Things to Do in Denver This Weekend (September 4–6)

Labor Day weekend basically turns Denver into one long party, and this one's stacked. You've got Garth Brooks and MANÁ each playing three nights straight, Phish closing out their Dick's run, A Taste of Colorado taking over downtown, and enough local band bills at Globe Hall and Larimer Lounge to keep you busy without spending a dime on a big ticket.

Fair warning: with Garth, MANÁ, and Phish all running Friday through Sunday, hotel and rideshare prices downtown are going to be rough. Plan ahead or just stay close to whatever neighborhood you're drinking in.

Friday

Phish, Dick's Sporting Goods Park, 7:30pm. Single day tickets only for this one, and it's going to sell out, so don't wait around if you want in.

Garth Brooks: Blame It All On My Roots, Ball Arena, 8pm. First of three straight nights at Ball Arena, this one will sell out if it hasn't already.

MANÁ, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 8:30pm. Red Rocks on a Friday with MANÁ is going to be a scene, get there early for parking and this one will sell out.

Mossgatherers w/ Null & Void, Hemline + Dain Silva & the Mighty Potent Force, Globe Hall, 8pm. Four local indie rock bands, the patio's open, and this is the kind of low key Friday night that doesn't require planning three weeks ahead.

Open House feat. Eating Flowers, ŁASKY, ESO, Pink Lemonade, Larimer Lounge, 9pm. RiNo's late night indie showcase, good spot to catch bands before they get big.

BLADE RAVE, Summit Music Hall, 9pm, 21+. If you want to actually dance on a Friday, this is your move.

OhGeesy, The Church Nightclub, 10pm. Hip hop show in a converted church, which is still one of the wildest venue vibes in the city.

Rockies vs. Cardinals, Coors Field, 6:40pm. Cheap seats, cold beer, easy way to start the weekend before you head anywhere else.

Saturday

A Taste of Colorado, Civic Center Park, all day. 50 plus Colorado restaurants and multiple music stages downtown, come hungry and expect crowds.

Garth Brooks, Ball Arena, 8pm. Night two, still going to sell out.

MANÁ, Red Rocks, 8:30pm. Night two at the rocks, same deal, this one will sell out.

LSR/City X by Gareth Emery, Mission Ballroom, 9pm. Trance and big room house all night, this one will sell out so grab tickets now.

Cosmic Gate, The Church Nightclub, 10pm. If Mission Ballroom's not your speed, the church is your second best EDM option Saturday night.

Velvet Daydream w/ The Pretty Shabbies, The Yeah Dawgs + The Backlash, Globe Hall, 8pm. Garage rock, BBQ, small stage, cheap night out.

Open House: Darkoe Presents, Larimer Lounge, 9pm. Free show, four DJs, bass and electronic all night, no reason not to swing by.

Recover Outloud Comedy feat. Bianca Del Rio, #VYBE Denver, 8pm. Drag comedy for a good cause, expect this one to get loud fast.

Comedy Queens: A Drag Comedy Experience, RISE Comedy, 8pm. Monthly all drag lineup, solid pick if you want laughs before you go out.

Squeaky Feet: Phish Dick's After Party, Cervantes Other Side, 11:30pm. For everyone who wasn't ready to go home after Phish.

Sunday

Gregory Alan Isakov with the Colorado Symphony, Red Rocks, 8pm. This is the classiest way to end a weekend of raves and country shows, and it will sell out.

Garth Brooks, Ball Arena, 7:30pm (also a 2pm matinee). Third and final night, still going to sell out.

Phish, Dick's Sporting Goods Park, 7:30pm. Closing night, single day tickets only, get moving if you want in.

The Peasantry w/ Halle Dean, Sebastian Skaw + Small Town American, Globe Hall, 8pm. Folk and Americana to ease you back into Monday, calmer crowd, good patio.

Open House: Denver United EDM feat. SEKHTRA, Zenith, Bonillas Brothers + Surprise Guest, Larimer Lounge, 8pm. Local electronic producers close out the weekend with a surprise guest set.

Rockies vs. Cardinals, Coors Field, 1:10pm. Sunday day game, good excuse for a beer in the sun before the week starts.

Free This Weekend

Old School Cool Vintage Markets, RiNo Art District, Friday. Monthly First Friday vintage market, good spot to grab something to wear out that same night.

First Friday Art Walk: Art District on Santa Fe, Art District on Santa Fe, Friday 5:30pm. Galleries and studios up and down Santa Fe Drive open their doors, free to wander with a drink in hand.

Union Station Farmers Market, Union Station Plaza, Saturday 8am to 1pm. Good stop before you head into A Taste of Colorado a few blocks away.

Cherry Creek Fresh Market

Highlands Farmers Market, Highlands Square, Sunday 9am to 1pm. Easy Sunday stop with brunch spots right there if you want to make a morning of it.

South Pearl Street Farmers Market, S. Pearl St., Sunday 9am to 1pm. One of the better neighborhood markets, plenty of patios nearby to post up after.

For everything else happening this weekend, check the full calendar at /events.