AURORA | Start your Juneteenth holiday weekend early with a glass of wine and a stroll along the shops. The Aurora Chamber Foundation Wine Walk at Southlands Mall is Thursday evening, giving you a taste of the grape and what’s to come over the next few days and weeks to come. Scroll down for details about the tasting, Juneteenth events and a long list of amazing summer events.

Wine Walk at Southlands

Spend a summer evening sampling wines while strolling through the Southlands shopping district. Hosted by the Aurora Chamber Foundation, the Wine Walk invites guests to explore participating businesses, enjoy wine and beer tastings, and socialize with friends and neighbors in a relaxed outdoor setting. Ticket holders receive a wristband that allows access to tasting locations throughout the center. Guests are welcome to attend without purchasing a tasting ticket, but only wristband holders age 21 and older may sample alcoholic beverages.

IF YOU GO:

Date: June 18, 2026, 5 p.m.–8 p.m.

Place: Southlands, 6220 S. Main St.

Tickets: Advance purchase recommended; ticket holders must be 21 or older to participate in tastings

Information: Aurora Chamber Foundation, aurorachamberfoundation.org, 303-344-1500; event check-in at Guest Services in the Clock Tower area.

Juneteenth parade and festival in Denver’s historic Five Points

One of Colorado’s longest-running Juneteenth traditions, the parade celebrates Black history, freedom and community. Marchers, community groups, musicians and cultural organizations travel through the Five Points neighborhood to kick off the day’s festivities. 

IF YOU GO:

Date: June 20, 11 a.m.–noon

Place: 26th Street from Williams Street to Welton Street in Denver

When the parade ends, the fun is just beginning. Next up: the 15th Annual Juneteenth Music Festival Street Festival

The centerpiece of Denver’s Juneteenth celebration transforms Five Points into a daylong cultural festival featuring live music, visual arts, food vendors, community organizations and family activities. The 2026 event features Grammy-nominated R&B artist SiR as headliner. 

IF YOU GO:

Date: June 20, noon–8 p.m.

Place: 2700 Welton St., Denver

Cost: Free

Information: www.juneteenthmusicfestival.com

But wait. There’s more — the next day. Following the street festival, multiple venues along Welton Street host live music, dancing and community celebrations extending the Juneteenth weekend into Sunday with the Juneteenth Hop.

IF YOU GO:

Date: June 21, 2 p.m.–midnight

Place: Multiple venues along Welton Street, Denver

Cost: Varies by venue

Information: www.juneteenthmusicfestival.com

NAACP Juneteenth Celebration

The City of Aurora and the local NAACP chapter partner for a community-wide Juneteenth observance featuring live music, free food, health resources, a clothing giveaway and family-friendly activities. The event focuses on community service and celebration while highlighting the continuing significance of Juneteenth. Organizers encourage residents from throughout the metro area to attend.

IF YOU GO:

Date: Saturday, June 20,
1 p.m.–6 p.m.

Place: Restoration Christian Fellowship Church, 15660 E. Sixth Ave.

Admission: Free

Information:
www.rcfministries.org/

‘The Book Club Play’ at Vintage Theatre

Karen Zacarías’ fast-paced comedy celebrates books, friendship and the delightful chaos that erupts when a long-running book club becomes the subject of a documentary film. As cameras capture every discussion, disagreement and personal revelation, the arrival of a provocative new member throws the group’s carefully balanced dynamics into disarray. Directed by Brendan T. Cochran, the production blends literary humor with sharp observations about relationships, reading habits and the sometimes-surprising connections people form through books. Vintage offers a special Juneteenth performance with discounted admission. 

IF YOU GO:

Date: June 12–July 19

Place: Vintage Theatre Productions, Bond-Trimble Theatre, 1468 Dayton St.

Tickets: Vary by performance; special Juneteenth performance tickets advertised at $19

Information: www.vintagetheatre.org  or 303-856-7830

’SUMMA DAT BBC’ at The People’s Building

Following an acclaimed run at the 2025 Denver Fringe Festival, this provocative solo performance returns to Aurora for a limited engagement. Written and performed with a blend of comedy, music, dance and personal storytelling, ‘SUMMA DAT BBC’ examines sexuality, race and identity through the experiences of Katrina Mist, a drag artist whose larger-than-life confidence conceals deeper questions about desirability, self-worth and authenticity. With original songs, sharp humor and candid reflection, the show explores the tension between empowerment and objectification while confronting stereotypes surrounding queer Black identity. Intended for mature audiences, the production contains themes of racial fetishization, simulated violence and sexual situations.

IF YOU GO:

Date: June 19–June 21 and June 26–June 28; performances at 7 p.m.

Place: The People’s Building, 9995 E. Colfax Ave.

Tickets: General admission $25; Pay-What-You-Can seating available with a $12 minimum

Information: www.thepeoplesbuilding.com or 720-500-3251

“Ain’t Nothing But the Blues’ 

This acclaimed musical revue traces the evolution of the blues from Africa to the American South and beyond through a dynamic collection of songs and stories. Featuring music made famous by legendary blues artists, the production celebrates the genre’s enduring emotional power and influence on American music history.

IF YOU GO:

Date: Through June 21. Friday and Saturday curtains at 7:30 p.m., Sunday curtains at 2:30 p.m.

Place: Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St.

