JANUARY HAPPENINGS
Cowboys on horseback move a herd of longhorn cattle through the streets of downtown. The January event is part of the traditional kickoff of Denver’s annual National Western Stock Show. File photo by Reid Neureiter
Stock Show Kicks Off Jan. 8
Denver’s National Western Stock Show kicks off on Jan. 8 with the annual public parade of 30 longhorn cattle through the heart of downtown Denver. Trailing the cattle will be horses, wagons, and marching bands. This year’s National Western parade Grand Marshal is Pete Coors. The parade starts at noon at Union Station and proceeds down 17th Street.
The Stock Show runs through Jan. 25 at the National Western Complex, about four miles northwest of Park Hill. The event features dozens of rodeos, livestock judging competitions, dancing horse shows, fiddle competitions, rabbit shows, swing and line dancing, auctions, exhibitions and booths.
Specialty rodeos include the “Colorado versus The World” rodeo, the Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza, PBR bull riding, the Pink Pro Rodeo and the MLK Jr. African American Heritage Rodeo.
For the full schedule and ticket info check out nationalwestern.com
Barrel racing, bronc riding and calf roping at the National Western Stock Show. File photos by Reid Neureiter
MLK, Jr. Marade Is Jan. 19
Denver’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Marade is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 19.
The Denver Marade (March + Parade) is one of the largest celebrations commemorating the 97th birthday of the civil rights leader. Tens of thousands of participants gather at the MLK, Jr. statue in the southwest area of City Park beginning at 10 a.m. The Marade is scheduled to begin its march to the Colorado State Capitol at 11:45 a.m., after a series of speeches by local politicos and dignitaries.
The Marade procession has changed slightly this year, due to Bus Rapid Transit construction on Colfax and at Civic Center Park. Participants will still march down the Esplanade in front of East High School to Colfax, then west on Colfax, ending at Lincoln Veteran’s Memorial Park (the park west of the Capitol). There will be not be a closing ceremony this year.
Check the website drmartinlkingjrchc.org and the organizing group’s Facebook page DrMLKJrColoradoHolidayCommission for updates. Everyone is welcome.
Jewish Film Fest Jan. 22-Feb. 1
The 30th annual Denver Jewish Film Festival kicks off Thursday, Jan. 22, with the film The Ring and concludes on Sunday, Feb. 1, with the film Match Making 2. The festival is at the Mizel Arts and Culture Center at the Jewish Community Center south of Park Hill at 350 S. Dahlia St.
The 2026 festival includes a lineup of 40 films written or directed by Jewish people or with a connection to Jewish culture, identity, history, or contemporary issues. Also on tap are in-person screenings, filmmaker Q&As and special events. For a complete list of films and events and to purchase tickets, visit tickets.jccdenver.org/djff.
Cleo Parker Robinson Celebrates New Space
The Cleo Parker Robinson Center for the Healing Arts is set to celebrate the grand opening and community ribbon-cutting for its new, 25,000-square-foot wing on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 10 a.m. A week of public events and celebrations are planned, coinciding with Denver’s annual celebrations of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday.
The new, $25 million wing is located next to the National Historic Landmark Shorter AME facility at 119 Park Avenue West in Five Points. Dance and fitness classes, performances, arts-in-education programming, and advocacy are all planned to take place at the facility.
In a press release, Cleo Parker Robinson, founder and artistic director, describes the new space as “reflect[ing] the light carried by our ancestors, founders, dancers, artists, staff, students, board members and decades of volunteers and supporters who continue to build what we have today.”
Check out cleoparkerdance.org for more information about the new wing and planned events.
Clerk & Recorder Is On The Move
The Denver Clerk & Recorder has moved all services from the Webb Building downtown to its main headquarters at 200 W. 14th Ave. The move was designed to centralize services, including marriage licenses, land transaction recordings, deeds of trust, foreclosure services and other legal filings.
The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. except for city holidays and weekends. Upon arrival, visitors must pass through security. Once inside, Public Trustee and Recording services are located at the counters to the right. Have questions or need assistance? Call 720-865-8400.