After slogging their way through another mundane work week, many Coloradans are in desperate need of entertainment to fill the days ahead. However, with the gift-giving season fully under way — happy Hanukkah! — money is tighter now than it is during any other time of year...except tax season. Luckily, Denver's creative community has rallied to provide yet another weekend packed with free and cheap events. Readers can experience tastes of other cultures, see world class performances and learn more about the story of Christmas without dipping into their stocking-stuffer budget.

The Good Stuff
Thursday, December 14, 8 p.m.
The Deer Pile
$5 Donation
While standup comedy at the Deer Pile has floundered a bit since seltzer replaced PBR at the concessions table, improv has thrived at the Cap Hill DIY stalwart. The Good Stuff, a monthly variety show spotlighting extemporaneous sketches, occurs on the second Thursday of every month, bringing plenty of "yes, and" spirit to the space. December's showcase highlights the immense talents of female improvisers in the Mile High City with performances from the Crunch Bears duo, a death-prov tournament, and an improvised schmaltzy holiday movie from Halldark Hall of Fame. Presented by Binge Watch Live and the Year of We, the Good Stuff's all-female show is both a necessary corrective to an arts scene too often dominated by men, and a grand evening of entertainment that people of all genders can enjoy. Find more information on the Good Stuff's Facebook events page.

Fire and Ice: Christmas With Ars Nova
December 14-15, 7:30 p.m.
Saint John's Episcopal Church
$10-$25
When most readers think of a Christmastime concert from a choral ensemble, they expect hymns performed with solemn religiosity. The Ars Nova Singers are subverting those expectations with Fire and Ice, a series of Christmas concerts with guest guitarist Nicolò Spera. Though the program does include a number of sing-along carols, the centerpiece of the evening will be a stirring performance of Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Romancero Gitano. Inspired by the poems of Federico García Lorca's Poems of the Deep Song, the concerto blends virtuosic string-strumming with soaring harmonic adaptations of Lorca's verse. Visit Ars Nova's Brown Paper Tickets page to buy tickets, $10 to $25, and learn more.

Potluck of the Americas
Friday, December 15, 5 p.m.
Museo de las Americas
$5-$10
A gem of Denver's arts and culture scene, Museo de las Americas' monthly ConnectArte returns on December's third Thursday with Potluck of the Americas, a chance for locals to experience other cultures one bite at a time. Nibble on pupusas, ponche, empanadas, and whatever the potluck guests happen to bring while enjoying a uniquely tasty way to connect to the community. Admission is $10, $5 if you bring a dish. Visit the Museo's Facebook events page to find out more, and call 303-571-4401 or email [email protected] to RSVP.