Age-Old Acrobatics | August 11

The aerial yoga photos crowding your Instagram feed may make the high-flying fad seem new, but aerial acrobatics have been around for decades. Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance in Boulder, for instance, has hosted the Aerial Dance Festival for 20 years. As evidence of the art form’s staying power, this year’s fete will feature the first alumni recital, with prominent dancers—such as Jenna Haddock of the Las Vegas show Le Rêve—returning to celebrate the rich history of the now-trendy pursuit.

Photograph by Nina Reed Photography

Bike Bonanza | August 17-19

Last year’s inaugural Velorama Festival wasn’t short on attendees: More than 30,000 people attended the RiNo bicycle gear and music festival, whose 2018 lineup includes Cold War Kids and Modest Mouse. Yet organizers had hoped to draw more hardcore cycling fans—after all, Velorama’s sister event is the Colorado Classic, a pro road bike race that takes place on the same weekend. To build a bridge between the two, Velorama is adding a new attraction this year—the Velorama Rhythm Rumble. The tournament-style competition will star as many as 100 experienced riders facing off head-to-head on a 300-foot course filled with BMX-style jumps. The winners of the men’s and women’s pro divisions will split the $4,000 grand prize, but there’s just as much excitement for amateurs: Velorama ticket holders can demo the track each morning, which means they won’t have to choose between bikes and ballads.

5280 August 2018
More From The Issue

The Show will Go On | August 25-26

March 10, 1891, was a heartbreaking day for Mary Elitch: Her husband died, leaving her to manage Elitch’s Zoological Gardens and the adjacent theater alone. Yet it also marked the beginning of her career as one of Denver’s early female entrepreneurs. Mary’s theater, in particular, helped establish the city as a cultural hub by hosting Colorado’s first film screening and drawing Broadway actors to star in plays. Unfortunately, the Historic Elitch Theatre showed its last moving picture in 1994, and the building remains vacant. But this year’s Blissfest333, a film festival at Alamo Drafthouse Denver organized by Elitch Theatre executive program director Michael Bliss, will aim to keep Mary’s legacy alive. A portion of the proceeds from the event, which will screen both international and locally made movies, will be used to fund off-site programming for the Elitch Theatre Academy, whose mission is to bring fine arts education to the community.

Breaking The Ice | August 28

It’s difficult to explain the Earth-endangering consequences of climate change in a way your four-year-old will understand. Fortunately, Denverite Lily Williams’ picture books tackle the challenging topic for you. The illustrator-cum-author, who published If Sharks Disappeared last year, is now releasing a companion book.If Polar Bears Disappeared examines the potential ramifications of losing another species, transforming melting Arctic ice from a far-off problem into an urgent reality for your budding ecologist.

Wheel Out

Forget Segways: Constructed Adventures is offering a cooler way to tour Denver. As part of Social Scooter ($70 for a team of two or $100 for four), people can jump on provided electric scooters at Confluence Park and follow a map to landmarks such as Little Man Ice Cream. At each destination, they solve puzzles and ciphers in exchange for swag (free T-shirts, anyone?).