COLORADO, USA — It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Colorado this weekend.

Santa Claus has flown to Castle Rock to help light a 55-foot Christmas tree. Holiday craft shows are scheduled in Aurora, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Evergreen, Boulder, Frederick and Castle Rock. There are also festivals honoring cats and bighorn sheep. Doja Cat and Burna Boy are performing at Colorado’s largest arena.

From the mountains to the plains, here are some fun events you’ll only find in Colorado this November weekend. Don’t forget to share your weekend photos with the “Near Me” feature on the 9NEWS app.

> Have an event you’d like included in 9Things? Send it to us.

DENVER — The annual Denver Veterans Day Parade & Festival moves to Denver’s City Park on Saturday. The family-friendly event offers free admission, a music stage, kids and family activities, military displays, and vendors. The parade and festival are free to attend and will include marching bands, floats, car clubs, military reenactments, local vendors and more. A 5K and 10K run begin at 9 a.m. Saturday. The parade and festival will be held at City Park after the runs.

LONGMONT — Longmont celebrates Veterans Day with an annual community parade in downtown. The parade starts on Eighth Avenue and travels south on Main Street to Third Avenue. The parade then turns north onto Coffman Street and ends at Roosevelt Park. The Veterans Day Parade steps off at 11:11 a.m. Saturday.

CASTLE ROCK — It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Outlets of Castle Rock. The center’s 55-foot white fir Christmas tree has arrived on a flatbed truck from Mt. Shasta in northern California. Outlets at Castle Rock will hold its annual tree lighting event and concert on Saturday at 4 p.m. with live music from Radio Band, Jessie Wilson, and Caleb Lee Hutchinson, an appearance by Santa Claus, and fireworks.

RELATED: Huge Christmas tree arrives in Castle Rock from California

COLORADO SPRINGS — The 39th annual Trees of Life community tree lighting ceremony takes place Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum. The event culminates with an outdoor ceremony where loved ones are remembered in each light that is illuminated. If you’d like to remember someone special during Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care’s Trees of Life ceremony, visit PikesPeakHospice.org.

GEORGETOWN — The annual Georgetown Bighorn Sheep Festival takes place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hosted by Join Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Town of Georgetown, the free festival for all ages offers crafts, music, educational programs, hikes, tours, music, vendors and more at the Gateway Visitor Center, Library Park and other points throughout Georgetown.

DENVER — Cat Fest Colorado — the ultimate celebration of all things cat — is at the National Western Expo Hall on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The show has doubled in size since last year and will feature celebrity cats, cat video café, mystical Egyptian cat temple, 15 cat adoption booths, more than 100 cat-themed vendors, cat history, cat crafts, costume contest, and TICA Cat Show.

AURORA — The Colorado Freedom Memorial will present its 7th annual “Light Their Way Home” luminaria display on the grounds of the Colorado Freedom Memorial from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. from Thursday through Saturday. There will be a short opening ceremony beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday. The display features more than 6,218 glass luminarias, one for each Colorado veteran killed in action since our statehood in 1876. There will also be a presentation of a 16-minute video, which will be projected onto the entire 40-by-200-foot wall of the warehouse building located just to the east of the memorial.

COLORADO SPRINGS — Colorado Springs opens its ice-skating rink for the season on Friday. A grand opening celebration will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday as Colorado Springs prepares to celebrate the holidays. Tickets are $10 and that includes skate rentals. Located downtown along Tejon Street at Acacia Park, Colorado Springs’ Skate in the Park rink will be open most days through Jan. 31.

DENVER — After canceling a performance at Empower Field last summer, Grammy Award winner Doja Cat is coming back to Denver this weekend. Doja Cat will bring “The Scarlet Tour” to Ball Arena in Denver on Friday with special guest Doechii. Tickets start at $70 at Ticketmaster.com. Doja Cat had been scheduled to open for The Weeknd at Empower Field at Mile High in August 2022, but dropped out so she could recover from surgery on her tonsils.

DENVER — Nigerian artist Burna Boy will bring his “I Told Them… Tour” to Denver’s Ball Arena on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available starting at $50 at Ticketmaster.com. In July, Burna Boy became the first Nigerian artist to headline a stadium in the United States, headlining a concert at New York City’s Citi Field. He was also the first African to headline a stadium in the United Kingdom and was the first Nigerian artist to sell out Madison Square Garden in New York City.

DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche end a three-game homestand on Saturday. The Avs host the St. Louis Blues at Ball Arena in Denver at 7 p.m. Ticketmaster.com is the source for certified tickets.

COLORADO SPRINGS — The Gift Spectacular is the holiday shopping event of the year taking place at the Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs.  The curated marketplace will feature one of-a-kind seasonal items, handcrafted goods, holiday gift ideas, specialty foods, home décor, and unique holiday gifts. There will be local exhibitors, live music, alcoholic seasonal drinks, food trucks and family fun.

