Red Rocks closes, Vail opens, skiers dance in Winter Park and more

By the Thirst Team

Get Out of Town is our roundup of the best events across Colorado for the next few weeks. For more happenings, check out our events calendar.

Final 2025 Red Rocks shows this week

Morrison nights are getting colder, but the show must go on at Red Rocks. At least through Saturday. Nigerian rap superstar Burna Boy performs tonight, followed by eccentric DJ and live sensation Svdden Death Thursday and Friday. The final 2025 show is Dutch house DJ Mau P on Saturday.

Starting after Thanksgiving, a drive-through holiday light show takes over the park. The next concert is the annual Winter on the Rocks festival in February, then the season heats up with EDM DJ Crankdat on March 27. Several more concerts were announced this week, including Sublime in April, and The Head and the Heart with the Colorado Symphony in July.

Opening day concert in Vail Friday

Ski season in Vail starts Friday, when a new free concert series also starts. Checkpoint Charlie will host the Stoke Sessions from 4 to 7 p.m. each Friday through Dec. 5, starting with bassist, singer and Chappell Roan collaborator Blu DeTiger this week. The rest of the series is Pixie and the Partygrass on Nov. 21, The Runaway Grooms on Nov. 28, and American Authors on Dec. 5.

Disco party in Colorado Springs Saturday

We Fortify hosts its third annual ‘Gala, Not Gala’ fundraiser from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Meanwhile Block in downtown Colorado Springs.

Chef Brother Luck will serve as the emcee and DJ for this disco-themed party, with dinner, a paddle raise, dancing, and a celebration of We Fortify’s work to tackle housing insecurity and generational poverty.

Banjofest in Denver Saturday

The second annual Swallow Hill BanjoFest on Saturday includes workshops and a concert with banjo all-stars Pete Wernick, Kyle Tuttle, Chris Coole and the Lowest Pair. Tickets are available for workshops, performances or both. Loaner banjos are available for the day.

Amateur ski ballet in Winter Park Saturday

Winter Park hosts an amateur ski ballet competition from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, with an award ceremony and party to follow.

Costumes, flair and creativity are all highly encouraged. Dancers on skis and snowboards will be judged on style, originality, entertainment value, costumes and choreography. Entrants 16 and older can compete, and the top prize is $1,500.

Chili, Booze & Brews in Denver Saturday

Colorado’s craft breweries, small-batch distillers and professional chefs will sling unlimited samples on Saturday to help fund kids’ cancer research through the Morgan Adams Foundation. The festival runs from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Arch in Denver’s RiNo neighborhood, and blues mainstays Hazel Miller & the Collective will perform.

Turkey Tailgate in Denver Saturday

The Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum in southeast Denver will host a charitable competition between the Aurora and Denver fire departments. Firefighters will compete to bring in the most frozen turkeys, then face off in a hot wing eating contest.

PLAN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS

Kick the keg party in Denver Nov. 21

One of the last events at Call to Arms Brewing in northwest Denver will be the first kick the keg competition. More than 20 Colorado craft breweries will tap kegs and compete to finish their keg first and win a $500 prize. Proceeds benefit the Colorado Brewers Guild (CBG). Advance tickets cost $40. Participating breweries are listed on the CBG website.

Last Waltz tribute shows Nov. 22-26

Dozens of Colorado’s best musicians gather every November to pay tribute to The Band’s legendary “Last Waltz” farewell concerts. Polytoxic will helm the Nov. 22 show at the Boulder Theater and the Nov. 26 show at the Fillmore Auditorium. Andy Frasco and Shawn Eckels also are in the Boulder lineup. Denver guests include Eddie Roberts of The New Mastersounds and phoffman of Greensky Bluegrass.

Washington’s in Fort Collins also hosts a Last Waltz tribute on Nov. 22, with at least 30 northern Colorado musicians playing at least 30 songs.

Denver Concert Band show Nov. 23

The Denver Concert Band presents “Heroes and Holidays” at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Lone Tree Arts Center. The program features John Williams’ “Superman March,” Edward Gregson’s “The Sword and the Crown,” Leroy Anderson’s Christmas Festival, Andrew Boysen Jr.’s “December Dance.” The Denver Concert Band has 90 volunteer musicians, and have performed around the world.

Cookie contest in Beaver Creek Nov. 26

Beaver Creek's annual cookie competition returns Wednesday, Nov. 26. Five finalists will have cookies available for tasting, and guests will vote on their favorite. The winner earns a prize and a year of bragging rights.

World Cup skiing at Copper Nov. 27-30

Copper Mountain hosts the Stifel Copper Cup, an Audi FIS Ski World Cup event, with men’s and women’s races in the leadup to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

The races are free to attend, but VIP passes and grandstand tickets are available. There also will be live music, fireworks and more in the festival village.

Wine Fest in Estes Park Nov. 29

The 6th annual Estes Park Holiday Wine Festival runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, at the Estes Park Events Center. The festival includes about 20 Colorado wineries, retail and holiday vendors, food vendors, free pics with Santa and free kids’ activities. Each ticket includes a wine glass, wine tote and unlimited tastings.

As always, please send us your events and announcements. We’re happy to share them. If they don’t fit in the Get Out of Town column, we will add them to our events calendar.