by Jessica Hughes | Feb 22, 2023 | General Featured
by Jessica Hughes
Virga by Patrick Marold. Photo by Rudi Cerri
Infinite Span by Michael Buckley. Photo provided by denverpublicart.org
With more than 400 pieces in the Denver Public Art Collection and more than $40 million funding into new public art commissions, the City and County of Denver is dedicated to its public art program.
The collection includes traditional art forms such as sculpture and painting, but also includes sound art, projection and light-based works, interactive new media pieces, temporary fiber-based works, and performance-based works.
The program was established in 1988 as an Executive Order under Mayor Federico Peña. The order states that 1% of any capital improvement project over $1 million undertaken by the City, be set aside for public art. Additional funding comes from the Urban Arts Fund, a graffiti prevention and youth development program, focusing on community-building and social change.
Over the past 30 years these commissioned artworks, along with historic and donated works, make up Denver’s Public Art Collection.
As we spring forward into war
Cottonwood Critters by Chainsaw Mama. Photo by JLH in DESIGN
mer days, it’s a great time to discover some of Denver’s public art that can be found along its most popular trails. So, hit the trail and immerse yourself in nature and the arts with these notable stops.
Cherry Creek Trail
From Confluence Park to Cherry Creek Reservoir, use the Cherry Creek Trail Tour to find these and other artful stops along the 11 mile stretch of Cherry Creek in Denver.
A favorite piece along the trail is the Virga by artist Patrick Marold. The piece sits atop the Delgany St. Bridge over the trail. Made of over 300 stainless steel tubes, suspended in the structural steel, the architectural sculpture was inspired by the cycle of water in Colorado and is intended to eventually support the growing vines on the west end of the bridge. Blending art with nature, the installation may become a living canopy over the bridge.
Located at Confluence Park at Shoemaker Plaza, Sing and Glide by artist Jeanne Quinn, is a mosaic sculpture using the colors of the sea to mimic the flow of the river that cuts through the urban park. “Confluence Park brings together two rivers, the South Platte and Cherry Creek. It is also an urban park, a place where nature and city life are married,” the artist, Jeanne Quinn said in a statement about her work.
We Are Future Strata by Michael Buckley. Photo provided by High Line Canal Conservancy
Created by artist John King, Talk to the Birds, is a 16’ mild steel kinetic sculpture. Located in the Hampden neighborhood, the artwork is installed in a grassy section formed by the junction of the Cherry Creek Trail and the spur trails from South Havana Street. The goal of this artwork is to celebrate the community, uniqueness, and diversity of the students at the Joe Shoemaker School.
High Line Canal
From Waterton Canyon to Green Valley Ranch, just south of Denver International Airport, the High Line Canal runs 71 miles long, divided into two main areas — the northern and southern half. “In general, the northern half of the canal trail is paved and it’s where people will find more public art pieces,” says Suzanna Fry Jones, Senior Director of Programs and Partnerships at the High Line Canal Conservancy.
“A focus for us is to see how we can enhance the trail but not interfere with the natural scenery around it,” says Jones. A perfect example of that is the artwork found at the corner of Hampden and Colorado (mile 37). Titled, We Are Future Strata, the cluster of three 50,000-pound granite boulders are painted with brightly colored stripes meant to depict strata. Local artist, Michael Buckley, wanted to convey a post-human future where the man-made environment has become strata stone.
The art found along the trail system is a mix of commissioned pieces by the Denver Public Art program and community artists adding to public spaces. “In fact, much of the art pieces found along the trail happened organically from the locals in the community,” says Jones.
Some of these pieces include Ceramic Birds, artist unknown, located in Centennial near mile 29. Other pieces include unique wood carvings by Loveland artist known as Chainsaw Mama. There are two at Bible Park, near mile 41 and 42, plus the third sculpture, Cottonwood Critters, a bench near I-25 and mile 39.
To learn more about the High Line Canal Trail and what to see use their online guidebook.
South Platte River Trail
With the improvements made over the years along the South Platte River Trail, public art has been added in a few spots to help with its beautification. One piece of note is Infinite Span, by artist Michael Buckley.
Located at the Grant-Frontier Park, in the Overland neighborhood, the piece is a mirror-polished stainless-steel diamond suspended by stainless steel cables. Floating over Grant Frontier Park, the artwork is meant to represent the infinite nature of time and the fleeting present moment.
