Showtime!
Saturday. There will be plenty of “release parties” for Taylor Swift’s latest, “The Life of a Showgirl,” this week at venues around Denver (including the official movie accompaniment, Oct. 3-5 at various theaters locally). You’ll find one of them at Denver Milk Market, 1800 Wazee St., which hosts its own Life of a Food Hall Party on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 4 to 9 p.m.
“All Tayniacs are invited to don their favorite dancing shoes for a festive evening featuring Denver’s DJ J’Adore spinning classics like ‘Tim McGaw,’ ‘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 advanced reservations are highly recommended. Get more information at denvermilkmarket.com. — Jonathan Shikes
Bananasfest: The Sequel
Saturday. The 2nd Bananasfest — named after the playfully bizarre “Bananas” comedy podcast from stand-up Kurt Braunholer and screenwriter Scotty Landes — takes over a stretch of 32nd Avenue in Lower Highland on Saturday, Oct. 4, from noon to 5 p.m., before the podcast live-taping at 7:30 p.m., with the location known only to ticketholders.
It’s not all that exclusive. The fest begins with the free, fourth annual Splitty in the City “un-race” at 11:30 a.m., a 1k, downhill affair at Denver Beer Co., 1695 Platte St., with registration at 10 a.m. The daytime street fest is also free and all-ages. That one includes a dance contest, dog fashion show, drag king bingo, live DJ and performances, food trucks and pop-up bars, as well as a weird craft fair, its creators promised.
Braunholer will also lead an attempt to break the world record for “the largest gathering of people wearing bras on their heads” to raise money for I Support the Girls, a nonprofit providing bras and menstrual products to women and folks in need; attendees are encouraged to bring new, unused bras to wear on their head before donating them, producers said.
2219 W. 32nd Ave. in Denver. Get tickets for the taping ($30) and drink tokens for the fest (3 for $20; VIP options are sold out) at events.humanitix.com/bananasfest-2025 — John Wenzel
Kanpai!
Saturday. Denver’s Queen City Sake Festival returns on Saturday, Oct. 4, at Finn’s Manor, an outdoor bar at 2927 Larimer St. in Denver, from 1 to 4 p.m. Sake breweries and importers will include Dassai Blue, Hakkaisan Brewery, Tamano Hikari Brewery, Kikusui Brewery, Colorado Sake Co, Origami Sake Brewery, Sake Ono and many more. “Our focus is on sake education, which is what we’re most passionate about,” organizers said. “We’re already blown away by Denver’s enthusiastic response to our first year, and we’re excited to bring even more to the table in year two.”
There will also be curated bites from Uchi, Pig & Tiger, Takeo-san Mochi, Peko Peko and others, along with sake cocktails and slushies and education. Tickets, $71.21, include a handmade sake cup from well-known local ceramic artist O’baware and unlimited tastings of over 100 sakes. Get more information and tickets at queencitysakefest.com. — Jonathan Shikes
Colorado Ballet’s “Dracula”
Friday-Oct. 12. Get into spooky season with Colorado Ballet’s monster hit “Dracula,” which is arguably the dance outfit’s best-known production next to “The Nutcracker.” The Friday, Oct. 3-Oct. 12 run kicks off Colorado Ballet’s 65th season, and tickets for “Dracula” are already disappearing into the night. (The last time it ran, in 2022, several performances were sold out before the premiere, according to the dance company.)
