🎶 Outside Festival: Music, Talks & Barefoot Vibes!

Khruangbin, Lord Huron, yoga, and mountain magic — here’s the lowdown for your last weekend of May plans.

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What's Happenin' Denver
May 30, 2025

🎪 Outside Festival Is Back, Baby — Here’s the Scoop!

Happy Friday, Denver!

This weekend, Civic Center Park is your playground, your dance floor, and your adventure hub — all thanks to the Outside Festival taking over with a lineup that’s as eclectic as it is electric. Picture this: sets by Khruangbin and Lord Huron, adrenaline-pumping talks by Alex Honnold (yep, the guy from Free Solo) and magician David Blaine (who might just levitate), plus a film festival, yoga sessions, gear demos, and even a “Barefoot Movement” to keep your toes grounded.

From sunrise stretching to after-dark grooves, there’s no better way to welcome summer. Let’s get wild(ish), Denver!

🍻 Mile High Trivia

Civic Center Park’s structures are over 100 years old and were designed to be a historic, architectural gem.

What urban design movement inspired much of Civic Center’s layout, championed by Mayor Robert Speer?

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Answer in the outro 👇

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Hike of the Day: Rooney Trail Loop

A laid-back loop in William F. Hayden Park with rolling hills, wide-open views, and just enough incline to feel accomplished. Bring sunscreen—shade is rare—and keep an eye out for mountain bikers!

🍔 Craving: Ollie & Park’s

Shrimp & grits, crab cake Benedicts, and short rib hash—Ollie & Park’s isn’t just brunch, it’s a lifestyle. Grab a seat, a craft cocktail, and stay a while. You’re in for a treat.

🎪 Outside Festival Is Back, Baby — Here’s the Scoop

Get ready to sweat, sway, snack, and summit (spiritually, at least) — Outside Festival is storming Civic Center Park this weekend, and it’s bigger, bolder, and barefoot-er than ever.

🎤 Who’s on stage?

Khruangbin, Sylvan Esso, and Denver’s own Brothers of Bass take over Saturday.

Lord Huron, Trampled by Turtles, and Waxahatchee rule Sunday.

Music runs 1–10 p.m. both days — so yes, you’ll dance off those food truck calories.

🧘‍♀️ What else is going on?

Oh, just some casual talks from legends like Alex Honnold (yes, Mr. Free Solo), David Blaine (is he gonna float??), plus film screenings, outdoor gear demos, yoga, and something called the “Barefoot Movement from the Ground Up.” No shoes, no problem.

🌮 Fuel up faster this year

They heard your stomachs rumbling in 2024. Now there’s a Culinary Campus packed with local eats (read: shorter lines, happier humans).

🎟️ Still need tickets?

Single-day, weekend passes, and VIP are all still up for grabs.

Kids under 12? Free! Students? Discounted! Your dog? Not invited, sorry.

🚲 Hot tip: Don’t drive

No parking. We repeat: no parking. Take the bus, grab a bike, or carpool with your granola crew.

📍Main entrance: East side of the park

📍VIP entrance: Colfax & Bannock

Whether you’re here to hear music, meet adventurers, or just lounge in the grass with a falafel and kombucha, Outside Festival 2025 is your ticket to the wild(ish) side — no hiking boots required.

🌆 Mile High Happenings ☀️

Friday, May 30

🆓 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)

🎤 Jeremy Zucker + Arlie – MusicFest📍Levitt Pavilion Denver⏰ 7:00 PM | 🎟 Free

🕺 OUTPOST at Larimer Squar📍Larimer Square⏰ 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM | 🎟 Free

🎟️ Ticketed Events

🎷 Friday Lunch Bunch: Purnell Steen & the Five Points Ambassadors📍Dazzle⏰ 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM | 🎟 $10

🎧 Ganja White Night📍Mission Ballroom⏰ 7:00 PM | 🎟 $45+

🎸 Ivan Cornejo📍Ball Arena⏰ 8:00 PM | 🎟 $68+

🎵 Michael Franti & Spearhead📍Red Rocks⏰ 7:00 PM

🎹 Payton Perez Trio📍Dazzle⏰ 10:00 PM – 11:30 PM

🎸 Ryan Adams📍Paramount Theatre⏰ 8:00 PM | 🎟 $23–$238

🎶 Westend (In the Round)📍Bluebird Theater⏰ 8:00 PM

Saturday, May 31

🆓 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)

🎟️ Ticketed Events

🩰 Ballet Melange: Coppélia📍Lakewood Cultural Center⏰ 7:30 PM | 🎟 $39

🎹 Chantil Dukart Trio Brunch Show📍Dazzle⏰ 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM | 🎟 $20–$25

🎸 DLG.📍Lost Lake Lounge⏰ 8:00 PM | 🎟 $18+

🎛️ Ganja White Night – Night 2📍Red Rocks⏰ 5:00 PM | 🎟 $65+

🎷 SUCH📍Dazzle⏰ 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM | 🎟 $25–$30

🎭 Marlon Wayans: Wild Child Tour📍Paramount Theatre⏰ 8:00 PM

🎸 Ministry📍Mission Ballroom⏰ 7:30 PM | 🎟 $50+

🎸 Southern Culture on the Skids📍Globe Hall⏰ 8:00 PM | 🎟 $30+

🎶 Live @ The Rose: Wash Park Band📍Buffalo Rose, Golden⏰ 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM | 🎟 $25

🎸 Live Music Series: Chris Koza📍Woodie Fisher⏰ 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Sunday, June 1

🆓 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)

🎤 Mobile Studio: Live on the Plaza📍Levitt Pavilion⏰ 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM | 🎟 Free

🎟️ Ticketed Events

🎶 Anastasia Krystals📍Bluebird Theater⏰ 7:00 PM

🎭 Ben & Emil Live📍Comedy Works Downtown⏰ 7:00 PM | 🎟 $25

🩰 Ballet Melange: Assemblage📍Lakewood Cultural Center⏰ 4:00 PM | 🎟 $39

🎸 Livingston📍Ogden Theatre⏰ 7:00 PM | 🎟 $29+

🎸 Ozark Mountain Daredevils📍Paramount Theatre⏰ 7:00 PM

🎤 Peach Pit & Briston Maroney📍Red Rocks⏰ 6:00 PM

Happy Weekend! 🫶

That’s your Denver dose for the weekend — get out there and soak it up!

🧠 Trivia Answer: C) City Beautiful Movement! Civic Center Park’s grand layout was inspired by the City Beautiful ideals of harmony, beauty, and a sense of uplifting community space.

— The What’s Happenin’ Denver Team 🫶

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