To build your own Denver Public Art Tour visit them at DenverPublicArt.org or use one of theirs highlighting certain areas and themes. They also host guided tours with the summer schedule coming out soon.
by Regan Bervar | Jan 19, 2023 | General Featured
“Inspiring hope in a cynical world might be the most radical thing you can possibly do.”
by Luke Schmaltz
Every once in a while, a childhood dream matures into an inspirational, sustainable, ongoing pursuit.
In the face of an increasingly apathetic world, Demi Merrit and company have managed to do exactly this — harnessing compassion, empathy, and charity to improve the lives of Denver’s less fortunate, four-legged residents.
Demi’s Animal Rescue Thrift Store and Cat Lodge is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization located at the Denver/Aurora border near East Evans and Holly intersection. Their website states that the five-person staff is focused on, “…solving pet homelessness through adoption, spay/neuter, and pet retention. We do not discriminate against any animal that is in need and open our door to all regardless of their breed, age, or special care required. We strive to see the day that pet homelessness is eliminated worldwide.”
True Grassroots
All animals adopted through Demi’s have passed an examination by a licensed veterinarian. Photo: Demi’s Animal Rescue
Demi’s Animal Rescue (DAR) was founded in 2010 in Merrit’s basement when she was still in high school. She discovered her passion for animal advocacy while volunteering, doing fundraisers, and fighting to end breed specific legislation. She eventually began helping people in the community with emergency vet bills and then, with the blessing of her parents, she began fostering animals in “cat rooms” built by her family. From these humble beginnings, DAR was grown into what it is today — a place where animals can grow, improve, rehabilitate, and find homes.
Adoption Is Easy
Meanwhile, DAR’s Development & Operations Manager, Jessica Roeger, encourages anyone interested in pet ownership to work with shelters and rescues. She offers insight into the ease of the adoption process. “We try to make adopting from a rescue an enjoyable experience,” she begins. “We have a short application that is required to be submitted if you are interested in adopting. From there, it is typically reviewed within 48 hours, and we can schedule a meet and greet with the animal(s) you are interested in. If there are concerns on the application, we like to educate people in hopes that we can approve the application after that discussion. An amazing home can’t always be chosen based on a questionnaire which is why we like to engage in conversation to get a real idea of who they are.”
Demi’s Animal Rescue is operated by five staffers and numerous volunteers.
DAR’s current facility was opened in 2021 and features a few unique distinctions. The premises, “…provide two free-roaming adoption rooms for cats that have helped to increase the number of lives we can save,” Roeger says. “The Cat Lodge also provides a space for some of the most at-risk cats including FIV+, bonded pairs, seniors, and shy cats. Since being founded in 2010, we have grown every year in terms of adoptions, fosters, lives saved, and funds raised.”
A Thrifty Twist
Cherry enjoys a treat at Demi’s Animal Rescue. Photo: Demi’s Animal Rescue
Roeger explains how the thrift store aspect of the organization fits into the overall operation. “We wanted to get creative in providing income to the rescue so we can continue to grow, which brought the idea of a thrift store for sales to help support the rescue. It took a lot of planning and a lot of rejection before we finally found a landlord willing to rent out space to a non-profit, but our determination paid off.”
Roeger continues, “All sales from the thrift store help support the daily operations of the rescue. The extra income allows us to save more lives and to take on more complicated cases, such as an animal with medical needs or behavioral issues. Having the thrift store and adoption center has also helped get our name out more into the community, which has increased interest in adopting, volunteering, and donating.”
An Endearing Mission
Demi’s Animal Rescue Thrift Store features high-end clothing, accessories, household items, and more.
In addition to adoption services, DAR also helps with pet retention for struggling animal owners. Roeger encourages people to reach out to local organizations for help before giving up. “If you are struggling with food, supplies, basic veterinary care, or training, there are places dedicated to helping with some of this or rescues willing to assist, including us,” she says.
“We place a large focus on helping animals that are the most in need, which is why you may not see as many animals come through our rescues as others,” Roeger continues. “We ensure that every animal is healthy (veterinarian approved) prior to adoption. We address behavioral issues so that we can ensure success for both an adopter and an animal. When you adopt from us, or support us in another way, you can ensure that the extra mile is being taken for all animals and that we will provide support in any way possible.”
