Ten Things to Do in Denver (and Beyond) Today

It’s a new year…get up and get out of the house! You can hike one of Colorado’s state parks for free, or plunge into chilly Evergreen Lake for a good cause. You can also catch one of the last holiday shows.

Keep reading for ten events worth the price of admission today:

First Day Hikes
Sunday, January 1
Around Colorado
Colorado Parks and Wildlife invites you to celebrate the new year by hiking at a Colorado state park…for free. Each participating state park offers a unique opportunity to enjoy self-guided hikes, scavenger hunts, or limited capacity guided hikes. Close-in Barr Lake, a great site for winter birding (including bald eagle sightings) and observing all sorts of winter wildlife, will be offering spotting scopes as well as hot drinks, kids’ craft projects and giveaways; further afield, you can join a First Day Forest Bathing Hike at Mueller State Park. Although the hikes are free, you must have a parks pass. Get the details on First Day Hike options here.

Convergence Station
Sunday, January 1, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Meow Wolf Denver, 1338 First Street
If one of your resolutions for 2023 is to get to Meow Wolf, why not check that one off today? Convergence Station is open New Year’s Day. Get tickets here; the price is $39 adults, $30 children/seniors/military in advance, $40 at the door for Colorado residents; the out-of-stater charge is $52.50 for adults and $44 for children/senior/military.

Evergreen Lake Plunge
Sunday, January 1, noon
Evergreen Lake, Evergreen
The plunge into Evergreen Lake is a traditional, if chilly, way to start the new year. The $40 registration benefits the Evergreen Parks and Recreation District; get all the details here.

New Year’s Day Artisan Beer Pairing Dinner
Sunday, January 1, 4 to 7 p.m.
Burns Family Artisan Ales, 2505 West 2nd Avenue, Unit 13
Greet 2023 by sleeping in and feasting in the early evening at Burns Family Artisan Ales, where a sumptuous beer dinner will be prepared by chef Jared Kendall of Thistle and Mint. While the brewery trots out its Pear Tree Eisbock, Wooded Bumblebees Braggot, three-year-old Buche de Noel Bourbon, barrel-aged Imperial Stout and a four-year-old Grand Cru to the table, Kendall has planned something special to match. Tickets are $100, but hurry: sales end on December 29 at Eventbrite, where you can also eyeball the celebratory menu.

Mean Girls
Through January 1
Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex
Broadway’s Mean Girls came together in the hands of an all-star team topped by book writer Tina Fey, composer Jeff Richmond (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), lyricist Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde) and director Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon), which signals a “must-see” status for fans of the modern musical. DCPA Broadway brings the blockbuster to the Buell Theatre just in time for a holiday season night out. Get your gang of theater people together and buy (limited and going fast) tickets, $35 to $199, here.

Trail of Lights
Daily through January 1, 5 to 8:30 p.m.
Chatfield Farms, 8500 West Deer Creek Canyon Road, Littleton
Chatfield Farms, the country cousin of the Denver Botanic Gardens, offers a more rustic and historical holiday lighting show than Blossoms of Light, but with technological upgrades, including synchronized light patterns, light tunnels and singing trees. While Chatfield is slowly moving into the 21st century, cool old tractors covered with lights remain intact, and the 1880s Hildebrand Ranch homestead still stands. Bring the family! Open nightly through January 1, 5 to 8:30 p.m. (closed Christmas Day). Learn more and purchase timed tickets, $10 to $16 (free for children two and under), plus an optional $5 to add on a visit with Santa, online only, here.

Luminova Holidays
Daily through January 1, 5 to 9 p.m.
Elitch Gardens, 2000 Elitch Circle
Luminova Holidays has returned with more lights, more rides, immersive installations, Santa…and light-up hopscotch!  Reservations are required, and available every hour from 5 to 7 p.m. Tickets start at $24.99; get them here.

Blossoms of Light
Daily through January 7, 4:30 to 9 p.m.
Botanic Gardens, 1007 York Street
Every holiday season, the Denver Botanic Gardens brings color back to its York Street location. Blossoms of Light has been a signature event for over three decades, drawing crowds with glowing displays. Strung on branches, along walkways, and as far as the eye can see, lights illuminate the venue through January 7. When you visit, warm up with hot chocolate and a charming “breakfast for dinner” menu. Admission is $24 for adults, and online reservations are highly recommended here.

Zoo Lights
Daily through January 15, 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele Street
Zoo Lights at the Denver Zoo is a bright spot on the holiday schedule. Over one million lights are spread across 83 acres, decorating exhibits and forming the shapes of animated animals. Wildlife is a common theme for the ice sculptures on display, and if you’re lucky, you’ll spot a few actual elephants and tigers, too. Admission is $25 per adult, and several add-on packages are available; get hours and all the details here.

and an online bonus:

Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum
Now through January 8, online
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble is offering an online version of Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum, a traditional holiday show. Watch the 2021 version online anytime for just $5; get your ticket here.

Do you know of a great event in metro Denver? We’ll be updating this list through the weekend; send information to editorial@westword.com.