To do: an Olde Town Shindig in Arvada, Global Dance Fest, Winter Park Film Fest, and free Arts Complex exhibits

Get your dance on

Friday-Saturday. Denver’s signature Global Dance Festival, which began again in 2003 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, is again after a 2025 pause — and debuting at a brand new venue. The LVC Festival Grounds, a large-scale website that includes a number of indoor and out of doors areas, will for the primary time host the occasion, organizers mentioned. This 12 months’s roster options prime EDM artists Troyboi, Kygo, Tiësto, Ship Wreck, Chris Lorenzo, Sidepiece and almost two dozen extra.

It takes place Friday, Sept. 11-Saturday, Sept. 12, on the National Western Center, 4850 National Western Drive in Denver. Tickets are $165-$195 for single-day, common admission passes, with VIP upgrades accessible. Visit globaldancefestival.com for extra particulars.

Free, bite-sized exhibits

Saturday. Jump into the 2026-2027 inventive season with free performances at Denver Performing Arts Complex on Saturday, Sept. 12. Top-tier cultural organizations such because the Colorado Symphony, Opera Colorado, Colorado Ballet and Denver Center for the Performing Arts (theater) will current quick exhibits on two completely different levels to kick off their fall calendars.

“First Act at the Arts Complex,” which begins at 9:30 a.m., contains excursions of the stately venues, a free dance class (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in Sculpture Park), free skilled headshots, paper-flower crafts, costume and prop shows, and the kid-oriented “Clowning on the Complex.” If you’ve by no means been to the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Buell Theatre, Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex, or Boettcher Concert Hall, that is your likelihood.

It’s free and all-ages, with parking within the DPAC storage for $10 (and accessible all through downtown Denver). RSVPs are requested at first-act.eventbrite.com. 1400 Curtis St. in Denver. Visit artscomplex.com for extra.

Winter Park Film Fest

Through Sunday. The comparatively modest however expertly curated, documentary-heavy Winter Park Film Festival, created by Winter Park native and L.A. resident Connor Nelson, is anticipating a document 1,500 folks this 12 months, up from 1,000 in 2025.

The lineup for the occasion, Thursday, Sept. 10-Sunday, Sept. 13 in Winter Park, celebrates snow sports activities with a give attention to ladies in snowboarding (together with a stay panel with ladies filmmakers), out of doors actions (hikes, runs, fly-fishing and low meet-ups are a part of the fest), a movie trivia occasion, awards, a dozens of titles screening in themed blocks — lots of the shorter and easily-digestible selection.

A full-fest move is $150 and particular person movie blocks value $22.50 through winterparkfilmfestival.com.

Olde Town Shindig in Arvada

Saturday. A free, household competition with a fall twist? That’s in retailer at this weekend the Olde Town Shindig in Arvada, which options zucchini races (suppose pinewood derby, however for veggies); a dunk tank with prepared volunteer Mayor Lauren Simpson; a neighborhood artwork mission the place you’ll be able to paint concrete visitors barricades on Grandview Avenue; an “enhanced” youngsters’ zone with inflatables, henna tattoos, face portray, a foam get together, sq. dancing and fall photograph sales space; 50+ artisan distributors; grownup drinks and meals; and 4 bands on two levels at evening.

Phew! The free-admission fest takes place from midday to eight p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, round Grandview Avenue and Olde Wadsworth Boulevard in Arvada. Visit oldetownarvada.org for extra.