Announcement

Rad Things (to) Do - June 2023

While June is nearing its halfway point, it feels like the events are just starting to pick up. Of course, the Denver Nuggets are rightfully the hot topic, as they have just clinched their first ever National Basketball Association Championship. While the party has just started, there are enough things to do around the city the rest of this month to keep the celebrations going right into July. Check out all the sports, concerts and festivals going down the rest of June within walking distance from a RTD bus stop or rail station in this month’s Rad Things (to) Do!

Sports

What a time to be a sports fan in Denver, huh? Last year, the Colorado Avalanche brought Lord Stanley’s Cup to the Mile High City, and now the Denver Nuggets have claimed the Larry O’Brien Trophy for the first time in franchise history this year! Back-to-back championships has solidified Denver as a true sports city in the United States.

To celebrate this monumental achievement, the Denver Nuggets will be celebrating with the city during the Nuggets Championship Parade this Thursday! The parade starts at Union Station, then proceeds south on 17th Street and end at Civic Center Park.

While the Nuggets are celebrating, the Rockies are working on getting their season back on track and need all the support they can get from the Mile High faithful. Catch any Union Station-bound bus or train and head over to Coors Field for the following games:

  • Colorado Rockies vs. Los Angeles Angels – June 24-27
  • Colorado Rockies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers – June 28-29
  • Colorado Rockies vs. Detroit Tigers – June 30

Concerts

June has been a marquee month for music all over the Denver area. Big time artists such as Ringo Starr, Matchbox Twenty, The Callous Daoboys, Getter, Kane Brown, and The Cure have already performed this month at some of Denver’s finest music venues, and there is no stopping the talent coming through the rest of this month.

The remainder of June is highlighted by Denver’s own electronic dance music megastar Illenium, who will be performing songs from his latest self-titled and a collection of his greatest hits in an auditory and visual experience like no other, followed by one of the most successful country music legends of all-time, George Strait, bringing with him country music mainstays Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town.

Check out who all is coming to Denver, all within walking distance from a RTD bus stop or train station.

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

  • Illenium presents Trilogy: Colorado (EDM) – June 17
  • George Strait, Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town (country) – June 24

Ball Arena (accessible via the E and W lines at Ball Arena·Elitch Gardens Station)

  • Erykah Badu: Unfollow Me Tour with Yasiin Bey (R&B/soul) – June 26

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

  • Dirty Heads (ska/reggae), Stick Figure (reggae) & Atmosphere (rap) – June 16

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

  • Illenium: Trilogy: Colorado Pre-Party (EDM) – June 16
  • T-Pain (rap) – June 17
  • Grandson, K.Flay and Jack Kays (alternative) – June 19
  • The Flaming Lips (alternative), Eric Andre (comedy) and Reggie Watts (comedy) – June 22
  • Emancipator, RJD2 and Cloudchord (EDM) – June 24

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

  • Don Toliver (rap) – June 18
  • Logic and Juicy J (rap) – June 19

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

  • lovelytheband, Beach Weather and Ava Maybee (alternative/indie) – June 15
  • Rival Sons, The Black Angels, Starcrawler (rock) – June 18
  • Palace with Human Barbie (alternative/indie) – June 20
  • Ruel with Sam MacPherson (pop) – June 27

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

  • Ben Schwartz and friends (comedy) – June 17
  • Sam Morril: The Class Act Tour (comedy) – June 22
  • Seth Meyers (comedy) – June 29

Summit Music Hall (accessible via the Route 52 at 20th and Blake streets)

  • Benson Boone: The Pulse Tour (pop) – June 16
  • Ava Max: On Tour (pop) – June 28

Marquis Theatre (accessible via the Route 52 at 20th and Larimer streets)

  • Cub Sport (pop) – June 14
  • 107.9 KBPI Presents: Giovannie & The Hired Guns (rock) – June 18
  • Hello Seahorse! (rock) – June 23
  • Tarja: Living the Dream Tour (metal) – June 24
  • Off With Their Heads (rock) – June 25
  • Chloe Lilac (rock) – June 25

Gothic Theatre (accessible via the Route 0 at South Broadway and Eastman Avenue)

  • Prayers with Darksiderz (alternative/gothic) – June 16
  • Eels with Austin Antoine (alternative) – June 17
  • Pedro the Lion with Erik Walters (indie) – June 21
  • Trve Brewing Company’s 11th Annual Bacchanal featuring Godflesh, Summerlands, Storm Keep, Spectral Voice and Street Tombs (metal) – June 24

Festivals

Festivalgoers likely have had June circled on their calendars for a long time, as this month features some of the most anticipated and attended festivals in the Mountain West. June is headlined by some of the largest celebrations of Black, Japanese and LGBTQ+ culture this side of the Mississippi River. Check out some of the most notable festivals below!

Juneteenth Music Festival – June 16-19, Five Points neighborhood

  • The Juneteenth Music Festival is a three-day celebration of Black culture in honor of Juneteenth, the day when the last of the nation’s enslaved population was freed. Over 50,000 people are expected to line the streets of the Five Points neighborhood to enjoy live music, a parade, vendors and much more. Visit the festival’s website for a lineup of performing artists, vendors and more.
  • The festival can be accessed via the Route 43 at 30th·Downing Station.
  • The L Line will be suspended for the duration of this event due to the festivities along Welton Street.

Cherry Blossom Festival – June 17-18, Sakura Square, Lower Downtown

  • A taste of Japan comes to Denver for the 49th annual Cherry Blossom Festival at Sakura Square in Lower Downtown. The festival celebrates Japanese culture and heritage through food, drink, exhibits, shopping and entertainment. To learn more about the festivities, visit the Cherry Blossom Festival’s website.
  • The festival can be accessed via the Route 52 at 20th and Larimer streets, or via a short walk away from Union Station.

Denver PrideFest – June 24-25, Civic Center Park

  • The biggest LGBTQ+ celebration in Colorado returns to Civic Center Park for Denver Pride 2023! The free event will feature the Pride 5K, over 250 exhibitors, 30 food and beverage vendors, live performances from Big Freedia, Marcia Marcia Marcia and others, and the annual Pride Parade. The massive event is expected to bring in over 500,000 visitors across the weekend. Catch any downtown-bound bus or train and join in on the biggest LGBTQ+ in the state! Learn more on Denver Pride’s website.

Written by RTD Staff