Rain or shine, the Denver area will be celebrating Memorial Day Weekend to the fullest. Whether you’re looking to throw on a bikini (and possibly a raincoat) at a faux beach party or debut your Dr. Who costume at Comic Con, this comprehensive list will help you make a decision on how to make these three days great.
Denver Day of Rock
Downtown Denver
The sixth annual Denver Day of Rock will be take over downtown Denver on Saturday, May 23. If you find yourself anywhere along the 16th Street mall, stop at one of the five stages for a free concert. Between the hours of 2:30 to 9:30 p.m., you can enjoy more than twenty bands and musicians, as well as alcohol sales and food trucks. As an added bonus, by attending Denver Day of Rock you’re supporting music nonprofit Amp the Cause and the fifty other nonprofits they support, as well. To see the lineups for each stage and a map of the area, click here.
Denver Comic Con
Colorado Convention Center
Looking to forgo the backyard grilling this Memorial Day weekend to instead hang out with 86,000 cosplay fans? Denver Comic Con returns to the Colorado Convention Center Saturday through Monday. An opening ceremony will take place Friday night, and the rest of the weekend has scheduled programming that begins each day at 10:30. Single day adult and child tickets are still available, so there’s plenty of opportunities to catch Sci-Fi Speed Dating and the Team Cosplay contest. Click here for Denver Comic Con tickets or to see the full schedule of events.
Downtown Denver Arts Festival
Denver Performing Arts Complex
Looking to get artsy this weekend? If you can maneuver around the Denver Day of Rock, you’ll find yourself smack dab in the middle of two art festivals. The Downtown Denver Arts Festival kicks things off Friday at 4 p.m. at the Denver Performing Arts Complex with $25,000 worth of giveaways, and then will continue to showcase over 100 Colorado artists on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Click here for more information on Colorado’s top-rated arts festival.
ArtStir Denver
Denver Pavilions
ArtStir Denver will showcase 225 artists’ photography, painting, handcrafted goods and more at the Denver Pavilions. ArtStir was voted as Westword’s Best New Festival in 2014, and is expected to bring in more than 100,000 people between 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. For more information on the festival, its partners or the artists, click here.
RiNo Beach Club
1399 35th Street
Everybody cross your fingers for good weather, because the RiNo Beach Club kicks off its summer Sunday Fundays series this Memorial Day Weekend. Play in the sand and enjoy $10 bottomless mimosas from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., or make trips between the $10 Bloody Mary bar and the giant swimming pool. There’s no cover for this event, just be prepared to make other bikini-clad friends as you share an umbrella in case it rains. Check out the Facebook event here.
Boulder Creek Festival
Boulder Creek Corridor
Since downtown Denver is going to be more crowded than ever, a day trip to the Boulder Creek Festival is always an option for your Memorial Day weekend. The 28th annual festival kicks off on Friday night with a free concert by Dead Phish Orchestra at the Boulder Bandshell, and more than 500 vendors will be showcased along the Boulder Corridor from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday. Learn more about the nine separate event areas or see a list of the exhibitors and vendors here.
Memorial Day Sunday Funday at ViewHouse
2015 Market Street
It’s a party in the USA this Sunday at ViewHouse in LoDo. Start with bottomless mimosas at 10 a.m. and gradually move your way through volleyball tournaments and giant beer pong throughout the day. The first 100 guests will receive a Memorial Day T-shirt, and giveaways and other prizes will be awarded to the best #SundayFunday Instagram post. Be ready to party on giant inflatables and dance to three DJs. For more information on Memorial Day Sunday Funday at ViewHouse, click here.
Howl at the Moon Summer Kick-Off Party
1735 19th Street
What better way to relax than with a bucket of beers and piano duels? Every Howl at the Moon location will be enjoying the same party, and Denver is no exception. From 9 p.m. to midnight, party goers can enjoy bottomless cups of Bud Light or Skyy cocktails for $20, or for the same price you and some friends can split a Sunset Punch bucket. The party starts Sunday at 7 p.m., and there’s still a chance to enter for you and 100 friends to win a free happy hour before real event kicks off. Click here for more information.
Memorial Day Weekend Foam Party at X Bar
629 East Colfax Avenue
If the gods insist on sending the rain, you may as well add some suds. This Absolut Vodka and Malibu Rum-sponsored event starts at noon and goes all night, and if the bubbles don’t get your attention then the drink specials will. All day long you can enjoy $3 Bud Light drafts and $5 vodka lemonade buckets, but pay attention because at 4 p.m. the $8 beer bust kicks off. If you want to sober up a bit after you’ve just danced around half naked in a giant bubble bath, the grill out starts at 5 p.m. and includes a PBR, a burger and chips. More information can be found in X Bar’s Facebook event.
Maximum Bondage at Alamo Drafthouse
7301 South Santa Fe Drive
Looking to wind down after a booze and rain-filled Memorial Day weekend? Rest up before your day-drinking Monday with the first of ten James Bond movie screenings at Alamo Drafthouse. Starting this Sunday, May 24, Alamo Drafthouse will show one Bond movie every week in preparation for the release of Spectre later this year. Chill out with the Bond girls at 5 p.m. on Sunday night. Tickets here.