Rad Things To Do

Rad Things (to) Do - January 2026

Austin Nettleton

Believe it or not, it’s 2026. Yes, time is flying faster than that one scene in Saving Private Ryan where Matt Damon ages about 40 years in the span of five seconds. It is a reminder to live in the moment and make the most of life while there is life left to live.

Alright, enough of the sappy stuff. This is Rad Things (to) Do, not Sappy Things (to) Read. Start the year off with a slew of great events, concerts, and live theatre, all within steps from RTD stops and stations.

Before diving into this month’s issue, Rad Things (to) Do decided to hit the gym this year, welcoming in 2026 with a fresh format that makes it easier to find the big-ticket events you want to attend at the metro’s larger and/or more popular venues without having to scroll endlessly to find them. That’s why Reddit exists. Also, the summaries of all the events will live in the introduction, so readers will only be exposed to the author’s forced jokes and strange sense of humor once. It’s a Festivus miracle, albeit a few weeks late.

Anyway, let’s get into it.

The Primer

This month’s big event is none other than the world-famous National Western Stock Show. Taking place Jan. 10-25, the biggest livestock show in the Rockies settles in at the National Western Center, where hundreds of thousands of industry experts, farmers, ranchers, and attendees indulge in the western lifestyle. Kicking things off is the annual National Western Stock Show parade on Jan. 8, where hundreds of livestock march down 17th Street to the cheers of tens of thousands along the sidewalk. Just be sure to watch your step after the parade is over for “nature’s landmines.” In addition to the show, the Professional Bull Riding Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour takes to the ring at the Denver Coliseum, where the best bull riders in the world test fate for eight seconds while holding on for dear life as some of the biggest and angriest bulls around try everything in their power to buck the riders to the moon.

On Jan. 19, the one-and-only Martin Luther King Jr. Marade takes place at City Park. Head out for a day of unity, education, remembrance, and celebration, all in honor of the legacy of the great Martin Luther King Jr.

Rounding out the major events taking place this month is the return of the incredibly popular Professional Women’s Hockey League Takeover Tour. After completely selling out Ball Arena last year for its first-ever stop in Denver, the tour returns to Avalanche’s ice Jan. 25, where the Vancouver Goldeneyes take on bitter rival Seattle Torrent.

Speaking of sports, the Denver Broncos have done something nobody on the planet was expecting them to do this season: finish the regular season at the top of the AFC. Yep, you better Bo-lieve it. The ponies finished the regular season with a 13-2 record, winning the tiebreaker with the New England Patriots to earn the top spot in the conference and securing a first-round bye in the NFL Playoffs. The author, who is a big Broncos fan as well, cannot believe what he is typing either. In a season that is almost a carbon copy of the Super Bowl-winning 2015 season, the Broncos are in a prime position for another shot at bringing the Lombardi Trophy back to the Mile High City. Saddle up, Broncos Country.

At Ball Arena, the Colorado Avalanche are on a warpath with nothing in the way to slow them down. In a division as loaded as the NHL’s Central Division, the Avs sit alone at the top of the league, over 10 points clear of bitter rivals Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild, who sit in second and third, respectively, in the NHL’s standings. At this point, it looks like the only thing that can slow the Avs down is Godzilla rising from underneath the ice and flattening the arena. Even then, it likely won’t be enough. For the Denver Nuggets, they sit comfortably in the top six of the NBA’s Western Conference, despite Nikola Jokić being sidelined due to an injury. Lastly, the Colorado Mammoth returns home for an NLL matchup against the Oshawa Firewolves, who may have one of the coolest team names in professional sports the author has ever seen.

On the collegiate side of the sports world, the University of Denver men’s hockey team has begun its quest to return to the NCAA Frozen Four, looking to rebound after a rough 2025 season in which the team just missed out on the Frozen Four. On the hardwood, both the University of Colorado Buffaloes’ and the DU Pioneers’ men’s and women’s basketball teams are in action all month long.

Taking a quick look at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, it is starting 2026 off with a bang! This month’s major productions include “Six: The Musical,” “The Choir of Man,” “The Simon & Garfunkel Story,” and “Mark Twain Tonight!”

Lastly, January’s a bit light on the music front, but there are still plenty of notable artists and bands passing through the 303 this month. Comedian Jim Gaffigan is bringing the laughs with a quadruple-header at the Paramount Theatre later this month, while STS9 returns to the Mission Ballroom for an unforgettable night of eclectic vibes and good times. At Summit Music Hall, legendary rap duo Bone Thugs-n-Harmony hits the stage, while hyperpop sensation Glaive performs his unique blend of alternative, indie, and chaos-infused electronica to his fans at the Gothic Theatre.

Check out this month’s slate of Rad Things (to) Do below!