Tickets: $20-$39

Information: www.vintagetheatre.org or call 303-856-7830

“Violet’ at Aurora Fox Arts Center

Tony Award-nominated musical “Violet’ follows a young woman traveling by bus across the American South in the 1960s in search of healing and acceptance. Along the way, she encounters unexpected friendships and confronts difficult truths about identity, beauty and belonging. Featuring a score by Jeanine Tesori that blends folk, gospel and American roots music, the production is co-produced with the acclaimed disability-affirmative Phamaly Theatre Company.

IF YOU GO:

Date: Weekend night and matinee curtains through June 28

Place: Aurora Fox Arts Center, 9900 E. Colfax Ave.

Tickets: $17–$45

Information: aurorafoxartscenter.org or call 03-739-1970

John Craigie and Blind Pilot at Denver Botanic Gardens

The 2026 Summer Concert Series opens with singer-songwriter John Craigie and indie-folk favorites Blind Pilot performing in the UMB Amphitheater amid the gardens’ summer blooms.

IF YOU GO:

Date: June 23

Place: Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St.

Tickets: $101, $96 for members Advance purchase required only through the Botanic Gardens website.

Information: www.botanicgardens.org or 720-865-3500

“Aurora Creates’ Exhibition at Aurora History Museum

The city’s annual community art exhibition highlights work by Aurora residents in a wide variety of media, including painting, photography, sculpture and mixed media. The exhibit offers a snapshot of the city’s creative talent and diverse artistic voices.

IF YOU GO:

Date: Through June 2026

Place: Aurora History Museum, 15051 E. Alameda Parkway.

Tickets: Free admission

Information: www.auroragov.org/things_to_do or 303-739-6660

“Live Music at The Local Drive’ at Stanley Marketplace

This ongoing live music series transforms the Stanley Marketplace hangar into a vibrant performance space featuring local and regional musicians. The programming spans genres—from indie and folk to jazz and rock—creating an eclectic soundtrack for Aurora’s creative community.

IF YOU GO:

Date: Fridays and Saturdays after 5 p.m.

Place: Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St.

Tickets: Free admission

Information: stanleymarketplace.com or 720-941-7070

“The Deluge’ exhibition at Museum of Contemporary Art Denver

Artist Bethany Collins examines American history, language and identity in this multimedia exhibition that combines sculpture, sound, text and installation. Collins is known for transforming historical documents and cultural symbols into artworks that explore how stories about the nation are constructed and remembered. The exhibition includes pieces created from materials connected to historic monuments as well as works that reinterpret literature and music through erasure, repetition and sound. By reshaping familiar texts and symbols, the exhibition invites visitors to consider how narratives about race, justice and national identity continue to evolve over time.

IF YOU GO:

Date: Through July 5,

Place: Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, 1485 Delgany St.

Tickets: $8–$14; free for members

Information: mcadenver.org or call 303-298-7554

“World’s Largest Dinosaurs’ at Denver Museum of Nature and Science

This traveling exhibition explores how the largest land animals in Earth’s history lived and functioned. Rather than focusing solely on fossil bones, the exhibit examines the biology of giant sauropods, which are dinosaurs whose massive bodies required unique adaptations for breathing, circulation and movement. Through interactive displays, models and scientific research, visitors can learn how scientists study both fossils and modern animals to understand how these enormous creatures survived and thrived millions of years ago. The exhibition also explores the evolutionary advantages and challenges of extreme size, offering a deeper look at how the scale of these animals shaped their behavior and ecosystems.

IF YOU GO:

Date:  Through Sept. 7

Place: Denver Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd.

Tickets: $6-$9

Information: dmns.org or call 303-370-6000

“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ at the Buell Theatre

The award-winning theatrical phenomenon continues the story of Harry Potter as a father while his son, Albus, forms an unlikely friendship that unleashes a dangerous adventure through time. Spectacular stagecraft, illusion and visual effects drive this Broadway production. 

IF YOU GO:

Date: Through June 21

Place: Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre, 1350 Curtis St.

Tickets: $58-$211

Details: www.denvercenter.org or 303-893-4100

The Improvised Shakespeare Company at Garner Galleria Theatre

No script, no rehearsal and no safety net: performers create a completely original Shakespearean comedy based on a title suggested by the audience. Every performance is different, blending Elizabethan language with spontaneous comedy.

IF YOU GO:

Date:  Through July 26

Place: Garner Galleria Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex

Tickets: $57

Information: www.denvercenter.org or 303-893-4100

“Still in Sound’ at the Clyfford Still Museum

This exhibition and sound-based experience invites visitors to encounter the abstract paintings of Clyfford Still through an immersive audio dimension, encouraging deeper reflection on color, scale and emotion within the museum’s galleries. 

IF YOU GO:

Date: Through Feb. 14, 2027

Place: Clyfford Still Museum, 1250 Bannock St.

Tickets: Free-$18

Information: clyffordstillmuseum.org or 720-354-4880

“Charles Sandison: Chamber’ at the Denver Art Museum

Commissioned by the museum, this immersive digital installation surrounds visitors with shifting projections and abstract visual environments that blur the boundaries between technology, language and art. 

IF YOU GO:

Date: Through Aug. 10

Place: Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway

Tickets: Included with museum admission

Information: www.denverartmuseum.org or 720-865-5000

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