Hapa Sushi📍 Hapa Sushi LoDo | 10:00 PM – 12:00 AM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Friday & Saturday)

🧵 Small Batch Trivia📍 Tapville Social Denver | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Saturday)

🧵 Guided Meditation📍 Great Dharma Chan Monastery | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Saturday)

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears📍 Levitt Pavilion | 7:00 PM | 🎟️ Free

🎟️ Ticketed Events

Bingo Loco: The Ultimate Bingo Party📍 1136 Broadway | 7:00 PM | 🎟️ $33

Brad Paisley📍 Red Rocks Amphitheatre | 7:30 PM | 🎟️ $TBD

Rachel Chinouriri📍 The Ogden Theatre | 7:30 PM | 🎟️ $TBD

Sunday, May 25

🆓 Free Events

🧵 Bingo @ Jagged Mountain📍 Jagged Mountain Brewery | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Sunday)

🧵 Jazz Sundays📍 Woods Boss Brewing | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Sunday)

🎟️ Ticketed Events

Justice📍 Red Rocks Amphitheatre | 7:30 PM | 🎟️ $50+

Sara Kays📍 The Bluebird Theater | 7:00 PM | 🎟️ $TBD

The Peter Sommer Septet📍 Nocturne | 4:00 PM–8:00 PM | 🎟️ $10–$98

Tops Off to Broadway📍 Clocktower Cabaret | 7:00 PM | 🎟️ $TBD

💘That’s your long weekend game plan, Denver 🌞

Art, music, shopping, local bites—it’s all going down in LoHi and Wash Park. Whether you’re going full VIP on South Gaylord or just strolling with a cocktail in hand, this is the kind of holiday weekend we live for.

🧠 Trivia Answer: D. South Gaylord Street

— the second oldest shopping district in Denver and home to year-round local events like the Memorial Weekend Festival, Firefly Handmade Markets, and Trick or Treat Street.

Tag us in your adventures—we want to see your favorite vendors, street style, and sunset toasts.

Catch you on the other side of the long weekend,

— The What’s Happenin’ Denver Team 🫶

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