Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year’s Eve…after that big, shiny marquee of parties and special events, January can feel rather dullsville. Luckily, Denver always rises to the occasion by kicking off each new year with entertainment options, like the National Western Stock Show. And if boots and hooves aren’t your thing, consider the more citified options in this lineup of January entertainment.
National Western Stock Show – Jan. 8-25
If you haven’t been lately, or never have, it’s high time to enjoy the abundant western charms of this iconic show. New events this year include a BBQ Throwdown competition and the CINCH® Super Shootout Rodeo, a battle of the world’s most elite rodeos. Perennial favorites include the horse shows, lavish Mexican Rodeo, mutton bustin’ competitions (there’s nothing quite like seeing a five-year-old riding a panicked sheep), exhibitions of award-winning chickens and steers, children’s activities, and much more. Ticket prices vary. Learn more.
Rosanne Cash – Jan. 9, 7:30pm
Last year’s album, The River and the Thread, earned three Grammy nominations and was described by Newsweek as “the work of a lifetime.” That’s saying a lot for the talented daughter of Johnny Cash, whose career has included 21 Top 40 country singles and eleven #1 hits. Cash’s style blends traditional twang with hints of gospel, a touch of blues, and even a little jazz to create an evening of captivating entertainment. Tickets $60-65. Learn more.
Jim Henson’s Dinosaur Train Live: Buddy’s Big Adventure – Jan. 9-10
Perfect for preschoolers to second graders (and those who love them), this live show taps into kids’ fascination with both dinosaurs and trains. Created by the world-famous Jim Henson Studios, this live stage show, based on the popular PBS television program, is a fun-filled, interactive, and educational trip back in time to an age when dinosaurs roamed the earth….and rode in trains. Lone Tree Arts Center. Tickets $15-25. Learn more.
Five Points: The Cradle of Jazz in the Rockies – Jan. 20, 7-8:30pm
Denver’s Five Points neighborhood has deep connections to the city’s early black history and culture. Through story and song, this special event at the History Colorado Center shares tales from the “Harlem of the West,” which attracted such jazz legends as Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong. Led by jazz musician and historian Purnell Steen and his group Le Jazz Machine. Tickets from $6.50-8.50 for museum members; $10-14 for non-members. Learn more.
Gilbert & Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore – Jan. 24 at 7:30pm and Jan. 25 at 1pm
Subtitled The Lass Who Loved a Sailor, this classic comic opera opened in 1878 and was Gilbert and Sullivan’s first international sensation. Set on the British ship HMS Pinafore, this lighthearted story of love between the captain’s daughter and a lower-class sailor skewers the British class system, politics, and other timeless topics. Tickets $22-84. Learn more.
