by Valley Gadfly | Oct 19, 2026 | Valley Gadfly
Valley Gadfly
November has arrived in the Cherry Creek Valley, bringing shorter days, colder nights, and the annual realization that Christmas decorations have appeared in stores before we’ve even finished the Halloween candy.
The Gadfly remembers when the holiday season began after Thanksgiving. Apparently, that tradition has gone the way of affordable groceries, inexpensive parking, and a quick drive through Cherry Creek.
Speaking of Cherry Creek, anyone who hasn’t visited the neighborhood in a few months might need a map to figure out what happened. New buildings continue to reshape the landscape, bringing luxury residences, hotels, restaurants, and office space to an area that once seemed perfectly content with boutiques and neighborhood watering holes.
The transformation has been remarkable. Cherry Creek has become one of Denver’s premier destinations for shopping, dining, and upscale living. The Gadfly applauds the investment while wondering whether the neighborhood will eventually require valet parking just to visit the valet parking stand.
Meanwhile, just down the road, Glendale continues maintaining its independent personality while surrounded by a metropolitan area that seems determined to become more complicated by the day.
There is something refreshing about a city where you can travel from one end to the other without packing a lunch. Glendale may be small geographically, but its restaurants, businesses, and community events give it a presence considerably larger than its footprint.
And then there’s traffic. Colorado Boulevard remains one of the region’s most reliable sources of frustration. What should be a simple trip can turn into an extended opportunity to contemplate life’s mysteries or listen to an entire podcast.
The Gadfly is particularly fascinated by modern traffic signals, which apparently have developed the ability to sense when a driver is in a hurry and immediately turn red.
Perhaps one day Denver officials will unveil a revolutionary transportation strategy called keeping traffic moving. The Gadfly suspects it would be enormously popular.
But November is also a time to appreciate what we have. Despite the traffic, construction, and rising cost of practically everything, the Cherry Creek Valley remains a remarkable place to live and work.
We enjoy beautiful parks, excellent restaurants, thriving businesses, and neighborhoods filled with people who care about their communities. We also have dedicated small business owners, volunteers, and first responders who make our corner of Colorado special.
Thanksgiving reminds us that the most important things in life generally aren’t found in a shopping mall or luxury condominium. They’re found around the dinner table with family and friends.
Of course, a properly prepared turkey, excellent stuffing, and a generous helping of mashed potatoes contribute significantly to the holiday spirit.
Before we know it, the holiday lights will be glowing throughout Cherry Creek, restaurants will be filled with seasonal celebrations, and shoppers will be searching for parking spaces with the determination of prospectors hunting for gold.
So here’s to a wonderful November, a happy Thanksgiving, and a holiday season filled with good food, good friends, and a minimum of traffic delays.
As for the Gadfly, he’ll be enjoying a second helping of pumpkin pie while wondering why the Christmas music started playing in October.
Some traditions are worth preserving. Others could stand to wait until December.
by Valley Gadfly | Sep 29, 2026 | Valley Gadfly
From Broadway’s Halloween Parade To A Fright Fest Plus Garden Ghosts, Scare Lurks
by Glen Richardson
Trick-or-Treat: Albeit traditional trick-or-treating is on the decline, many youngsters still go door-to-door collecting candy on Halloween.
Halloween 2026 lands on a Saturday — the first since 2020 and the last until 2037 —and Denver is treating it accordingly. Here’s a look at the haunts, the parades, the family nights, the bar crawls, ending with Ghosts in the Gardens, Victorian Horrors, BOO-lesque, and the Nightmare Before Christmas on Oct. 31.
The tradition launches with the seventh annual Broadway Halloween Parade on Oct. 17, 6-9 p.m. Stretching from 5th to Alameda along Broadway, the Parade features various spooky floats, bands, and marchers. The floats that drift down Broadway aren’t typical parade floats, they’re labors of love, built by people who care deeply about bringing joy to the crowds lining the street. It’s magical fun, so bring the entire family.
Terrifying Traffic: The floats that drift down Broadway aren’t typical parade floats, they’re labors of love, built by people who care about bringing joy to the crowds lining the street.
