Denver, CO
Demonstrators at University of Denver gather at pro-Palestinian encampment amid order to leave
Hundreds of people gathered at a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Denver on Tuesday after an email from the university asked encampment participants to leave by 9 p.m.
By 9:30 p.m., CBS News Colorado footage shows hundreds of people gathered at the Cargenie Green near the center of campus, many holding Palestinian flags or signs expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Around 7 p.m., the university sent an email to students and faculty with that 9 p.m. deadline to clear out of the encampment.
“We’ve lost confidence that the encampment can continue without further compromising operations and safety for all campus members. At an extended and productive meeting with encampment participants today, we informed them that the camp must close and asked them to clear the area voluntarily by 9:00 p.m. on May 21,” the email says, in part. “We have offered our support to the encampment participants as they safely remove belongings. If participants choose not to voluntarily leave, the University will determine appropriate action to disband the camp. We have also offered our support to identify other safe avenues of free expression.”
Around 9:50 p.m., a small number of counter-protesters appeared, at least one of whom was waving an Israeli flag.
The university sent an updated statement from Chancellor Jeremy Haefner and Provost Mary Clark around 10 p.m. to students and faculty:
“As you are likely aware, there is a large demonstration at the encampment site. During our meeting with the encampment student representatives today, we articulated multiple times that there were no plans to have police or campus safety dismantle the encampment tonight. We shared our desire to resolve this through a voluntary and cooperative approach. It was our expectation that the encampment would be dismantled by 9 p.m. and our interactions with the encampment participants indicated that was realistic to expect. We are disappointed that this is not what has happened and that participants chose this path forward, which is serving only to further threaten campus safety and operations. In the days ahead, University officials will determine the next steps in moving toward the disbandment of the camp. It is our continued expectation that all encampment participants be affiliated with DU as a current student, faculty, or staff member.”
Organizers with the group DU for Palestine did not immediately respond to a request for comments about the demonstration Tuesday night, but on May 9, when they launched the encampment, they issued demands to the university.
In that statement, the organization asked the university to disclose its investments, divest from companies “invested in and responsible for the illegal occupation, apartheid, and genocide of Palestinians,” boycott Israel economically and academically, publicly acknowledge “the ongoing genocide of Palestinians,” call for a ceasefire and “protect free speech on campus.”
A similar encampment at Auraria Campus, which had been up for about three weeks, was vacated on Saturday.
The Fourth of July weekend is one of the biggest celebrations of the summer, and Denver is delivering a packed lineup of events for every kind of adventurer. Whether you’re looking to watch fireworks light up the Colorado sky, catch a live concert at Red Rocks, enjoy rooftop parties, indulge in seasonal food and drinks or explore the city’s thriving arts and culture scene, there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate Independence Day.
Here’s your guide to the best music, food, fireworks, nightlife, arts, and cultural events happening across Denver this Fourth of July weekend.
Follow @303magazine on Instagram
Read: Best Rooftops to Watch 4th of July Fireworks + Sip Cocktails in Denver
Read: The Ultimate 4th of July Outdoor Colorado Music Guide
FASHION EVENTS
Denver Fashion Week Fall 2026 Second Model Auditions
Where: TBA
Cost: $10+
The Lowdown:
Following overwhelming demand from aspiring models across Colorado, Denver Fashion Week (DFW) has announced a second round of model auditions for its upcoming Fall/Winter 2026 runway season.
MUSIC EVENTS
Read: The Ultimate 4th of July Outdoor Colorado Music Guide
Gillian Grogan and EMMA ROSE
Where: Skylark Lounge – 140 S. Broadway
Cost: $18+
The Lowdown:
Zeds Dead with Sippy, Baauer, Holly, HYDRAULIX & LUMBERJVCK
Where: Red Rocks Amphitheatre – 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison
Cost: $205+
The Lowdown:
Flobots
Where: Levitt Pavilion Denver – 1380 W Florida Ave
Cost: $0+
The Lowdown:
Don Toliver with SahBabii, SoFaygo, Chase B
Where: Ball Arena – 1000 Chopper Cir
Cost: $105+
The Lowdown:
FOOD EVENTS
Read: Best Rooftops to Watch 4th of July Fireworks + Sip Cocktails in Denver
Dumpling Love: Dim Sum Party
Where: Stir Cooking School Highlands – 3215 Zuni St.
Cost: $120 per person
The Lowdown:
Join the dumpling party and learn how to make pork bao buns, shrimp shumai, pan-fried gyoza, and crab cheese rangoons. All classes include a full bar with beer, wine, and house-curated cocktails for purchase.
