COLORADO, USA — Winter is in full swing and you can celebrate the season this weekend with the International Snow Sculpture Championships in Breck, Durango's Snowdown, the Rio Frio Ice Fest and the annual ice fishing tournament in Granby.
The X Games return to Aspen's Buttermilk Mountain with spectacular competitions that are free to attend.
The Colorado Farm Show is open in Greeley and the Colorado Motorcycle Expo is back in Denver this weekend. The national tour of "Jesus Christ Superstar" is at the Denver Performing Arts Complex.
Before you settle down on the couch for the big championship games this Sunday, consider one of these fun things to do in the Centennial State this weekend.
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X Games
ASPEN — The X Games, called the "world's best action sports, music and festival experience on snow," are back at Buttermilk Mountain from Friday to Sunday. Nearly 100 of the world's best winter sports and athletes will descend on Aspen to compete in Ski and Snowboard SuperPipe, Slopestyle, Big Air and Knuckle Huck, including stars Chloe Kim, Mark McMorris, Eileen Gu, and Colby Stevenson. Admission is free to X Fest at the base of Buttermilk and spectator competition viewing is free for Big Air, Knuckle Huck, and Slopestyle. Fans can reserve guaranteed viewing tickets to SuperPipe competitions.
Jesus Christ Superstar
DENVER — "Jesus Christ Superstar" brings its 50th anniversary tour to Colorado this weekend. With lyrics and music by Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony winners Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, "Jesus Christ Superstar" is set during the final weeks in the life of Jesus Christ as seen through the eyes of Judas. Appealing to both theater audiences and concert music fans, this production pays tribute to the 1971 Billboard Album of the Year while creating a a fresh theatrical world. "Jesus Christ Superstar" plays the Buell Theatre in Denver through Sunday.
Cirque du Soleil
LOVELAND — Cirque du Soleil will stage its arena production of "Corteo" for five performances from Thursday through Sunday at Blue Federal Credit Union Arena in Loveland. "Corteo," which means "cortege" in Italian, is a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown. The cast includes acrobats, musicians, singers and actors from around the world.
"Corteo" premiered in 2005 as a Big Top production and converted to an arena show in 2016. The arena tour made stops in Broomfield and Loveland in 2018, and Denver in 2019. Tickets are available at AXS.com.
Colorado Motorcycle Expo
DENVER — One of the country's largest motorcycle events returns to the Mile High City this Saturday and Sunday. The 45th annual Colorado Motorcycle Expo features America's largest indoor motorcycle swap with over 700 booths, a bike show with vintage bikes, live music, used bike corral and more. All of the expo's events are included in the price of admission. Doors open at 9 a.m. each day at the National Western Complex. Tickets are available at ColoradoMotorcycleExpo.com.
The Ultimate RV Show
DENVER — The Ultimate RV Show is one of the region’s largest RV shows. Featuring a wide assortment of RVs from van campers, to travel trailers, to large motorhomes, the show has more than 275 fully-staged new and used RVs. There will be new product debuts, complimentary show bags, ultimate giveaways, industry exhibitors and RV experts. Admission is free at the show from Thursday through Saturday at Colorado Convention Center.
The Great Fruitcake Toss
MANITOU SPRINGS — Fruitcakes will be flying in downtown Manitou Springs on Saturday. This event for all ages features the marvelous fruitcake launch and a fruitcake bake-off. If you already threw your holiday fruitcake out, there will be fruitcakes available for "rent." Local bakers can bring their best homemade fruitcake to the "Great Fruitcake Bake-Off." The entire event takes place at Memorial Park in Manitou Springs on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Western Heritage Days
GOLDEN — Western Heritage Days continues in Golden through Jan. 31. Attendees can snap a photo in front of a team of Clydesdales from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday in front of Old Capitol Grill. There will also be free downtown Golden horse drawn wagon rides from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., departing every 15 minutes from the corner of 12th and Washington Ave.
UllrGrass
GOLDEN — The annual UllrGrass Music & Beer Festival will run Friday to Sunday at Parfet Park in Golden. The festival features The Magic Beans, Magoo, Pick & Howl, The Foggy Memory Boys, Nordic Daughter, Ghost Town Drifters and more. Festivalgoers are encouraged to come dressed in Viking regalia and enjoy live music, performing arts and craft beer. Tickets are available at UllrGrass.com.
The Little Mermaid
BROOMFIELD — "The Little Mermaid" is the newest production from Danse Etoile Ballet. The adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's original story will take you to the magical underwater kingdom as a young mermaid princess glimpses life beyond the ocean and is enchanted with what she sees. Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. Sunday at Broomfield Auditorium. Tickets are available for purchase online.
