Recently in Denver Category

An ocean, a mountain range, and half a continent may separate Colorado from the British Isles, but from September 4-7, Stanley Fairgrounds in Estes Park will become a little outpost of Scotland and Ireland in North America. The Long's Peak Scottish-Irish Highlands Festival brings the best of Scottish and Irish culture to this scenic park near Denver, which boasts sweeping views of the Rocky Mountains and Roosevelt National Forest. The festival features some amazing feats of bravery and strength, from a rousting jousting contest to the famous caber toss, in which big, burly guys take a 15- to 20-foot-long log and attempt to toss it end over end. My back hurts just thinking about it. But it's not all rough-and-tumble excitement. Expect plenty of Highland dance, pipe bands, drum corps, and every type of Irish and Scottish food and drink, from soda bread and shepherd's pie to the ever-present Guinness Stout and Glenfiddich whisky. Estes Park is 50 miles from the Westin Westminster Hotel and 80 miles from the Sheraton Denver West Hotel.

Get into a serious groove at the Mile High Music Festival, in Denver July 19-20. The festival packs an incredible lineup into two days, from headliners Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Dave Matthews Band and John Mayer down the bill to Pinback, Andrew Bird and Leftover Salmon, and even lesser-known openers like Serena Ryder and State Radio. The festival also makes space for local bands, like The Photo Atlas (playing in the video here), who might otherwise never share the stage with some of these greats. The festival grounds are a 20-minute drive from the Sheraton Denver Hotel.

If the festival isn't enough music for you, don't worry, there's plenty more. Check out Hi-Dive, straight south on Broadway from the hotel, where up-and-coming bands cut their teeth (Vampire Weekend played here just before they broke, to all of a dozen people!) The eclectic D Note, in the northwest suburb of Arvada, is putting on a rockabilly show the night before the festival (July 18), which includes a swing dance lesson.

Consider February 29 a bonus day, a full day to do what you want, when you want, how you want. Of course you should have a little fun, do something totally unexpected, something you would never normally do, but while you're at it, why not help out a worthy cause? Shining Stars Foundation, a non-profit company that provides programs for children with cancer, is holding a benefit cocktail gala this Friday, at the Colorado History Museum in Denver.

Called Snowball, the gala's theme is "Leap Around the World" and features food and drink from, you guessed it, around the world, as well as live music and entertainment by funk and soul singer Hazel Miller (pictured) and her band, flamenco dancers, and more. But the coolest thing is, your ticket ($100 in advance, $125 at the door, $1000 for a table for ten) provides access to the museum, so you can take a break from dancing and go explore exhibits like "The Colorado Chronicle" which presents the state's history from 1800 to 1949, or take a look at the dioramas depicting various episodes in Colorado's past. The best time to visit a museum is after hours, and when do we ever get to do that? Only during unusual instances, like on Leap Year it seems.

A choice place to stay would be the Sheraton Denver West Hotel. With spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains or the Denver skyline, it's a perfect place to contemplate all you just learned about the Native Americans and the pioneers who made this land their home on this extra day of 2008.