Ten Things to Do in and Around Denver Today

Great weather has returned, which makes this an ideal time to hit the road...or maybe just the rodeo. You can also catch great theater and dance performances, join other cosplay fans at Colorado Anime Fest, or head to Red Rocks for the Easter Sunrise Service.

See our list of free events here and the lineup of art openings here. Now keep reading for ten more events today:

Easter Sunrise Service
Sunday, April 17, 5:30 a.m.
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison
The Easter Sunrise Service returns to Red Rocks for the 75th year. The Colorado Council of Churches, which represents thirteen Christian denominations and over 800 churches across Colorado, will again sponsor the event. Doors open at 4:30 a.m., music starts at 5:30 and the service begins at 6 a.m. Reverend John Yu, senior pastor of True Light Community Church in Denver, will deliver the sermon; additional worship leaders are Reverend Dr. Thomas Mayes of Living Water Christian Center Church and Bishop Kae Madden of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion. The musical worship leaders are Blood Brothers, Sheryl Renee and Father Michael J. Nicosia. Find out more at the Colorado Council of Churches website, where the service will also be available online.

Colorado Anime Fest 2022
Through Sunday, April 17
Denver Marriott Tech Center, 4900 South Syracuse Street
After a break, the Colorado Anime Fest is back, bringing the high art of cosplay to a weekend fest full of Japanese culture and history programming, parties, gaming, anime screenings, photo shoots, shopping and contests galore, with a round of guest voice artists waiting in the wings to sign autographs. The organizers of COAF are promoting this year's event as a reunion for con fanatics who lived without a cause for the last two years, so this one could really make some memories. Bring a mask, or incorporate one into your costuming. Registration ranges from free to $80; sign up and learn more here.
Rodeo All-Star Weekend
Through Sunday, April 17
National Western Events Center, 4655 Humboldt Street
Yeehaw! While summer rodeo season is still a couple of months off, the Rodeo All-Star Weekend will showcase world-champion rodeo pros going head to head in competitive bareback riding, barrel racing, breakaway roping, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling and tie-down roping. Activities also include Lunch With the Champions, All-Star After Parties and, on April 15, a concert by country star Wade Bowen. Weekend passes are $110; purchase other ticket options here.

Easter Brunch & Egg Hunt
Sunday, April 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Fire Restaurant & Lounge, Art Hotel, 1201 Broadway
Enjoy an artsy Easter for the whole family at the Art Hotel, beginning with a feast of dishes from Fire Restaurant’s brunch menu, and visits, treats and photo ops with a roaming tableside Easter Bunny. Then it’s on to the Easter Egg Hunts, scheduled at 11:45 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. If the littles still require entertainment, stop by the Living Room for make-and-take Easter crafts, while they last. Reservations are recommended (call 720-709-4431 or visit Open Table), and don’t tarry.

Earthmade at Stanley
Sunday, April 17, noon to 5 p.m.
The Hangar at Stanley, 2501 Dallas Street, Aurora
Get in the mood for Earth Day when Earthmade, a sixty-vendor market with a theme of sustainability, will set up in the Hangar at Stanley Marketplace. Peruse fun houseplants, rocks and fossils, holistic health products, and vegan and vegetarian eats; listen to folks from eco-friendly organizations. General admission is free; find info and RSVP here.
Ajax Tavern End of Season Party
Sunday, April 17, 2 to 6 p.m.
Ajax Tavern, Aspen Mountain
It's not too late to enjoy skiing in Aspen — or at least après skiing. Ajax Tavern’s End of Season Party takes place on the ski-in/ski-out patio at the base of Aspen Mountain; the fun includes a DJ, food and drink specials, and complimentary après-ski swag. Admission is $40 and includes a buffet with burgers and sides, as well as two drink tickets. A portion of proceeds from this event will be donated to Chef José Andrés’s World Central Kitchen. Find out more here.

Blue Ridge
Sunday, April 17, 2 p.m.; shows continue weekends through June 5
Miners Alley Playhouse, 1224 Washington Avenue, Golden
Miners Alley puts some sparkle into the theater’s return to business with the regional premiere of Blue Ridge, a new black comedy by Abby Rosebrock with great buzz after its 2018 premiere with the Atlantic Theater Company in New York City. It’s about an enraged high school teacher who ends up sentenced to six months in a halfway house after she axes her boss’s car over a love affair on the rocks. Human relations only become more difficult as the play moves along, and she can't stay in step with the Twelve Steps. To find out where it goes from there, reserve tickets, $15 to $43, here. And remember: Opening night at Miners Alley includes free drinks and a buffet after the show!

Frequent Flyers, Transformation in the Calling
Sunday, April 17, 2 p.m.
Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut Street, Boulder
As Frequent Flyers gets back to work on stage, Transformation in the Calling will be all about work. Five dancers take on the up-in-the-air roles of a mathematician, an ice skater, a ballet dancer, a scientist and an elementary school teacher, using transformational apparatuses to keep them moving high above the audience. But the real transformation comes when the performers finally join together as aerialists who’ve found their way. Be inspired: Tickets are $24 to $28 here.

Easter Sunday Crawfish Boil and Live Music
Sunday, April 17, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Enigma Bazaar, 4923 West 38th Avenue
For a more laid-back Easter feast, head to Enigma Bazaar, where a platter of crawfish claws, potatoes, corn and Andouille sausage awaits folks who order ahead, along with music by jazzy guitarist Caton Sollenberger, drummer BK Kahn and pianist Jon Wirtz. Come for the music only and there’s no charge, but you might be sad if you forgo the $20 food plate, so reserve that in advance at Eventbrite.

Judaism Your Way Virtual Passover Seders
Passover Family Seder: Sunday, April 17, 4 to 5 p.m.
Judaism Your Way makes it easy to join in with a group for a traditional Passover seder without leaving your living room. It even gives you a choice between a more adult version of the annual reading of the Haggadah and an interactive, multi-generational family seder with songs and stories. The food? You’re not off the hook for supplying that! But the seders are free, and all you have to do to tune in is RSVP in advance here for access to Zoom instructions.


Do you know of a great event around town? We'll be updating this list through the weekend; send information to [email protected].