Glow at the Gardens opens on Oct 15, it runs to Oct. 18, plus again Oct. 21-24. The Broadway Bar Crawl is Oct. 24, as is Dia de los Muertos at Civic Center Park. BOO-lesque is Oct. 23-31. Nightmare Before Christmas with the Colorado Symphony is at Boettcher Concert Hall, Oct. 29-30, 7:30 p.m., and in the afternoon at 2 p.m. on the 31st.
Halloween Balls
Paranormal People: Attend the Paranormal Palace at the Double Tree Tech Center, Oct. 31, and you’ll see people decked out in garments similar to this.
This year’s Paranormal Palace is at the Double Tree Denver Tech Center, Oct. 31, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. The bash features 8,000 sq. ft. of decor and lighting, stage shows, a dance floor, interactive exhibits, and bars. The Dark Harvest Masquerade Ball is at the Castle Event Center in Northglenn, Oct. 31, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Plus, of course, there are bar crawls, family daytime events, and closing night for most haunts and patches.
Two of the most popular family Halloween attractions are the Elitch Gardens’ Fright Fest, and the immersive Glow at the Gardens in Denver Botanic Gardens. When the sun goes down, fear takes over Elitch’s Fright Fest. Haunted houses, terrifying scare zones, sinister live entertainment, and rides in the dark create an atmosphere of nonstop thrills
Want more? Then wander Botanic Gardens’ illuminated Glow at the Gardens. It’s enchanted landscapes animated by live performers, with hand-carved pumpkin displays around every bend. While most nighttime Halloween events feature foam “funkins,” every single one in the Gardens is grimacing jack-o’-lanterns and larger-than-life sculptures that are freshly carved from real, locally grown pumpkins. The Gardens also features Ghosts in the Gardens Oct. 9-10, Oct. 20, and Oct. 28-31. Storytellers share true staff experiences, security guard encounters with the unexplained, and the haunted history of the place once known as “The Boneyard,” 5:30-10 p.m. Oct. 8-10, and 20, 4:30-10:30 p.m. Then again on Oct.28-30, 4:30-9:15 p.m. p.m.
Trick-or-Treating
Night Fright: Elitch Gardens’ Fright Fest has haunted houses, terrifying scare zones, sinister live entertainment, and rides in the dark. Photo: Elitch Gardens
Families in many Denver neighborhoods say traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating is on the decline, albeit popularity varies by locations.
Trick-or-treating generally wraps up between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. in most neighborhoods. There is no official or universal age limit to trick-or-treat, but most public surveys and social norms point to 12 to 14 years old as the age when kids start aging out. Traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating is declining in many neighborhoods, though popularity varies heavily by location
Finally, there’s a Trick-or-Treat Street on S. University Blvd. in Centennial with games, booths, and lots of candy. Hours are 4 to 5:15 p.m. or 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. Site is the Goodson Recreation Center parking lot, 6315 S. University Blvd., Centennial. All children must be accompanied by an adult age 18 or older.
Boo At The Zoo
Creepy Cavalcade: The seventh annual Broadway Halloween Parade is Oct. 17, 6-9 p.m. The Parade features spooky floats, bands and marchers.
Denver Zoo’s Halloween institution, Boo at the Zoo is Oct. 1-31, beginning at 4:30 p.m. It takes over a full month of evenings in 2026, not just the week before Halloween.
Kids work trick-or-treat stations through the zoo grounds after regular hours, and the run is long enough that a family can pick a weeknight instead of fighting the closing-weekend crowd.
The dated evenings are Oct. 2 and 3, Oct. 9 to 11, Oct. 16 to 18, Oct. 23 to 25, and Oct. 30, all 4:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 31 is a sensory-friendly night with the same hours, built for guests who need lower stimulation.
Tours & Teas
Do you know what lurks beneath the surface of Denver’s beautiful Cheesman Park? Local tours — year around not just on Halloween — uncover the eerie history behind the park, Fact: It was Denver’s first city cemetery. During the tour, you’ll hear haunting tales and hair-raising firsthand accounts of paranormal activity.
You’ll also uncover the truth behind the spine-chilling process used to remove the bodies from the cemetery and learn about the haunted mansion homes of Humboldt Island. By the tour’s end, you’ll be able to determine for yourself if the park is truly haunted.
