It is finally the time of the year where that raging ball of gas, plasma and radiation in the sky stays on Denver’s side of the planet far more than it does in December. It’s officially the start of summer, and there are few places better to spend a summer than right here in Denver, Colorado. Grab some sunscreen, get a nice pair of sunglasses and get ready to get outdoors this month, as the metro area will be fully alive with festivals and concerts. There’s also Rockies baseball, but the author of Rad Thing (to) Do has run that horse dry. At least, Coors Field is a fun place to spend a day, right?

Anyway, check out this month’s slate of Rad Things (to) Do below and get outside (or inside, RTD won’t judge).

Festivals, parades and special events

June 8-29: City Park Jazz

Transit options: Route 20 at 17th Avenue and Steele Street, Station or Routes 20 and 40 at Colorado Boulevard and 23rd Avenue

To quote Barry B. Benson from the hit 2007 animated movie, Bee Movie, “You like jazz?” Head to City Park this summer for the 2025 City Park Jazz concert series! Featuring jazz artists and bands from Colorado, this series is a great way to enjoy some great live music.

Check out this month’s lineup at https://cityparkjazz.org/2025-concert-calendar.

June 7-8: Denver Chalk Art Festival

Transit options: Routes 0, 0L, 3L, 83D, 83L, 116X, CV, EV and PD at Broadway and West 13th Avenue

The Denver Chalk Art Festival returns for 2025! Head to West 12th Avenue and Bannock Street for two days of incredible art and live music. See magnificent drawings from local and regional artists and vote for the best ones to win the People’s Choice Award.

Learn more at https://www.denverchalk.art.

June 15: Juneteenth Music Festival

Transit options: Route 43 to 30th and Downing

The Rocky Mountains’ largest celebration of Black history, culture, music and activism returns to Denver’s historic Five Points neighborhood June 15. Centered around 27th and Welton streets, the Juneteenth Music Festival promises a full day of art, shopping, live performances, education and community empowerment. Of course, no Juneteenth celebration would be complete without the famous Juneteenth parade!

Headlined by Juvenile, this year’s festival features performances by:

• DJ SugaBear
• La Molly
• Trinity Scales
• Beasts of No Nation
• DJ Jam’N-I
• Mallman
• Tony Exum Jr.
• Goodloe and Marlo
• Danae Simone
• DJ Bella Scratch

Learn more by visiting https://www.juneteenthmusicfestival.com.

June 21-22: Denver Cherry Blossom Festival

Transit options: Routes 38 and 52 at Larimer and 19th streets, 52 and RX at 20th and Larimer streets, Route 38 at 20th and Lawrence streets, or a short walk away from any Union Station-bound bus or train

The annual Denver Cherry Blossom Festival returns to Sakura Square for its 51st year! The festival is a celebration of Japanese culture, featuring taiko drumming, Japanese cuisine, art, anime, pottery, apparel, education and much more. The event is free to attend.

Learn more by visiting https://www.cherryblossomdenver.org.

June 28-29: Denver PrideFest

Transit options: Any Civic Center Station-bound bus route

The largest celebration of LGBTQ+ pride in the Rocky Mountains returns to Denver’s Civic Center Park this summer. The Denver Pride Festival is expected to draw tens of thousands of attendees from across Colorado and beyond for two days of music, movement and community.

Highlights include the Vizzy Denver Pride Parade, the Denver Pride 5K, live performances from local and national artists, dancing, food and more. The festival also features family-friendly zones, educational resources and opportunities for advocacy, making it an inclusive space for all to celebrate who they are.

To learn more about the event, head over to https://www.denverpride.org.

Sports

Since the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche lost their respective playoff series, all that’s left for June (within walking distance from RTD services) is *checks notes* the Colorado Rockies. At least, tickets are cheap and, despite the Rockies’ embarrassingly awful season so far, spending a day at one of the most scenic and unique ballparks in America is worth subjecting oneself to the on-field product. The Rockies have several homestands this month, so check them out and enjoy a cheap day at the ballpark!

Coors Field (accessible via any Union Station-bound bus or train)

• Colorado Rockies (MLB):
  • June 6-8: vs. New York Mets
  • June 10-12: vs. San Francisco Giants
  • June 20-22: vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
  • June 24-26: vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Musicals, plays and live theatrical performances

It’s an abnormally quiet month at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. However, the one production visiting the DCPA happens to be a Broadway rendition of one of the biggest fiction franchises of all time: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, live at the Buell Theatre (accessible via the D and H lines at Theatre District·Convention Center Station)through June 27. Get tickets today at https://www.denvercenter.org.

