Denver, CO
Unique Things To Do in Denver This Weekend 1/1 – 1/5 – 303 Magazine
It’s the first week of 2025! Cheers to a Happy New Year in Denver. Kick the year off with comedy, art shows, mocktails and make your goals for the year ahead.
NEW YEAR’S DAY
Sundance Head
When: Jan. 2, 8 p.m.
Where: The Black Buzzard at Oskar Blues, 1624 Market St., Denver, CO
Cost: $20
The Lowdown: For an evening of soul and country, listen to Sundance Head at Oskar Blues this Thursday. Head was on American Idol in 2007, making the top 24 and then joined in Season 11 of The Voice in 2016 and won on Blake Shelton’s team.
Buy tickets here
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™ in Concert
When: Jan. 3, 7 p.m., various dates and times available
Where: Boettcher Concert Hall, 1000 14th St., Denver, CO
Cost: $19.20-$166.40
The Lowdown: While Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™ is played in high-definition across four giant screens, the Colorado Symphony will perform John Williams’ score, conducted by Justin Freer.
Buy tickets here
Caspa B2B Rusko
When: Jan. 4, 9 p.m.
Where: Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St., Denver, CO
Cost: $67.89+
The Lowdown: Mission Ballroom is starting 2025 out strong with a stacked lineup of DJs and producers this Saturday. The Widdler, Ternion Sound, Mythm, Chief Kaya, Torcha and Skinny Limbs will open, followed by a b2b set with Caspa and Rusko for a “Back to the Underground XL” performance.
Buy tickets here
Donny Most with MJO
When: Jan. 5, 4 p.m.
Where: Dazzle, 1080 14th St., Denver, CO
Cost: $20 – $30
The Lowdown: For 90 minutes enjoy the big band style of music from Donny Most, known as “Ralph Malph” on Happy Days. The band will play songs from Sinatra, Darin and Martin, in their own creative interpretation of the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra.
Buy tickets here
New Year’s Day Recovery Brunch
When: Jan. 1, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Where: Wonderyard Garden + Table, 2200 Larimer St., Denver, CO
Cost: Free to attend, prices vary
The Lowdown: After a night full of celebrating, you might need a pick-me-up to get the day going. Wonderyard Garden + Table is offering 25% off their Bloody Mar or Mimosa bar for the day beside a spread of their signature brunch favorites like fluffy pancakes, avocado toast and more.
Reserve here
Raise Your Glass to Dry January
When: Jan. 1 – Jan. 31
Where: FIRE at the ART Hotel, 1201 Broadway St., Denver, CO
Cost: Prices vary
The Lowdown: The start of a new year is full of emotions and expectations. If you’re looking to start 2025 on a fresh and sober foot but still want to be social with friends, consider trying FIRE Restaurant and Lounge’s two non-alcoholic cocktails for the month of January. There is “The Clean Slate,” an NA take on a smoked Manhattan and “The Designated Driver,” an NA margarita.
Book a table here
Paint and Sip – Lovely Winter Wonderland
When: Jan. 3, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Painting with a Twist – Lakewood, 7134 W. Alaska Dr., Denver, CO
Cost: $39/person
The Lowdown: Instructor Brian will guide the class through painting a “Lovely Winter Wonderland” that includes mountains and winding river through the snow with various mediums and brushstroke techniques. This class is for any skill level, from beginners to experienced painters. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase so that you can unwind while letting your creative juices flow.
Buy tickets here
Beer Pairing Dinner
When: Jan. 4, 6 p.m.
Where: Goldspot Brewing Company, 4970 Lowell Blvd., Denver, CO
Cost: $99/person
The Lowdown: Chef Jared has curated an intimate tasting menu for guests to appreciate, paired with brews from Goldspot Brewing Company. The menu will entail a five-course Colorado grown meal paired with five Colorado crafted beers, with details revealed only at dinner to compound the surprise.
Buy tickets here
Brew Year’s Eve #8
When: Jan. 5, 8 p.m. – 11:59 p.m.
Where: Bierstadt Lagerhaus, 2875 Blake St., Denver, CO
Cost: Free to attend
The Lowdown: At this “Industry Get Down,” attendees can indulge in $7 liters of lager, a free mac and cheese bar with toppings, free shots for the countdown at 10 p.m., karaoke, a beer pong tournament and other games. The event is “a little late and not as flashy, but wayyyyyy more fun.”
