DENVER — From festivals and fairs to expos and music, there's lots to do, see and explore in Denver and Colorado this Presidents' Day weekend.
Several annual celebrations are back this weekend including the Colorado Kennel Club Dog Show, Colorado Golf Expo, Midwinter Bluegrass Festival, Great Backyard Bird Count, and Garden of the Gods' Bighorn Sheep Day. RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan joins the Colorado Symphony this weekend and a new dance production featuring the music of Sting is opening in the Mile High City.
Grab the hot cocoa, check out one of these fun events and share your photos with the Near Me feature on the 9NEWS app.
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Colorado Kennel Club Dog Show
DENVER — Denver's dog show returns this weekend. The Colorado Kennel Club's 123rd annual dog show runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the National Western Complex in Denver. This event is one of the 5 oldest tenured dog show events of its kind in the United States. The public is invited to see the show, meet with more than 30 vendors, and watch the dog athletes and their handlers compete in rally, obedience fly ball, barn hunt and dock diving competitions. The dock diving dogs will be qualifying for the national championship. Tickets are $10 for adults and kids under 12 are free.
CHSAA State Wrestling Championships
DENVER — High school state wrestling champions will be crowned this weekend at Ball Arena in Denver. The CHSAA State Wrestling Championships begin Thursday at 12 p.m. and continue through Saturday at 5:30 p.m. Tickets for six sessions of the wrestling tournament are sold at Ticketmaster.com.
Petite Parade
DENVER — Enjoy a Mile High Mardi Gras celebration at Dairy Block, which is hosting the 6th annual Dairy Block Petite Parade on Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. Free and open to all, attendees are invited to “laissez les bon temps rouler” by building a creative float starting with a shoebox base. Each float must be no larger than two-feet long by two-feet wide and shorter than three-feet tall. It also must be able to be pulled on wheels.
Message in a Bottle
DENVER — "Message In A Bottle" is the newest touring production to arrive on the Denver stage. The new dance-theatre show from five-time Olivier Award nominee Kate Prince is inspired by and set to the hits of 17-time Grammy Award-winning artist Sting. With exhilarating dance styles, footwork and athleticism, "Message in a Bottle" features the tracks "Every Breath You Take," "Roxanne," "Fields of Gold," "Walking On The Moon" and more. "Message in a Bottle" plays the Buell Theatre in Denver through Sunday, Feb. 25.
Colorado Golf Expo
DENVER — It may be February but it's always golfing season in Colorado. The annual Colorado Golf Expo the perfect place for golfers to learn about golf clubs, lessons and courses. Professionals will be on hand with advice on swing biomechanics to putting. Dozens of Colorado golf courses make up some of the booths and many offer discounted golf packages. The Colorado Golf Expo runs Friday to Sunday at the Colorado Convention Center. Tickets are sold at AXS.com.
Midwinter Bluegrass Festival
NORTHGLENN — The 37th annual Midwinter Bluegrass Festival kicks off Friday at the Delta by Marriott. The three-day festival features Becky Buller Band, Missy Raines & Allegheny, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, Slocan Ramblers, Stillhouse Junkies, The Fretliners, Martin Gilmore Trio, Cody Sisters and more. The Midwinter Bluegrass Festival runs Friday to Sunday.
Great Backyard Bird Count
BRIGHTON — The 27th annual Great Backyard Bird Count begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at Barr Lake State Park. The Bird Conservancy of the Rockies and Barr Lake State Park host the kid-friendly event to teach the importance of being a citizen scientist while exploring what local birds are "toughing out the winter" in Brighton. Registration is required online here.
Bighorn Sheep Day at Garden of the Gods
COLORADO SPRINGS — The 19th annual Bighorn Sheep Day celebrates Colorado's state mammal and hopefully you'll be able to catch a glimpse of one in the stunning setting of Garden of the Gods. The day will include wildlife viewing stations, live animals, nature walks, education booths and giveaways. The family fun begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. Saturday.
RZA and the Colorado Symphony
DENVER — RZA, de facto leader of Wu-Tang Clan, joins the Colorado Symphony and Raekwon this weekend for a new show in Denver. The symphonic double-feature bridges the gap between classical and contemporary music and celebrates Raekwon's album "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..." With gritty storytelling and cinematic production, "Cuban Linx" offers listeners a glimpse into the street life of 1990s New York City. Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at Boettcher Concert Hall.
