DENVER — Denver’s largest running weekend is here, along with several popular festivals, food events, concerts and shows.
Marathoners and casual runners from across the country will descend on the Mile High City for the 18th annual Denver Colfax Marathon, half marathon, 10 mile, 5K and marathon relay.
Northglenn's popular food truck and carnival event will be open all weekend long. Arapahoe County Fairgrounds will host a collectibles show and Erie is holding its annual town fair.
No matter where you live in Colorado, there's a unique experience waiting for you this weekend.
Denver Colfax Marathon
DENVER — Denver's largest running event, the Denver Colfax Marathon, returns this weekend. More than 21,000 runners are expected to participate in the 18th annual running weekend which includes a marathon, half marathon, 10 miler, 5K and the nation’s largest marathon relay.
The weekend begins Friday with the Denver Colfax Marathon Expo. The expo is on Friday and Saturday at Empower Field at Mile High and is expected to welcome 36,000 runners, family, friends, and the public. All races are on Sunday, except for the 5K. Organizers of the Denver Colfax Marathon said two race lengths have sold out and others are nearing capacity. The half-marathon and urban 10 miler races are sold out. There are spots left in the marathon, marathon relay and 5K.
> 9NEWS is a sponsor of the Denver Colfax Marathon
Food Truck Carnival
NORTHGLENN — Food trucks, carnival rides and live music headline Northglenn's 7th annual Food Truck Carnival. There will be carnival rides and more than 20 food trucks each day. The event runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday at E.B. Rains Park and Civic Center Campus near the new Northglenn Recreation Center. Parking is available at the Wagon Road Park-n-Ride at 120th and Huron. To see a list of all the food trucks and a $5 carnival ride discount, visit FoodTruckCarnival.com.
Erie Town Fair
ERIE — The 27th annual Erie Town Fair is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event draws visitors and residents to Historic Old Town Erie for arts, crafts, vendors and food. More than 200 vendors will be at the fair along with kids activities and a beer garden. This year, the annual balloon launch has been moved to June 12-41. Visit ErieChamber.org for a complete event schedule.
Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
GREENWOOD VILLAGE — The 2024 Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre concert season begins this weekend with two nights with Billy Strings, the first of 37 confirmed events into October. AEG Presents said it made several renovations to the venue for the 2024 season including the addition of new lawn speakers that almost double the amount and size of speakers that previously covered the lawn. AEG has scheduled 37 confirmed events at the music venue. The summer lineup includes two nights each with Goose, Noah Kahan, Cody Johnson, $uicideboy$, and Dave Matthews Band.
Stars vs. Avalanche: Game 6
DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche look to extend the second round of the NHL Playoffs with a Game 6 win over the Dallas Stars on Friday night at Ball Arena. The puck drops at 8 p.m. Friday. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com.
Timberwolves vs. Nuggets: Game 7
DENVER — The second-round playoff series between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves has been pushed to a Game 7. The Nuggets were blown out by the Wolves in Game 6. Denver and the Wolves meet for Game 7 on Sunday at Ball Arena. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com.
The North Pole: Santa's Workshop
CASCADE — Colorado's favorite Christmas-themed amusement park is opening for the season on Saturday. Home to Santa's village and the jolly old elf himself, The North Pole: Santa’s Workshop, located at 7,500 feet at the foot of Pikes Peak west of Colorado Springs, traditionally opens the weekend before Memorial Day and remains open through Christmas. With vintage rides and sweet treats, the park as been spreading Christmas cheer since 1956.
RetroMania Collectibles Show
AURORA — The RetroMania Collectibles Show is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds Event Center. The family-friendly show will be packed full of interesting treasures for collectors including comic books, video games, VHS, records, apparel, original art and toys. Celebrity guests include "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" film stars Francois Chau and Ernie Reyes Jr. General admission tickets are $12 online or $15 at the gate.