Buy tickets here
Language Without Words: Works by Ash Eliza Williams
When: Dec. 22 – May 4, 2025
Where: Denver Botanic Gardens – York St. Location: 1007 York St., Denver, CO
Cost: Admission free – $15.75
The Lowdown: Explore Ash Eliza Williams’ painting and sculptures at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Williams’ Language Without Words is “an invitation to notice alternate ways to interact with nature…and contemplate perspectives beyond human experience.” Her work focuses on interspecies communication and empathy, and it has been exhibited in the MCA Denver, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (CO) and the New York Hall of Science. On Jan. 23, Williams will be present for an Intersections Lecture: Artist Talk from 6:30 – 8 p.m. Register for that event here.
Get admission tickets here
Ladies Night

When: Jan. 2, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Where: Shoot Indoors Central Park, 6280 E. 39th Ave., Denver, CO
Cost: $10 for ladies
The Lowdown: Every first Thursday night of the month, Shoot Indoors Central Park hosts a Ladies Night, for women to be empowered in a safe, liberating experience. Rentals and targets are free, with only a $10 charge for shooting. This event is for both seasoned pros and first-time shooters.
Friday Night Stand-Up Showcase
When: Jan. 3, 7 or 9 p.m.
Where: Denver Comedy Lounge, 3559 Larimer St., Denver, CO
Cost: $21 – $25
The Lowdown: See comedians that have been featured on Comedy Central, NBC, TBS, HBO, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video in the intimate Denver Comedy Lounge for some laughs at the beginning of the new year.
Buy tickets here
2025 Reading Goal Kickoff
When: Jan. 4, 12:30 – 4 p.m.
Where: Western Sky Bar & Tap Room, 4361 S. Broadway, Englewood, CO
Cost: Free
The Lowdown: Calling all book lovers: come over to Western Sky Book Coven to get started on your reading goals for the year. There will be an allotted amount of time for silent reading, book chatting, bookish vendors and flash tattoos. Guests can hang out with other book lovers, have some drinks and get inspired.
Reserve a spot here
Laura Shill: Working On Myself
When: Jan. 5, 12 – 4 p.m.
Where: MCA Denver – Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, 1485 Delgany St., Denver, CO
Cost: Performances are free with museum admission
The Lowdown: Performers Laura Shill and John Lake will “Work on Themselves, exercising various forms of interaction between the objects in Shill’s ‘loneliness gym.’” The performers will move throughout the MCA Denver building for prolonged stretches and other movement.
Denver, CO
Denver airport delays, crashes, broken windows, downed power lines: What to know about Colorado’s windy Wednesday
Hurricane-force winds in Colorado on Wednesday had a major impact across the Denver metro area, Front Range, and foothills. It’s a First Alert Weather Day because of the dangerous conditions.
Gusts of over 100 mph — equivalent to a category 2 hurricane — were reported in some parts of the Front Range, and over 100,000 people were without power as of 7 p.m. On Berthoud Pass, between Empire and Winter Park, wind gusts reached at least 102 mph. They reached 97 mph at Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge in Boulder County, 96 mph in Marshall, and 93 mph in West Arvada.
Several highways were closed, Denver International Airport saw dozens of delays, power lines and other property damage were reported, schools were closed, Denver’s holiday events were canceled, and thousands of homes and businesses were without power after Xcel’s Public Safety Power Shutoff and unplanned outages.
Power shutoff
Xcel Energy was implementing what it calls a Public Safety Shutoff, for only the second time ever in Colorado. An estimated 50,000 people across the Front Range were impacted, mostly in Boulder, Clear Creek, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld counties.
Restoration for some areas was expected to start around 6 p.m. Wednesday, but many customers told CBS News Colorado that Xcel told them it could be up to three days before their power is restored.
As a result, the Colorado Division of Emergency Management opened charging centers, shelters, and resource centers in the impacted areas.
Xcel said it shut off the power in these areas because of the combination of wind speeds and dry conditions that increase the chance of wildfires.
Once conditions improve, Xcel Energy Colorado President Robert Kenney said crews will begin inspecting lines to determine when power can be restored.
“Once the wind event stops, that does not mean your power will be immediately restored,” he said. “We have several hundred crew members that are already being pre-positioned, that are on standby, so that when the wind event does end, they will be able to immediately begin inspecting the lines. They have to visually inspect the lines for damage before restoring the power.”