THE MAIN EVENT

This month’s featured events

Jan. 8: National Western Stock Show parade

The deets:

  • Venue: Downtown Denver along 17th Street
    • Transit options:
      • Bus routes: 0, 9, 10, 15, 19, 20, 32, 120X, FF1, FF2, FF3, LD1, 16FR (Union Station) | 52 (20th and Larimer/Blake streets) | RX (20th and Larimer Street) | 8, 38 (22nd and Larimer Street)
      • Light rail lines: E, W (Union Station) | D, H (Theatre District•Convention Center Station)
      • Commuter rail lines: A, B, G, N (Union Station)

Jan. 10-25: National Western Stock Show

The deets:

  • Venue: National Western Center
    • Transit options:
      • Bus routes: 48 (Brighton Boulevard and 43rd Street)
      • Commuter rail lines: N (48th & Brighton•National Western Center Station)
    • Ticketing and event information: https://nationalwestern.com

Jan. 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Marade

The deets:

Date: Professional Women’s Hockey League Takeover Tour: Vancouver Goldeneyes vs. Seattle Torrent

The deets:

THE UNDERCARD

Notable sports, concerts, musicals, and theatre; speakers, and other rad events taking place nearby RTD stops and stations this month

Sports

Football

  • Denver Broncos
    • Venue: Empower Field at Mile High Stadium
    • Transit options:
      • Light rail lines: E, W (Empower Field at Mile High Station)
      • Bus routes: 15L, 16, 30, 31 (Decatur•Federal Station)
    • Ticketing and event information: https://www.ticketmaster.com/denver-broncos-tickets/
    • Schedule:
      • TBD: vs. Buffalo Bills or Jacksonville Jaguars

Basketball

  • Denver Nuggets
    • Venue: Ball Arena
    • Transit options:
      • Light rail lines: E, W (Ball Arena•Elitch Gardens Station)
      • Bus routes: 1, 15L, 20 (Auraria Parkway and 7th/9th Street)
    • Ticketing and event information: https://www.ticketmaster.com/ball-arena-tickets-denver/venue/246112
    • Schedule:
      • Jan. 9: vs. Atlanta Hawks
    • Jan. 11: vs. Milwaukee Bucks
    • Jan. 17: vs. Washington Wizards
    • Jan. 18: vs. Charlotte Hornets
    • Jan. 20: vs. Los Angeles Lakers
  • University of Colorado Buffaloes
    • Venue: CU Events Center
    • Transit options:
      • Bus routes: 204, 225/225D, DASH, SKIP, FF1, FF2, F5, GS (Broadway and Regent Drive/20th Street)
    • Ticketing and event information: https://cubuffs.evenue.net
    • Schedule:
      • Men’s
        • Jan. 7: vs. University of Utah
        • Jan. 10: vs. Texas Tech University
        • Jan. 20: vs. University of Kansas
        • Jan. 24: vs. University of Central Florida
      • Women’s
        • Jan. 14: vs. Iowa State University
        • Jan. 25: vs. Oklahoma State University
  • University of Denver Pioneers
    • Venue: Hamilton Gymnasium
    • Transit options:
      • Light rail lines: E, H (University of Denver Station)
      • Bus routes: 24 (University of Denver Station)
    • Ticketing and event information: https://denverpioneers.evenue.net/list/GS
    • Schedule:
      • Men’s
        • Jan. 14: vs. Oral Roberts University
        • Jan. 22: vs. North Dakota State University
        • Jan. 24: vs. University of North Dakota
        • Jan. 31: vs. University of Omaha
      • Women’s
        • Jan. 24: vs. Oral Roberts University

Hockey

  • Colorado Avalanche
    • Venue: Ball Arena
    • Transit options:
      • Light rail lines: E, W (Ball Arena•Elitch Gardens Station)
      • Bus routes: 1, 15L, 20 (Auraria Parkway and 7th/9th Street)
    • Ticketing and event information: https://www.ticketmaster.com/ball-arena-tickets-denver/venue/246112
    • Schedule:
      • Jan. 8: vs. Ottawa Senators
      • Jan. 10: vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Jan. 12: vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Jan. 16: vs. Nashville Predators
      • Jan. 19: vs. Washington Capitals
      • Jan. 21: vs. Anaheim Ducks
      • Jan. 23: vs. Philadelphia Flyers
  • University of Denver Pioneers
    • Venue: Magness Arena
    • Transit options:
      • Light rail lines: E, H (University of Denver Station)
      • Bus routes: 24 (University of Denver Station)
    • Ticketing and event information: https://denverpioneers.evenue.net/list/GS
    • Schedule:
      • Jan. 9-10: vs. Western Michigan University
      • Jan. 23: vs. St. Cloud State University
      • Jan. 30-31: vs. University of Minnesota – Duluth