Chalk Lines and Vines
AURORA — Arapahoe County Fairgrounds is hosting the 4th annual Chalk Lines and Vines event on Saturday and Sunday. The event features chalk artists, local wineries, local bands and is for people 21 and older. General admission tickets starting at $40 online and $50 at the door, the admission price includes a souvenir wine glass and tote.
RiNo Spring BAZAAR
DENVER — Denver BAZAAR returns to RiNo Art District at Zeppelin Station on Saturday and Sunday. Spread out on the streets surrounding Zeppelin Station, the event will have 80+ local Colorado makers and small businesses, fashion trucks, DJs and pop-up bars and springtime cocktails. Inside Zeppelin Station, shoppers can grab a bite at their indoor food hall from food tenants offering a variety of global cuisines.
Colorado Crossings
GOLDEN — All aboard! The Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden kicks off a busy summer season with "Colorado Crossings." Scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, the event will feature three Galloping Geese and two coal-fired narrow-gauge locomotives in operation. The event kicks off each day with a parade at 9:30 a.m., followed by train rides throughout the weekend. The Colorado Railroad Museum will also have more than 100 locomotives and cars on display, turntable demonstrations, roundhouse tours, a used book sale and indoor and outdoor model railroads.
Florence Colorado Car Show
FLORENCE — The 22nd annual Florence Colorado Car Show runs Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is a laid-back noncompetitive showing of classic cars, good food, fun events and shopping in historic downtown Florence featuring many antique stores and art galleries. Admission to the car show is free.
Blues & Cruise Car Show Music Festival
LOVELAND — Loveland has merged its Blues Music Festival with a Classic Car Show. The downtown Loveland event will be held Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with blues music and classic cars in the Foundry Plaza, 3rd street, 4th Street and 5th Street blocks. Food trucks can be found on 3rd Street at the Foundry Plaza. This event is free and open to the public.
Garden of the Gods Art Festival
COLORADO SPRINGS — The inaugural Garden of the Gods Art Festival will held Saturday and Sunday at Rock Ledge Ranch. The juried fine arts festival features 125 fine artists and craftsmen from across the country, including 60 from Colorado. Beyond shopping and meeting the makers behind the art, there will be live entertainment from Oscar Butler of Albuquerque, The Delta Sonics of Denver, local band Manitou Strings, and singer-songwriter Laura Rupejko. There will also be a beer garden and food trucks.
Memorial Day Run & March
CASTLE ROCK — Colorado Veterans Project (CVP) will hold its 10th annual Memorial Day Run & March on Saturday at Douglas County High School. The run and march raises funds and collects food donations for Colorado veterans experiencing homelessness. Athletes may participate in a 5K, 10K or 30K run, or choose to ruck march, where each athlete will carry a 25-pound rucksack filled with non-perishable food items to donate post-race. More information and registration details can be found at MemorialDayMarch.com.
Run to the Shrine
COLORADO SPRINGS — Cheyenne Mountain Zoo hosts its 16th annual Run to the Shrine on Saturday and Sunday. The four-mile up-and-back course offers views of Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak as participants run by roaring lions and more through the zoo, up to the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun and back down. With a nearly 1,000-foot elevation gain, the challenging course is good practice for competitive runners gearing up for summer races.
Southwest Vida Fun Run and Walk
DENVER — Walkers and runners of all levels are invited to join Southwest Vida’s Fun Run and Walk on Saturday at Garfield Lake Park in Denver. Registration is free and all participants will receive a t-shirt, water bottle and gift bag with coupons from local businesses. The competitive 5K race begins at 8:45 a.m., followed by a family fun run 3K at 9:45 a.m. Saturday. Southwest Vida has served southwest Denver since 2019 and is dedicated to mitigating youth substance misuse, raising awareness about mental health, and reducing violence in the community.
Walk MS
COLORADO SPRINGS & BOULDER — Two walks are scheduled in Colorado this weekend with the goal of ending multiple sclerosis for good. Walk MS: Boulder will begin Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at the UMC building on the CU Boulder campus. Walk MS: Colorado Springs will offer one and three-mile routes Saturday morning starting from Acacia Park in downtown Colorado Springs. Funds from the walks will support the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in its fight to stop the unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system.