Stars, Stripes, and Deck Nights
Where: Woodie Fisher Kitchen & Bar – 1999 Chestnut Pl.
Cost: Free
The Lowdown:
Celebrate America’s 250th with our festive Bomb Pop Drinks, featuring real Bomb Pops and High Noon buckets!
4th of July Rooftop Fiesta at Cimera
Where: The Source Hotel – 3330 Brighton Blvd.
Cost: $60+
The Lowdown:
The experience is an open rooftop gathering featuring live-fire cooking, craft cocktails, and skyline views throughout the evening. Guests will enjoy Peruvian street skewers, duck & chorizo paella, and ceviche prepared live on-site.
Farmers Market Central Park
Where: Central Park – 29th Ave & Roslyn
Cost: Free
The Lowdown:
Local vendors provide Colorado-grown produce, tasty baked goods, specialty meats, gourmet food items and more!
LIFESTYLE EVENTS
Mystic Magnolias; A Southern Gothic Cabaret
Where: Colorado Sake Co – 3559 Larimer St
Cost: $25+
The Lowdown:
Saunter yourself out to The Mystic Magnolias, a Burlesque AND Drag Show with chilling charm and dripping in Southern Gothic atmosphere.
America 250 | Colorado 150 Drone Show presented by Visit Denver
Where: DPAC/Denver Performing Arts Complex – 1400 Curtis St.
Cost: Free
The Lowdown:
Following Sunset Cinema’s showing of National Treasure on July 3rd at Sculpture Park, stay to enjoy the 4th of July Drone Show! This special event will be brought to you by Visit Denver, celebrating American 250 | Colorado 150, including an appearance by Mayor Mike Johnston.
Beat The Bomb Summer Mission: America250 Edition
Where: Beat The Bomb – 3863 Steele St, Unit 1273
Cost: $39+
The Lowdown:
Beat The Bomb announces the limited-time-only Summer Mission: America250 Edition – celebrating America’s 250th with five new games, a collectible beach towel, and a red, white, and blue Paint Blast!
Independence Day Concert with Denver Municipal Band (Cheesman Park)
Where: Cheesman Park – 1900 E. 11th Ave.
Cost: Free
The Lowdown:
Price:Free
Join the Denver Municipal Band’s Concert Band for an Independence Day concert at Cheesman Park Pavilion with special guest Denver District 10 City Councilmember Chris Hinds narrating Aaron Copland’s Lincoln Portrait.
Follow @303magazine on Instagram
Whether you’re dancing at a concert, enjoying a garden dinner, cheering on your favorite soccer team or exploring a new exhibition, Denver offers plenty of ways to fill your 4th of July weekend calendar. Gather your friends, support local businesses, and discover something new around the city.
After an extended wait of no activity from the Denver Nuggets in this year’s free agency period, the team has finally made its first new signing.
That signing just so happens to be the No. 2 pick from the 2018 NBA Draft, Marvin Bagley III.
According to ESPN‘s Shams Charania, the Nuggets and Bagley have agreed to a one-year, veteran minimum deal for the 2026-27 season, effectively providing some solid depth in the frontcourt.
Free agent center Marvin Bagley III has agreed to a one-year deal with the Denver Nuggets, sources tell ESPN. A critical frontcourt addition for the Nuggets. pic.twitter.com/enHBVxgfYl
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 2, 2026
With Denver’s first free agency signing now officially in the books, here’s what the move to bring in Bagley might mean for the Nuggets moving forward into free agency and this offseason, as well as entering next season.
Marvin Bagley Brings Frontcourt Depth to Denver’s Lineup
Bagley split his time between the Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks this past season to put together one of his better years of production in recent memory.
In the 60 combined games he played, Watson averaged 10.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting a career-high 61.8% from the field and 46.2% from three on a little less than one attempt per game.
Bagley’s a big who’s game centers more around his offensive skillset. He spent most of his time shooting last season at the rim or in the mid-range, shooting a stout 64.1% on two-pointers last season that can bring a bit of an interior presence into Denver’s frontcourt.
Defensively, he leaves a little bit more to be desired. And he’s still not quite the most impressive three-point shooter, even coming off his most efficient season from deep.
But for the cost of a veteran minimum contract, he acts as a nice budget-friendly addition who can shoulder some of the load offensively, and has shown value as an offensive rebounder as well. It’s tough to find much better for the price Denver’s paying.
While entering the league slotted in primarily as a power forward, it’s been in the past few seasons that Bagley’s settled in more as a full-time five; having spent 95% of his minutes during the 2025-26 campaign playing at the five.
