“WHAT’S THE WORST THAT I CAN SAY? THINGS ARE BETTER IF I STAY. SO LONG, AND GOODNIGHT. SO LONG, AND GOODNIGHT!” Oh, hello there, it’s just RTD’s resident elder emo getting everyone ready for the return of My Chemical Romance later this month. In celebration of the world’s finest emo band blessing the 303 with their music, this month’s Rad Things (to) Do will be typed out like it’s 2006 and MySpace just launched. (Editor’s note: No.)

It’s also Colorado’s 150th birthday as a state, and it’s still looking just as beautiful as ever. No better way to celebrate than to be emo in the great outdoors. So, grab the eyeliner (and 70 SPF sunscreen) and check out this month’s slate of concerts, sports, and other awesome events taking place this month. Heads up: there’s a lot. Like, a lot, a lot. Some would even say Spamalot. Foreshadowing aside, let’s get into it.

THE PRIMER

“ColoradEmo 150,” as the author is unofficially calling it, kicks off with one of the most popular musicals among alternative crowds with Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice” at the Buell Theatre Aug. 4-9. Speaking of musicals, as foreshadowed in the introduction, Monty Python’s “Spamalot” brings killer bunnies, flesh wounds, and an insulting Frenchman who thinks everyone’s mothers are hamsters and their fathers smell of elderberries to the Buell Theatre Aug. 11-23.

For the foodies, the Denver Food and Wine Festival returns to the Tivoli Quad at Auraria Campus Aug. 26-29 for three days of food, wine, spirits, and good times as Colorado’s top chefs, mixologists, and sommeliers show off their incredible creations for attendees to indulge in.

On the sports side of things, the Rockies continue their rebound season with homestands against the Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Guardians, and Baltimore Orioles. Additionally, Banana Ball returns to Coors Field Aug. 14-15 for two days of baseball mixed with something you’d only see at a Buffalo Bills tailgate. Of course, August means the NFL preseason kicks off, and the Broncos take to the field at Mile High to shake the cobwebs off as they get ready to make another run for the Super Bowl, something nobody ever expected anyone to say if asked in 2021. The Broncos get preseason action against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 21, and then against the Minnesota Vikings. Down south, the University of Denver Pioneers men’s soccer team takes to the pitch for the first time this season to begin its 2026 campaign, while Denver Summit FC continues its respectable inaugural season in the NWSL, now with its fearless leader, United States Women’s National Team captain and Denver native Lindsay Heaps finally home after an incredible stint in Europe playing in the Première Ligue, France’s top flight of professional women’s soccer, with OL Lyonnes.

Now, ColoradEmo 150 doesn’t just pertain to emo music, because in a way, all genres are emo in some way. Take Noah Kahan, for example, who is performing at Coors Field Aug. 8, who uses his folk-pop focus to sing songs whose lyrics could easily fit right in with a Simple Plan song. Another example is Zach Bryan, who is performing for two nights at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium Aug. 13-14, because country music really is just southern emo. Yet, it wouldn’t be ColoadEmo without the kings of emo themselves, My Chemical Romance, who will be bringing The Black Parade to Coors Field Aug. 27.

There’s plenty more happening in August this month, so check out the full lineup of what’s happening near RTD stops and stations below!

NOTE: Due to ongoing impacts around the Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project, all D, H, and L lines have been suspended through the first quarter of 2027. To alleviate disruptions caused by the project, the C Line has been temporarily reinstated between Littleton•Mineral and Union stations. Additionally, a new Temporary Line (T Line) has been added between I-25•Broadway and Lincoln stations.

The no-cost 16th Street FreeRide offers connections to venues in and around the Central Business District between Union and Wade Blank Civic Center stations, including the Colorado Convention Center, Denver Performing Arts Complex, and the Paramount Theatre. All transit options listed below have been updated to include the most relevant transit information. Please plan ahead and allow extra travel time when using RTD services. Visit https://www.rtd-denver.com/railproject for more information.