Or, consider attending a spirited and spooky tea at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Oct. 11. Event will feature a spooky and spirited tea featuring traditional tea service. You’ll enjoy hauntingly charming desserts, themed cocktails and beverages, interactive experiences, and a spellbinding live opera performance inspired by Shakespeare’s most infamous witches.
Daring Dashes
Call it a Monster Mash, Halloween 2026 in Denver features a “Thriller” list of eerie races — both 5K & 10K — to keep “Dem Bones” moving this holiday.
Start with the Spooky Spirit 5K & 10K, plus Half Marathon on Oct. 3 at Chatfield State Park in Littleton, 8 a.m. There’s a Kids Dash, a One-Mile, followed by the 5K & 10K. Results and awards presented immediately following the race.
Denver’s Sloan’s Lake 5K & 10K Monster Dash is Saturday Oct. 24, 9:30 a.m. There’s a mile and a mini loop for the kids. Stay after the race for BBQ, drinks for several sponsors, plus scary music. At the Goodson Recreation Center, 6315 S. University Blvd., participate in Hoofin’ It Through the Hallows 5k Oct. 24. It features a costume contest at 5 p.m. The race starts at 5:30 p.m.
by Valley Gadfly | Aug 20, 2026 | Valley Gadfly
The mornings finally begin to cool down, the afternoons are still warm enough for a patio, football returns, school is back in session, and before long the mountains will begin putting on the annual fall-color show that reminds us why people keep moving here despite our repeated requests that they stop.
Around the Cherry Creek Valley, September also brings something else: a return to the rhythm of community life.
Summer vacations are ending. Business groups are gathering again. Arts organizations are launching their fall seasons. Restaurants and shops are preparing for a busy final stretch of the year. And local governments, never known for taking an extended vacation, have plenty on their agendas as well.
Cherry Creek Keeps Growing
The latest State of Cherry Creek numbers provide some perspective on just how significant the area has become. Cherry Creek now attracts more than 16.8 million visitors annually, is home to 1,694 businesses, and supports more than 16,800 workers.
The district also generated more than $119 million in tax revenue for Denver during 2025, including retail sales, property and lodging taxes, and parking revenue.
And the building cranes aren’t disappearing anytime soon. Eight projects were reported under construction with another eight announced, including major developments such as Cherry Creek West, the Waldorf Astoria Residences, and Cherry Lane.
All of that development naturally produces debate about traffic, parking, density and what Cherry Creek should look like 10 or 20 years from now.
Those are worthwhile discussions. But amid all the arguments over growth, it is worth remembering that thousands of small and locally owned businesses are part of the Cherry Creek economy. The State of Cherry Creek report counted more than 462 ground-level retail and service businesses, with 87% qualifying as small businesses.
So this September, perhaps buy lunch from somebody who knows your name.
Amazon will survive.
The Arts Wake Up For Fall
September also means Denver’s cultural calendar starts getting serious again.
The Denver Center for the Performing Arts begins its 2026-27 Theatre Company season with Destiny of Desire, opening September 11 at the Wolf Theatre and running through October 4. The production is a telenovela-inspired play with music by Karen Zacarías, directed by Marcela Lorca.
After a summer of concerts, festivals, and outdoor entertainment, September is the month when Denver’s theaters, galleries, and performance spaces begin filling their calendars again. The Gadfly recommends taking advantage. There are only so many evenings one can spend watching television while scrolling through a telephone and simultaneously complaining that nobody does anything interesting anymore.
Colorado Boulevard Remains A Conversation
One subject that will continue well beyond September is the future of Colorado Boulevard. The proposed Bus Rapid Transit project has generated substantial discussion over dedicated transit lanes, automobile capacity, pedestrian safety, neighborhood traffic, and how construction could affect businesses along the corridor.
At an April stakeholder meeting, participants expressed strong interest in safety improvements and more reliable transit, while also asking for additional technical information about traffic modeling and raising concerns about vehicles being diverted onto residential streets. Businesses and residents have also asked planners to consider construction impacts and access. Those aren’t unreasonable questions.
Colorado Boulevard is one of the region’s most important north-south corridors, and improving transit and pedestrian safety while keeping businesses accessible and neighborhoods livable is a balancing act worth getting right.
