Festival of Wreaths at the Aurora History Museum Through Dec. 11, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Aurora History Museum. Free
Dozens of customized holiday wreaths, crafted with the help of local residents and organizations, are being sold through silent auction through noon Friday, Dec. 11, at the Aurora History Museum. All proceeds go to support upcoming exhibits and programs. In the past 15 years, the Festival of Wreaths has raised more than $30,000.
Ice skating at Skyline Park Through Feb. 15, Southwest Rink at Skyline Park, corner of 16th and Arapahoe. Free, but skate rentals are $2. Friday night DJs, Saturday A.M. skating lessons, Saturday night concerts.
No, you don’t have to be Brian Boitano to lace up the skates (If you are Brian Boitano, we loved you in “Carmen on Ice”). This is your best bet for releasing some of that pent-up skating energy if you’re in Downtown Denver and you’ve been waiting all year to unleash your blading best.
The Pond at Southlands Through March 1, 6155 S. Main St., Aurora. Rental prices vary; 303-928-7536
Situated squarely in front of the AMC multiplex at Southlands, The Pond is a closer-to-home opportunity to escape the holiday shopping craze and shed some pounds while carving up the frozen field.
Celebrate the Mysteries of the Season with Downtown Aurora Visual Arts 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Jan. 22 at Downtown Aurora Visual Arts, 1405 Florence St. Entry is free. Call 303-367-5886 or visit gallery@davarts.org for more info.
It’s that time of year again, folks. That terrific, horrible, singular month of the year when the Targets, Walmarts and Ikeas are inundated by heat-seeking shoppers on an unstoppable quest for the quintessential holiday gift. Elbows are sharpened, ribs are bumped, and sometimes, on special, moon-filled evenings, things come to blows over a tiny video camera. Well, according to the Internet, that is. But it needn’t be that way, kind consumers. The city’s reigning hub of youth creativity, DAVA, is offering up a chance to avoid the tinsel-coated rat race this year, and you’d have to be denser than a walnut-cracker to skip out on this one. On display through the end of January, DAVA’s annual holiday exhibit is set to feature succulent pots, soap dishes, paintings, prints all handmade by the organization’s many local students. There will also be works by local artists Naomi Scheck, Meredith Nemirov, Uriel Pelaez and Jill Davis, as well as candles sculpted by Farrago Candles. So, please, don’t jingle yourself all the way to holiday retail hell this year. Buy local, support an Aurora institution (all proceeds go to year-round DAVA programming) and avoid the GoPro grapples. And if you don’t, just be sure to upload your skirmish so we can all get a good, eggnog-filled belly laugh at your expense.
“A Night in Vienna” 6:30 p.m. Dec. 31 at Boettcher Concert Hall, 1000 14th St., Denver. Tickets range from $34 to $94
The Colorado Symphony’s annual presentation of a Viennese-style concert — featuring polkas, waltzes and marches by the likes of Strauss, Copland, Suppé and Sibelius — includes conductor Christopher Dragon and guest conductor Michael Gundzik. Organizers promise that the program will be done with ample time for attendees to stride back out into the night and catch the fireworks from the 16th Street Mall.
Sensory-Friendly Santa Photo Experience 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at Southlands Shopping Center, Aurora
Children with sensory processing disorders and autism often find the ordeal of waiting in line to sit on Santa’s lap overwhelming. The Autism Society of Colorado and Southlands Shopping Center are doing their part to provide a sensory-friendly experience for those children and let them have their say with jolly Old Saint Nick. RSVP by 4 p.m. Dec. 11 to 303-903-1627 or grider_lee@southlandadventures.com.
Denver Christkindl Market 16th and Arapahoe in Denver, free to visit with multiple vendors. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 23. www.denverchristkindlmarket.com
Advent-ure to Skyline Park in Downtown Denver for a taste of what the holidays are like in Germany. A warm cup of Glühwein as you work your way through the vendors is highly recommended, as is finding the moistest, sweetest Christmas Stollen to take home and slice up. For last-minute shoppers, grabbing a beer stein and filling it with goodies isn’t a half-bad gift idea.
Rocky Mountain Train Show Dec. 12 – 13, 451 E. 58th Ave., Denver, beginning at 10 a.m. Cost: $9 for adults, kids under 12 free. Parking is $5. www.rockymountaintrainshow.com
It’s Comic-Con for the train hobbyist — sure, the opportunities for cosplay seem to be limited to a conductor’s outfit or that of the grunt fireman shoveling coal into the engine’s firebox, but it’s a convention nonetheless. Boasting two and a half acres of varying scale models of toy trains, there are free workshops, hourly door prizes, Santa (!), and ample opportunities to plunk down your hard-earned cash for the wares spread across 600 tables of vendors and exhibitors.
A Tuna Christmas 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 20 at Miners Alley Playhouse in Golden, 1224 Washington Ave. Tickets start at $23.