THE MAIN EVENT

This month’s featured events

Aug. 4-9: Beetlejuice

The deets:

• Venue: Buell Theatre
• Transit options:
  • 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) | FREE (16th and Curtis streets)
• Ticketing and event information: https://www.denvercenter.org/tickets-events/

Aug. 8: Noah Kahan

The deets:

• Venue: Coors Field
• Transit options:
  • Commuter rail lines: A, B, G, N (Union Station)
  • Light rail lines: C, E, W (Union Station)
  • Bus routes: 52 (20th and Blake streets) | RX (20th and Larimer streets) | 10, 19, 32, 120X, FF1, FF2, FF3, LD1, FMR, FREE (Union Station)
• Ticketing and event information: https://www.mlb.com/rockies/tickets/concerts

Aug. 11-23: Spamalot

The deets:

• Venue: Buell Theatre
• Transit options:
  • 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) | FREE (16th and Curtis streets)
• Ticketing and event information: https://www.denvercenter.org/tickets-events/

Aug. 13-14: Zach Bryan

The deets:

• Venue: Empower Field at Mile High Stadium
• Transit options:
  • Light rail lines: C, E, W (Empower Field at Mile High Station)
  • Bus routes: 30 (Colfax and Federal Transfer Center) | 20, 31 (Federal Boulevard and West 17th Avenue) | 15L, 16 (Decatur•Federal Station)
• Ticketing and event information: https://www.empowerfieldatmilehigh.com/events/detail/zach-bryan-2026

Aug. 14-15: 2026 Banana Ball World Tour: Savannah Bananas vs. Indianapolis Clowns

The deets:

• Venue: Coors Field
• Transit options:
  • Commuter rail lines: A, B, G, N (Union Station)
  • Light rail lines: C, E, W (Union Station)
  • Bus routes: 52 (20th and Blake streets) | RX (20th and Larimer streets) | 10, 19, 32, 120X, FF1, FF2, FF3, LD1, FMR, FREE (Union Station)
• Ticketing and event information: https://www.mlb.com/rockies/tickets/specials/savannah-bananas

Aug. 26: Denver Food and Wine Festival

The deets:

• Venue: Tivoli Quad at Auraria Campus
• Transit options:
  • Light rail lines: C, E, W (Auraria West Station, Empower Field at Mile High Station)
  • Bus routes: 30 (Colfax and Federal Transfer Center) | 20, 31 (Federal Boulevard and West 17th Avenue) | 15L, 16 (Decatur•Federal Station)
• Ticketing and event information: https://denverfoodandwine.com

Aug. 27: My Chemical Romance

The deets:

• Venue: Coors Field
• Transit options:
  • Commuter rail lines: A, B, G, N (Union Station)
  • Light rail lines: C, E, W (Union Station)
  • Bus routes: 52 (20th and Blake streets) | RX (20th and Larimer streets) | 10, 19, 32, 120X, FF1, FF2, FF3, LD1, FMR, FREE (Union Station)
• Ticketing and event information: https://www.mlb.com/rockies/tickets/concerts

THE UNDERCARD

Notable sports, concerts, musicals, and plays; 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: C, E, W (Empower Field at Mile High Station)
  • Bus routes: 30 (Colfax and Federal Transfer Center) | 20, 31 (Federal Boulevard and West 17th Avenue) | 15L, 16 (Decatur•Federal Station)
• Ticketing and event information: https://www.empowerfieldatmilehigh.com/events
• Schedule:
  • Aug. 21: vs. Green Bay Packers (preseason)
  • Aug. 28: vs. Minnesota Vikings (preseason)

Baseball

Colorado Rockies

• Venue: Coors Field
• Transit options:
  • Commuter rail lines: A, B, G, N (Union Station)
  • Light rail lines: C, E, W (Union Station)
  • Bus routes: 52 (20th and Blake streets) | RX (20th and Larimer streets) | 10, 19, 32, 120X, FF1, FF2, FF3, LD1, FMR, FREE (Union Station)
• Ticketing and event information: https://www.mlb.com/rockies/tickets
• Schedule:
  • Aug. 4-5: vs. Tampa Bay Rays
  • Aug. 17-19: vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
  • Aug. 21-23: vs. Cleveland Guardians
  • Aug. 31: vs. Baltimore Orioles
  • Soccer