The Gadfly’s contribution to the planning process remains simple:
Anyone making a major decision about Colorado Boulevard should first be required to drive it during rush hour. Call it field research.
Enjoy September While It Lasts
Colorado September never seems long enough.
Soon enough we’ll be scraping windshields, arguing about snowplows, and watching television meteorologists stand beside Interstate 70 explaining that driving into the mountains during a blizzard might involve delays.
For now, however, we have cool mornings, warm afternoons, football weekends, community gatherings, theater openings, busy patios, and the beginning of fall in the Rockies.
Get outside. Visit a local business. Attend an event. Meet somebody new. Take in a show. Spend an afternoon in the neighborhood.
And sometime this month, look west. The leaves will soon begin changing.
For once, that’s a change everyone around here can probably agree on.
by Valley Gadfly | Jul 23, 2026 | Valley Gadfly
Valley Gadfly
August arrives wrapped in golden sunshine, lazy afternoons, and lingering laughter. Summer doesn’t end with a bang. It slowly slips away with backyard barbecues, baseball under brilliant blue skies, mountain escapes, and evenings made for patios and peaceful strolls.
The season’s final full month reminds us to savor every sunset, every scoop of ice cream, every concert under the stars, and every adventure before autumn comes calling.
As students sharpen pencils and athletes lace up their shoes, here are our sizzling selections for shopping, dining, and entertainment throughout the Cherry Creek Valley:
Experience the dazzling Bright Nights at Four Mile Historic Park, where immersive light displays transform Denver’s oldest standing structure into a magical evening adventure for the entire family. Information: fourmilepark.org.
Catch Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire together at Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre on Aug. 17 for one of summer’s biggest concert events. Information: fiddlersgreenamp.com.
Laugh the night away with nationally touring comedians appearing throughout August at Comedy Works South in the Landmark district.
Spend a relaxing afternoon exploring the boutiques, galleries, and outdoor cafés throughout Cherry Creek North, one of Colorado’s premier shopping destinations.
Beat the heat with handcrafted frozen custard or gourmet ice cream before enjoying an evening walk through one of the Valley’s beautiful parks and trails.
Take the family aboard the historic Georgetown Loop Railroad, where spectacular mountain scenery and vintage steam locomotives create unforgettable Colorado memories.
August is the bridge between carefree summer days and the excitement of a new season. School buses return to neighborhood streets, football fields come alive, and community calendars quickly fill with festivals, fundraisers, and fall traditions. It’s a wonderful time to rediscover the businesses, restaurants, and attractions that make our Valley such a remarkable place to call home.
Expect warm afternoons reaching the mid to upper 80s, cool evenings perfect for outdoor dining, brilliant sunsets, and the occasional late-day thunderstorm rolling across Colorado’s Front Range. Before long, leaves will begin changing colors and pumpkin patches will replace swimming pools.
Until then, soak up every glorious August moment.
Why is August so optimistic?
Because it’s always looking forward to fall without forgetting how much fun summer has been.
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.
by Valley Gadfly | Jun 30, 2026 | Valley Gadfly
Valley Gadfly
Take time to unwind, summer will flash by as quickly as fireworks as we celebrate Colorado’s 150 years of statehood. In patriotic spirit, own each day like it’s the Fourth of July.
July’s glorious roar of fireworks plus summer thunderstorms are a dazzling reminder of the sounds, color and beauty of summertime throughout Cherry Creek Valley neighborhoods.
As new life bursts forth, and birds chirp and sing in patriotic spirit, celebrate Independence Day with these rapid-fire choices for shopping, dining and entertainment blasts:
- Don’t miss Treaty Oak Revival playing at Red Rocks Amphitheatre June 3, 7:30 p.m. The Odessa, Texas rock group have self-released three studio albums and five singles since 2018. Information: 720-865-2494.
- Brooklyn singer, DJ, and producer Yaeji blends hip hop with mellow vocals at The Church, July 4, 10 p.m. Information: 720-604-0604.
- Catch English singer, and musician Jon Anderson playing in the Paramount Theatre, July 8, 7:30 p. m. Information: 303-623-0106.
- Want comfort dishes with seasonal ingredients inside a compact neighborhood setting? Try South Pearl Steet’s Florence Supper Club featuring spicy rigatoni, plus chicken or veal parm and tasty cheesecake. Information: 303-483-7684.
