Elitch Gardens

3 things to do for free in Denver this week, May 20-23

Free fun isn't hard to find in Denver this week: You can learn about Jewish culture at the Mizel Museum, catch a zany improv show, or serenade a bar crowd at karaoke. Share more free events in our comments section below, and check out the Westword calendar for a full listing of events. See also: ... More >>

Video: Elitch Gardens debuts new roller coaster, shows and beer this summer

Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park has started its 123rd season with a new family-friendly roller coaster, seven more shows and a third custom-craft beer. The park's new Blazin' Buckaroo allows cowboys and cowgirls as short as 36 inches high to climb aboard (but they'll need to be accompanied by a ... More >>

Custom beers: Great Divide rolls with Chipotle while the Wynkoop rides with Elitch's

Local breweries have been teaming up for years with Colorado restaurants on custom-made beers, but other kinds of businesses and organizations have been raising a pint to the collaborative spirit as well, from Denver Comic Con, which joined forces with Breckenridge Brewery, to Oskar Blues, which wor ... More >>

3 things to do for free this week, December 3-6, 2012

If paying your December 1 emptied your pockets, don't despair: You can still have fun -- for free! -- this week. Among the options are watching a campy horror movie about a Franken-prostitute, catching a candle art show, and playing drag queen bingo. For a full listing of all events around town, vis ... More >>

Historic Elitch Gardens Theatre: a peak inside the 121-year-old building

When the Historic Elitch Gardens Theatre closed in 1991, the fate of the century-old building was uncertain. Although the city said it wanted to save this last vestige of the original Elitch Gardens Amusement Park, there was no money for the project. So in 2002, the Historic Elitch Theatre Foundatio ... More >>

Creche landing: Shedding light on the holiday display at City Hall

Santa's Parade of Lights starts this weekend, but with all the crowds downtown, you might not get close enough to the Denver City and County Building to see what a mishmash has been installed on the steps -- the better to balance the nativity scene and help the city avoid a pesky lawsuit. Yes, the g ... More >>

For Your Amusement

20 best family-friendly Halloween events

Looking for somewhere safe to trick-or-treat? Want to hear some ghost stories in a haunted, old West setting? Hankering for a spot where the whole family can dress up and enjoy a little (mildly) scary entertainment? From Día de los Muertos celebrations to parties offering unlimited trips to the bou ... More >>

Zombikini car wash puts walking dead in swimwear at last

In the midst of our current zombie renaissance, we've just about seen it all: running zombies, Nazi zombies, classic-lit zombies, even singing and dancing zombies. It seems like every day a new wrinkle is added to the zombie canon. Today's innovation: the zombikini car wash. See also: - Slideshow: ... More >>

Ten reasons why Lakeside Amusement Park rules

When you love something with your whole heart, your desire to defend it at every possible chance is unrelenting. This is how I feel about Lakeside Amusement Park. Not that this magical place needs any more positive public words from me, but it still feels like each summer, I hear the same misunderst ... More >>

Elitch Gardens now hiring zombies

How's your unearthly moan? What about your awkward, broken shuffle? Do you feel comfortable working while covered in blood (okay, fake blood)? Elitch Gardens is looking for a few good zombies -- along with a handful of werewolves, ghosts, devils and other evil dead things, too. See also: - Elitch' ... More >>

Relax at Film on Friday and help the Historic Elitch Theatre get new lease on life

Jose Antonio Mercado is a man with a big, big dream -- to renovate the Historic Elitch Theatre, a dilapidated Denver landmark with a rich history, and refurbish both the building and its legacy. And Mercado, an actor, director and teacher made famous on the local level for his work with at-risk stud ... More >>

Fireworks: Here's where you can still see them

Private fireworks are banned in Colorado and many municipalities across the state have cancelled their fireworks displays this year -- but the shows will go on in a few spots.

Radium and roller coasters: A brief, dirty history of Elitch Gardens

Find the best of this summer's events and activities in our comprehensive Summer Guide 2012

Summer Guide: More than 500 things to do in Denver

Elitch Gardens' Tube Top water slide resembles Sandworm from Beetlejuice

Though you can never truly count on the weather in Colorado, it's been consistently warm out there for a while and the forecast calls for it to stay that way. Fortunately, the water park at Elitch Gardens will open May 26, just in time for Memorial Day fun. Here's a look at the latest addition to ... More >>

Elitch Gardens wants to thrill patrons with two specialty Wynkoop beers

Amusement park lovers are going to find a few thrills this summer when it comes to the beer selection at Elitch Gardens -- something that hasn't always been true in the past. Beginning tomorrow, Elitch's will be pouring two beers that Wynkoop Brewing made just for the park: Elitch Gardens Orchard Wh ... More >>

Elitch Gardens rings in its new season today with new rides, more flowers and a fresh coat of paint

Elitch Gardens opens today for its 122nd season, but you wouldn't know this institution is that old by looking around the current park. With 25,000 new flowers, three new shows and three new rides, it looks as though this season's opening could be its grand opening. "We've been doing a lot of resto ... More >>

Elitch's Fright Fest offers up two types of fright, plus pets in Halloween costumes

​Once, when I was about eight years old, I rode my bike down a large hill made out of snow. That ended in one of the first serious injuries I ever sustained -- a bruised rib -- but it's also a good example of why I've always loved roller-coasters: I love to be scared, in a thrill-seeking type ... More >>

Orange Is Your Color

CenturyLink to leave HQ building less than year after replacing Qwest's blue light with its logo?

