50 upcoming · updated daily
Art, outside the gallery.
Major arts festivals, outdoor film, and cultural events across the Denver Metro.
Art in Denver spills out of the gallery and into the park, the parking lot, and the side of a sandstone cliff. This page tracks the major arts and culture events across the Metro: the Cherry Creek Arts Festival and its 260 juried artists, the Colorado Black Arts Festival in City Park West, the Golden Fine Arts Festival, and outdoor film nights like Film on the Rocks at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
We focus on the large, public, mostly outdoor events, the ones thousands of people show up for, rather than single openings or class schedules. Dates, footprint, and price floor are on every page so you can plan a full afternoon around one.
Rooms on this page: Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Larimer Square.
Arts
Pick
WeirdOct 23 - Oct 31 · The People's Building
Dancing In The Dark: The House of Omens
The House of Omens runs October 23 through 31, 2026 at The People's Building in Aurora, a nine-night Halloween theatrical run rather than a single haunted-house night.
Oct 23 - Oct 25 · Boettcher Concert Hall
The Firebird with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance and the Colorado Symphony
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance joins the Colorado Symphony for Stravinsky's The Firebird at Boettcher Concert Hall October 23-25, 2026, in a staging that resets the ballet in the Hawaiian Islands.
Jun 12 - Jan 3 · Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Changing Landscapes: Inside Venice, Mesa Verde and Rapa Nui at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Changing Landscapes, an immersive exhibition on climate change at three World Heritage sites, runs at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science from June 12, 2026, through January 3, 2027.
Sep 10 - Nov 8 · Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities
pARTy and Rigsby Revisited: The Arvada Center Turns 50
The Arvada Center marks its 50th anniversary with two free gallery shows opening the same night, September 10, 2026: pARTy: Celebrating 50 Years in the Main Gallery and Rigsby Revisited: 50 Years Later in the Upper Gallery, both running through November 8.
Sep 25 - Nov 1 · Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities
Barefoot in the Park at the Arvada Center
Neil Simon’s comedy Barefoot in the Park runs at the Arvada Center from September 25 through November 1, 2026.
Oct 1 - Nov 1 · Aurora Fox Arts Center
Feeding Beatrice at the Aurora Fox Arts Center
The Aurora Fox stages the regional premiere of Feeding Beatrice, a gothic horror comedy, opening Thursday, October 1, 2026 at 7:30 PM and running through November 1.
Oct 2 - Nov 1 · 40 West Gallery
40 West Gallery Member Showcase (First Friday Opening)
40 West Gallery in Lakewood opens its biannual Member Showcase on First Friday, October 2, 2026, with the show running at The HUB at 40 West Arts through November 1.
Oct 4 - Jan 31 · Denver Art Museum
DIVA Exhibition at the Denver Art Museum
The Denver Art Museum is the exclusive U.S. venue for DIVA, the Victoria and Albert Museum's touring exhibition on a century of iconic performers, running October 4, 2026 through January 31, 2027 in the Hamilton Building.
Oct 22 - Nov 13 · Clocktower Cabaret
Clocktower Conjuring
Indigo Moon and Soul Penny Circus bring the immersive seance show Clocktower Conjuring back to Clocktower Cabaret in downtown Denver on Oct. 22 and Nov. 13, 2026.
Oct 22 - Nov 1 · Sie FilmCenter
Denver Film Festival, 49th Edition
The 49th Denver Film Festival opens Thursday, October 22, 2026 and runs through November 1, screening more than 140 films across Sie FilmCenter and downtown venues.
Oct 23 - Oct 31 · Clocktower Cabaret
BOOlesque at Clocktower Cabaret
BOOlesque, Clocktower Cabaret’s aerial and burlesque Halloween run, plays eight nights from October 23 to 31, 2026, with a different show each night.
Oct 28 - Oct 29 · Meow Wolf Denver (Convergence Station)
American L'Whorror Stories
L'Whor Drag Family takes over Meow Wolf Denver's Convergence Station for a two-night Halloween drag spectacle, American L'Whorror Stories, October 28-29, 2026.
Wed, Oct 28 · MCA Denver (Fries Building)
Gallery Talk: Keith Mayerson
MCA Denver hosts an in-gallery conversation with artist Keith Mayerson on Oct. 28, 2026, tied to the Colorado Currents exhibition at the Fries Building.
Thu, Oct 29 · The Bug Theatre
Tommy Wiseau Double Feature: The Room + Big Shark
The Bug Theatre screens a Tommy Wiseau double feature, The Room followed by his new film Big Shark, on Thursday, October 29, 2026, starting at 7 PM.
