It’s almost “Show” time, Swifties.
Taylor Swift’s hotly anticipated new album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” releases on Friday, Oct. 3., and metro-area bars and venues are celebrating with Swift-themed events and listening parties. It’s no wonder: her pair of 2023 shows at Empower Field at Mile High sold out instantly, and fans have continued to swirl around each new, local Swift event like sparkles in a hurricane.
Here are just a few to check out. Even more restaurants and bars offering Swift-inspired drinks such as Champagne Problems ($13, at The Cherry Cricket), T.S. I Love You ($15, Poka Lola Social Club), True Romance ($16, Rose & Thorn) and Wishlist ($14, Toro), and Greenwood Village’s InVINtions Winery is touting big discounts on bottles and cases during its own Oct. 3 listening party.
Records on Main
Record stores are the natural home for listening parties, and Denver’s Records on Main is marking “Showgirl” with a nighttime event to take advantage of its 10 p.m. streaming release on Thursday, Oct. 2. Their TS12 party (“Showgirl” is Swift’s 12th album) will have games, a friendship bracelet-making station, flash tattoos, and a photo booth, said organizers, who also encouraged attendees to dress up as their favorite Swift era.
It begins at 9 p.m. on Thursday, with the listening party starting promptly at 10 p.m. It’s free and all-ages at 2430 Main St. in Littleton. RSVP at eventbrite.com.CQ — John Wenzel
Town Hall’s “Showgirl”
Santa Fe Drive’s Town Hall Collaborative on Thursday, Oct. 2, is hosting its “Showgirl” party, hosted by All Your Stupid Friends, from 7 p.m.-midnight. “Come gather with All Your Stupid Friends, DJs, artists and more …” organizers wrote, adding that they’ll deck out the Town Hall Collabortive “Showgirl-style” with themed photo opps, a Swiftie scavenger hunt, predictions for the album, and a best Showgal/Showguy costume contest, along with a DJ dance party.
They’ll also offer a headphones-on silent disco experience and a music-only/low chatter area during the album listening, “for those who want the excitement and atmosphere but a more pure first listen experience.” 525 Santa Fe Drive in Denver. Tickets, $14.64, at eventbrite.com. — John Wenzel
Jackson’s “Showgirl”
LoDo sports bar Jackson’s will hold a release-night party on Thursday, Oct. 2, featuring an “every era” singalong from 8-10 p.m. and 10 p.m. listening party, with an album-giveaway open to those who RSVP. There will also be Taylor-themed drinks, a photo booth, friendship bracelets, trivia and games. “Dress in your Showgirl Era fits and join us on the rooftop for a night made for the fans,” organizers wrote. 1520 20th St. in Denver. Free with RSVP at event.getbookt.io, with VIP upgrades available. — John Wenzel
The Life of a Showbird
Join Rare Bird, the bar and restaurant located atop Halcyon, a hotel in Cherry Creek, on Friday, Oct. 3, from 3-11 p.m.., for a dance party to “The Life of a Showgirl,” and all the favorites from eras past. A DJ will spin every Swiftie era while guests enjoy themed cocktails, friendship bracelet-making and a costume contest.
The prize for best Taylor-inspired look will be a $100 dinner at Local Jones, and the most spot-on impersonation of her latest era will receive a vinyl copy of “The Life of a Showgirl” and a record player — the same ones found in the guestrooms at Halcyon, 245 Columbine St. in Denver. No tickets are required, but RSVPs are encouraged at halcyonhotelcherrycreek.com/event/the-life-of-a-showbird.. — Tiney Ricciardi
High style
Cannabis lounge Cirrus Social Club is throwing a hazy Swiftie party on Thursday, Oct. 2, to preview the album, with a greatest-hits sesh from 9 to 10 p.m., and the front-to-back new album at 10 p.m. They plan to serve a Lavender Haze flower strain and specialty beverage in honor of Swift. The demand for thee first night was so high, Cirrus said on Facebook, that they just added a Friday, Oct. 3 event for 10 p.m., with free reservations available at opentable.com/r/cirrus-social-club-denver. Visit cirrussocialclub.com for more about the 21-and-up events, which take place at 3200 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver.. — John Wenzel
The Life of a Food Hall
Denver Milk Market, 1800 Wazee St., hosts the Life of a Food Hall Party, 4-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4. “All Tayniacs are invited to don their favorite dancing shoes for a festive evening featuring Denver’s DJ J’Adore spinning classics like ‘Tim McGraw,’ ‘Blank Space’ and ‘Lover,’ along with soon-to-be-hits from the new album,” the venue said.
Moo Bar, inside the food hall, will be pouring themed cocktails like Lavender Haze, made with Bombay Bramble house blended gin, lemon and blueberry simple syrup, and Ophelia’s Fate, made with gin, St. Germain, grapefruit liquor and thyme simple syrup. Attendees can craft friendship bracelets with materials provided Dairy Block’s Blue Ruby Boutique, while enjoying album-themed personal cakes. Entry is free, but the dance floor is expected to fill up quickly, so reservations are highly recommended. Get more at denvermilkmarket.com/event/life-of-a-food-hall.
The Life of a Showgay
The elaborate “Life of a Showgay” theme party, put on by Denver Gaylors, invites LGBTQ+ fans and allies to Town Hall Collaborative about a week after the initial release for a huge array of activities: burlesque lessons, drag performances, album listening (of course), craft-making, tattoos, vendor wares, a fundraising raffle for Lambda Legal, drinks and more. Tickets: $10-$30 are available at eventbrite.com — John Wenzel
The Party of a Showgirl
If you’re still buzzing about “Showgirl” a couple weeks after it release, check out The Party of a Showgirl at Lost Lake Lounge on Friday, Oct. 17. “Join us in celebrating the release of Taylor’s new album … as well as other hits from her discography all night long,” promoters wrote of the dance-centric event. Doors at 8 p.m., with tickets ranging between $29.80 (for under 21; or 16 and younger with guardian) and $24.80 (over 21). 3602 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver. etix.com — John Wenzel