Joyous Juneteenth, a bigger Boulder comedy fest, sensual cirque and more things to do in Denver

Juneteenth’s joyous song and dance

Through Sunday. Denver’s annual Juneteenth celebrations have been bigger and more widespread over the last couple of years, due in part to June 19’s designation as national holiday in 2021. This weekend’s big event is the Juneteenth Music Festival, which runs Saturday, June 17, and Sunday, June 18, along Welton Street in the Historic Five Points neighborhood.

The free, multi-stage fest features not only live music and dance but local vendors, food and drink, and kid-friendly activities. Headliner Musiq Soulchild performs on Sunday, but don’t miss the Saturday parade, which begins at Manual High School and winds its way toward Welton Street — where some 70,000 attendees are expected over the weekend. There’s also the Saturday AfroRave dance party at Summit Music Hall. juneteenthmusicfestival.com

In addition this weekend: Cleo Parker Robinson Dance’s Friday-Saturday Juneteenth Celebration, which includes an interactive musical ($5-$20) on Friday, and free events on Saturday, such as a discussion about mental health in the Black community, and afternoon live-broadcast from Colorado Public Radio. cleoparkerdance.org/tickets — John Wenzel

A cirque du cabaret

Through July 29. Denver’s The Arch, formerly home to Epic Brewing, is this week bringing in the performance collective Quixotic, which will open the Colorado run of its sensual new production, “Sensatia.” The cirque-style Quixotic has been traveling the country since 2011, wowing audiences with its aerial acrobatics, modern dance, live music and visual effects.

The new show chronicles two uninspired artists — a mechanical ballerina and overworked violinist — who get their grooves back with help from a “fantasy cabaret” that reignites their passions. It opens Thursday, June 15, and runs every Thursday-Saturday until July 29.

Street parking is available at 3001 Walnut St.; additional parking located nearby at 2901 Blake St. Tickets, $39-$104, and more information at sensatiacabaret.com. — Tiney Ricciardi

“Eyes Wide Shut” expands Denver’s vision

Through June 30. Nuance is often hard to find in this era of crazed polarization, but a gallery show at the McNichols Civic Center Building brings some valuable perspective to fraught topics. “Eyes Wide Shut,” which opened June 1 but holds its official reception on Friday, June 16, marks the 40th anniversary of the Denver Principles — a group of people living with AIDS who bravely demanded respect and dignity from a culture that devalued (and in many cases, continues to devalue) their lives.

“Eyes Wide Shut – Visual Meditations on the Plague” features artists such as Susan Goldstein, Emilio Lobato, Father Bill McNichols (his family is the building’s namesake), Annalee Schorr, Louis Trujillo and more with diverse, mature works.

The free opening reception runs 4-7 p.m. on June 16 at McNichols Building, although more events are planned, including panel discussions at the Curtis Hotel and walking tour of Denver’s LGBTQ history. The exhibition is free and open daily 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at 144 W. Colfax Ave. Visit mcnicholsbuilding.com/exhibitions for more. — John Wenzel

Boulder Comedy Fest takes the stage

Through June 25. With submissions way up over last year, Front Range comic Zoe Rogers’ Boulder Comedy Festival has a surfeit of talent to choose from, importing headliners from outside of Colorado (see Peter Liu, Aditya Shankar and Chris Bryant, among others) while showcasing local crushers such as Shanel Hughes, Janae Burris, Joshua Emerson and Mark Masters.

The event’s 8 shows take place across several venues — including a pair of brunch events — in Boulder and run Wednesday, June 21, through Sunday, June 25. Venues include The Dairy Arts Center, Boco Cider, Wonderland Brewing, Finkel & Garf and Junkyard Social.

Tickets are $20 for most shows; some shows are sold out. Check for age restrictions, as some venues are 18+ or 21+. bouldercomedyfestival.com — John Wenzel