- Whether remodeling or new construction, look to the skilled electricians at Welsh Electric for quality craftsmanship and customer satisfaction. Smart, sustainable solar energy solutions also offered. Information: 720-476-7780.
- Texas singer, and producer Chance Pena plays the Ogden Theater, July 13, 8 p. m. Information: 303-832-1874.
- Country music singer-songwriter Lee Brice entertains at the Fillmore Auditorium July 16, 8 p.m. Information:303-837-0360.
- Folk and roots duo the Okee Dokee Brothers plays at the Federal Theatre, July 19, 8 p.m. Information:com
- Attend the Summer Garden Party Fundraise in the Cableland Mansion on Saturday, July 11, 3 to 6 p.m. Event has hand-passed hors d’oeuvres, coffee bistro, plus live poolside entertainment from Skylark Jazz. Silent auction will feature an array of unique items up for bid. Information: 720-837-1501.
This year’s holiday Drone Show is at Sculpture Park July 3 following the free Sunset Cinema outdoor movie that is screening “National Treasure.” Pre-show entertainment at 6 p.m.
Expect warm, sunny days paired with dry heat, and afternoon thunderstorms as July gets underway. Daytime highs are in the upper 80s to low 90s, with cool, comfortable evening 50s.
Catch the free Independence Eve concert in the Buell Theater in the DCPA complex at 6 p.m. What did the lightning say about the fireworks show? “You stole my thunder!”
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com
by Valley Gadfly | May 19, 2026 | Valley Gadfly
Valley Gadfly
June is the month of leaves and roses. Thirty days when pleasant sights salute the eyes, and sweet scents the noses. Cheers to the scent of change with lazy days and sunshine rays.
Known as the start of summer, it is characterized by the summer solstice and the peak of the wedding season. It is celebrated as Dairy Month, and the month of the Strawberry Moon.
As the days grow longer and we look forward to what’s ahead, here are our choices for shopping, dining, and entertainment, for a month filled with sunshine, fun, and laughter:
Don’t miss the extraordinary opportunity to see and hear world-renowned Chinese American cellist Yo-Yo Ma performing with the Colorado Symphony under the stars at Red Rocks Amphitheatre June 3, 7:30 p.m. Information: 720-865-2494.
Manhattan ska band The Slackers play reggae, garage rock, and jazz at the Bluebird Theater June 7, 8 p.m. Information: 303-377-1666.
Catch the Canadian indie rock band from Toronto, the Metric, playing at the Fillmore Auditorium June 11, 6:30 p. m. Information: 303-837-0360.
Try newly opened Waldo’s Chicken & Beer located in the former Panera space in Glendale’s CitySet. It’s the third Colorado site for the Nashville chain. Eatery serves both Southern fried and rotisserie chicken. Information: 720-263-4007.
Thinking of summer camp for your school-aged kids? With more than 60 years of nurturing children, consider Iliff Preschool. Youngsters will love the school’s dynamic and playful setting. Information: 303-757-3551.
Texas piano man, saxophonist, and singer Nik Par plays the Marquis Theater, June 13, 7 p. m. Information: 303-487-0111.
American rapper and record producer Earl Sweatshirt entertains at the Mission Ballroom June 16, 7 p.m. Information: 720-577-6884.
Edwin McCain, singer, guitarist known for soulful ballads, plays at the Paramount Theatre, June 30, 7:30 p.m. Information: 303-623-0106.
Attend the Rendezvous Gala at Four Mile Park to fund the preservation of Four Mile House at Four Mile Park, June 13, 6:30 p.m. Dinner and auction will help fund the preservation of Denver’s oldest standing structure. Event will be a rip-roaring evening of revelry and Old West charm. Information: 720-865-0810.
June is when a simple scent can transform our mood, revive a memory, or sooth our emotions. The month boasts longer days, outdoor activities, and historic milestones like D-Day.
The Mile High City features warm, sunny days — with highs hitting 80s°F — most days, making it ideal for exploring city parks, hiking, and outdoor dining. Expect late day rain, hail.
Catch the first soapbox races in 24 years at Mile High Stadium starting at noon on June 13. Playing hide and seek with clouds, June is like a glass of lemonade, sweet and refreshing.
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.
