Saturday-Oct. 31. Most visitors to Westminster’s Butterfly Pavilion know of the lovable (er, mostly) mascot Rosie the Tarantula. But if she’s not enough for you, check out the Sept. 21-Oct. 31 return of “Spiders Around the World.” The limited-time programming leads up to Halloween with a stunning diversity of spiders sprinkled throughout the facility.
No, they’re not all in captivity. The exhibition features not just 20-plus tarantula species, but an 80-foot Spider Zone of free-roaming Orb Weaving spiders — some the size of a human hand — baby tarantulas, and more. Like any zoo, it dovetails nicely with Butterfly Pavilion’s ecological research and conservation efforts. (And for anyone who loves creepy-crawlies.)
Included with general admission, $11-$16. Kids 2 and under are free. 6252 W. 104th Ave. in Westminster. 303-469-5441 or butterflies.org.
Far East Center’s free Mid-Autumn Fest
Saturday. Westwood’s historic, multicultural mini-mall known as the Far East Center is this weekend hosting its 4th Mid-Autumn Festival. The sleepy name belies a variety of delights at the event, which takes place 2-8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 333 S. Federal Blvd. in the Little Saigon Business District in Denver.
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Visitors to the Far East Center join in a Lantern Festival and Dragon Dance closing ceremony performed by the Shaolin Hung Mei Kung Fu Association, to mark the closing of the Lunar New Year on Feb. 25, 2024, in Denver. (Photo By Kathryn Scott/Special to The Denver Post)
Expect live music and dance from diverse Southeast Asian cultures, contests (pho eating, K-Pop Dance Battles, karaoke), a kid’s fashion show focused on traditional cultural wear, lantern-making for kids, international street food, a night market, and more. It’s free and family-friendly, but reserve your tickets now at bit.ly/fecmidautumnfestival24.
Cécile McLorin Salvant will kick off the latest season of the Newman Center Presents series on Sunday, Sept. 22, at Gates Concert Hall. (Provided by Newman Center)
Newman Center Presents’ new season
Sunday. The latest season of the Newman Center Presents series kicks off this week with the dazzling Cécile McLorin Salvant, a triple Grammy winner who brings a narrative flair to her vast musical interpretations. The Miami, Fla., native is known best for her vocal and jazz recordings, but tackles 12th-century music with the same skill and subtlety as one of her original compositions.
Her 7:30 p.m. show on Sunday, Sept. 22, show takes place at Gates Concert Hall, 2344 E. Iliff Ave. Tickets are $42-$86, fees included. Call 303-871-7720 or visit newmancenterpresents.com.
Dayton, Ohio, alt-rock quartet The Breeders will play the “Last Splash” and “Pod” albums in their entirety at Mission Ballroom on Thursday, Sept. 26. (Provided by AXS)
A really big “Last Splash”
Thursday. Alt-rock band The Breeders, which hit fame in the ’90s with its album “Last Splash” and sugar-shocked single “Cannonball,” has lately been championed by massive pop stars like Olivia Rodrigo, helping set the quartet’s legacy for younger generations.
The Dayton, Ohio, act, led by sisters Kim and Kelley Deal, will make good on that on Thursday, Sept. 26, as it plays the “Last Splash” and “Pod” albums in their entirety for Mission Ballroom. 8 p.m. at 4242 Wynkoop St. in Denver. Tickets for the 16-and-up concert, with opener Man on Man, are $67-$112 at axs.com.
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Dogs like Bailey — the former Dog of the Week in The Denver Post’s Adventurist newsletter — will be in good company at the first Denver Dog Fair this weekend. (Provided by Barbara Ellis)
Denver Dog Fair
Saturday-Sunday. Woof! If the last few weeks have left you panting, why not surround yourself with unconditional love? The first Denver Dog Fair takes place on Nov. 22 and 23 with the promise of unending poochie goodness. There will be dog adoption booths, “celebrity” dogs, performances and tricks, a dog-fashion show, vendors, a dozen food trucks, kids’ bounce house, crafting, and more.
It takes place indoors at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds, 25690 E. Quincy Ave. in Aurora, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Tickets: $20, good for both days; 5 and under free. $5 per dog. Price includes all entertainment and activities (minus adoption fees and food/drink). denverdogfair.com
Christkindlmarket and the Mile High Tree
Friday. The annual Mile High Tree at Civic Center park has quickly become a modern classic in Denver, with its 110-foot-tall display of 60,000, color-changing LED lights. Its location next to the annual Christkindlmarket and across from the brightly decorated Denver City & County Building makes it a one-stop shop for free family holiday fun.