DAR welcomes donations of clothing, household items, books and DVDs. Demi’s Animal Rescue Thrift Store features plenty of the above as well as high-end boutique items, name brand clothing, and more. Shoppers are welcome Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m.
by Jessica Hughes | Dec 16, 2022 | General Featured
by Jessica Hughes
Bird walk leaders at Bluff Lake Nature Center. Pictured from left to right: Jason Bidgood, George Ho, Steve Hebert, and Lisa Pera.
Thousands of snow geese flock to the reservoirs and farmland of the Eastern Plains. Photo by Jessica Hughes
Colorado is home to over 400 species of birds that either live here year-round or pass through during seasonal migrations. But when is the best time to see them? While most think of birding during warm-weather months, birdwatching is a year-round activity, with winter being one of the best times for viewing.
“Colorado winters are full of sunny, mild days which allow birders to enjoy the outdoors. Plus, the lack of leaves on the trees allows for better viewing of the birds,” says George Ho, Bluff Lake Nature Center Bird Volunteer/Monthly Bird Walk Leader. “Winter is great for birding.”
“There are plenty of ducks, geese, and raptors that migrate south to our parks and lakes to spend the winter in our (relatively) warm climate,” says Ben Jacques, Bluff Lake Nature Center Outdoor Explorers Program Coordinator. Also, since they must keep their bodies warm, they spend a lot of time moving around searching for food. This makes them easier to spot and hear through the bare foliage.”
“Plus, with shorter sunlight hours, good winter birding doesn’t require a 4 a.m. alarm,” says Jacques.
So, what should you expect to see? From the admired bald eagle to song sparrows, there is a variety of winter fowl to catch your eye. “Bald eagles are more plentiful in the winter here in Colorado because they come south to us from the north. Waterfowls like ducks are abundant in winter as well,” says Ho. “Winter sparrows are also popular to see. These include the white-crown sparrows and the juncos as well as the year-round song sparrows.”
He also says birds of prey are abundant, including owls like the great horned owls, hawks like the ferruginous, and the year-round red-tailed hawks, plus falcons like the prairie falcons and the American kestrels.
The best part is you don’t have to travel too far to see these beautiful birds in flight. Below are a few places close to home that make a great afternoon outing or a fun family day trip.
Bluff Lake Nature Center
Within Denver’s city limits, Bluff Lake Nature
A Red Tail Hawk swooping in on its prey. Photo by George Ho at Bluff Lake Nature Center
Center is one of the best places for birdwatching in Denver. The 123-acre nature preserve has spotted 226 different species of birds according to their active community of birders who record their encounters.
For the beginners and families, the center offers bird walks throughout the year. Led by an expert guide, discover how and where to spot certain birds and learn about the different species you can find in Colorado. The walks are free, but you need to sign up in advance on their website. Download their printable birds of Bluff Lake checklist and keep track of what you spot.
Visit their birding page to learn more at www.blufflake.org/birdwatching
Cherry Creek State Park
Cherry Creek State Park is one of Colorado’s most popular parks due to its plethora of summer activities, but most may not think of it as a top birding spot. There are plenty of birds you can see year-round but in winter, soaring bald eagles perch high in cottonwood trees, while gulls meet around the marina and swim beach area. The reservoir eco-system also attracts raptors species including golden eagle, red-tailed hawk, northern harrier, and ferruginous hawk. Because the reservoir typically remains un-frozen throughout the winter, waterfowl and shorebirds are popular to see as well.
Barr Lake State Park
With more than 350 species of birds spotted, Barr Lake State Park is the metro area’s premier birding lake. About 30 miles northeast of Denver, Barr Lake offers one of the best set-ups for winter birdwatching. Walk the 8.8-mile trail that circles the lake, with several wildlife viewing stations and the wildlife refuge at the southern end of the lake. The lake’s large number of bald eagles, including a pair that nests there every year, are what draw in the birding crowds, both amateurs and experts.
Eastern Plains
Beyond Denver and the Front Range, the Eastern Plains create the ideal environment for bird watching in Colorado. The High Prairie and surrounding areas welcome over 40
The Red-winged Blackbird is just one of many birds to spot this winter. Photo by Lisa Pera
0 species of birds including warblers, snow geese, grosbeaks, mountain plovers, and buntings. They make their homes amongst the grasslands, craggy outcrops, isolated ponds and reservoirs, plus rivers lined with cottonwoods and willows. There are 20 birding trails on the Eastern Plains featuring a variety of sites where you can view wildlife.
