Things to Do in Denver This Weekend (July 10–12)

This weekend Denver's got two nights of Avett Brothers at Red Rocks, a French street festival taking over Cherry Creek, the 40th Colorado Black Arts Festival, and enough comedy, DJ sets, and dive bar shows to fill every night twice. Patios are open, the beer gardens are flowing, and there's basically zero reason to sit home. Here's what's actually worth your time.

Friday

The Avett Brothers at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 7:30 p.m. This one will sell out, so grab tickets now if you want to see the Mountain Goats open a Friday night at the best venue in the country.

Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio w/ Typical Ghost at Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom, 8 p.m. Hammond organ, funk, and blues in a RiNo ballroom, this is the kind of show where you dance without meaning to.

5 à 7 Apéro with Alliance Française at Fillmore Plaza, Cherry Creek North, 5 p.m. Free happy hour kicking off Denver French Fest's Bastille Day weekend, wine and cheese on a patio before the festival takes over the plaza all weekend.

Futurebirds w/ Deloyd Elze at Gothic Theatre, 9 p.m. Cosmic Americana with heavy pedal steel, this is a solid pick if Red Rocks is sold out and you still want a real show.

Punk Rock Saves Lives Festival at Ratio Beerworks Overland, 7 p.m. Three days of bands, food trucks, and beer at one of Denver's better breweries, and it's for a good cause.

Sincere Engineer: The Probable Claws Tour at Marquis, 7 p.m. Punk Tacos always books a solid bill, this is a loud, sweaty way to start the weekend.

Judah Sloane w/ Gabi Marie, Maya Ogea + Lexi Faye at Larimer Lounge, 5:30 p.m. An early four-act singer-songwriter bill that gets you out and done in time to hit a second show.

Kurt Braunohler Stand-Up at Comedy Works Downtown, Larimer Square, 9:30 p.m. Comedy Works is a small room and this multi-night run tends to move fast, book ahead.

DroneArt Show: Harry Potter at Tivoli Quad, Auraria Campus, 9:15 p.m. 1,200 drones over live violin music, it's a weird flex of a date night but a genuinely good one.

Saturday

The Avett Brothers at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 7:30 p.m. Night two with Asleep At The Wheel opening, this one will sell out too.

The Church: THE SINGLES 1980-2025 at Summit Music Hall, 7 p.m. Legacy Aussie rock band running through decades of hits, good pick if you want a show that isn't a wall of bass.

SIAMES: Bounce Into The Music 10th Anniversary Tour at Meow Wolf Denver, 8 p.m. A big anniversary set inside Convergence Station, the venue alone makes this one worth it.

Shwarma, Witch Bitch, Night Fishing & Icarus at Hi-Dive, 8 p.m. Four bands of stoner and psych rock in South Broadway's scrappiest, best-sounding room, cheap cover and no pretense.

Open House feat. Max Low w/ Leah Loredo + Her Mans at Larimer Lounge, 9 p.m. A recurring DJ and live talent night for people who want to dance late without a big cover charge.

Kurt Braunohler: BananasFest at Comedy Works Downtown, Larimer Square. He closes his three-night run with a full hour, last chance to catch this one.

Murda Beatz (House Set) at The Basement, Club Vinyl, 10 p.m. A big-name producer doing a house set in a basement club, get there early.

Young Franco at The Church Nightclub, 10 p.m. Electronic set inside an actual converted church, one of the better late-night rooms downtown.

Sunday

Denver French Fest: Bastille Day Weekend at Fillmore Plaza, Cherry Creek North. Final day of the market, jazz manouche, and the wine tasting tent, wrap your weekend with rosé on a patio.

Colorado Black Arts Festival (40th Annual) at City Park West. Closing day of the free three day run, three music stages, a beer garden, and a marketplace, get there in the afternoon before it winds down.

Free This Weekend

Live From Five Points, Historic Five Points, Friday and Saturday. Free street celebration pairing jazz legends with rising local acts and DJs, one of the best free nights out in the city right now.

Treehouse: Girls Just Wanna DJ Presents Summer Heat, Treehouse (2721 Larimer St), Friday 8 p.m. Free all-women DJ lineup on an outdoor stage next to Larimer Lounge, great pregame or standalone hang.

Campground: St. Helens, Michael Surface 360 Set, Campground (2721 Larimer St), Friday 9 p.m. Free late-night outdoor DJ set, easy to bounce between here and Treehouse all night.

Andy Frasco & The U.N. with The Cultet, Levitt Pavilion Denver, Saturday. Free outdoor jam band show, bring a blanket and a six pack, this is the definition of a good summer Saturday.

Second Saturday Creator Market: Women are Powerful, Stanley Marketplace, Aurora, Saturday. A free monthly pop-up spotlighting women-owned makers, good excuse to grab lunch at Stanley while you're at it.

Cherry Creek Fresh Market, Cherry Creek Shopping Center, Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free to walk, good coffee and produce stalls if you're up early enough after Friday night.

Want the full list? Check /events for everything else happening this weekend.