Fri, Oct 30 · Paramount Theatre
Fred Armisen: Comedy For Musicians But Everyone Is Welcome
Fred Armisen performs Comedy For Musicians But Everyone Is Welcome, his stand-up set built around music-nerd bits, at the Paramount Theatre on October 30, 2026.
Sat, Oct 31 · Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Halloween Drag Queen Storytime with Miss Shirley
Miss Shirley reads children’s books in full drag at a free Halloween storytime in Ballrooms B through D at the Arvada Center on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 10 AM.
Sat, Oct 31 · Meow Wolf Denver (Convergence Station)
Cosmic Howl: Meow Wolf Denver's Halloween House Party
Meow Wolf Denver turns Convergence Station into a 21+ Halloween house party for Cosmic Howl on October 31, 2026, with costume contests through 1 AM.
Tue, Nov 3 · Clocktower Cabaret
Murray Hill: SHOWBIZ! at Clocktower Cabaret
Murray Hill brings the SHOWBIZ! tour to Clocktower Cabaret for one night on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 at 7 PM, backed by the live band Baloney Sandwiches.
Nov 5 - Nov 8 · The People's Building
9 to 5 Jr. at The People's Building
9 to 5 Jr., the youth-cast version of the Dolly Parton musical, plays five performances at The People's Building in Aurora, November 5 to 8, 2026.
Thu, Nov 5 · Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities
The After pARTy
The Arvada Center hosts a free pinata-smashing performance and live music night, The After pARTy, on November 5, 2026, 5-9 PM in its Main Gallery.
Thu, Nov 5 · Meow Wolf Denver (Convergence Station)
Bedtime Stories: Monster Masquerade
Bedtime Stories Burlesque hosts its 18+ Monster Masquerade variety show at Meow Wolf Denver on November 5, 2026, with doors at 7 PM.
Nov 5 - Nov 28 · Clocktower Cabaret
Divorced, Beheaded, Unlaced!
Clocktower Cabaret restages the musical SIX as an aerial and burlesque show, 'Divorced, Beheaded, Unlaced!', opening with a Thursday, November 5, 2026 benefit performance and then running Saturdays through the month.
Nov 6 - Nov 29 · 40 West Gallery
"Unspoken: The Visual Language of Silence" Opening at 40 West Gallery
40 West Gallery opens 'Unspoken: The Visual Language of Silence' on First Friday, November 6, 2026, running through November 29 at The HUB at 40 West Arts in Lakewood.
Fri, Nov 6 · Bierstadt Lagerhaus
The Bierhalle Brawl: Live Pro Wrestling (November edition)
Rocky Mountain Pro brings live wrestling back to Bierstadt Lagerhaus's Bierhalle in RiNo on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, with doors at 7 PM and a main event running 9-11 PM.
Fri, Nov 6 · Multiple art venues
Denver Arts Week First Friday Art Walk
Denver Arts Week's flagship First Friday Art Walk, Nov. 6, 2026, coordinates gallery openings and studio access across the city's art districts, more expansive than a typical monthly walk.
Fri, Nov 6 · Museo de las Americas
Cultural First Friday: Dia de Muertos Celebration
Museo de las Americas turns its monthly First Friday into a Dia de Muertos celebration starting at 5 PM on November 6, 2026, at the Latin American art museum on Santa Fe Drive.
Sat, Nov 7 · Denver Art Museum
Denver Art Museum Free Day (November)
The Denver Art Museum's monthly SCFD free day falls Nov. 7, 2026.
Sat, Nov 7 · Astra Point Event Center
Denver Fashion Week Fall '26: Streetwear & Sneakers (Opening Night)
Denver Fashion Week Fall '26 opens Nov. 7 with its first-ever Streetwear & Sneakers show at Astra Point Event Center in Lakewood, a red carpet reception followed by a runway built around sneaker culture.
Sat, Nov 7 · MCA Denver (Fries Building)
Night at the Museums at MCA Denver
MCA Denver opens free from 5 to 10 PM on Saturday, November 7, 2026 for its annual Night at the Museums during Denver Arts Week, featuring the museum-wide Colorado Currents exhibition.
Nov 7 - Nov 15 · Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Verdi's Macbeth by Opera Colorado
Opera Colorado opens its 2026-27 season with Verdi's Macbeth at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, running November 7 through 15, 2026.
Sun, Nov 8 · Clocktower Cabaret
A Queen's Cabaret
Drag queens sing live with a full band at A Queen's Cabaret, a one-night fundraiser for Parasol Patrol at Clocktower Cabaret on Sunday, November 8, 2026.