One of the most significant annual migrations in the state is the Snow Goose migration. Every winter, in January and February, the wind-swept plains and open-water reservoirs near Lamar, Colo., turn white, not with snow, but a swirl of 200,000+ snow geese descending upon the High Plains of Colorado. By way of the Western Central Flyway, the annual migration lasts up to two weeks and can be seen within state wildlife areas, local reservoirs, and area farms where they stop to feed.
High Plains Snow Goose Festival
In celebration of this migration, Lamar County hosts the annual High Plains Snow Goose Festival, taking place Feb. 3-5, 2023. As one of the largest birding festivals in Colorado, the event hosts a variety of programs, tours, and seminars that highlight the area’s landscape and unique birding heritage. Sign up for birding tours, shop the local craft fair, and listen to lectures to learn more about the migration and other local fowl. The event is free but tours and lectures require an advanced purchased ticket. For more information visit highplains snowgoose.com.
Birding Tips
The bird walk leaders at Bluff Lake Nature center say the best time to see birds is when they are most active, at dawn and dusk, when they are feeding. Patience and a good pair of binoculars are essential to get the most out of bird watching. “Plan your bird watching around a bird’s basic survival needs (food, water, and shelter) and you’re bound to get some birds in your binoculars,” says Jacques.
Jacques also suggests if you are new to birdwatching there are many beginner-friendly groups around Denver to join. The Denver Field Ornithologists, Denver Audubon, Bluff Lake Nature Center, Tuesday Birders, and multiple bird feeding stores run free bird walks in the area. Or download the free Merlin bird ID app by Cornell Lab for a great field guide on your phone.
by Mark Smiley | Nov 23, 2022 | General Featured
Luminova Holidays returns to Elitch Gardens to deliver more lights, rides and holiday cheer starting Friday, November 25, 2022, through Sunday, January 1, 2023. This immersive family experience is is a bright spot this holiday season. To best enjoy the display of glittering lights, rides, and visits with St. Nick, reservations are required. The event will run evenings from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The immersive family experience features a display of glittering lights, fun rides, memory-making moments, and visits with St. Nick. Reservations are required. The event will run evenings from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
“Luminova Holidays truly does brighten up the holiday season in Denver,” says David Dorman, Elitch Gardens General Manager. “We are proud to bring the event back to the Park again this year with even more lights, more rides and more activities! It promises to be a holiday must-see and must-do for Coloradans of all ages.”
Luminova Holidays featured at Elitch Gardens includes a 65 ft. Christmas tree, 25 ft. snowman that never melts, 300 ft. candy cane tunnel, ornaments and presents scaling over 16 ft. tall, rides on limited Elitch Gardens attractions, strolling holiday entertainers, and interactive activities, including light-up hopscotch.
Three Million Lights: Luminova Holidays features over three million lights throughout the park.
“We are extremely excited to be returning to Elitch Gardens as the 2021 Winner of VISIT DENVER’s Mile High Holidays Star Award,” says Dixie Baker, co-producer of Luminova Holidays. “With our twinkling light trails, illuminated structures and interactive activities, there is something for everyone to enjoy. We know that families and friends will create memories here that will last well beyond the holiday season!”
Visit www.elitchgardens.com/luminova-holidays to reserve your visit and purchase tickets. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram – @LuminovaHolidays and @ElitchGardens, and Twitter – @LuminovaHoliday and @ElitchGardens.
by Regan Bervar | Oct 21, 2022 | General Featured
“No man is a failure who has Friends.” — Clarence the Angel, It’s a Wonderful Life
by Luke Schmaltz
It is a Monday afternoon in early October 2022. Jim Norris is working behind the coffee bar at Mutiny Information Cafe, holding down barista duties for the nth day in a row. He is owner and proprietor of “The World’s Most Dangerous Bookstore” along with his partner Matt Megyesi. The duo have been through the literal wringer of late, having dealt with Megyesi’s faltering health, employee theft, extreme vandalism, and the most dreaded of all — the Denver Department of Finance.
The emotional shellshock of the last 24 months is wearing on him, when out of the blue, the employee who is supposed to relieve him calls to say they are running “about 90 minutes late.” He sighs, puts down the phone, and makes himself another Americano.
Pillar Of Personality
Mutiny partners Jim Norris and Matt Megyesi are beloved stalwarts of the Denver indie arts scene.
Mutiny occupies what is unequivocally the most vibrant stretch of South Broadway, perched as the flagship business on the southeast corner of Ellsworth. As anyone with a pulse knows, “vibrant” means lots of pedestrian traffic and in today’s Denver — where there are people there is trouble.
