Weekender

Since I have been feeling like it was one day later all week (this SHOULD be Friday, am I right?) I figured I would roll out the Weekender a day early so we can all start planning a super fun Mile High weekend!  Fun and Frugal for us this weekend means heading for the Rock Bottom sometime to use a Gift Certificate I won earlier this year that is about to expire - Hooray for free Rock Bottom!!
So what about you and yours? Here are some ideas  that won't cut into the holiday budget:

12/16- Itching to get your holiday celebrations AND your weekend started just a little bit early?
Then head for the Ice Cube Gallery Thursday evening to join in their festivities and peruse the current show - see their website for more details and directions.
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12/17- 12/19- So Santa called to make sure I let my readers in on a special treat happening this weekend - 2 of his reindeer, Donner and Blitzen, will be stopping in under the under the porte cochere entrance of the Hyatt Regency Convention Center from 1pm-5pm Friday, Saturday, and Sunday!  They will be saying hello to folks who want to stop in and visit, free of charge, AND if the kiddos bring a can of food to donate, they can sip on a free cup of cocoa as well!
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12/18-12/19 - Kids feeling crafty? Drop in to the Abrakadoodle tent on the plaza at Belmar anytime between 12:30 and 3pm onSaturday and Sunday and they can get on on some free crafting fun! See the website for more details.
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12/18 -It's time to build the final piece of your train set this weekend at the Lowes Build and Grow Clinic!  Actually, even if your little one hasn't been participating in the series prior to this, they saved the best for last - it is the Locomotive!  Go here to choose a location and register for this fun and free project!
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12/19-  Want to end your weekend with a beautiful walk in the quiet, crisp outdoors?  How about doing it a stone's throw from downtown?  It's time for Wash Park's second annual Luminaria night - from 4-9pm on Sunday the houses that surround Washington Park will have their drives and walks lit up with the paper lanterns to light up one of the shortest nights of the year.  So go wander in the park and stare out at the glow as the darkness takes hold.  You will rarely hear ME say this, but wouldn't it be pretty with just a little snow?
More details here.
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Every Weekend:

Christmas comes to Olde Town Golden weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas - each weekend there is a parade on Saturday morning, free horse drawn carriage rides, and lots of other family friendly activities to get you in the holiday spirit.  Check out Golden's website for more information.
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 Outdoor skating is back in Downtown Denver - and it is FREE!!! (Well, if you have skates.) The rink at Skyline Park is open for the season through January 31st.  It is free to skate, and skate rental, if needed, is only 2 bucks! Go here to get info on hours, and also bookmark the site as they will be offering free skate rental days for the little ones throughout the season! (Much cheaper than the Belmark rink's prices - or One Boulder Plaza for that matter - though you can skate as long as you like there for the cost of admission.) They also do fun events at the rink - see the full schedule here!  **This Saturday Morning is another learn to skate clinic for the kiddos!**
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Fridays - Same old Friday night Happy Hour got ya down? Looking for a healthy way to unwind and get your weekend started? YOU GOT IT! Thanks to Luluemon stores (like our location in Cherry Creek) who offer free Friday evening yoga events each week! Here is the info for this week's class. (oh look, there IS wine and chat afterwards. In yoga AND in life, balance is important.) There are locations in Boulder and Lone Tree as well, see the website for details.
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Fridays -Friday Night Live at Tony's Market Bistro is a fabulous way to enjoy some VERY reasonably priced drinks along with live music from 6p.m.-9p.m. Friday evening, and their rotating list of happy hour bites is always a step above your normal bar nosh! See here for current info.
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Saturdays- Amendment XXI in LoHi does free wine tastings every Saturday from 3pm-7pm. You can go here to get directions and subscribe to their mailing list so you can get info on upcoming tasting selections.
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Saturdays - Craving your farmer's market fix?  Good news, My Favorite FM is open year round! Denver Urban Homesteading's Market -Saturdays 9am-2pm. (The DUH farmer's market is also open Wed, Thur, Fri 1-6, too!)


Still searching for the perfect fun and frugal weekend activities?
Try these sites:
Denver365 Free Events page
Tattered Cover Bookstore Events
Denver Public Library Events

If you know of other fabulous and low-cost or free activities or events happening in and around the Mile High City this weekend, shout 'em out in the comments section below!
As always, if you have an upcoming event you would like listed in The Weekender (or any other tips for DiD,) email the details to :Keri@ItsTheAltitudeDenver.com