Big pics below.​Update below: It's barely been a month since CenturyLink finished replacing Qwest's blue light with its own logo at 1801 California Street, one of the most familiar structures in downtown Denver. Now come reports that the company may be vacating the building less than a year f ... More >>

Elitch Gardens Fright Fest is hiring -- how's your scream?

Boo.​You know what's scary? Not having a job in this economy. So here's some good news: If your scream is worthy, you could be one of the folks scaring the bejesus out of attendees to Elitch Gardens Fright Fest. "What we always do is ask people to scream for us," notes Elitch's public and com ... More >>

Elitch Gardens fireworks show tonight will be a real blast

​Get out your earplugs! All summer long, Elitch Gardens has been ending every night with a fireworks show -- although the amusement park modified the display, muting the "high-percussive" explosions when some neighbors complained about the noise. But tonight, as part of a competition, the park ... More >>

CenturyLink sign replaces Qwest's blue light over downtown Denver (PHOTOS)

Big pics below.​A month ago, CenturyLink began taking down the giant Qwest sign that's cast Denver in a blue light for years. Last night marked the official switch-over -- and it was clearly a big job. Look below to see CenturyLink photos of a transition that truly marks a sign of the times.

Bert the Conqueror takes on Twister II and Clear Creek rafting on Travel Channel (VIDEOS)

Videos below.​On July 13, the indefatigable Travel Channel star Bert the Conqueror seeks thrills in Colorado -- and we've got a preview. First up, he and Good Morning America forecaster Sam Champion, who'll host Bert on GMA on the 13th, ride Twister II at Elitch Gardens. Then, Bert heads to Gl ... More >>

Letters: "If you want a quiet place to raise your kids, perhaps Highlands Ranch beckons"

Qwest sign lights to go out: Will fireworks at Elitch Gardens fizzle next?

​The Denver skyline is changing -- fast. On Monday, CenturyLink will start taking down the blue Qwest signs that have glowed like alien azure orbs above downtown Denver for a decade. We were discussing this development while waiting for the fireworks show that has become a nightly feature at E ... More >>

Shhh! Elitch Gardens quiets its percussive fireworks

Elitch Gardens fireworks show lights up the night, but fizzles with some downtown residents

​When Elitch Gardens first moved from northwest Denver to a new, city-subsidized home in the Platte Valley, the amusement park promised fireworks every night. But the real fireworks were set off by cranky neighbors worried about the noise, and the nightly shows fizzled. Now, sixteen years lat ... More >>

Elitch's lights up the night...every night

Bert the Conqueror takes on Colorado

Bert is icey like Ceddy Bu.​How's this for a job: You ride a bunch roller coasters, and then you make a television show about you riding a bunch of roller coasters. That's pretty much the job of the Travel Channel's Bert Kreischer, better known as Bert the Conqueror, whose show features him tr ... More >>

Let there be lights in LoDo

​On Sunday night, a fellow judge and I careened around all the road work downtown, attempting to look at the 21 windows that are all competing in LoDo Aglow, an annual decorating contest sponsored by the LoDo District. Not only did we find an impressive official expression of holiday cheer (yo ... More >>

Kevin Neimond is a West Highland neighborhood icon: Kenny Be's Hip Tip

Neighborhood Icon #2 of 76: West Highland.​ The West Highland neighborhood is the home of the (former) Elitch Gardens Amusement park and hotbed of Denver Democratic politics. So it's only fitting that the icon shown above would include a reference to a historic carousel. The rotating rides may ... More >>

Things To Do in Denver When You're Dead

Denver Beer Fest: Brews with the mayor and beer with funnel cake kick off the festivities

​Good morning! Have you had your first beer yet? Denver kicks off its second annual Denver Beer Fest today, a ten day fiesta celebrating all things hopped. While the heart of the party - the Great American Beer Festival - doesn't take place until next week, there are plenty of things for the ... More >>

Culinary calendar for the week ahead: Denver Beer Fest dominates and Lala's turns two

A Flickr photo​Don't pretend like you didn't know this week marks the start of the Denver Beer Fest. We'll be covering it extensively, so check back for updates on what hoppy happenings are taking place. But, believe it or not, that's not all that's going on this week in culinary events. Keep ... More >>

Proposing on a roller coaster and what we might get for 'Melo

Look ma, no hands!​And now for your final blog roundup of the week: Roundball Trading Company gives us its speculations on the all-but-impending Carmelo Anthony trade. Gilbert Arenas, really? Purple Row has a breakdown of the Rockies' weekend series with the "venomless" Arizona Diamondbacks. ... More >>

Tonight: Mixology, wine and beer

​For those who prefer pot of the stainless steel variety, there are several food-and-booze events today. Among them: Paul Dolan will pair his organic, biodynamic wines with food by the Denver FIVE's tastemakers at TAG, 1441 Larimer Street. The dinner runs from 5:30 to 9 p.m. and costs $75; ca ... More >>

Another Act for the Elitch Theatre

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