See also: Five Christmas Movies to Make Your Skin Crawl
Kick the Keg Comedy at Voodoo Comedy Playhouse (Friday, $10) Mix one part party with one part funny and you get the formula for the evening. Show up early to play drinking games like flip cup and FUBAR with your buddies and then stick around for a night of hilarity from more than ten comedians. Hosted by Brent Podesek, it's really like two events in one celebrating Denver's most prized possessions: local beer and local comedy. Pick up your tickets here. Candy Cane Festival at Hammond's Candies (Friday-Saturday, free) Sure you could sit at home and watch a candy cane How It's Made episode, but why not bring the family down to the factory for a new holiday tradition. Take a tour, hop in a carriage and prove that you did it with a free photo with Santa. There's going to be all kinds of fun for everyone in your crowd.Holiday Carousel at Denver Pavilions (Friday-Sunday free-$3) Take a cute date or impress the kids with a spin on the first carousel 16th Street Mall has ever seen. Donate a canned good for a free ride or pick up a free ticket from one of the businesses in the area after doing some holiday shopping.
First Birthday Blowout at Station 26 Brewing (Friday-Sunday, cost of beer) The brewery, formerly a fire station, celebrates being in the craft beer game for a whole year this weekend. There will be live music and food trucks hanging out all weekend. Leave the kids at home for this one because it's an adult party. Don't miss the very first bottle release on Saturday, quantities will be very limited -- so don't sleep, get there early. Denver Handmade Homemade Holiday Market at Denver Art Society (Saturday-Sunday, free) There's not a weekend in December when you don't have to do a little holiday shopping. Stay away from the mall and stimulate the local economy, because this market has everything you could possibly need to sneak under the tree. Enjoy live music while you browse, and peruse the food buffet so you can shop til you drop. Check the event page for all the amazing vendors participating.Denver Vintage Reggae Society Kick Off Party at Goosetown Tavern (Saturday, free) Got to this party for some skankin' or just some simple grooving. You could probably just sit there at the bar bobbing your head, too. Bring the pos vibes to the new venue for the Vintage Reggae Society.
Casual Commander Party at The Armoury (Saturday, free) We're going to be listening to some cool beats at this free party. Casual Commander, Kinetik Groove and Lucid Vision are cranking up the speakers to get the butts out of the seats to dance. It's dance music after all.
A Colorado Christmas at Four Mile Historic Park (Sunday, $5) This is another great place to make some holiday memories. Take the sleigh ride back in time, nibble on some fresh roasted chestnuts and let the kids enjoy some crafts for a nice little Sunday afternoon treat.Free Community Yoga Class at Iyengar Yoga Center (Sunday,free/donations) Don't forget flexibility is key when you're stuffing your face with glazed ham and fruit cake, so get a jumpstart on that with yoga. Do some good and donate a few bucks to a local nonprofit while you're at it. Register here.
Twas the One Night Stand Before Christmas at Vintage Theatre (Sunday, $5) For all of us who know jolly St. Nick is just a figment of our imagination, here's a bunch of fun plays and readings poking fun at the season. Hear a rendition of Santa Doesn't Live Here Anymore by Pat Gabridge and The True Meaning of Christmas by Tom Flynn. Mix in some Shakespeare and Mark Twain to laugh at to round out your weekend.