LITTLETON — The Columbine High School Holiday Craft Fair is back this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $2.

AURORA — The Holiday Craft Fair at Cherokee High School will showcase local hand-crafted gifts, goodies and gifts. The show runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

DENVER — Get an early start on your holiday shopping at the 44th Annual Mile High Holiday Mart from Friday through Sunday at Gates Field House on the University of Denver campus. Immerse yourself in the holiday spirit at the Junior League of Denver’s largest fundraising event featuring unique merchandise, a central location, and a festive environment.

AURORA — More than 95 artisans will be on hand for this weekend’s 46th annual Applewood Arts Festival in Aurora. The festival, held Saturday and Sunday at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds, will have new artisans, handmades, re-purposed finds, craft food creations and more. Tickets are $6.

BOULDER — Pearl Street Mall will be home to the Firefly Handmade Holiday Market with more than 80 artisans offering art, ceramics, artisanal food/beverage, jewelry, accessories, home goods, skincare/wellness and adult/children’s apparel. Live music and local shops, restaurants and bars will be part of this holiday shopping experience on Saturday and Sunday.

> Have an event tip? Send it here.

HIGHLANDS RANCH — More than 100 vendors will be at the Holiday Gift Fair with hand-crafted gifts, jewelry, pottery, wooden crafts, wreaths, glass, hand-knit items, holiday gifts and bath products. The show runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Eastridge Recreation Center.

FREDERICK — More than 40 craft and home-based business vendors will be selling their one-of-a-kind creations at the Carbon Valley Recreation Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free to the 20th annual Holiday Marketplace.

EVERGREEN — The 23rd annual Alternative Gift Fair features 30 unique crafters and nonprofits from around the world. The fair is an arts festival where all vendors represent nonprofits, with a theme of giving twice. The fair is Saturday and Sunday at Evergreen Lutheran Church. 

CASTLE ROCK — Rue De Noel: A Paris Street Christmas Market is an indoor, two-day holiday market with vintage, antiques, artisans, apparel, holiday décor and more. The market opens at 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday at the Douglas County Events Center with free admission and free parking.

EAGLE — The Eagle Winter Market & Holiday Fair arrives Saturday at the Eagle River Center. The event will offer one-stop shopping for those who crave must-have holiday crafts, beauty products, food and more. Santa Claus will be on hand for family photos and there will be face painting, coloring and adult refreshments. The market, which is free and open to the public, runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

> Have an event tip? Send it here.

DENVER —One of the Brown Palace Hotel & Spa’s best traditions, the 35th annual Champagne Cascade, will be held Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kickstarting the holiday season, the annual event features swordsman using sabers to sever the bottlenecks of Moet & Chandon champagne and then pouring into the uppermost glass of an two-story high, 5,200+ champagne glass pyramid. Proceeds support Make-A-Wish Colorado.

DENVER — The Chili, Booze & Brews is a chili, booze and brews competition featuring unlimited samples from Colorado craft breweries, small-batch distilleries and local restaurants. The fun begins at 6 p.m. Saturday at Highlands Mason Temple. The food and beverage competition benefits The Morgan Adams Foundation.

DENVER — La Rumba, a Latin dance-focused nightclub that opened in the Golden Triangle neighborhood in 1997, will celebrate 26 years in business on Saturday. There will be live salsa by Sabor de la Calle and Latin rhythms by DJ Zafiro, dance lessons, and giveaways. The club has a “dress to impress” code detailed here.

DENVER — Part of Denver’s Veterans Day celebration is the Denver Veterans Day Run at City Park at 9 a.m. Saturday. Participants have the choice between 5K, 10K and virtual options that are open to runners, joggers, walkers, kids of all ages. Proceeds from registration fees go directly to helping Colorado’s veterans through the Colorado Veterans Project. Online registration is open at DenverVeteransDay.com.

LONGMONT — The 48th annual Longmont Turkey Trot begins Saturday at 9 a.m. The scenic, fast event offers two-mile and 10K courses. Proceeds from this weekend’s event benefit the City of Longmont Recreation Services Youth Scholarship Fund. To register for the Longmont Turkey Trot, visit LongmontColorado.gov.

FRISCO — Town of Frisco will host the 9th annual Girls on the Run 5K on Saturday. The celebratory, non-competitive event is the culminating experience of a 10-week program, which is open to girls from third to fifth grades. This 5K race is not just open to Girls on the Run participants, but is also open to anyone in the community who wants to challenge themselves with a November run along Dillon Reservoir. This untimed, fun run will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, at Summit Middle School.

BOULDER — Colorado head coach Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes play their final home game of the 2023 season this Saturday. Sanders and the Buffaloes (4-5) host the Arizona Wildcats (6-3) in Boulder. Saturday’s game will kickoff at noon. The game is the final home game of the season at Folsom Field, which is celebrating its 100th season. In September, Colorado announced it had sold out all its home football games for the first time ever.

