With the holiday devoted to overeating upon us, we're looking down at a full day of stuffing our faces, participating in awkward family interactions and probably even a little Tryptophan-induced napping. But since the extended Thanksgiving weekend technically begins tonight, there is still plenty of time to get out of the house and party hard before consuming a whole pumpkin pie or starting a fight with a relative. In advance of the Thanksgiving mêlée, we've found ten cool things to do in Denver tonight -- some of which are free and don't involve gravy. As always, check out our online calendar for more ideas, and let us know what we might be missing in the comments section below.

See also: Top five absolute worst Thanksgiving side dishes

Frenchie's Souper Fundraiser at the Monkey Barrel,$10 Dancing women and soup collide gracefully at this fundraiser, as local burlesque dancer Frenchie Renard asks folks to come out and support her upcoming cookbook. The cover gets you some snacks and live entertainment, and a silent auction of local artwork and more will help Renard reach her book-publishing goal.

Thanksgiving Potluck Party at Crash 45, free Hit Globeville hot spot Crash 45 for a pre-Thanksgiving meal of, well, a Thanksgiving meal! The bar will be cooking up the turkeys (and reportedly a ham, too) and guests are invited to bring a side dish to share. Grab cocktails and get stuffed with friends in this beautiful lounge embellished with vintage motorcycle parts and recycled metal turned into massive works of art.

Dolls with Balls Bingo at Hamburger Mary's, free Hamburger Mary's knows how to spice up a holiday, no matter what season. Tonight, supreme queens Alexandra Winters and Harley Quinn will host Drag Queen Bingo, an evening of daubers and lip-syncing as bingo collides with some smash-hit performances.

Manifestation + Sound with Jaha at Denver Yoga Co-Op, 3532 Franklin Street, donation This is not your average pre-holiday event. Master sound healer Jaha will lead her weekly meditation and sound-healing class that is open to all, no experience necessary. Raise your vibration and check out all that the donation-based Denver Yoga Co-Op has to offer.

Pre-Thanksgiving Party at Aqua Lounge, free Join Denver mainstay DJ Tatiana for a night of good, old-fashioned pre-holiday partying. This water-themed lounge in southeast Denver has plenty of drink specials tonight, a free Jello shot for everyone. Did we mention that go-go dancers come with the DJ?

The Demented Divas present: Buttcracker! at Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret, $25 The Demented Divas are at it again with their holiday classic, The Buttcracker! Denver's most fun and unusual queens bring their seasonal show to life with new songs and new twists on classic holiday tales. With hits like "Schweatty Balls" and "I Want A Boob Job For Christmas," these girls promise to make you laugh while you enjoy the old-school cabaret feel of one of Denver's best venues.

Pre-Thanksgiving Salsa and Bachata Bash at Denver Turnverein, $5-$10 Whether you're new to the dance or an accomplished salsa dancer, this party is for you. Starting with salsa and bachata lessons for beginners, this two dance-floor party gets into full swing later in the night for a chance to show off your skills. A little exercise before the marathon-eating session that is Thanksgiving couldn't hurt.

Robot Turkey Laser Kiss at Milk, tickets at the door If salsa's not your thing, Milk has plenty to offer for dancers. This back-alley hangout holds two rooms of eclectic music bumping all night long with DJs Roland K and Slave 1 playing everything from Joy Division to The Editors to Screamin' Jay Hawkins.

Chuck Roy and His Dirty Little Turkeys at Comedy Works, $12 Comedian Chuck Roy brings out the best in local talent for a night of laughs that only a man like Roy could curate. The show promises to be dirty, silly, hilarious and, of course, turkey-themed.

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Eef at Lila B. Lounge (inside Comedy Works South), Free If comedy isn't your thing, don't worry -- the Lila B. Lounge is located just inside Comedy Works South and provides a nice, relaxing place to enjoy live music, cocktails and a delicious and diverse food menu. Check out Dutch artist Eef tonight, as she brings her blend of soulful variations on classic blues styles to the room.

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