Denver Summit FC

• Venue: Centennial Stadium
• Transit options:
  • Bus routes: 153 (Fremont Place and South Potomac Street)
• Ticketing and event information: https://www.denversummitfc.com/schedule/
• Schedule:
  • Aug. 5: vs. North Carolina Courage
  • Aug. 8: vs. Utah Royals
  • Aug. 29: vs. Chicago Stars FC

University of Denver Pioneers

• Venue: University of Denver Soccer Stadium
• Transit options:
  • Light rail lines: C, E, T (University of Denver Station)
  • Bus routes: 24 (University of Denver Station)
• Ticketing and event information: https://denverpioneers.evenue.net/list/GS
• Schedule:
  • Men’s
    • Aug. 8: vs. United States Air Force Academy
    • Aug. 14: vs. Utah Valley University
    • Aug. 20: vs. Cal Poly
  • Women’s
    • Aug. 5: vs. Colorado Albion SC
    • Aug. 27: vs. Colorado College

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

NOTE: Effective June 7, no light rail service will be available near this venue due to the Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project. Alternative options are available via bus, listed below. Connections can be made between light and commuter rail services via the 16th Street FreeRide at Union Station.

Transit options:

• 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) | FREE (16th and Curtis streets)
• Ticketing and event information: https://www.denvercenter.org/tickets-events/
• Events:
  • Aug. 4-9: “Beetlejuice” at the Buell Theatre
  • Aug. 6-23: “504: The Musical” at Kilstrom Theatre
  • Aug. 11-23: “Spamalot” at Buell Theatre

Concerts

Empower Field at Mile High Stadium

• Transit options:
  • Light rail lines: C, E, W (Empower Field at Mile High Station)
  • Bus routes: 30 (Colfax and Federal Transfer Center) | 20, 31 (Federal Boulevard and West 17th Avenue) | 15L, 16 (Decatur•Federal Station)
• Concerts:
  • Aug. 13: Zach Bryan – “Heaven On tour”
    • Support: Ryan Bingham and The Texxas Gentlemen, Fey Fili

Folsom Field

• Transit options:
  • Bus routes: 204, 225, 225D, 225T, AB1, DASH, GS, SKIP*, DASH** (Broadway and University Avenue*, Broadway and Pleasant Street**) | FF1, FF2, FF5 (Broadway and Euclid Avenue) | AB2/AB3 (28th Street and College Avenue)
    • (*) SKIP only | (**) DASH only
• Concerts:
  • Aug. 22: RÜFÜS DU SOL
    • Support: Ben Böhmer

Coors Field

• Transit options:
  • Commuter rail lines: A, B, G, N (Union Station)
  • Light rail lines: C, E, W (Union Station)
  • Bus routes: 52 (20th and Blake streets) | RX (20th and Larimer streets) | 10, 19, 32, 120X, FF1, FF2, FF3, LD1, FMR, FREE (Union Station)
• Concerts:
  • Aug. 8-9: Noah Kahan – “The Great Divide Tour”
    • Support: Gigi Perez, Annabelle Dinda
  • Aug. 27: My Chemical Romance – “The Black Parade 2026”
    • Support: The Breeders

Ball Arena

• Transit options:
  • Light rail lines: C, E, W (Ball Arena•Elitch Gardens Station)
  • Bus routes: 1, 15L, 20 (Auraria Parkway and 7th/9th Street)
• Concerts:
  • Aug. 21: J. Cole – “The Fall-Off Tour”
  • Aug. 22: Toto, Christopher Cross, The Romantics
  • Aug. 23: Avenged Sevenfold, Good Charlotte – “North American Tour 2026”
  • Aug. 26: Daniel Caesar – “Son Of Spergy Tour”
    • Support: 070 Shake
  • Aug. 28: Chicago, Styx – “The Windy Cities Tour”

Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre

• Transit options:
  • Light rail lines: E, R, T (Arapahoe at Village Center Station)
  • Bus routes: 66, 153, 169, AT (Arapahoe at Village Center Station) | 66 (South Yosemite Street and Peakview Avenue)
• Concerts:
  • Aug. 7: Sublime, Slightly Stoopid, 311 – “Summer Greens 2026”
    • Support: Reel Big Fish, Spike & The Gimme Gimmes, Codefendants
  • Aug. 12: The Guess Who – “Takin’ It Back Tour”
    • Support: Don Felder
  • Aug. 15: Mt. Joy
    • Support: Arcy Drive
  • Aug. 18: Muse – “The Wow! Signal North American Tour”
    • Support: Portugal. The Man, The Temper Trap
  • Aug. 21-22: CAAMP
    • Support: Durand Jones & The Indications
  • Aug. 28-29: Dave Matthews Band

The JunkYard

• Transit options:
  • Bus routes: 9 (West 8th Avenue and Wyandot Street)
• Concerts:
  • Aug. 7: Yeat – “The Love/Lyfe Tour”
    • Support: Sheck Wes, Zukenee
  • Aug. 20: Thee Sacred Souls, LA LOM, The Womack Sisters
  • Aug. 22: 5 Seconds of Summer – “Everyone’s A Star! World tour”
    • Support: The Band CAMINO
  • Aug. 25: Nas, The Roots – “A Great Night in Hip Hop”
    • Support: Jadakiss
  • Aug. 29: Lil’ Wayne – “20 Years of Carter Classics”

Bellco Theatre

NOTE: Effective June 7, no light rail service will be available near this venue due to the Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project. Alternative options are available via bus, listed below. Connections can be made between light and commuter rail services via the 16th Street FreeRide at Union Station.

• Transit options:
  • 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) | FREE (16th and Stout streets)
• Concerts:
  • Aug. 21: Jorge Medina – “Legendario Tour 2026”

Paramount Theatre

NOTE: Effective June 7, no light rail service will be available near this venue due to the Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project. Alternative options are available via bus, listed below. Connections can be made between light and commuter rail services via the 16th Street FreeRide at Union Station.

• Transit options:
  • Bus routes: 1, 9, 10, 15/15L, 20, 44 (17th Street and Glenarm Place) | FREE (16th Street and Glenarm Place)
• Concerts:
  • Aug. 5-6: Not For Radio – “A Summer In The Forest: North America Tour”
    • Support:
  • Aug. 8: Rick Ross, The Renaissance Orchestra – “Port of Miami 20”
  • Aug. 9: One Night of Queen
  • Aug. 18: Marc Cohn, Shawn Colvin – “Together Onstage”
  • Aug. 22: Little Feat – “The Last Farewell Tour”
  • Aug. 26: Odin Dupeyron – “¡A VIVIR!”
  • Aug. 28: Thunder From Down Under

Mission Ballroom

• Transit options:
  • Commuter rail line: A (38th•Blake Station)
  • Bus route: 48 (Brighton Boulevard and 43rd Street)
• Concerts:
  • Aug. 11: Sugar – “Love You Even Still 2026 World Tour”
    • Support: J. Robbins
  • Aug. 14: ISOXO – “Hardcorediva Tour: Do Not Resist”
  • Aug. 18: Dimmu Borgir – “Grand Serpent Rising North America 2026”
    • Support: Hypocrisy, Hulder
  • Aug. 20: Joe Russo – “Almost Dead”
  • Aug. 21: Courtney Barnett
    • Support: Zoh Amba
  • Aug. 22: Dillon Francis, Flosstradamus – “Dillstradamus: World Grand Championship Global Tour”
  • Aug. 24: Lucki – “Bad Influence Tour”
    • Support: SK8STAR
  • Aug. 28: The Sword, Red Fang
    • Support: Spoon Benders
  • Aug. 29: Little Stranger
    • Support: Chris Webby, Tropidelic, Jarv, Damn Skippy, G. Love

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:
  • Aug. 8: Bosco – “The Marvelous Miss Gender”
  • Aug. 9: Calle 24 – “Eterno Tour”
  • Aug. 28: Mike Sherm
    • Support: Lou Deezi

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:
  • Aug. 7: Tomahawk – “A Huge Waste Of Your Time And Money Tour”
    • Support: Melvins
  • Aug. 8: The Fixx
  • Aug. 9: Passion Pit – “The Pretty Penny Tour”
    • Support: Arden Jones
  • Aug. 12-13: Angine De Poitrine
  • Aug. 15: Hulvey – “Could Be Tonight Tour”
    • Support: Indie Tribe, Kijan Boone
  • Aug. 21: Starjunk 95 – “Industrial Sunset Memories Tour”
    • Support: Yung Bae, Lando Burch
  • Aug. 28: Hayla – “The Dark Tour”
  • Aug. 29: Jason Ross – “The North Tour”