Concerts

Well, Denver’s about to kick off the summer concert season with one heck of a lineup this month. Empower Field at Mile High Stadium will be absolutely alive with some of the world’s most popular artists and bands such as Coldplay, Post Malone and Jelly Roll, The Weeknd and Metallica. In addition, concertgoers can catch performances from even more acts like Styx, Earth Wind & Fire, Tracy Lawrence, Nikki Glaser, Dance Gavin Dance and Old Dominon, among dozens of others.

Check out this month’s concert slate below and kick off the summer concert season with a bang.

Empower Field at Mile High Stadium (accessible via the E and W lines at Empower Field at Mile High Station)

• June 10: Coldplay – “Music Of The Spheres World Tour 2025”
  • Support: Willow and Elyanna
• June 15: Post Malone – “Post Malone Presents: The Big A** Stadium Tour”
  • Support: Jelly Roll, Wyatt Flores and Chandler Walters
• June 21: The Weeknd – “After Hours Til Dawn”
  • Support: Playboi Carti
• June 27 and 29: Metallica – “M72 World Tour
  • Support:
    • June 27: Limp Bizkit and Ice Nine Kills
    • June 29: Pantera and Suicidal Tendencies

Ball Arena (accessible via the E and W lines at Ball Arena·Elitch Gardens Station, as well as Routes 1, 15L and 20 at Auraria Parkway and 9th Street)

• June 17: Andrea Bocelli

Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre (accessible via the E and R lines at Arapahoe at Village Center Station)

• June 6-7: Goose
• June 9: Styx and Kevin Cronin
  • Support: Don Felder
• June 14: Earth, Wind & Fire
• June 21: Old Dominion – “How Good Is That World Tour”
  • Support: Ernest and Redferrin
• June 29: Colorado Symphony – “The Music of John Williams”

Bellco Theater (accessible via the D and H lines at Theatre District·Convention Center Station)

• June 7: Banda MS
• June 13: Chelo – “El Adios De Una Grande”
  • Support: Lorenzo De Monteclaro, Juan Valentin, Beatriz Adriana, Graciela Beltrán, and Yesenia Flores,
• June 29: Elvis Costello & The Imposters
  • Support: Charlie Sexton

Mission Ballroom (accessible via the A Line at 38th·Blake Station)

• June 8-9: Brand New
• June 10: Stick Figure
  • Support: Stephen Marley and The Hip Abduction
• June 13: The Kooks
  • Support: Lovelytheband
• June 14: Three 6 Mafia and Yelawolf
• June 17: Flying Lotus and Reggie Watts
  • Support: Vic Mensa and Jim James
• June 18: Lake Street Dive
  • Support: Dogtags
• June 19-22: LSDream and Clozee – “LSZee”
  • Support:
    • June 19 and 21: Effin, Mocha and Lucid Slip
    • June 20 and 22: Ashez, Lil Fish and Habitaat

Paramount Theatre (accessible via the Free MallRide at 17th Street and Glenarm Place)

• June 6: Henry Cho – “The Empty Nest Tour”
• June 7: Chris Distefano
• June 7: Brincos Dieras
• June 10: Natalia Lafourcade
• June 13: Yachtley Crew
• June 17: Gillian Welch and David Rawlings
• June 18: Tyler Henry – “The Hollywood Medium: An Evening of Hope and Healing”
• June 19-21: Nikki Glaser – “Alive and Unewell Tour”
• June 22: Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass and Other Delights
• June 27: Tracy Lawrence
• June 29: Shankar Vedantam – “Hidden Prain: ‘Perceptions’ Tour”

Fillmore Auditorium (accessible via Route 15 at Colfax Avenue and Emerson Street or Colfax Avenue and Clarkson Street)

• June 6: James Arthur
  • Support: The Army, The Navy
• June 23: Dance Gavin Dance – “’Return Of The Robot’ Tour”
  • Support: The Home Team, Belmont and Dwellings
• June 28: The Dare – “PlayHaus Pride”
  • Support: Shea Coulee, Kaleena Zanders and Matt Suave

Ogden Theatre (accessible via Route 15 at Colfax Avenue and Emerson Street or Colfax Avenue and Clarkson Street)

• June 8: Death From Above 1979
  • Support: Colfax Speed Queen
• June 10: Ninja S** Party – “Pure Elegance Tour”
  • Support: TWRP
• June 13: Ashe – “The Trilogy Tour”
  • Support: Bo Staloch
• June 18: Tycho
• June 20: Drive-By Truckers and Deer Tick – “Charm & Decadence Tour”
  • Support: Thelma and The Sleaze
• June 27: Pattie Gonia – “Save Her! An Environmental Drag Show”

Oriental Theater (accessible via Route 44 at West 44th Avenue and Tennyson Street)

