Denver Fashion Week’s comeback, Aspen’s sunset skiing, Toy & Doll Supershow and more to do in Denver

Sunset on the slopes in Aspen

Friday. Aspen has been celebrating its 75th year as a ski resort all season, but this might be the most fun event of all: sunset skiing for one evening on Aspen mountain.

Lifts normally stop operating there at 4 p.m., but on Friday they will run until 6 p.m., an hour and a half before sunset. Gov. Jared Polis will join in the celebration while advocating for climate issues. He will be joined by Aspen Snowmass chief executive Mike Kaplan and athletes from Protect Our Winters, a climate activist group. They will meet at 5 p.m. on the summit for a brief ceremony honoring Aspen’s ski legacy and to tout climate initiatives.

There will be live music at the summit, beginning at 3:30 p.m. The Silver Queen gondola and the Ajax Express chairlift will turn until 6 p.m. For non-pass holders, the single-day lift ticket price is $194. — John Meyer

Denver Fashion Week’s stylish entrance

Sunday-April 10. The glitzy, in-person comeback of Denver Fashion Week — Forbes dubbed it “one of the fastest-growing American fashion platforms” — includes the diverse runway showcases it’s known for, featuring the metro area’s best designers, stylists and models, but also a kid’s show (Sunday, April 3), model Vanessa Villela (of Netflix’s “Selling Sunset,” April 7), and pre-runway parties.

The runway shows, of course, drive the event, with categories ranging from streetwear (April 4) and local couture (April 6) to sustainable and lifestyle fashions (April 9 and 10, respectively). Shows this year take place at the runway epicenter of Void Studios (1790 S. Bannock St.), as well as the Forney Museum of Transportation (4303 Brighton Blvd.).

Events are all-ages and include the red carpet reception beforehand. This year’s nonprofit beneficiary is Dress For Success Denver, which empowers women to find economic independence. $40-$130 per show via denverfashionweek.com.

High in the saddle, 7 years later

Friday. Mark Shusterman, keyboardist for Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, has long been a core member of Denver’s independent music scene — even if his band The Blue Rider has been absent of late. In between tour dates, however, Shusterman and Blue Rider’s Scott Beck (drums), Alex Eschen (guitars), and Rett Rogers (bass, also formerly of the Night Sweats) are reviving their hard-charging, psych-garage quartet for its first headlining set since 2015.

Schusterman this week promised me new tunes, and I’m holding him to that. The band headlines the Hi-Dive’s April Fool’s concert, with openers Cleaner and Wes Watkins (another former Night Sweats member), to celebrate new single “Bluegaria.” Doors at 9 p.m. 21-and-up. $12 online, $15 at the door. 7 S. Broadway. hi-dive.com

Motor City music + dance

Friday and Saturday. Despite numerous delays and hurdles, the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus (DGMC) continues to celebrate its 40th anniversary with a return to the Ellie Caulkins Opera House for “Motown and More!,” Friday, April 1, and Saturday, April 2. Musically, it will feature music from The Temptations to Lizzo.

However, the event also features the first-ever collaboration between Denver’s acclaimed Black dance company Cleo Parker Robinson Dance and the DGMC. The Cleo II ensemble will perform three world premiere works, choreographed by Parker Robinson specifically for this concert, organizers said. Shows at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at 1385 Curtis St. in downtown Denver. $15-$30. axs.com

Dolls, toys and a family fest

Saturday and Sunday. Collectors, rejoice: Also back this year is the vintage and collectible toys, dolls and comics haven known as The Toy & Dolls Supershow, which last appeared in-person in 2019. Fittingly, it’s returning on its 30th anniversary (31st, technically, but who’s counting?) with a whopping 200-plus tables of eye-popping wares. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, April 3, at The Delta by Marriott Convention Center, 10 E. 120th Ave. in Northglenn (just east of I-25). $5 admission; children under 12 are free. 303-347-8252 or tdsupershow.com

In addition, this weekend sees the return of the FamilyFest, a kid-product convention and day of activities for the little ones. The fourth Denver-based event takes place this year at Lowry’s Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, 7771 E. Academy Blvd., from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 2. Expect wares for parents, babies and kids, a “diaper derby” (don’t ask), costumed characters and more. $10 admission for adults; kids are free. eventbrite.com/e/233999487767

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