DYAO Spectacular: Tales from Great Britain
DENVER — Denver Young Artists Orchestra's three orchestras will perform at concert Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Boettcher Concert Hall. The performance will highlight British compositions with a contemporary twist. Selections include Alice Mary Smith’s "The Masque of Pandora" and works by Vaughan Williams, John Rutter, Coleridge-Taylor, and Lennon/McCartney.
Colorado Spirit Championships
DENVER — The Spirit Network holds the Colorado Spirit Championships this weekend at the Colorado Convention Center. Spectators are invited Saturday 12 p.m. Tickets are sold at AXS.com.
Castle Rock Bull Riding Challenge
CASTLE ROCK — The 12th annual Castle Rock Bull Riding Challenge will be held Saturday at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. The family friendly event features a 2 p.m. matinee and 7 p.m. show. More than 100 bulls will buck and be individually scored no matter if the rider stays on for the required eight seconds. While the bull riders compete, guests can learn about bucking bulls, how they are cared for, the equipment that is used, training and more. There will also be a mechanical bull, pony rides and food vendors.
Light the Night Celebration
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — The Steamboat Light the Night Celebration is Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The celebration features six hot air balloons illuminating the Mountain Village. Night skiing will be available, and the Village’s restaurants will be serving dinner and drinks. The celebration culminates with a firework display and a torchlight parade.
Wolford Mountain Reservoir Ice Fishing Contest
KREMMLING — The 26th annual Wolford Mountain Reservoir Ice Fishing Contest takes place Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The ice fishing event features $5,000 cash prize for the first tagged fish, as well as hourly big fish prizes and more than a dozen other awards. Contest registration can be completed at the Kremmling Chamber of Commerce or at KremmlingChamber.com.
Cebollas
DENVER — "Cebollas" is a new production now playing at Denver's Singleton Theatre. Yolie, Celia, and Tere are three sisters forced to take an unexpected road trip from Albuquerque to Denver. Making their way north on I-25, they don’t travel for business or for pleasure. They just need to transport a dead body across state lines. But, then again, what are sisters for? "Cebollas" plays at the Denver Performing Arts Complex through Sunday, March. 17.
Rubicon
DENVER — The Denver Center for the Performing Arts has opened the new drama "Rubicon" at the Kilstrom Theatre. Based on a true story, "Rubicon" tracks the career of one of history’s most effective spies, Elizabeth “Betty” Pack as she transitions from society wife and mother to steely, seductive agent for British and American Intelligence in the years leading up to World War II. "Rubicon" was an audience favorite at the 2022 Colorado New Play Summit and now has its world premiere through Sunday, March 17.
Arizona Coyotes vs. Colorado Avalanche
DENVER — After three days of high school wrestling, Ball Arena uncovers the ice for a hockey game on Sunday. The Colorado Avalanche host the Arizona Coyotes at 4 p.m. Sunday in Denver. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com.
Frisco Freeze Winter Fat Bike Race
FRISCO — The 8th annual Frisco Freeze Fat Bike Race at the Frisco Nordic Center begins at 3 p.m. Saturday. Attendees can ride their fat bikes on the Frisco Nordic trails with an all-new course that showcases views of Buffalo Mountain and the Ten Mile Range. Registration is available at TownofFrisco.com.
Telluride Comedy Festival
TELLURIDE — The 24th annual Telluride Comedy Festival runs from Thursday to Sunday. The schedule is packed with some of the funniest comedians including including Nick Kroll, returning after a year off, Rob Huebel, Brian Huskey, Rebecca Kohler, Jason Mantzoukas, Joe Mande, Seth Morris, Hannah Pilkes, and Paul Scheer. Proceeds benefit the historic and nonprofit Sheridan Opera House. Tickets for Telluride Comedy Fest are sold at SheridanOperaHouse.com.
Movies this weekend
“Lisa Frankenstein” led another slow weekend at the box office over Super Bowl weekend, behind the spy thriller “Argylle.”
This week brings two bigger movies to theaters, “Bob Marley: One Love” and “Madame Web," but things aren't likely to pick up significantly until “ Dune: Part Two ” opens on March 1.
Opening this weekend
- Madame Web
- Bob Marley: One Love
- Land of Bad
Last weekend's box office
- “Argylle,” $6.5 million.
- “Lisa Frankenstein,” $3.8 million.
- “The Beekeeper,” $3.5 million.
- “The Chosen,” $3.2 million.
- “Wonka,” $3.1 million.
- “Migration,” $3 million.
- “Anyone But You,” $2.7 million.
- “Mean Girls,” $1.9 million.
- “American Fiction,” $1.3 million.
- “Poor Things,” $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 a fantastic weekend!
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