Regardless, the personality and mojo spilling forth from Mutiny’s front door bears the unmistakable essence of everything good about the independent business culture of Denver. Humility, respect, openness, equality, diversity, unity, strength, and self-reliance practically ooze from every shelf, nook, and cranny of the place.
The place is a hub for writers, artists, musicians, comedians, magicians, and anyone with a creative streak. If you have seen an art opening, comedy show, or live music performance in Denver anytime in the last nine years, chances are that media had origins of some sort within the walls of Mutiny.
Mutiny Information Cafe is a hub for creatives of all types and a top retail destination for records, coffee, novels, comic books, and more.
Meanwhile, the two-way conveyor belt churning past the store’s front windows presents the usual menagerie of South Broadway human fare. It is a hodgepodge of characters, personalities, and temperaments indicative of a district buzzing with artists, writers, and yuppies, yet simultaneously gripped by addiction, crime, and fear. There are jugglers, skateboarders, survey takers, families with baby strollers, panhandlers, stumblers, mumblers, vapers, smokers, tweakers, buskers, and much more.
Such high-volume foot traffic usually bodes well for a retail business, but there’s trouble in paradise. While the eclectic personality of Mutiny attracts earnest spenders looking for caffeinated drinks, novels, vinyl records, and comic books — it also attracts folks who are looking to get even with their misfortunate lot in life by stealing anything they can get their hands on. “They’ll swipe anything that is not nailed down,” Norris explains. “Crime is terrible around here because of the extreme economic disparity at work. There are too many rich people who don’t give a shit,” he says.
Summer Of Bummers
Mutiny Information Cafe has been brutalized by circumstances over the last couple of years.
Emerging from the aftermath of Covid was tough for everyone, as any small business owner who was lucky enough to survive 2020/2021 will tell you. Mutiny is no exception, having suffered loss of revenue by having to briefly curtail the business alongside everyone else in the neighborhood.
In addition to the store’s acute challenges with loss prevention, Megyesi suffered a near-fatal heart attack several months ago, which shouldered Norris with 100% of the administrative burden. Around then — just this past summer — vandals began targeting the store. They broke the glass on the front door, terrorized the staff, and eventually became brazen enough to smash out a large section plate glass on the store’s west-facing facade.
Meanwhile, Megyesi’s absence caused the business’s quarterly taxes to be overlooked and to go unpaid, which drew the impatient, ruthless ire of the Denver Department of Finance. The agency dropped off a scant two (2) notices of unpaid taxes before locking Norris and Megyesi out of their own business without considering a more copacetic solution. “They came in twice, left a card, and then locked us out,” Norris said.
The irony here is that, if a business owes taxes, one would think they should be allowed to remain open and operational so that they could have a chance to make the money to pay said debts. Yet, this sort of logic does not resonate with tax collectors who have their emotions lobotomized before being sent out into the field.
Down But Not Out
Mutiny was saved from the tax man by a collective of nearly 1,000 Denver friends and supporters.
Upon being shut down by the city, Norris and Megyesi were beside themselves as their mutual boyhood dream and livelihood had been ripped from their grasp. The impending tragedy was not to be, however, as friend of the store Kyle Sutherland launched a GoFundMe campaign intended to meet and surpass the store’s $35,000 tax bill along with the attached GoFundMe fees. The total goal was just over 42,000 — 42,126 to be exact. The last three digits are Norris’s and Megyesi’s lucky numbers.
As Norris recently explained in an interview with the Denver Gazette, “Matt and I chose 126 as our random lucky number when we were teenagers. You’ll notice it all over the store. It’s sort of like when people say Jesus appears to them on toast. If he can appear on toast, he can appear anywhere. It’s a good-karma thing.”
Word of the shutdown and the crowdfunding campaign spread through the community like wildfire, thanks to good old-fashioned word of mouth and new-fashioned social media. Thanks to the networks of Sutherland, local artist standout R. Alan Brooks, and dozens of others, the goal was met and surpassed in a mere 24 hours by 925 donors. This uncanny overnight fundraising effort, especially in the midst of an economic downturn (read that as a recession) is a testament to Morris and Megyesi popularity and good karma. “We are overwhelmed with goodwill,” Norris says. “We went from tears of sorrow to tears of joy in 24 hours.”