Lacrosse

Other sports

  • Jan. 10-14: Professional Bull Riding Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour
    • Venue: Denver Coliseum
    • Transit options:
      • Bus routes: 48 (Brighton Boulevard and 43rd Street)
    • Commuter rail lines: N (48th & Brighton•National Western Center Station)
    • Ticketing and event information: https://nationalwestern.com/rodeos/
  • Jan. 25: Professional Women’s Hockey League Takeover Tour: Vancouver Goldeneyes vs. Seattle Torrent

Live theatre and musicals at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts

Transit options:

Ticketing and event information: https://www.denvercenter.org/tickets-events/

  • Ongoing through Jan. 25: “Goodnight Moon” at the Randy Weeks Conservatory Theatre
  • Jan. 7-11: “Six” at the Buell Theatre
  • Jan. 16-17: “The Choir of Man” at the Buell Theatre
  • Jan. 16-March 1: “Cowboys and East Indians” at the Singleton Theatre
  • Jan. 24-25: “The Simon & Garfunkel Story” at the Buell Theatre
  • Jan. 30-Feb. 22: “Godspeed” at the Kilstrom Theatre
  • Jan. 31: “Mark Twain Tonight!” at the Buell Theatre

Concerts

Bellco Theatre

  • Transit options:
    • Light rail lines: D, H (Theatre District•Convention Center Station)
    • Bus routes: ART (Champa and 13th streets) | 9, 15/15L (15th and Curtis streets) | 0, 6, 8, 19, 48, 52 (15th and Champa streets) | 10, 28, 38, 43, 44 (15th and Stout streets) | 16FR (16th and California streets)
  • Concerts:
    • Jan. 8: Adam Kinzinger – “Colorado Speaker Series presents: Adam Kinzinger”
    • Jan. 31: Paw Patrol Live!

Boettcher Concert Hall

  • Transit options:
    • Light rail lines: D, H (Theatre District•Convention Center Station)
    • Bus routes: ART (Champa and 13th streets) | 9, 15/15L (15th and Curtis streets) | 0, 6, 8, 19, 48, 52 (15th and Champa streets) | 10, 28, 38, 43, 44 (15th and Stout streets) | 16FR (16th and Curtis streets)
  • Concerts:
    • Jan. 9-11: Colorado Symphony – “Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini”
    • Jan. 13: Colorado Symphony – “Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute and Humanitarian Awards”
    • Jan. 16-18: Colorado Symphony – “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Concert”
    • Jan. 23-25: Colorado Symphony with Peter Oundjian – “Mozart & Now”
    • Jan. 27: Colorado Symphony – “New York City Tour Sendoff Concert”
    • Jan. 31: Colorado Symphony with the Philip Glass Ensemble – “Koyaanisqatsi”

Paramount Theatre

  • Transit options:
    • Light rail lines: D, H (16th•California Station)
    • Bus routes: 1, 9, 10, 15/15L, 20, 44 (17th Street and Glenarm Place) | 16FR (16th Street and Glenarm Place)
  • Concerts:
    • Jan. 16: Hairball
    • Jan. 17: Hannah Berner – “None of My Business Tour”
    • Jan. 21-24: Jim Gaffigan – “Everything is Wonderful!”
    • Jan. 27: Stuff You Should Know
    • Jan. 29: Billy F. Gibbons and the BFG Band
    • Jan. 30: Jessica Kirson

Mission Ballroom

  • Transit options:
    • Commuter rail line: A (38th•Blake Station)
    • Bus route: 48 (Brighton Boulevard and 43rd Street)
  • Concerts:
    • Jan. 9-10: Charley Crockett
    • Jan. 11: Ott. and Android Jones
      • Support: Mindex, Drrtywulvz, SaveJ, Bloomurian, Living Light, and Dillard
    • Jan. 15: Braxton Keith and Randall King
    • Jan. 21: Ernest
      • Support: Chandler Walters
    • Jan. 23: STS9 – “Colorado Takeover”
    • Jan. 24: Kitchen Dwellers
      • Support: Mountain Grass Unit and Lindsay Lou
    • Jan. 30: Ship Wrek – “Voyager”
      • Support: Biscits, Yamagucci
    • Jan. 31: Ray Volpe – “Forever, Volpetron”
      • Support: PhaseOne, Tynan, and Celo

Fillmore Auditorium

  • Transit options:
    • Bus routes: 15/15L (Colfax Avenue and Ogden Street) | 12 (Corona Street and Colfax Avenue)
      • NOTE: Construction work on the East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project may impact RTD service to this venue. Check Next Ride and Service Alerts for the latest updates before boarding.
  • Concerts:
    • Jan. 18: Xavi – “X-Tour”
    • Jan. 29: Aleman and Gera MX – “Rich Mafia Tour”