That might give you a bit of a hint as to how the Nuggets plan to use him this next season, though they might also have some stretches where he’s placed alongside Nikola Jokic at the four for a bit of a larger frontcourt lineup.
The Writing’s On the Wall for Jonas Valanciunas
Looking at what Bagley’s addition might mean for the Nuggets’ current roster, no one in the picture gets more impacted by Jonas Valanciunas.
Valanciunas was Denver’s primary backup behind Jokic at the five last season following his trade from the Sacramento Kings, and entered this offseason with an uncertain future because of his contract situation.
The veteran big man has an expiring $10 million contract heading into the 2026-27 season, but one that’s not fully guaranteed, giving the Nuggets the opportunity to release him and save $8 million, while incurring a dead cap hit of $2 million that can be stretched over multiple years.
Such a move can give the Nuggets further cap flexibility that they’ll need this offseason to re-sign key pieces like Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones, which to this point haven’t been done, but becomes a bit easier now that Denver can take that next step in pivoting off of Valanciunas.
Perhaps Denver might also look deeper into a trade involving Zeke Nnaji, now that they’ve got a cheaper option in Bagley that might even sit ahead of him on the initial depth chart. However, it remains to be seen if the Nuggets have any takers on the two years remaining on his contract. To this point, they haven’t found anyone to bite.
When factoring in Valanciunas and Nnaji though, Bagley’s addition now brings the Nuggets to a total of 10 players signed onto traditional contracts for the 2026-27 season.
That leaves them with four open spots left to utilize in the days and weeks ahead. How they decide to use that space remains to be seen, but at the very least, the Nuggets’ long-awaited first offseason signing has now officially come to light.
Sign up for our free Denver Nuggets On SI newsletter, and get breaking Nuggets news delivered to your inbox daily!
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
See social media react to LeBron James leaving the Lakers
After eight seasons in Los Angeles, LeBron James will return for his 24th season, but not with the Lakers.
The King and the Joker together?
Is it possible that LeBron James could join the Denver Nuggets?
The 41-year-old James plans to play in 2026-27 for his 24th NBA season, but he’s informed the Lakers it will be with another team.
It seems like the Nuggets may be at least somewhat interested in pairing James with star Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets have reached out to James, the Denver Post reported on July 1.
Brian Windhorst of ESPN said he has “long believed” the Nuggets could be an “outlier” team in part because of James’ admiration for Jokic.
The Nuggets recruited James when he was a free agent in 2018 before he signed with the Lakers.
LeBron James next team betting odds
Where do the sports books think James is going? Sports betting company DraftKings Sports does not have the Nuggets high on the list.
There are 10 teams that DraftKings believes are most likely to land James in free agency after he turned down the Lakers.
DraftKings believes James will choose to sign with one of the following teams at some point this summer: Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers.
DraftKings Sports odds: LeBron James landing spots
Here are the full odds for the top 10 landing spots this free agency period for James, a four-time champion, Finals MVP and league MVP:
- Golden State Warriors: -250
- Cleveland Cavaliers: +170
- Miami Heat: +800
- San Antonio Spurs: +3000
- Detroit Pistons: +3000
- Dallas Mavericks: +3000
- Milwaukee Bucks: +4000
- Brooklyn Nets: +4000
- Washington Wizards: +5000
- Philadelphia 76ers: +5000
Sports reporter Kevin Lytle can be found on social media on X, Instagram and Threads @Kevin_Lytle and on Bluesky.
-
Miami, FL2 minutes agoFIFA World Cup Miami Host Committee lends a helping hand to people of Venezuela after deadly earthquakes
-
Boston, MA8 minutes agoReview & setlist: It was 100 degrees in Boston, and Goose was on fire
-
Denver, CO15 minutes agoWhere to Celebrate the 4th of July in Denver This Weekend – 303 Magazine
-
Seattle, WA18 minutes agoCOUNTDOWN: Two days until West Seattle Fourth of July Kids’ Parade! Here’s the newest info
-
San Diego, CA23 minutes agoMan Stabbed 4 Times Outside San Diego Bar; Suspect Arrested
-
Milwaukee, WI30 minutes agoDominique Noth impacted Milwaukee arts, culture scene for six decades
-
Atlanta, GA33 minutes agoFBI orders field offices to send analysts to Atlanta for 2020 election investigation, sources say
-
Minneapolis, MN36 minutes agoMN Street Style: Minneapolis People’s Pride 2026 – Racket