Sun, Nov 8 · The Bug Theatre
Kabeto: ProbanditoE (en espanol)
Comedian Kabeto brings his Spanish-language, audience-interaction show ProbanditoE to The Bug Theatre for one night, November 8, 2026.
Wed, Nov 11 · The Bug Theatre
Ignite Denver 45
Ignite Denver returns for its 45th edition at The Bug Theatre on November 11, 2026, with five-minute, 20-slide talks from local speakers.
Nov 12 - Nov 15 · The People's Building
Clue: On Stage
Apex Performing Arts Collective stages the murder-mystery comedy "Clue: On Stage" at The People's Building in Aurora, Nov. 12-15, 2026.
Nov 12 - Nov 29 · Clocktower Cabaret
WASTED Wizard of Oz
Acting Tipsy Theatre Co. gets one cast member drunk on stage for 'WASTED Wizard of Oz,' an unauthorized parody playing Clocktower Cabaret on Nov. 12, 22 and 29, 2026.
Sat, Nov 14 · Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities
Animal Farm - Music for Kids
The Arvada Center's Music for Kids series presents an "Animal Farm" themed concert for families on Nov. 14, 2026.
Sat, Nov 14 · The Bug Theatre
Brooks Wheelan
Former SNL cast member Brooks Wheelan brings his stand-up tour to The Bug Theatre on November 14, 2026, for a 7 PM show.
Fri, Nov 20 · Clocktower Cabaret
HoliGAY!
HoliGAY!, a holiday-themed theatrical drag cabaret emceed by Daniella DeCoteau, plays Clocktower Cabaret on Friday, November 20, 2026.
Nov 20 - Jan 3 · Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Arvada Center
The Arvada Center stages Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat on its Main Stage from November 20, 2026 through January 3, 2027.
Nov 20 - Nov 22 · The People's Building
Once Upon a Mattress: Youth Edition
A youth cast stages Once Upon a Mattress: Youth Edition at The People's Building in Aurora, November 20-22, 2026.
Fri, Nov 27 · Clocktower Cabaret
Once Upon A Scream
The Rhinettes perform the fairy-tale burlesque show Once Upon A Scream for one night at Clocktower Cabaret in downtown Denver on Nov. 27, 2026.
Nov 28 - Dec 27 · Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Colorado Ballet: The Nutcracker
Colorado Ballet's annual Nutcracker, Denver's biggest holiday dance tradition, runs Nov. 28 through Dec. 27, 2026 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House.
Sun, Nov 29 · The People's Building
Homeward Bound + After Pawty
The People's Building in Aurora pairs a movie screening with adoptable dogs, local pet makers and giveaways for Homeward Bound + After Pawty on November 29, 2026.
Thu, Dec 3 · Clocktower Cabaret
Bat-Humbug! A Gotham XXXmas Carol
Rainbow Cult stages the queer holiday mashup Bat-Humbug! A Gotham XXXmas Carol for one night at Clocktower Cabaret in downtown Denver on Dec. 3, 2026.
Dec 4 - Dec 20 · 40 West Gallery
"Earthen: Ceramics, Dirt, and More" Opening at 40 West Gallery
40 West Gallery opens 'Earthen: Ceramics, Dirt, and More' on First Friday, December 4, 2026, with the show running through December 20 at The HUB at 40 West Arts in Lakewood.
Fri, Dec 4 · Aurora Fox Arts Center
Hank Williams: Lost Highway at the Aurora Fox
Hank Williams: Lost Highway, the biographical musical tracing the country legend's rise and fall, opens December 4, 2026 at the Aurora Fox Arts Center on East Colfax.
Dec 4 - Dec 6 · The People’s Building
The Little Mermaid Jr. at The People’s Building
Apex Performing Arts Collective stages The Little Mermaid Jr. at The People’s Building in Aurora across four performances, December 4 to 6, 2026.
Thu, Dec 10 · The People's Building
In the Circle of Life
The People's Building in Aurora hosts a one-night multicultural film presentation, In the Circle of Life, on December 10, 2026.
Fri, Dec 11 · Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities
Stories On Stage: Making Merry
Stories on Stage brings holiday songs and short-story readings to the Arvada Center's Black Box Theatre on December 11, 2026, its 26th season.
Fri, Feb 19 · Lakewood Cultural Center
LCC Presents Giordano Dance Chicago
Giordano Dance Chicago, billed as America's original jazz dance company, performs one night only at the Lakewood Cultural Center on Friday, Feb. 19, 2027 at 7:30 PM.