Ogden Theatre

  • Transit options:
    • Bus routes: 15/15L (Colfax Avenue and Ogden Street) | 12 (Corona Street and Colfax Avenue)
      • NOTE: Construction work on the East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project may impact RTD service to this venue. Check Next Ride and Service Alerts for the latest updates before boarding.
  • Concerts:
    • Jan. 5: Dean Lewis – “The Epilogue World Tour”
      • Support: Matt Hansen
    • Jan. 9: Shlump – “The Chronicles of Shlump”
      • Support: Shanghai Doom, Dirtysnatcha, and Chozen
    • Jan. 10: Neal Francis
      • Support: ManyColors
    • Jan. 16-17: WonkyWilla – “Disco Wonk”
      • Support:
        • Jan. 16: Buku and Overeazy
        • Jan. 17: Whale and Montycler
    • Jan. 20: Elevation Rhythm
      • Support: Strings & Heart
    • Jan. 23-24: Kompany – “Nightshift”
      • Support:
        • Jan. 23: Mad Dubz, Dream Takers, and Otsukare
        • Jan. 24: YVM3, Nimda, and Ophion
    • Jan. 30: Chmura and Duffrey – “Cloud Grove Tour”
      • Support: Wub Zero, Goosebumpz, and Toy Box
    • Jan. 31: Dogs In A Pile
      • Support: Casey Russell Band

Summit Music Hall

  • Transit options:
    • Commuter rail lines: A, B, G, N (Union Station)
    • Light rail lines: E, W (Union Station)
    • Bus routes: 0, 9, 15, 20 (18th and Blake streets) | 52 (20th and Blake streets) | RX (20th and Larimer Street) | 38 (Lawrence and 20th streets) | 10, 19, 32, 120X, FF1, FF2, FF3, LD1, FMR, 16FR (Union Station)
  • Concerts:
    • Jan. 10: Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
      • Support: Dank 1, Hazy Obe, and Top Flite Empire
    • Jan. 23: Updating
    • Jan. 31: Ghengar – “Surrounded Tour”
      • Support: Muerte

Marquis Theater

  • Transit options:
    • Commuter rail lines: A, B, G, N (Union Station)
    • Light rail lines: E, W (Union Station)
    • Bus routes: 0, 9, 15, 20 (18th and Blake streets) | 52 (20th and Blake streets) | RX (20th and Larimer Street) | 38 (Lawrence and 20th streets) | 10, 19, 32, 120X, FF1, FF2, FF3, LD1, FMR, 16FR (Union Station)
  • Concerts:
    • Jan. 10: Spoil The Moment
      • Support: athousandangelsandseven, Moy Rustang, White Oak Doors, and Disastry
    • Jan. 18: February
    • Jan. 22: Bloomer
      • Support: Violet Night and Pretty Pity
    • Jan. 23: Yung Bleu
      • Support: Spinks and DJ Machadellic
    • Jan. 27: MC Davo and Sabino
    • Jan. 30: Bayymack
    • Jan. 31: Chri$tian Gate$

Gothic Theatre

  • Transit options:
    • Bus routes: 0 (South Broadway and Eastman Avenue)
  • Concerts:
    • Jan. 17: Mustard Plug and The Toasters
      • Support: Catbite and First Time Caller
    • Jan. 24: Glaive
      • Support: Kurtains
    • Jan. 31: Bane
      • Support: Rotting Out, Eyes Of Salt, and Warmachine

Boulder Theater

  • Transit options:
    • Bus routes: 204, 205, 208, 225/225D, DASH, JUMP, SKIP, BOLT, GS, NB1/2/3, FF1, FF2, FF5, AB1/AB2 (Downtown Boulder Station)
  • Concerts:
    • Jan. 15-17: Umphrey’s McGee – “Sky’s The Limit Tour”
    • Jan. 23: Rory Scovel – “Know Your Enemy Tour”
    • Jan. 24: Dead Floyd
    • Jan. 30: The Man Who Saves the World
    • Jan. 31: Fitz and the Tantrums – “Man on the Moon Tour”

Other venues RTD provides bus and/or rail service to include, but are not limited to the Bluebird Theater, Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom and Other Side, Larimer Lounge, HQ, Hi-Dive, The Oriental Theater, The Federal Theatre, and Fox Theatre. Visit app.rtd-denver.com/nextride/plan and enter the desired venue or concert to view available nearby transit options.

The Playlist

Check out music videos from some of the most anticipated artists and bands passing through the metro area this month! Featured artists include Fitz and the Tantrums, STS9, Charley Crockett, Neal Francis, and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.

Written by Austin Nettleton

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - "Crossroads"

Fitz and the Tantrums - "HandClap"

STS9 feat. Armanni Reign - "Balancing"

Charley Crockett - "Welcome To Hard Times"

Neal Francis - "Can't Stop The Rain"