AURORA | This is easy: Festivals by day, theater by night. Aurora’s fun calendar is chockfull this weekend. On Saturday morning, you can hit the Aurora Highlands first Market in the Park, filled with food, goodies, fun and more. Then head to city hall for the big Aurora Fest, a celebration of the most culturally diverse city in the state. Lots to taste, see and try there. Don’t fizzle yet. “Blues” at the Vintage Theatre or “Violet” at the Fox rounds out the evening. Or, there’s even more on tap below.
“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
Aurora Fest 2026 at Aurora Municipal Center Great Lawn
Aurora’s signature multicultural celebration returns for an afternoon and evening journey around the world without ever leaving the city. Representing 68 countries, Aurora Fest features international food, music, dance, fashion, arts and cultural traditions from across the globe. Festival highlights include the Parade of Nations, an international fashion show, two stages of live performances, cultural exhibits, children’s activities and an international marketplace filled with artisans and vendors. This year’s event also features a tribute concert honoring Selena Quintanilla-Pérez and concludes with a large-scale drone show celebrating Colorado’s 150th anniversary and America’s 250th anniversary.
IF YOU GO:
Date: June 13, 3–10 p.m.
Place: Aurora Municipal Center Great Lawn, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway
Tickets: Free
Information: www.auroragov.org/things_to_do/events/aurora_fest or 303-739-7000
Market in the Park at The Aurora Highlands
Art, music, food and community come together for the opening day of The Aurora Highlands’ monthly Market in the Park festival series. Set amid the neighborhood’s growing collection of public art installations, including works by internationally recognized artists Daniel Popper, Michael Benisty and Olivia Steele, the event features more than 30 artisan vendors, a farmers market, food trucks, specialty foods, baked goods, live music and free carousel rides for all ages. Opening-day entertainment includes a performance by Tim and Jenny Ostdiek, while shoppers can browse handmade crafts, locally grown produce and unique creations from Colorado makers. Organizers say the event is designed to support small businesses while creating a vibrant community gathering space.
IF YOU GO:
Date: June 13, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Place: Winged Melody Park, The Aurora Highlands, 23578 E. 38th Place
Tickets: Free admission
Information: theaurorahighlands.com/marketinthepark/or 720-356-0123
“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
“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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