Summit Music Hall

• Transit options:
  • Commuter rail lines: A, B, G, N (Union Station)
  • Light rail lines: C, 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, FREE (Union Station)
• Concerts:
  • Aug. 7: Codd Dubz, He$h
    • Support: Swando, Torcherrr
  • Aug. 8: 3BallMTY
  • Aug. 10: Slayr – “Half Blood tour”
  • Aug. 13: Jutes – “Smile You’re on Tour”
    • Support: Mothica, Wilt
  • Aug. 14: Rio Da Yung Og
  • Aug. 20 : Linea Personal – “Todo ø Nada”
  • Aug. 21: Diggy Graves – “The No Vacancy Tour”
  • Aug. 22: Bear Grillz
    • Support: Badklaat, RZRKT, Vastive, All Nighter, Macefacekilla
  • Aug. 24: Eagles of Death Metal
    • Support: Paradise Vultures
  • Aug. 28: Nitzer Ebb
    • Support: Pig
  • Aug. 29: Clarent

Marquis Theater

• Transit options:
  • Commuter rail lines: A, B, G, N (Union Station)
  • Light rail lines: C, E, W (Union Station)
  • Bus routes: 0, 9, 15, 20 (18th and Blake streets) | 52 (20th and Blake streets) | RX (20th and Larimer streets) | 38 (Lawrence and 20th streets) | 10, 19, 32, 120X, FF1, FF2, FF3, LD1, FMR, FREE (Union Station)
• Concerts:
  • Aug. 8: Joey Cash
  • Aug. 15: Driveways
    • Support: Like Roses, Action/Adventure
  • Aug. 16: Luh Tyler – “Destined For Greatness Tour”
  • Aug. 21: Overtime Winner
    • Support: benched., The Man is Dead, Red40
  • Aug. 22: Fighting the Phoenix
    • Support: Fast Asleep, Talons, Spitting Image
  • Aug. 29: FEM&M, Astrid – “Emo Girls vs. Rave Girls”
    • Support: Milkypossum, Charloux

Gothic Theatre

• Transit options:
  • Bus routes: 0 (South Broadway and Eastman Avenue)
• Concerts:
  • Aug. 13: Sam Gellaitry
  • Aug. 15: Die Spitz
    • Support: Cashier
  • Aug. 18: St. Lucia
  • Aug. 21: Strangelove – “The Depeche Mode Experience”
  • Aug. 22: Steam Powered Giraffe
  • Aug. 23: Quicksand, Bane
    • Support: Soul Blind, Public Opinion
  • Aug. 28: Integrity/Judge/Strife
    • Support: Witness Chamber, Moral Law, The Consequence

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:
  • Aug. 9: Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble
    • Support: Bobby Weir
  • Aug. 11: Trombone Shorty, Orleans Avenue – “Let’s Go Get ‘Em Tour”
    • Support: Mile High Soul Club
  • Aug. 13: Samson Schmitt, Ludovic Beier, Pierre Blancahrd – “Django Festival Allstars”
  • Aug. 15: Nick Shoulders – “Apocalypse, Never! Tour”
    • Support: Esther Rose
  • Aug. 16: Julia Misawa, Boulder Taiko – “Harmony of Rhythms 2026: One Legacy”
  • Aug. 21: Molly Santana, North West – “Kimokawaii Tour”
  • Aug. 22: Cassian
  • Aug. 23: Laurie Berkner
    • NOTE: Artist will be performing two shows on this day, with one at 11 a.m. and the other at 3 p.m.
  • Aug. 26: Hidden Brain
  • Aug. 27: Bounprem
  • Aug. 28: The SteelDrivers
  • Aug. 29: Big Head Todd and the Monsters
  • Aug. 30: Everclear

Other venues RTD provides bus or rail service to include, but are not limited to: 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 destination to view available nearby transit options.