Thurston, Arles, Bertha and Joe Bob. No, they’re not Ted Cruz rally attendees; they’re the inhabitants of fictional Tuna, Texas. Just two actors, Christian Mast and Seth Maisel, play all the roles, making for a quick-changing, fast-paced and assuredly yokel-friendly performance.
New Year’s Eve Fireworks in Downtown Denver 9 p.m. and midnight, Downtown Denver
We’ve learned to cope with ringing in the new year sans Dick Clark for a few years now. But we’ll be damned if we close the book on 2015 without some explosions. For the best vantage points, anywhere along the 16th Street Mall should do, assuming you’re not terribly distracted by the costumed goofballs performing up and down the pedestrian shopway. Oh, and don’t be in a rush to catch a light rail train or mall shuttle, as they both curtail their routes throughout Downtown Denver during and between the two fireworks displays.
A Weekend of Star Wars 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 26, and 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 27, at the Boettcher Concert Hall, 1400 Curtis St., Denver; $39 to $99
Apparently, there a some less-than-diehard “Star Wars” fans who won’t be spending the entire Christmas weekend watching “The Force Awakens” for the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th time since its Dec. 18 release. For them, they can take a break from a steady diet of buttery popcorn and free refills from the multiplex soda jerk and enjoy the sounds of Dagobah and beyond, as performed by the Colorado Symphony.
Holiday High Tea at the Denver Tea Room Runs through January, at 1165 S. Broadway, thedenvertearoom.com, 303-321-2236.
For any fan of who dreams of living the life they see on Downton Abbey, Denver doesn’t have much. But it does have at least have the Denver Tea room, which gives us wannabe ladies and nobleman the excuse to dress in our finest attire, eat delicate cookies and drink English and Irish Breakfast tea with our pinkies in the air. Formerly housed in an old Victorian home along east Colfax, this bemusing Denver staple is now located among the hubbub of South Broadway shops. Reservations are available.
National Western Stock Show Jan. 4-29 at National Western Stock Show Complex, 4655 Humboldt St., Denver. Visit nationalwestern.com or call 1-866-464-2626 for ticket availability and prices.
All over the Denver Metro area, cowboys hats and boots become much more prevalent during a month-long span starting just after the new year when the National Western Stock Show makes its appearance, which it has done all the way back to 1906. Watching the beauty and horror of bull riding is the most exciting and cringe-worthy part of the Stock Show, but there’s a variety of other rodeo events, horse shows and trade shows to entertain adults and kids alike. Pull out those old boots you save for a special occasion, don’t be turned away by the cold or odor — and there will be odors — and come home smelling like hay, you won’t regret it.
Zoo Lights 5:30 to 9 p.m. nightly through Jan. 3 at the Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St., Denver. $9 per child, $13 per adult.
Of all the strange things an animal at the Denver Zoo will see in a year — gawking humans carrying strange, rectangular shaped boxes being the most familiar — it must be even more bewildering for the creatures that catch a glimpse of the illuminated walkways, trees and the like as the 70-acre campus of the zoo gets the holiday treatment.
Italian Micro Brew Bier Dinner Starts at 6 p.m. Dec. 14, Sarto’s Social Italian Eatery 2900 W. 25th Ave., Denver, $60. www.sartos.com
This new Jefferson Park staple has been an easy choice for hundreds of date-nighters over the past year, piling some of the best Northern Italian grub in Denver proper. This Dec. 14, the eatery is celebrating its anniversary, the holidays and whatever else you’ve got going on with a micro-brew bier dinner — five courses, of course — featuring some of the finest Italian craft brew in Bruton.
Santa at Aurora Town Center During normal mall hours, at Town Center at Aurora, at the corner of Abilene and Alameda Avenue.
These days you can go see Santa Claus just about anywhere during the weeks leading up to Christmas. But if you like tradition, it’s worth heading to Town Center at Aurora. For decades, the mall at East Alameda Avenue and I-225 has the been the go-to Santa spot for Aurora families, and there’s no good reason to change that. So cruise over whenever the mall’s open so your tot can tell the jolly fat man exactly what they want this holiday season.
28th annual Santa Fe Holiday Exhibition Starts at 10 a.m. daily, closes at 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday, closed Sundays; through Jan. 4 at Artists on Santa Fe, 747 Santa Fe Drive, Denver. www.artistsonsantafe.com
Okay, so you may have missed First Friday due to an office party or you decided to binge-watch some Netflix. That’s fine — the Artists on Santa Fe Gallery + Studio continues to showcase the best they have to offer as part of the annual holiday exhibition: photography, jewelry, ceramics, paintings, monotypes — you name it, it’s probably there.
Santa’s Big Red Sack 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 21. Avenue Theater, 417 E. 17th Ave., Denver. Tickets start at $26.50. Information: Avenuetheater.com or 303-321-5925.
Now this is what we’re talking about. Billed as “the holiday show you shouldn’t take your kids to,” this raunchy series of sketches pokes fun of every painful holiday cliché — from White Elephant to the Whos of Whoville. Picture a holiday-themed SNL. For the seventh consecutive year this production is storming into Denver and leaving no reindeer unrustled and no carol uncooked. Some may say that the show unnecessarily fills our moral stockings with coal, but those are definitely the same people who have seen “The Nutcracker” every year since the Johnson administration and frown at the thought of a “kegnog.”
