COLORADO, USA — There are plenty of ways to celebrate Mom this weekend across Colorado.
There are fairs, festivals, concerts and performances scheduled across the state. Lakeside Amusement Park is back and the Denver area's only drive-in movie theater has returned. Festivals dedicated to art, kites, Iceland, plants, fashion and art are planned this Mother's Day weekend.
No matter where you live in Colorado, there's a unique experience waiting for you this Mother's Day weekend.
Lakeside Amusement Park
DENVER — A Colorado staple opens for the 2024 season this weekend. Lakeside Amusement Park, located at Interstate 70 and Sheridan, has been operating at the same location since 1908. The park features trains, a merry-go-round, drop tower, bumper cars and many spinning rides. Kick off summer right by making lifelong memories with picnics, laughs, food, fun and games at Lakeside. The park will be open for its Sneak Preview weekend on Saturday and Sunday.
Sloan’s Lake Spring BAZAAR
DENVER — Sloan’s Lake Spring BAZAAR will showcase more than 80 Colorado craft vendors and fashion trucks and a variety of cuisine options from food trucks and street food vendors. Shoppers can explore over three blocks in view of Sloan’s Lake while they sip springtime cocktails from pop-up bars throughout the event and groove to live DJs. The party is Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Colorado Chocolate Festival
DENVER — The Colorado Chocolate Festival is back in all its glory with chocolate bars, chocolate fountain, chocolate cake, chocolate milk, bonbons, fudge, toffee, chocolate spa, jewelry and gifts. The festival this Mother's Day weekend is at the Crowne Plaza DIA Convention Center. The show is Friday and Saturday. Admission is $10 and kids 10 and under are free.
Japanese Kite Festival
DEVNER — Japan America Society of Colorado will host the 9th annual Japanese Kite Festival, featuring Edo Kite Master Mikio Toki and apprentice Asami Toki from Japan, at Rotella Park in Adams County. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and is free and open to the public. There will be kite flying and kite-making for kids at 1824 Coronado Parkway N.
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance
DENVER — Heralding both Mother’s Day and an upcoming groundbreaking celebration, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance's spring concert, "Legacy: Opening the Way," reflects on guides and guardians, ancestors and supporters who have brought CPRD to where it is today. "Legacy: Opening the Way" is presented Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday with a VIP reception starting at 6:30 p.m., and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. All performances are at the CPRD Theatre in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood. Free parking is across Washington Street with Safeway’s permission. Tickets are available at CleoParkerDance.org/tickets.
Wiz Kid Live at CSU Spur 2nd Saturday
DENVER — Join Wiz Kid for autographs, photos and a special screening of the "Wiz Kid" premiere at CSU Spur. There will be a popcorn-candy bar available during the screening of the pilot episode as part of Second Saturday at CSU Spur. You can meet Wiz Kid at 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. The first 100 kids receive a special, limited-edition Wiz Kid bandana.
88 Drive-In Theatre
COMMERCE CITY — The only drive-in movie theater in the Denver metro area is reopening for another summer season. The 88 Drive-In Theatre will reopen for a 48th season on Friday. The Commerce City drive-in theater said it will be showing a double feature of "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" and "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $10 per person, and children under 12 are free. Tickets are sold only at the box office starting at 7 p.m. for that evening's program.
Governor’s Art Show
LOVELAND — The 33rd annual Governor’s Art Show & Sale is now open for a month-long exhibit at the Loveland Museum with both in-person and online fine art sales. Recognized as one of the largest juried fine art shows to exclusively feature Colorado artists, this year 61 of the state’s most talented artists will be showcased, including a Legacy Artist. Find the perfect new piece for your art collection, add a statement piece to your home décor, or select a special gift for friends or family – all while supporting Colorado’s finest artists. The show is in person at the Loveland Museum or online at GovernorsArtShow.org.