• June 8: Twin Tribes – “Darker Skies Tour”
  • Support: Traitrs, Forever Grey and Soft Vein
• June 10: Big Country – “Totally 80’s Tour”
  • Support: Gene Loves Jezebel, Bow Wow Wow and Tommy Tutone
• June 11: Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore with The Guilty Ones
  • Support: Taylor Scott Band
• June 20: Creeping Death and Kruelty
  • Support: Upon Stone and Torn From Existence
• June 21: Spacehog and EMF
  • Support: Ecce Shnak
• June 26: Marcia Ball
  • Support: Zakk Debono and the Broken Circle
• June 27: Deathrhyme and David Yang – “2025 Mile High Hmong SummerFest Concert”

Boulder Theater (accessible via any Downtown Boulder Station route)

• June 6: Adam Met
• June 17: Tycho
• June 18: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
  • Support: Guerrilla Fanfare
• June 19: A.J. Croce – “Heart of the Eternal Tour”
• June 20: The English Beat
• June 21: Drive-By Truckers and Deer Tick – “Charm & Decadence Tour”
  • Support: Thelma and The Sleaze
• June 28: BoDeans

Fox Theatre (accessible via routes 204, 225/225D/225T, AB1, DASH, GS and SKIP at Broadway and Pleasant Street)

• June 13: The Burroughs
  • Support: Hand Turkey
• June 19: Amythyst Kiah
  • Support: Wrenn Van
• June 21: The Speeks
  • Support: Pet Falcon, The Sanct and Indigo
• June 27: Opium
  • Support: The Cattledogs, Sempar and Atom Son of Man
• June 30: Takuya Kuroda

Bluebird Theater (accessible via Route 15 at Colfax Avenue and Cook Street)

• June 7: Planet Perreo
• June 11: Trousdale
  • Support: Nia Ashleigh and Buffchick
• June 13: LVDY
  • Support: Mistermoon
• June 17: Broncho – “Natural Pleasure
• June 18: Shinyribs
  • Support: The River Arkansas
• June 19: Provoker
  • Support: Rip Swirl and Faerybabyy
• June 20: Merkules – “The Survivor’s Guilt Tour”
  • Support: Ryan Oakes
• June 21: Greer
• June 24: Pub Choir – “Something To Do USA Tour”
• June 27: Daniel Allan – “I Went To This Tour”
  • Support: Arlo, Haasy and Levi Double U
• June 28: James McMurtry
  • Support: Bettysoo

HQ (accessible via Route 0 at South Broadway and West Bayaud Avenue)

• June 6: Aesthetic Perfection
  • Support: Gencab and Whoritculture
• June 10: David J
  • Support: From Bauhaus, Love & Rockets, The Milk Blossoms, Gogo Germaine and MC Shon Cobbs
• June 11: Dead Posey – “The Damned and The Dead Tour”
  • Support: Ovtlier and Another Day Dawns
• June 13: The Detroit Cobras
  • Support: The Gones
• June 18: Exhorder
  • Support: Hatriot, Acid Sentence and Panpsychism
• June 19: Fayuca
  • Support: Green Buddha
• June 21: Youth Fountain
  • Support: Sad Park, Good Terms and Suitable Miss
• June 22: Circling Over
  • Support: No Fauna and Mood Swing Misery
• June 24: Vampires Everywhere – “Satanic Panic Tour”
  • Support: Psyclon Nine and Cultus Black
• June 25: Inferi
  • Support: Vitriol, Greylotus and Demon King
• June 26: Forever Came Calling and Calling All Captains – “The Forever Came Calling All Captains Tour”
  • Support: The Losers Club and HRZN
• June 29: Gaunt, Cavernous and Tiny Humans

Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom (accessible via the L Line at 25th·Welton and 27th·Welton stations)

(NOTE: List does not include shows at Cervantes’ Other Side. Please visit https://www.cervantesmasterpiece.com for the full calendar of shows at Cervantes’ Other Side)

• June 6: Mport
  • Support: Noetika, Critical H!t, Dank Frank and Big Nut Chuck
• June 7: Satin Jackets
  • Support: OTR, Spirit Motel and Boogie Lights
• June 12: Riff Raff – “Watermelon Lime Tour
  • Support: Jarren Benton, Synthwave Sensei, Electric Mike, 2Stoned, Bakester and The White Moms
• June 14: Buku
  • Support: SFAM, Ian Snow, Cyber G and Wesley Mack
• June 17: Poranguí and SaveJ
• June 19: Blind Melon
  • Support: Ridgeliners
• June 20: Sqwerv and Casey Russell Band
  • Support: DJ Williams Band
• June 25: Saba – “The Big Picture Tour”
  • Support: Ovrkast