On October 29, 2022, Mutiny will hold a “Thank You Party” for all the friends who donated to the crowdfunding campaign which facilitated their resurgence. The FREE event will be held at the Oriental Theater from 7 to 11 p.m. and will feature performances by Bolonium, Team Nonexistent, Kodama, Magic Mo, DJ Konz, and MC R. Alan Brooks.
All Images Courtesy of: Mutiny Info Cafe
by Valley Gadfly | Sep 28, 2022 | General Featured
From treat streets and haunted houses for kids to ghoulish grown-up parties and pub crawls, Denver is known for its haunted days and nights of fright. To get you screaming back into the Halloween scene, here are our suspenseful, spooky choices for fang-tastic fun:
Halloween — 2022
Dance
Cult Classic: Treat the family to Colorado Ballet’s captivating, colorful Dracula playing at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in the DCPA complex, Oct. 7-16.
Dracula, Oct. 7-16 — Back by bloodthirsty demand, Colorado Ballet opens the season at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House with Bram Stocker’s legendary gothic love story set in 19th Century Transylvania. Ballet features choreography by Michael Pink plus Philip Feeney’s original score. Spotlighting the Colorado Ballet Orchestra, haunting ballet promises goosebumps. When: Oct. 7-8 & 14-15, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 8, 15 & 16, 2 p.m. Information: 720-865-4220.
Family Events
Halloween Spooktacular, Oct. 30 — The Colorado Symphony plays film-TV music at Boettcher. Costumes encouraged, with the best invited on stage at spooktacular event for boys and ghouls. Scott O’Neil conducts the orchestra. When: 2:30 p.m. Information: 720-865-4220.
Pumpkin Harvest Festival, Oct. 8-9. Enjoy sights-sounds, smells of fall at Four Mile Historic Park. Select perfect pumpkin and enjoy live music. There’s face painting, craft stations for kids, plus private bar for adults. When: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Information: 720-865-0800.
Glow at the Gardens™, Oct. 18-23. Wander through spooky Denver Botanic Gardens at nighttime with luminous carved pumpkins and jack-o’-lanterns with grins and grimaces. Performing artists bring spirits and specters to life. When: 6 to 9 p.m. Information: 720-865-3500,
Harvest Hoot, Oct. 28-30 — Dress in your favorite costume to enjoy fang-tastic bites and fall activities at the Children’s Museum on the Marsico Campus. Enjoy carnival games and boo-tiful crafts, but no trick or treating. When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information: 303-433-7444.
Ghost & Garden Tours
Ghosts of Capitol Hill, Oct. 1-Nov. 11. Visit the sights that inspired the movies The Changeling and Poltergeist, plus Colorado’s most haunted home. You also visit haunted mansions with paranormal activity. When: Thur.-Fri.-Sat., 8 to 10 p.m. Information: 720-372-3849.
Cheesman Park Ghost Tour, Oct. 1-31. Hear hair-raising accounts of paranormal activity at the Cheesman Park Pavilion. Uncover how bodies were moved from the cemetery and decide if park is haunted. When: Weekdays, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Information: 720-778-1170.
House Of Horrors: For spine-tingling excitement, creep through the Molly Brown House, Oct. 14-29. Visits with spirits played by actors last for 45-60 minutes.
Victorian Horrors, Fri.-Sun., Oct. 14-29 — Creep room to room in the spine-tingling Molly Brown House, hearing horror tales by actors. The 45-60-minute spirit visits enliven their existence. When: Entry times from 6 to 9 p.m. Information: 303-832-4092.
Music
Spooktacular XII, Oct. 15-16 — The “Director Strikes Back” with the 12th Mile High Freedom Bands’ haunting of Historic Grant St. Symphonic band musical has an all-age matinee followed by a show with alcohol. When: 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. Information: 720-515-6432.
Disney’s Hocus Pocus, Oct. 21-22 — Musical about deserted house, witches, and mystic cat at Boettcher. Exploring house, the brother-sister awaken witches. They steal the witches’ book of spells to stop from becoming immortal. When: 7:30 p.m. Information: 720-865-4220.
HalloQueen 2022, Oct. 22 — Two sets at the Ogden Theatre: Jukebox the Ghost, then a costume contest. Second set as Queen, has Ben Thornewill on piano/vocals; Tommy Siegel, guitar/bass/vocals; and Jesse Kristin on drums/vocals. When: 9 p.m. Information: 303-832-1874.