Taste of Iceland
DENVER — Taste of Iceland 2024, organized by Inspired by Iceland, arrives in Denver Friday and Saturday. The cultural festival celebrates the land of fire and ice with events across the city showcasing the best of Icelandic culture, including food and beverage, music, nature and wellness. Most events are free and open to the public. Reservations some some events are required at the Taste of Iceland Website.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Colorado Rapids
COMMERCE CITY — The Colorado Rapids are back home in the Mile High City. The Rapids face a big best Saturday when they host San Jose Earthquakes at Dick's Sporting Goods Park at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $23 at Ticketmaster.com.
Texas Rangers vs. Colorado Rockies
DENVER — The Colorado Rockies are in the middle of a six-game homestand at Coors Field in Denver. The Rockies will play the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday and Thursday. Colorado will then host the Texas Rangers from Friday to Sunday. This week's games are a Healthcare Appreciation event with discounted tickets and limited-edition Rockies-themed socks for medical professionals.
Denver Fashion Week
DENVER — Colorado’s largest fashion event is back with eight runway shows and the Denver Fashion Week Awards from Saturday through Sunday, May 19. During Denver Fashion Week, local, national, and international designers and boutiques will showcase their collections’ key seasonal styles, enhanced by the work of hairstylists, makeup artists and models. Thousands of attendees show up each year in support of Denver’s growing and diverse fashion community.
Pints, Pools and Paddles
PAGOSA SPRINGS — Head to Pagosa Springs this weekend and enjoy samples from over 20 different types of craft beer while soaking in a variety of 20 geothermal soaking pools. Attendees of the 9th annual Pints, Pools and Paddles Craft Brew Fest can soak Friday through Sunday.
Samson and Delilah
DENVER — Opera Colorado closes its 41st anniversary season with a production of "Samson and Delilah." The production at Ellie Caulkins Opera House in downtown Denver plays through Mother's Day Sunday. "Samson and Delilah" tells the story of Samson, a man gifted with immense strength, and his relationship with Delilah, a woman who betrays him by revealing the secret of his strength to his enemies. This is the first time this French opera has been performed at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House since 1987. For tickets and showtimes, visit OperaColorado.org.
Aviation Career Symposium
ENGLEWOOD — Wings Over the Rockies Exploration of Flight is hosting its 4th annual Aviation Career Symposium on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The public is invited to explore options and take their first step towards a dream career in aviation. Whether you’re a student wanting to learn or a professional wanting to network, there is something to learn from more than 25 vendors. Tickets can be purchased for $7 a person.
Denver Urban Gardens Spring Plant Sale
DEVNER — The Denver Urban Gardens Spring Plant Sale is sale planned for Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendees can pick up organic flowers, herb and vegetable seedlings, hanging baskets, fruit trees, straw and Denver’s A1 EcoGro compost. Experts will also be available for tips and tricks for spring gardening and tree care.
Walk MS
WINDSOR — Take a step toward a world free of multiple sclerosis at the Windsor Walk MS on Saturday. The walk starts at 9:30 a.m. at Boardwalk Park. There are one-mile and three-mile routes available. Walk registration and donation information is available online.
Wine & Shine: A Celebration of Hope
DENVER — The Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA) will host the Wine & Shine: A Celebration of Hope on Friday at 6 p.m. at Bonacquisti Wine Company. All proceeds support HDSA’s mission to improve the lives of people affected by Huntington’s disease (HD) and their families. Online registration and donation can be found at RockyMountain.HDSA.org.
Mother's Day Brunch
GREENWOOD VILLAGE — Denver radio station KOSI 101.1 is hosting a brunch for Mother's Day on Sunday. KOSI personalities Jenny D, Melissa Moore and Kathie J will be at the DoubleTree by Hilton DTC for the Mother’s Day Brunch. There will be seatings at both 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Adults are $69.99, kids below 12 are $30. Click here to make a reservation.
City Park Farmers Market
DENVER — The City Park Farmers Market has opened for its fourth season. The market has more than 100 vendors offering a variety of local Colorado produce and products from area farmers, food producers and agriculture-based brands. The market runs every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. through October. Other activations include a run club at 8 a.m., donation-based yoga at 9 a.m. and live music from local acts.