At the 24th Christkindlmarket you’ll find local vendors plus Glühwein (mulled spiced wine), German biers and hot chocolate, Bavarian-style pretzels, fresh smoked salmon, Knödel, goulash, Nürnberger sausages, pastries, caramels and European chocolates. The tree’s light-and-music shows run from 5 to 10 p.m. nightly.
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The market and tree both open on Friday, Nov. 22, with the market running through Dec. 23. The market is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday; and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. denver.org/milehighholidays/mile-high-tree or christkindlmarketdenver.com
Charlie Fausette, 6, from Tampa, Fla., ice skates with her father Rob at Downtown Denver Rink in Denver on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
Free ice skating downtown
Through Feb. 2, 2025. Whatever the weather, you can get a bit of holiday fun in by stopping by the popular Downtown Denver Rink. The rink, which basically bisects the 16th Street Mall’s Skyline Park (just outside the Daniels and Fisher Clocktower at 16th and Arapahoe streets), is a public rink where you can rent or bring your own skates.
It’s open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Entry is free; skate rentals are $12 for adults and $9 for kids 12 and under. winterindenver.com/rink
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be ready for photos at the Denver Christmas Show, this year moving to the National Western Complex. (Provided by Michelle Ellis)
A very merry Denver Christmas Show
Friday-Sunday. You don’t have to be in the market for gifts to get something out of the Denver Christmas Show at the National Western Complex. It’s a family-friendly affair, with Santa visits (and photos), daily storytime and hot cocoa with Mrs. Claus, live music, dancing, and more.
Of course, if you want to pick up some candy or chocolate, local gifts, or holiday decor, that will be right there too (with free gift wrapping), as well as plenty of other vendors. Tickets for the Friday, Nov. 22-Sunday, Nov. 24, event are $14 for 14-and-up, and free for 13-and-under. It runs 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at 4655 Humboldt St. in Denver. denverchristmasshow.com
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Dallas Mavericks (8-7, 11th in the Western Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (8-5, fifth in the Western Conference)
Denver; Friday, 10 p.m. EST
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BOTTOM LINE: Dallas seeks to keep its three-game win streak alive when the Mavericks take on Denver.
The Nuggets are 4-5 in Western Conference games. Denver is fifth in the league with 46.2 rebounds led by Nikola Jokic averaging 13.7.
The Mavericks have gone 6-6 against Western Conference opponents. Dallas ranks sixth in the Western Conference with 17.2 fast break points per game led by Luka Doncic averaging 4.6.
The Nuggets make 46.8% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.1 percentage points higher than the Mavericks have allowed to their opponents (44.7%). The Mavericks average 115.6 points per game, 0.5 more than the 115.1 the Nuggets give up to opponents.
TOP PERFORMERS: Michael Porter Jr. is shooting 47.9% and averaging 18.3 points for the Nuggets.
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Kyrie Irving is averaging 24.3 points and 5.2 assists for the Mavericks.
LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 7-3, averaging 119.7 points, 45.4 rebounds, 30.7 assists, 9.0 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.0 points per game.
Mavericks: 5-5, averaging 118.0 points, 44.3 rebounds, 25.5 assists, 7.7 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.2 points.
INJURIES: Nuggets: Aaron Gordon: out (calf), DaRon Holmes II: out for season (achilles), Nikola Jokic: day to day (personal).
Mavericks: Dante Exum: out (wrist).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Pop music icon Billie Eilish had a very important request before performing a sold-out show at Denver’s Ball Arena on Tuesday night: She wanted to snuggle with some animals.
Two Front Range shelters were more than happy to bring some furry friends for a backstage meet-and-greet with Eilish and her team, Brighter Days Dog Rescue founder and director Becca Orin said.
Broken Shovels Farm Sanctuary first got the request through the venue, and the Commerce City sanctuary teamed up with Brighter Days in Boulder to bring puppies, kittens and a pony to the arena.
Billie Eilish snuggles with a puppy and pony from Brighter Days Dog Rescue and Broken Shovels Farm Sanctuary before performing at Ball Arena in Denver on Nov. 19, 2024. (Courtesy of Becca Orin)
Eilish, her mom and team were “amazing,” Orin said, and showered the animals with love – particularly Samson the pony, who was overjoyed by all of the attention and cookies.
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Brighter Days shared photos of the visit in a post on Facebook, with Eilish grinning cheek-to-cheek with a puppy and getting a nuzzle from Samson.
“This is not the first time we have brought animals to Ball Arena for the artists ahead of their performance, but this was the first time the artist was kind enough and generous enough to let us take pictures and give us permission to post them on social media,” Orin said.
Eilish is set to perform a second sold-out show at Ball Arena on Wednesday night as part of her Hit Me Hard And Soft Tour.
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