All year long, Denver Arts & Venues presents free and low-cost programming for residents and visitors to enjoy, elevating the cultural experience, not only inside our venues, but throughout the community. We use proceeds from paid events at city-owned venues like Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Denver Performing Arts Complex to make these events and other cultural programming possible, and to improve access to art, music and culture for all.
Occasionally, we bring in national or even international artists, but we like to focus on highlighting the amazing talent from our local artists and communities that make our city great.
Here is an overview of our signature events. We always try to create a complete experience that amplifies the featured programming - bringing in cultural partners, field experts, businesses and talent to truly immerse audiences. It also gives us a chance to cultivate collaboration and support for our arts, cultural and creative communities.
Each Cultural Runway Series event is tied thematically to the exhibitions on display at McNichols Building. Art can be so much more than what we see in a museum, and these runway shows not only highlight fashion as an artform, but they also support our local creative industry.
Glass Top Bar is a casual happy hour experience set under the glass canopy of the Galleria at the Arts Complex. This pop-up bar is open on select evenings throughout the summer offering a beautiful spot to unwind after a long work day or for a pre-show snack. In addition to cocktails and lite bites, each evening showcases live entertainment from local musicians.
Film on the Rocks is presented in collaboration with Denver Film. Now in its 24th season, including two seasons of parking lot drive-ins during the pandemic, Film on the Rocks is one of the most popular, highly attended summer film events in the region. Every film is preceded by live entertainment to kick off the evening.
Five Points Jazz Festival is a free event that has taken place annually since 2004 in Denver's historic Five Points neighborhood. From its humble first year which featured only three bands, the festival has grown into a day-long event with dozens of bands and 100,000 visitors along Welton Street enjoying a culturally diverse experience of music, food, shopping and entertainment.
Moderated discussion hosted by DAV Cultural Affairs Director, Tariana Navas-Nieves and Dwinita Mosby-Tyler from The Equity Project LLC, on integrating anti-racism into your organizational structure. During each educational series, we discuss the necessary work organizations must commit to in order to be anti-racist with a focus on tactical and actionable steps.
Curated public art tours hosted by docents and DAV staff help guide residents and visitors through Denver's Public Art Collection. With more than 400 pieces of art in the collection and more in the works, people can find a diverse assortment of tours that suit their interests - virtual, on foot or by bike.
This pre-season conditioning series hosted at Red Rocks is specifically programmed for skiers, snowboarders and winter sports enthusiasts.
Outdoor movie series in the Galleria or Sculpture Park. In partnership with Denver Film, every summer is dedicated to films that celebrate a particular genre, director, art form or theme. We bring in local partners to help us curate the experience with costume contests, games, photo environments, craft cocktails and more.
Start your day with an exhilarating workout at the most awe-inspiring venue in the world – Red Rocks.
We strive to create a welcoming, inclusive and accessible environment for everyone. We want to make sure your time with us is the best it can be from arrival to finale or encore. Visit the accessibility pages for each of our venues to find out the latest information on features, policies and recommendations for your visit.
Please contact us at least three business days before the event for any special needs.
For Interpretation Services, email DAVLanguageAccess@denvergov.org
For Sign Language Interpreter or Cart Services, email DeafHHServices@denvergov.org
For Other Disability Accommodations, email DisabilityAccess@Denvergov.org
Denver Arts & Venues complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, gender or language. It is your right to request oral or written language assistance services in your primary language, if needed. Please contact Denver Arts & Venues and these services will be provided to you free of charge.
