Free and cheap ice skating on New Year’s Day
Jan. 1, 2023. While many adults work off their hangovers and sleep deprivation on New Year’s Day, kids are raring to go. That makes it the ideal time to look for free, all-ages and low-cost activities that tire them out while you plot the rest of your day.
One such activity is ice skating at Downtown Denver Rink (Skyline Park), which is completely free — so is Denver International Airport’s, but we’ll let you decide if you want to go anywhere near there — while Aurora’s Southlands and Loveland’s WinterSkate offer cheap skate rentals and time on the ice. Lace up and bring a jacket! Visit our friends at milehighonthecheap.com for details on these activities and many, many more.
Ring in the new year with laughs
Through Saturday. Comedy fans have no shortage of chances to send off the old year and ring in the new this week. Comedy Works is hosting Finnish comic ISMO, Thursday, Dec. 29-Saturday, Dec. 31. Comedy Works South in Greenwood Village is hosting “American Ninja Warrior” host and Denver native Matt Iseman during the same dates which, like downtown’s shows, include a New Year’s Eve package that begins at 10 p.m. and ends with champagne, party favors and a countdown with the comics.
Both runs also feature a rare, all-ages show at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31. Some shows are sold out; $25 for remaining seats at comedyworks.com. The Denver Improv at Northfield is also offering shows, Dec. 30-31, from stand-up Capone ($27, denver.improv.com).
A (non-holiday) kids musical in Arvada
Through Saturday. This weekend is the last to catch Arvada Center’s production of “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” which ends its month-long run on Saturday, Dec. 31. The officially licensed show marks the 30th anniversary of the Disney animated version, with songs from the film as well as “numbers created for the Broadway musical adaptation,” producers said.
It’s directed by Kenny Moten, with musical direction by Jordan Ortman and choreography by Jessica Hindsley. Tickets: $45-$90, with discounted options available. Various times at the Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd. in Arvada. arvadacenter.org