Phamaly's BIG Prom Night
DENVER — Phamaly’s BIG Prom Night fundraiser begins at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Denver Jewish Community Center. The disco dance party with your favorite school dance classics will celebrate 35 years of disability-affirmative theatre. There will be a dance floor, classic prom games, prom royalty, and a puppy kissing booth with Canine Partners of the Rockies. Light snacks and beverages are available for purchase.
Gabriel Iglesias
DENVER — Comedian Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias will perform at Ball Arena in Denver at 8 p.m. Saturday. Iglesias is one of the most watched comedians on YouTube with almost a billion views and over 25 million fans across social media. Tickets start at $30 at Ticketmaster.com.
Pete Davidson
COLORADO — Saturday Night Live" alum Pete Davidson will bring his tour to five Colorado cities this weekend. The stand-up comedian, actor, writer and producer has tour stops scheduled in Fort Collins, Grand Junction, Boulder, Denver and Colorado Springs. Seven shows in five days will be held Thursday to Monday. Davidson was a cast member on NBC’s "Saturday Night Live" from 2014-2022.
CSU Denver Extension Master Gardener Plant Sale
DENVER — CSU Denver Extension holds its Master Gardner Plant Sale this Saturday and Sunday. CSU gardeners have grown more than 5,000 vegetable seedlings in the City of Denver greenhouses for the sale. The fundraiser features heirloom and modern tomato and New Mexico chile plants, annuals and perennials. All tomatoes, peppers, herbs and other vegetable plant will be $7 while annuals and perennials price as marked. The sale will be held at the CSU Denver Extension office in Harvard Gulch Park at 888 East Iliff Avenue.
A Sea Symphony with the Colorado Symphony Chorus
DENVER — Vaughan Williams' "A Sea Symphony" will be performed Saturday and Sunday at Boettcher Concert Hall. Colorado Symphony Chorus will perform the choral spectacular alongside Principal Conductor Peter Oundjian and the Colorado Symphony. The program also includes Beethoven's "Symphony No. 1."
Manitou Comedy Festival
MANITOU SPRINGS — The Manitou Comedy Festival runs Thursday to Sunday at venues throughout Manitou Springs. Dave Stone, AJ Finney, Ben Roy, Hannah Jones, Katie Strandberg and Sam Ellefson are among the dozens on the weekend's schedule. For passes and a full schedule, visit ManitouComedy.com.
Governor’s Art Show
LOVELAND — The 33rd annual Governor’s Art Show & Sale has opened for a month-long exhibit at the Loveland Museum with both in-person and online fine art sales. Recognized as one of the largest juried fine art shows to exclusively feature Colorado artists, this year 61 of the state’s most talented artists will be showcased, including a Legacy Artist. Find the perfect new piece for your art collection, add a statement piece to your home décor, or select a special gift for friends or family – all while supporting Colorado’s finest artists. The show is in person at the Loveland Museum or online at GovernorsArtShow.org.
Denver Fashion Week
DENVER — Colorado’s largest fashion event runs through Sunday with runway shows and the Denver Fashion Week Awards. During Denver Fashion Week, local, national, and international designers and boutiques will showcase their collections’ key seasonal styles, enhanced by the work of hairstylists, makeup artists and models. Thousands of attendees show up each year in support of Denver’s growing and diverse fashion community.
City Park Farmers Market
DENVER — The City Park Farmers Market has opened for its fourth season. The market has more than 100 vendors offering a variety of local Colorado produce and products from area farmers, food producers and agriculture-based brands. The market runs every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. through October. Other activations include a run club at 8 a.m., donation-based yoga at 9 a.m. and live music from local acts.
Colorado National Speedway
DACONO — Colorado National Speedway has begun its 2024 racing season. Located just north of Denver along Interstate 25, Colorado National Speedway is a 3/8-mile paved oval track that features fierce short-track competition. Saturday nights at CNS are family-friendly, highly-entertaining and affordable. Qualifying begins this weekend at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6:30 p.m. with Super Late Model, Legends, Bandoleros and Demo X on this Saturday's schedule. Tickets are available at ColoradoSpeedway.com.