Colorado National Speedway
DACONO — Colorado National Speedway has begun its 2024 racing season. Located just north of Denver along Interstate 25, Colorado National Speedway is a 3/8-mile paved oval track that features fierce short-track competition. Saturday nights at CNS are family-friendly, highly-entertaining and affordable. Qualifying begins this weekend at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6:30 p.m. with Grand American Modifieds, super stock, pure stock and Figure 8's on the schedule. Tickets are available at ColoradoSpeedway.com.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
BRIGHTON — Platte Valley Players will perform William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Armory Performing Arts Center this Friday and Saturday. Friday's shows is at 7:30 p.m. and performances are at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" is celebrated for its blend of poetry, humor and exploration of the complexities of romantic relationships.
Where Did We Sit On The Bus?
DENVER — Nine-year-old Bee Quijada sits in a suburban classroom. During a history lesson on Rosa Parks, she asks, "Where did Latinos sit on the bus?" What follows in the one-person show "Where Did We Sit On The Bus?" is a theatrical mixtape of Bee’s life. The drama plays the Singleton Theatre at the Denver Performing Arts Complex through Sunday, June 2. For tickets and showtimes, visit DenverCenter.org.
Shadowlands
LOUISVILLE — Coal Creek Theater of Louisville has opened its newest production. Written by William Nicholson and directed by Dan Schock, "Shadowlands" is a West End and Broadway hit telling the love story of C.S. Lewis, Oxford don and author of "The Chronicles of Narnia," and American poet Joy Davidman. "Shadowlands" plays the Coal Creek Theater of Louisville at the Louisville Center for the Arts through Saturday, May 18.
Red Rocks
DENVER — There is no better venue for live music in the country than Colorado's Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The Red Rocks 2024 concert schedule (announced so far) is still growing and this spring and summer looks to be one for the record books.
- Wednesday, May 8 - Hippie Sabotage
- Thursday, May 9 - Turnpike Troubadours
- Friday, May 10 - Turnpike Troubadours
- Saturday, May 11 - Black Coffee
- Sunday, May 12 - Sleep Token
- Monday, May 13 - Gary Clark Jr., Mavis Staples
Orcas: Our Shared Future
DENVER — The Denver Museum of Nature & Science has opened its newest temporary exhibition: "Orcas: Our Share Future." The exhibition traces the evolution of our beliefs about orcas, from fear to admiration and awe, as we discover their intelligence and complex social structures. At the exhibition, visitors will see a life-sized replica of an orca family, inviting guests to witness their harmonies in an immersive underwater environment. Guests will also learn about the Indigenous peoples of North America’s Northwest Coast, whose respect for orcas is reflected in their art and traditions.
Salida Film Festival
SALIDA — The 3rd Salida Film Festival is scheduled for Thursday to Sunday at the SteamPlant Event Center. The four-day event will showcase several new features including "American Fiction," "Thelma," "Remembering Gene Wilder," and "A Home in Paradise" from Colorado director Julie Jackson. Two short film programs and other activities have been slated for the weekend, including a pilot of a new independent documentary series from SeriesFest. Passes provide access to all film programs, conversations and events. Individual tickets are also available for $11 per program.
Movies this weekend
“The Fall Guy,” the Ryan Gosling-led, action-comedy ode to stunt performers, opened below expectations with $28.5 million last weekend. It should have longer legs thanks to its 83% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes.
“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is the new film in theaters beginning Thursday. Generations after Caesar, apes have become the dominant species in this new installment. Owen Teague stars as the young ape Noa whose world us upended when an intelligent human arrives.
Opening this weekend
- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Last weekend's box office
- "The Fall Guy,” $28.5 million.
- “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace,” $8.1 million.
- “Challengers,” $7.6 million.
- “Tarot,” $6.5 million.
- “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” $4.5 million.
- “Civil War,” $3.6 million.
- “Unsung Hero,” $3 million.
- “Kung Fu Panda 4,” $2.4 million.
- “Abigail,” $2.3 million.
- “Ghostbuster: Frozen Empire,” $1.8 million.
> Would you like to see your favorite Colorado festival, fair, expo, concert, drama, musical, ballet, run or event listed in 9Things? Send it to alexander.kirk@9news.com.
Have an beautiful weekend!
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