Welcome to the weekend! From festivals to expos to free rugby action, there's lots to do in Colorado this weekend. Head to Vail this weekend to see Chloe Kim, Shaun White, Kelly Clark, Maddie Mastro, Red Gerard, Jamie Anderson and the biggest names in snowboarding for free! If you're looking for some early St. Patrick's Day fun, Runnin' of the Green is taking over LoDo on Sunday. Check out one of these fun events in Colorado this weekend:
The 36th annual Burton U.S. Open is the premiere event of the competitive snowboarding season. The U.S. Open features the world's top pros in both slopestyle and halfpipe fresh from competing in the Winter Olympics. Chloe Kim, Shaun White, Kelly Clark, Ben Ferguson, Maddie Mastro, Scotty James, Red Gerard, Jamie Anderson and many more preparing to compete. There are four nights of concerts, daily food and drink specials and fun activities for the whole family. Slopestyle finals will be on Friday and the halfpipe finals will be held on Saturday. All competition viewing and concerts are free and open to the public.
Runnin' of the Green — Denver
The 30th annual Runnin' of the Green is a celebration centered around St. Patrick's Day and springtime. This Colorado tradition involves 7K run/walk options as well as a 2.2 mile untimed run/walk category all to raise money for Volunteers of America. Runnin' of the Green begins at 17th and Wazee in Historic LoDo in front of Union Station on Sunday. Registration starts at 7 a.m. and the race starts at 10:15 a.m. The block party afterwards is considered one of the best post-race parties in Colorado. Adults 21 and older can access the party which stretches from 17th to 20th on Wazee. For race and registration details, visit ROTG.org.
Après Ski Cocktail Classic — Aspen
Adults 21 and older can head to Aspen this weekend for this fun slope-side celebration. The Après Ski Cocktail Classic features a tasting experience with artisanal craft cocktails, snow parties, pop-up bars, demonstrations, fireside chats, seminars, special on-mountain events and the Great Après Ski Pub Crawl. Several events are free including the Taste of Après Experience. Pub Crawl tickets are $50 and can be purchased online. You can find a complete schedule of events at AprèsCocktailClassic.com.
Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood: Live! — Denver
This musical adventure is sure to delight the little tigers in your family. Your favorite characters from PBS Kids' No. 1 TV series are hopping aboard the trolley for two shows on Saturday at the Bellco Theatre at the Colorado Convention Center. The beloved characters come alive on stage with new songs, magical moments and surprise guests. Daniel and his friends will teach the valuable lessons of kindness, helping others and being a friend at 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tickets are available at AXS.com.
Glendale Raptors vs. New Orleans Gold — Glendale
The inaugural season of Major League Rugby is about to begin in April. As a taste of what fans can expect when the nation's professional rugby league debuts, the Raptors are hosting a free, fan-appreciation doubleheader on Saturday! The matches begin with Regis Jesuit High School taking on Jesuit High School of New Orleans at 1:30 p.m. The Glendale Raptors will face New Orleans Gold in a hart-hitting exhibition match at 3 p.m. The matches will take place at the country's first rugby-specific stadium, Infinity Park, located near S. Colorado Blvd. and E. Kentucky Ave. For more information about the Raptors and the inaugural season of Major League Rugby, visit GlendaleRaptors.com.
One of the premier museums in Denver is reopening its doors this weekend. The Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art's Grand Opening is set for 11 a.m. on Saturday. The museum originally opened at 13th and Pearl in 2003 before beginning the move to its new digs in 2016. The new location at 12th and Bannock features new and expanded visitor amenities and provides a world-class display space. The museum contains three collections which are displayed salon style. Kirkland Museum will be open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10 for those 13 and older. Due to the fragile nature of the collections, only those 13 and older are welcome. For more information about Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art, visit KirklandMuseum.org.
Monte Vista Crane Festival — Monte Vista
Nature and wildlife enthusiasts will want to head to Monte Vista weekend for a festival described as a photographer's dream. Attendees will see thousands of cranes, ducks and geese flying against a backdrop of stunning mountain scenery. There will be tours and photography workshops for which you can register online. Crane viewing will be at the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge. There will also be a craft & nature fair on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Ski Hi Complex near US 285 and US 160. For more information, visit MVCraneFest.org.
World Wide Antique & Vintage Show — Denver
This Denver antique show is a 43 year tradition and features nearly 100 antique and vintage dealers from around the United States. Dealers travel around the world and bring their discoveries to the Denver Mart at I-25 and 58th Ave. The World Wide Antique and Vintage Show runs from Friday to Sunday. Show admission is $5 which allows entry for all three days. Children 12 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online.
Frozen Dead Guy Days — Nederland
There is a real “frozen dead guy” up in Nederland, long-deceased Bredo Morstal, whose long-deported grandson kept his body preserved in dry ice in a Tuff Shed. The bizarre tale inspired Nederland to create an appropriate festival called Frozen Dead Guy Days. There are plenty of fun activities throughout the festival, including the Parade of Hearses, Coffin Race, Ice Turkey Bowling, Fix A Frozen Flat, Salmon Toss, Frozen Dead Poets Society open readings and pancake breakfast. For a full review of the event schedule, including times and costs, click here. Keep a stiff upper lip (remember, it’s gonna be cold!) and let loose with lots of cool people. This event was first published by MileHighOnTheCheap.com. For more local deals and discounts go to MileHighOnTheCheap.com.
Rocky Mountain Horse Expo — Denver
As a special bonus event, consider the 25th annual Rocky Mountain Horse Expo held this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the National Western Complex in Denver. The three-day event brings together horse enthusiasts to help promote, educate, inform and enjoy horses. The expo is presented by the Colorado Horse Council for the benefit of the industry and its enthusiasts across the west. You can see a schedule of events online. Tickets for the expo are available at ColoradoHorseCouncil.com.
Do you have an event you would like us to feature? Send an email to alexander.kirk@9news.com.