Delayed flights
The Federal Aviation Administration called for a ground delay at Denver International Airport from 5 through 8 p.m., although that’s subject to change, based on evolving weather conditions.
As of about 6:30 p.m., 66 flights were delayed, and one was canceled.
Wind gusts were recorded at around 40 mph at the airport around 5 p.m.
School closures
Several school districts — including Jefferson County, Colorado’s second-largest — closed schools, and many also canceled after-school activities.
The University of Colorado cancelled classes, but the Buffs’ basketball game against Portland State is continuing, although fans are not allowed to attend.
Highway closures
Several highways in the foothills near Boulder, as well as in Northern Colorado up to the Wyoming state line, were closed. At least one crash also closed the westbound lanes of Interstate 70 on the Eastern Plains.
Those planned closures included:
- Highway 93 between Boulder and Arvada
- Highway 36 between Boulder and Lyons
- Highway 128 from Superior to Highway 93
- Highway 287 between Ted’s Place and the Wyoming border closed this afternoon, but has since reopened
Damage and other closures
Power lines were reported as having fallen across the Denver metro area, adding to the number of customers without power.
A number of local businesses were also forced to close — some out of caution, others due to a lack of power.
Car and structure windows were also broken by flying debris, like this car in Boulder, whose windows were shattered by small, flying rocks.
Despite losing power around 10 a.m., Ace Hardware in Golden remained open and kept busy, selling generators, flashlights, batteries, and tools and materials to prevent or fix damage.
Some business owners raised concerns about what a days-long outage could mean for their companies, products, and customers.
“We could lose everything,” DeAnn Wieber, owner of the Windy Saddle Cafe in Golden, said. “We could lose all our food, the time that it took to prepare everything, and we just don’t know. And there’s are a lot of businesses going through the same thing.”
Denver, CO
Canceled due to high winds: Wednesday’s drone show, holiday tree, Christkindlmarket
Downtown’s Mile High Drone Show, the Denver Christkindlmarket and access to the Mile High Tree have been canceled for Wednesday, Dec. 17, due to high winds, said producers at Visit Denver.
The city’s tourism arm on Wednesday morning decided to cancel the shows and outdoor holiday market for this evening “due to weather conditions,” as well as cut off access to the 110-foot LED icon known as the Mile High Tree, through which visitors can typically walk and snap selfies.
Denver is forecasted to endure wind gusts of up to 50 mph on Dec. 17, with gusts of up to 75 to 80mph possible in higher elevations. High winds, low humidity and the possibility of wildfire led Xcel Energy to cut power to more than 100,000 Front Range residents by Wednesday morning. Xcel Energy also sponsors the Mile High Tree.
Denver Christkindlmarket is scheduled to run through Dec. 23 at the Auraria Campus.
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Denver, CO
Denver weather: Strong wind and increased fire danger Wednesday
DENVER (KDVR) — A Pinpoint Weather Alert Day has been issued for Wednesday as fire danger increases in Denver due to strong wind gusts and dry conditions, with even stronger wind gusts to the west into the foothills.
Denver weather tonight: Mainly clear

Denver weather tomorrow: Warm & windy
Wednesday will be warm and windy.
As high temperatures climb to the mid-60s, wind gusts will pick up to over 40 mph.
A Red Flag Warning has been issued across the urban corridor as strong wind gusts are paired with dry conditions on the ground and low humidity, leading to high fire danger for the potential of rapid fire spread.
The strongest wind gusts will be west of the metro. High wind warnings are set to go into effect Wednesday morning and continue into early Thursday. During this time, gusts could reach 65-85 mph, especially for areas above 6,000 feet.
Above 9000 feet, there is a chance for light snowfall. Even though most places will only see 4″ of snowfall or less, blowing snow from strong wind gusts will lead to limited visibility and difficult driving conditions.
Looking ahead: Staying warmer through the weekend
Temperatures will drop on Thursday to around 50 degrees, which is still more than five degrees above normal for this time of year.
Friday, sunny, breezy and warm weather returns. High temperatures will climb to record range, which in Denver is a high of 67 degrees, last hit in 2023.
More dry and warmer than normal conditions will continue into the weekend, with a high in the mid-60s Saturday, then just shy of 60 degrees by kickoff of the Broncos game. Then the workweek starts with sunshine and high temperatures reaching record levels.
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