Mega Party at the Mall

Remember when big marketing promotions consisted solely of special Lion King Happy Meal toys and "collector" Spider-Man Slurpee cups from 7-Eleven? Those days are long over, as witnessed by the Journeys Backyard Barbeque. The fun goes down from noon to 6:30 p.m. today in the south parking lot of Colorado Mills mall, 14500 West Colfax Avenue in Lakewood, and the whole thing appears to be roughly the size of Lollapalooza.

What? You want this party to include lots of bad-ass athletes? No problem. Freestyle motocross riders will spiral 100 feet through the air, and skateboard pros will show their skills on a 48-foot-wide mini-ramp. Not enough? You want tunes, too? How about a battle of the bands featuring local acts like Animo, as well as a headliner performance by Tickle Me Pink? All this, plus lots of fun booths, is yours for the low, low price of zero dollars. That's right: It's free.

Wait, you want barbecue, too? Well, tough luck. That's all you get — and if you're going to be a baby about it, go back to your Happy Meal. For more information, visit www.journeysbbq.com.
Sat., May 17, 12-6:30 p.m., 2008