Larimer Lounge (accessible via the Route 44 at Larimer and 28th streets)

• June 5: Chandler Kline – “Foam Wonderland Official Pre-Party”
  • Support: Kotrax, Twisted Trixx, Two.S and Syphyr
• June 6: Siixnights, Garry Grooves and LNG
• June 6: Matt Guy
  • Support: J.Me, Harmonee and Speedy JD
• June 7: Zack Keim
  • Support: Kyle Szalay and Hazel
• June 7: Roman Ivan, Holothug and Snacks
• June 7: AK Renny and 2AR
• June 8: Vulgarian
  • Support: Deadgods and Thrillrot
• June 12: Cofresi
  • Support: Able Grey, Philia and SNDY
• June 13: Critter
  • Support: Sunshowers and Glass Knife
• June 13: TLoop and Friends
  • Support: Breezy, Catzin Tzila and Calvin Campbell
• June 13: Goles
  • Support: Chocolate Sushi and Votto
• June 14: The Trio & Me
  • Support: Wilson Clark and Unfettered Joy
• June 14: 6P-2A
  • Support: Ben Fase, Kobe Café, Mr. Kyle, Jax Pallone, Hai, Big Rizzy and Jvans
• June 14: Dot
  • Support: Tantok, Maro and Nugsupreme
• June 15: Halle Dean
  • Support: Children of Divorce, Will Harlee and Yes Baby
• June 18: Candi Jenkins
• June 19: Pop Tha Trunk
  • Support: Sait Pond, Twizzled, Hoodiemane, Imperivm and Wasabi Jackson
• June 20: 7P-2A
  • Support: Mike Remedy, Lady Ary’s and DJ Zinn
• June 20: Vltra
  • Support: GS5 and Stereo Nine
• June 21: Casmalia
  • Support: Leah Loredo and Castle
• June 21: Lafave and Agxxistence
• June 22: Mayor Grey
  • Support: Hala Hooper, The Patrons and Zoe Coz
• June 26: Tokyo Machine – “Debut Chompo Tour”
  • Support: Akeos, Boom Kitty and Casey Sullivan
• June 27: Dailup
  • Support: Bennett Louis, Silver Screen Fantasy and Lani Watson
• June 27: Carola
• June 28: Viv Castle
• June 29: Crimson Deep
  • Support: Taxi Paint, Reposer and Orna

Gothic Theatre (accessible via Route 0 at South Broadway and Eastman Avenue, or South Broadway and West Floyd Avenue)

• June 8: Blondshell – “If You Asked For A Tour”
  • Support: Jahnah Camille
• June 13: Buckethead
• June 18: The Blue Stones – “Metro North America ‘25”
  • Support: Meltt
• June 19: Lenny Pearce – “Lenny’s Toddler Techno Tour”
• June 20: Wolves In The Throne Room – “Trve Brewing Co. presents: Trve13”
  • Support: High Command, Of Feather and Bone, Aridus and Matriarch
• June 21: Perfume Genius
  • Support: Urika’s Bedroom

Summit Music Hall (accessible via Routes 0, 9, 15 and 20 at 18th and Blake streets, or via Route 52 at 20th and Blake streets)

• June 6-7: Bayside – “25th Anniversary: The Errors Tour”
  • Support: Smoking Popes
• June 8: Sleep Theory – “The Afterglow Tour”
  • Support: Nevertel, Oxymorrons and Stray View
• June 10: Panchiko
  • Support: Alison’s Halo
• June 18: Faun – “World Hex Tour 2025”
• June 21: Codd Dubz – “Canal Street Crook Tour”
  • Support: Stoog3s and 7L
• June 26: Lacey Sturm – “Kenotic Metanoia Tour”
  • Support: Islander and Young Other
• June 29: Red Rocks Worship

Marquis Theatre (accessible via Routes 52 and RX at 20th and Larimer streets, or via Route 38 at Larimer and 21st streets)

• June 11: The Tubs
  • Support: Replica City and Safekeeper
• June 12: Julia Wolf – “Pressure World Tour”
  • Support: Worry Club and Ellis
• June 13: E.M.E.
  • Support: KDJ Above and Sinz
• June 15: DeeBaby – “Ms. Salazar Tour”
• June 18: honestav
  • Support: Damien Styles
• June 19: Donovan Woods
  • Support: Emily James
• June 21: Games We Play – “Hello Ladies Tour”
  • Support: The Paradox
• June 22: Boldy James
• June 24: Geordie Kiefer
• June 25: Tripping Daisy
  • Support: Jumprope
• June 26: Crown Magnetar
• June 27: Oso Oso
• June 28: Oliver Francis
  • Support: Jordanxbell