Victorian Holidays open house at Centennial House 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 12 and 13, at Centennial House, 1671 Galena St. in Aurora. Free.
Centennial House holds a beloved place among Aurora’s history buffs, and as such its a fitting locale for breaking into the Victorian holiday biz — which previously was monopolized by Golden and the Molly Brown House in Denver — with cider, cookies and a tour of the historic home.
Oskar Blues Christmas Party: My Body Sings Electric 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 23 at The Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the free event.
My Body Sings Electric have been on the Denver music scene since 2007, and this indie punk band is sure to delight music lovers for this Christmas bash at the intimate venue known to frequent patrons as “The Bluebird.” Accompanying the band are hip hop artists Broken (Christopher Green) and Input (Gustavo D’Arthenay), R&B musician Sur Ellz, and many others.
A Bavarian Christmas 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18 at St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral, 1350 Washington St. in Denver. Tickets start at $10 for students, $30 for general admission.
Sure to delight even non-churchgoers and non-Bavarians alike, this choral show features the melodious sounds of St. Martin’s Chamber Choir accompanied by the Pro Musica Colorado Chamber Orchestra and organist Ralph Valentine. This year the concert will feature German Christmas carols and audience sing-alongs.
#Sourcepop Holiday Market Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 12-13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Source, 3350 Brighton Blvd. in Denver. Free admission (but you pay for the goods).
To those unfamiliar with The Source, this food market boasts an array of goods ranging from craft beer to flowers– — all of which are produced by independent businesses and local artisans. This year their annual holiday market will delight locals and out-of-towners with goods from Sweet Jayne’s Pies, Kazu Oba, Simply Guapa and many more. And for those struggling to get into the holiday spirit, RiNo Yacht Club will be on hand doling out “spirits” of an alcoholic variety.
Holiday Art Market Through Dec. 31 at the Foothills Art Center, 809 15th St. in Golden. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays. Free
Sleep through Black Friday? Completely spaced on Cyber Monday? Have no fear, the Foothills Art Center has gift-givers covered. This holiday season, the Center’s market is giving patrons the chance to take art home with them. Featuring goods from more than 80 Colorado artists, the market will offer everything from ceramics and jewelry to photography and paintings. For those feeling extra spirited, join the Center for a Holiday Sweater Party, Dec. 12 from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Just bring yourself and a sweater and the Center will provide the materials to make a perfectly ugly sweater for all those holiday parties.
Living Lights Thursdays-Sundays through Jan.10, 6-9 p.m. at the Butterfly Pavillion, 6252 W. 104th Ave. in Westminster. Pricing ranges from $6-10. For more information visit: www.butterflies.org/visit/living-lights-2015
Experience the magic of light this holiday season with the glowing exhibits at the Butterfly Pavillion. Featuring a tropical rainforest, outdoor gardens and hands-on exhibits, all aglow, this event will be available for 17 nights (it won’t be open Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve). In addition to the radiant exhibits, musical entertainment will also be available on select nights. Caroling Princesses will be on site Dec. 18 and a fire dancer will be present Dec. 26, Jan 1. and Jan. 2. Visit the link above for more information on special performances.
Irving Berlin’s White Christmas Through Dec.23 at the Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada. Ticket prices range from $59-80. For more information, visit arvadacenter.org/on-stage/irving-berlins-white-christmas-2015.
Based upon the film of the same name, this musical features song and dances numbers that can get even the Scrooge-iest person in the holiday spirit. With performances at 1, 2 and 7:30 p.m., even the busiest Coloradan can squeeze this performance into their holiday schedule. There’s even a special ASL-interpreted performance Friday, Dec. 18.
Denver Beer Festivus Sunday, Dec. 13., 2 – 5:30 p.m.at Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum, 7711 E. Academy Blvd., Hangar 1 in Denver. Tickets range from $40-65. Info and tickets at denverbeerfestivus.com.
Boasting nearly 50 breweries offering free samples, the fourth annual Beer Festivus is ready to knock your proverbial socks off. And yes, the event is held the day of the Broncos game, but will be playing in a small theatre at the venue and giving updates via the PA system for those who can’t part with their beloved sports. Food will also be available but is not included in the price of the general admission ticket. For those planning to get more than buzzed, bus shuttles will be available at an extra cost. Sorry, no pets or children are allowed to partake in this event.
Annual TubaChristmas Sunday, Dec. 20 at Skyline Park in Denver, Arapahoe Street, between 17th and 18th. Free admission. 1-2 p.m.
So what is a TubaChristmas? Exactly what it sounds like. For it’s 41st year, this annual concert will feature delightful holiday songs played by 300 tuba amd euphonium players from around the region. It’s apparently a rather large national phenomenon with several cities across the country hosting their own TubaChristmas events.Check out the official TubaChrismas website at tubachristmas.com.
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