Fall is here, bringing with it a cornucopia of cultural events. The Oktoberfest celebrations continue, and local stages will be filled with fresh fashion, theater and dance productions. And drag queens, of course.
For more options, see our list of ten free things to do in and around town, as well as the latest culinary calendar and our Art Attack for this weekend's shows. Now keep reading for five events worth the price of admission:
Pueblo Chile & Frijoles Festival
Sunday, September 25, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Union Avenue, downtown Pueblo
Some like it hot! Head to Pueblo for this annual celebration celebrating the harvest, Hispanic heritage and more. There's live entertainment, street vendors, cooking competitions, Chihuahua races, a jalapeño-eating contest, and chiles, chiles, chiles! Gate admission is $6 (free for children under thirteen); get the details here.
Breckenridge Oktoberfest
Sunday, September 25, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Main Street, downtown Breckenridge
There’s nothing better than a bluebird fall day in the high country — except, perhaps, a sunshiny weekend that also includes flowing Breckenridge brews, brats and polka dancing, the essentials of Oktoberfest, along with other options, including live music in the streets. To participate, pre-purchase a commemorative stein and two starter drink coins online for $35 (additional coins, worth a 16-ounce quaff, are $6 each) or buy them when you arrive. Find a complete schedule and everything else you need to know at gobreck.com.
2022 Plein Air Festival
Sunday, September 25, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Various locations in Central City
While kids enjoy activities at the drop-in arts station, adults can catch the quick draw competition from 11:30 to 1:30 on Saturday, bid on paintings at the Quick Draw Easel Sale and Awards from 2 to 2:45 p.m., then catch a concert at 3 p.m. with "Camille Claudel: Into the Fire," by Jake Heggie, a song cycle for mezzo-soprano and string quartet with texts by Gene Scheer; and "tat an Exhibition" by Modest Mussorgsky ($15 tickets required). The concert will repeat on Sunday after a preview party ($50 for both), followed by a reception and art sale at the Teller House. Find out more here.
Latino Cultural Arts Center VIP Fundraiser at the Viva Southwest Mariachi Festival
Sunday, September 25, 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Levitt Pavilion Denver, 1380 West Florida Avenue
Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with a bill of local mariachi bands at Levitt Pavilion, including the first-ever all-state youth ensemble, Mariachi Estelares de Colorado. Denver’s professional Mariachi Sol de Mi Tierra headlines, along with Los Angeleno singer Lupita Infante, who channels the traditional mariachi music she learned from her grandfather, Mexican musician and film star Pedro Infante. Admission is free, but it’s a timely opportunity to help the Latino Cultural Arts Center grow by choosing the nonprofit’s $35 and $100 VIP options, which come with special perks. Reserve tickets at TicketWeb.
Werq the World
Sunday, September 25, 8 p.m.
Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver Performing Arts Complex
The official RuPaul’s Drag Race World Tour returns to Denver with a brand-new production with past contestants Gottmik, Jaida Essence Hall, Naomi Smalls and Violet Chachki, plus season fourteen finalists Lady Camden, Bosco and reigning queen and hometown heroine Willow Pill. The theatrical, over-the-top show will follow the queens on a journey through time, as they find themselves in iconic periods throughout history on their way back to 2022. Voss Events and World of Wonder decided to add this show after Denver's Saturday event quickly sold out, so snatch these tickets up while you can! Tickets start at $58 here.
Do you know of a great event in the Denver area? We'll be updating this list through the weekend; send information to [email protected].