Things to Do in Denver This Weekend (August 21–23)

This is a packed one. Red Rocks has back to back nights of buzzy shows, Ball Arena has J. Cole on Friday, RÜFÜS DU SOL takes over Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, and Club Vinyl is basically running its own electronic music festival all weekend. Patios are still going strong, the farmers markets are in peak summer mode, and there's a legit burlesque show downtown if you want something different for date night.

Friday

J. Cole: The Fall-Off Tour at Ball Arena, 8pm. This one will sell out if it hasn't already, so don't sleep on it if you've been on the fence.

Grupo Frontera at Red Rocks, 7:30pm. Corridos tumbados under the stars, bring someone who can actually sing along because the whole amphitheater will be doing it.

Courtney Barnett at Mission Ballroom, 8pm, 16 and over. She's touring behind Creature of Habit and her live shows hit way harder than the records let on.

Club Vinyl electronic takeover, 10pm. Franc Moody is doing a DJ set and Cyril is also on the bill the same night, so it's a good excuse to just plant yourself there for a few hours.

Vini Vici at The Church Nightclub, 10pm. If you want psytrance in a literal converted church, this is your night.

UNLEASHED: Aerial & Burlesque Show at The Clocktower Cabaret, 9:30pm. Aerial silks and lyra acts mixed with burlesque in a tiny downtown room, great for a date that isn't just dinner and drinks.

Caamp at Fiddler's Green, 7pm. Folky, singalong-heavy, good for the group that wants live music without a mosh pit.

Saturday

RÜFÜS DU SOL at Folsom Field in Boulder, 7pm. This is a stadium show for a band that usually plays amphitheaters, so yes, this one will sell out. Worth the drive up if you can still grab a ticket.

Reggae on the Rocks at Red Rocks, 3pm. Rebelution, Skip Marley, Third World, Etana all on one bill, it's basically an all-day party with the best backdrop in the city.

Dillon Francis b2b Flosstradamus at Mission Ballroom, 9pm. Trap and dubstep from two guys who've been doing this together for years, expect a full-on rager.

Belgian Brew Fest at Bruz Beers, 1pm. Unlimited pours of Belgian-style beer plus food trucks and live bands, this is a proper daytime patio hang.

Denver Summer Whiskey Tasting Festival, downtown, 2:30pm. Over 20 pours with ambassadors walking you through them, plus a DJ so it doesn't feel like a business conference.

TOTO + Christopher Cross + The Romantics at Ball Arena, 6:45pm. If your parents raised you right on 80s soft rock, this is the night.

Sabados Sabrosos at La Rumba, 7pm. Salsa night for anyone who wants to actually dance instead of just standing near speakers.

Little Feat: The Last Farewell Tour at Paramount Theatre, 8pm. Southern rock legends on what they're calling their last go-round.

Sunday

Joe Bonamassa at Red Rocks, 7pm. Guitar shredding at one of the best sounding venues in the country, close out the weekend right.

Avenged Sevenfold and Good Charlotte at Ball Arena, 6pm. Two 2000s rock bands on one bill, this is a nostalgia trip and a real show at the same time.

Salsa & Bachata Sundays at La Rumba, 7pm. A lower key version of Saturday's dance night, good way to ease into the work week.

Tinzo & Jojo (Extended Set) at Club Vinyl, 1pm. A daytime dance party if you want to be done by dinner instead of stumbling home at 2am.

Jordan Jensen at Comedy Works Downtown, 7pm. Stand-up to wrap the weekend, grab the VIP seats if you want to be close enough to get called on.

Free This Weekend

Third Friday on Santa Fe: Meet the Artists at Access Gallery (6pm) and Live DJs at Denver Art Society (7pm) are both happening the same night on Santa Fe Drive, so you can gallery hop and end up dancing.

Mile High Flea Market, 7007 E 88th Ave, 7am to 5pm all three days. 80 acres of vintage and junk, go early before it gets hot.

Union Station Farmers Market, Denver Union Station Plaza, Saturday 8am to 1pm. Coffee, produce, and people watching right downtown.

Cherry Creek Fresh Market, near Macy's on Steele St., Saturday 9am to 2pm. Good stop before or after a Cherry Creek patio lunch.

Highlands Farmers Market, 32nd and Lowell, Sunday 9am to 1pm. Small, walkable, easy to turn into a whole morning with brunch after.

South Pearl Street Farmers Market, 1400-1500 blocks of S. Pearl St., Sunday 9am to 1pm. One of the better neighborhood markets, plus the street itself has good coffee shops to post up at.

Want the full list? Check /events for everything happening this weekend.

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