RELATED: Deion Sanders speaks to media as Colorado prepares for its final home game

• Saturday, Nov. 11, at 5 p.m.
• Canvas Stadium, Fort Collins
• Tickets at CSURams.com

• Saturday, Nov. 11, at 12 p.m.
• Ray Dennison Field, Durango
• Tickets at GoSkyHawks.com

DENVER — The interest of jewelry aficionados will be piqued this weekend when the International Gem & Jewelry Show arrives at the Crowne Plaza Denver Airport. Held Friday to Sunday, the show is open to the public. Guests can shop directly from designers, wholesalers and manufacturers for diamonds, engagement rings, pearls, gemstones, fine jewelry, home décor, hair accessories, men’s jewelry, watches and gifts. Tickets are $6 at Intergem.com.

DENVER — 13th Floor Haunted House will remain open for its annual Blackout weekend on Friday and Saturday where monsters and mayhem lurk in total darkness. All lights inside the attraction are turned off and groups will only be allowed to have a glow stick guide them through.

DENVER — There is no better venue for live music in the country than Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre. This is the final weekend left to enjoy a concert at the iconic venue before the winter break. Concerts at Red Rocks Amphitheatre are scheduled through Sunday, Nov. 12, when Of the Trees with Barclay Crenshaw, Yheti, kLL sMTH, and The Librarian close out the 2023 season.

RELATED: Red Rocks hosting final weekend of concerts

DENVER — Opera Colorado’s production of Mozart’s classic masterpiece “Don Giovanni” is underway in Denver. Performed in Italian, with English and Spanish subtitles at every seat, the opera promises to “sweep you away with its fine balance of comedy and tragedy, showing us the road to hell is paved with bad intentions.” “Don Giovanni,” which premiered on Oct. 29, 1787, will be performed at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House at Denver Performing Arts Complex on Friday and Sunday.

DENVER — The 46th Annual Denver Film Festival runs through Sunday, Nov. 12. In addition to the film screenings, the Denver Film Festival has special events, including filmmaker Q&A sessions, panel discussions, workshops, receptions, and industry networking opportunities.

DENVER — Denver Arts Week goes through Saturday Nov. 11. The annual celebration of arts and culture in Denver helps to make art accessible to everyone and celebrates the countless talented artists in the community.

“Visit Denver established Denver Arts Week more than a decade ago, and Denver Arts & Venues has been presenting events to celebrate the week since the first year,” said Shanna Shelby, exhibition curator for Denver Arts & Venues. “This year, we are thrilled to present three free events connected to our Buell Theatre and McNichols Building exhibitions, plus a fall edition of one of our Denver Public Art Tours.”

DENVER — Mysteries of the Ice Ages is the newest exhibition at Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Embark on a journey through Earth’s icy history and discover the fascinating stories of ice and adaptation through hundreds of artifacts, fossils, models and interactive experiences. Guests will see authentic tools and artifacts, some never before exhibited, used by Neanderthals, early humans and Arctic peoples, and discover lands lost long ago under the world’s oceans.

DENVER — “Clyde’s” is a new comedy by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage and directed by Jamil Jude. At Clyde’s, formerly incarcerated individuals cook up meals that range from sublime to soul-crushing. Their kitchen mentor guides them on a quest to create the perfect sandwich – and reclaim their lives. Each cook must face their demons on their personal journeys towards purpose, self-worth, and even salvation. “Clyde’s” plays the Kilstrom Theatre at the Denver Performing Arts Complex through Nov. 26.

AURORA — “Cadillac Crew” has opened at Vintage Theatre in Aurora. “Cadillac Crew” reclaims the stories of the forgotten leaders who blazed the trail for desegregation and women’s rights. Performances are Fridays, Saturdays and Monday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 to $34 and available by calling 303-856-7830 or VintageTheatre.org. “Cadillac Crew” plays through Sunday, Nov. 26.

“Five Nights at Freddy’s” repeated its first-place ranking last weekend, followed by “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” still going strong as Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla” expanded nationwide.

New this weekend, Marvel and Disney release the next superhero sequel “The Marvels” starring Academy Award winner Brie Larson.

• The Marvels

1. “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” $19.4 million.
2. “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” $13.5 million.
3. “Killers of the Flower Moon,” $7 million.
4. “Priscilla,” $5.1 million.
5. “Radical,” $2.7 million.
6. “The Exorcist: Believer,” $2.2 million.
7. “After Death,” $2 million.
8. “Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie,” $2 million.
9. “What Happens Later,” $1.6 million.
10. “Freelance,” $1.3 million.

> Would you like to see your favorite Colorado festival, fair, expo, concert, drama, musical, ballet, run or event listed in 9Things? Send it to [email protected].

Have a fun  weekend! 

SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Colorado Guide

Subscribe to our daily 9NEWSLETTER

Download the 9NEWS APP
iTunes: http://on9news.tv/itunes
Google Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n 

ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KUSA.

For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for “9news” to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.