Shadowlands
LOUISVILLE — Coal Creek Theater of Louisville has opened its newest production. Written by William Nicholson and directed by Dan Schock, "Shadowlands" is a West End and Broadway hit telling the love story of C.S. Lewis, Oxford don and author of "The Chronicles of Narnia," and American poet Joy Davidman. "Shadowlands" plays the Coal Creek Theater of Louisville at the Louisville Center for the Arts through Saturday.
Where Did We Sit On The Bus?
DENVER — Nine-year-old Bee Quijada sits in a suburban classroom. During a history lesson on Rosa Parks, she asks, "Where did Latinos sit on the bus?" What follows in the one-person show "Where Did We Sit On The Bus?" is a theatrical mixtape of Bee’s life. The drama plays the Singleton Theatre at the Denver Performing Arts Complex through Sunday, June 2. For tickets and showtimes, visit DenverCenter.org.
Red Rocks
DENVER — There is no better venue for live music in the country than Colorado's Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The Red Rocks 2024 concert schedule (announced so far) is still growing and this spring and summer looks to be one for the record books.
Several high school graduations are planned at Red Rocks on Thursday and Friday, but the music returns Saturday with Ganja White Night.
- Saturday, May 18 - Ganja White Night
- Sunday, May 19 - Needtobreathe
- Monday, May 20 - Bleachers
Orcas: Our Shared Future
DENVER — The Denver Museum of Nature & Science has opened its newest temporary exhibition: "Orcas: Our Share Future." The exhibition traces the evolution of our beliefs about orcas, from fear to admiration and awe, as we discover their intelligence and complex social structures. At the exhibition, visitors will see a life-sized replica of an orca family, inviting guests to witness their harmonies in an immersive underwater environment. Guests will also learn about the Indigenous peoples of North America’s Northwest Coast, whose respect for orcas is reflected in their art and traditions.
Old West Days
JACKSON, WY. — The Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce presents its 44th annual Old West Days, a 10-day festival celebrating Jackson Hole’s western heritage, culture, and community from through May 27. Old West Days signature events include Elkfest Weekend, the Mountain Man Rendezvous, the Best of the West Parade, the Teton Powwow, ranch tours, family activities, and live music. There will also be a High Noon Chili Cook-off and Old West Brewfest.
88 Drive-In Theatre
COMMERCE CITY — The only drive-in movie theater in the Denver metro area reopened for a 48th summer season. This weekend, the Commerce City drive-in theater is showing a double feature of "IF" and "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $10 per person, and children under 12 are free. Tickets are sold only at the box office starting at 7 p.m. for that evening's program.
Movies this weekend
“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” reigned over last weekend's weekend box office with a $56.5 million North American opening for the third highest opening of the year. It's the 10th movie in the “Planet of the Apes” franchise that began in 1968 with the Charlton Heston original.
Opening this weekend
- IF
- Back to Black
- The Strangers: Chapter 1
Last weekend's box office
- “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” $56.5 million.
- "The Fall Guy,” $13.7 million.
- “Challengers,” $4.7 million.
- “Tarot,” $3.45 million.
- “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” $2.5 million.
- “Unsung Hero,” $ 2.25 million.
- “Kung Fu Panda 4,” $2 million.
- “Civil War,” $1.8 million.
- “Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace,” $1.5 million.
- “Abigail,” $1.1 million.
> Would you like to see your favorite Colorado festival, fair, expo, concert, drama, musical, ballet, run or event listed in 9Things? Send it to alexander.kirk@9news.com.
Have an terrific weekend!
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Colorado Guide
MORE WAYS TO GET 9NEWS
Subscribe to our daily 9NEWSLETTER
Download the 9NEWS APP
iTunes: http://on9news.tv/itunes
Google Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n
HOW TO ADD THE 9NEWS APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KUSA.
For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9news" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