3 Lakes Ice Fishing Tournament
GRANBY — The 36th annual 3 Lakes Ice Fishing Tournament, which runs Friday to Sunday, features contests on Lake Granby, Shadow Mountain Reservoir, and Grand Lake. The tournament will begin with a kick-off party Thursday night with food, drinks and karaoke in Granby.
Rio Frio Ice Fest
ALAMOSA — The three-day, beach party-themed Rio Frio Ice Fest runs Friday to Sunday in Alamosa. Back this year are ice carving demonstrations, the Rio Frio 5K, a fire and ice bonfire, a polar plunge, entertainment, food and more. Many of the Rio Frio Ice Fest events take place Saturday, including live ice sculpting on Main Street. The annual Rio Frio 5K will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Rio Grande River. For a full schedule of events head to RioFrioIce.com.
International Snow Sculpture Championships
BRECKENRIDGE — Snow sculpture artists from around the world are competing in the 33rd annual International Snow Sculpture Championships in Breckenridge. The sculpting ends Friday and all the incredible creations will be available for viewing through Wednesday, Jan. 31. Timed entry reservations will be required on Saturday, Jan. 27. Spectators are encouraged to view the sculptures Sunday through Wednesday when reservations are not required.
Snowdown
DURANGO — Durango's winter festival is back for a 46h year. Snowdown is a 10-day celebration of winter fun and follies. The event features the a light parade, scavenger hunt, billiard tournament, karaoke, costume contest, hot wing eating contest and more. Snowdown takes place Friday, Jan. 26, through Sunday, Feb. 4, with the Snowdown Light Parade set for 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2. Visit Snowdown.org for a complete festival schedule.
Winter Bird Festival
COLORADO SPRINGS — North Cheyenne Canon Park is holding its annual Winter Bird Festival this weekend! The festival offers family activities, pinecone feeder-making, rock painting, bird walks and more bird-themed activities. The Winter Bird Festival runs Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center.
Colorado Farm Show
GREELEY — The 60th annual Colorado Farm Show runs through Thursday at the Island Grove Regional Park in Greeley. The annual three-day event features almost 350 ag-related exhibits and draws more than 30,000 visitors from throughout the region interested in learning more about ag products, services, and machinery. Admission to the show is free, while $5 parking and other revenue sources raise funds for scholarships.
Yeti Chase 5K/10K
LAKEWOOD — Bear Creek Lake Park is the location of Sunday's Yeti Chase 5K/10K run. The 5K features a mostly-flat course while the 10K throws in a few Lakewood hills. All Yeti Chase participants receive a long-sleeved technical shirt and post-race goodies. Registration is available at RacingUnderground.com.
Winter Brew Fest
DENVER — Beer lovers, rejoice! The Winter Brew Fest takes place Saturday at Mile High Station. The fest celebrates craft beverages from around Colorado, live music and karaoke, food and other vendors. This weekend's festival will benefit Big Bones Canine Rescue. VIP and general admission tickets can be purchased at DenverBrewFest.com. More than 100 beers and ciders will be featured at the indoor festival which will have two Saturday sessions.
Los Angeles Kings vs. Colorado Avalanche
DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche are back home at Ball Arena. The Avs host the Los Angeles Kings at 7 p.m. Friday. Tickets start at $75 at Ticketmaster.com.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Denver Nuggets
DENVER — The showdown between Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid goes down this weekend in Denver. The NBA's last two MVPs seek to make their case for the league's top award with a victory over the other's team. The Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers play 3:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon at Ball Arena. Game tickets are a hot item at Ticketmaster.com.
Movies this weekend
With a dearth of new releases in cinemas, “Mean Girls” repeated atop the box office with $11.7 million in ticket sales last weekend.
The nominations for the 96th Academy Awards were announced on Tuesday and now is your chance to get caught up on all the contenders. The 10 films nominated for best picture were: “Oppenheimer,” “Barbie,” “Poor Things,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “The Holdovers,” “Maestro,” “American Fiction,” “Past Lives,” “Anatomy of a Fall” and “The Zone of Interest.”
Opening this weekend
- Totem
- The Underdoggs
Last weekend's box office
- “Mean Girls,” $11.7 million.
- “The Beekeeper,” $8.5 million.
- “Wonka,” $6.4 million.
- “Anyone But You,” $5.4 million.
- “Migration,” $5.3 million.
- “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” $3.7 million.
- “I.S.S.,” $3 million.
- “Night Swim,” $2.7 million.
- “The Boys in the Boat,” $2.5 million.
- “Poor Things,” $2 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.
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