Find Your New Favorite Movie | November 1-12
Help celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Denver Film Festival by getting red carpet ready for plenty of national and international film fun. In the past, this festival has attracted a star-studded crowd (last year, Emma Stone was even in attendance), which makes Denver feel all the more like Hollywood during this twelve day event. Click here to find out how to snag a $5 ticket.

Photo by Jason DeWitt.

Celebrate Art in the Mile High City | November 3-11
For nine days, Denver Arts Week invites Centennial State residents to enjoy all things art related in the Mile High City. More than 300 galleries, museums, concert venues, and theaters will be participating and offering a variety of discounts (like a free night at the museums on November 4), so there’s no doubt that everybody will be able to find something they enjoy. Free or discounted entry fees

Spend an Afternoon with Lions, Tigers, and Bears | November 3, 6, and 16
For three different days in November, the Denver Zoo will open up to the public for free of cost, which means the whole family can enjoy a day spent with the wild things. Home to over 4,000 different animals ranging from adorable Red Pandas to scaly Komodo Dragons, you should be able to find your favorite animal amongst the crowd. Free

Feel like You’re Living in the 1920s | November 4
Travel back in time for a night filled with swing dancing, live music, and cocktails at the Five Points Stomp at The Savoy in Curtis Park. Seasoned swing dancers and newcomers to the high-paced dance alike are invited, with plenty of opportunities to watch, learn, and participate. If you’re not much of a dancer, there’s no reason you can’t just sit back and sip on a cocktail in your best black and white outfit. $15

Become One with Nature | November 5
If you’ve never experienced the joy of seeing 1,600 brightly colored butterflies flying about, then you should take advantage of $5 Day at the Butterfly Pavilion. On Sunday November 5 only, bug-lovers are invited to explore the home over over 5,000 different bugs and critters for only $5. From strolling through lush gardens filled with butterflies, to learning about underwater invertebrates, this will be an afternoon that’s fun for the whole family. $5

Photo by the Butterfly Pavilion.

Help Summon the Snow Gods | November 9
If the cold weather has you itching for deep powder days in Vail’s Back Bowls, you might want to get yourself to REI Denver’s Pray for Snow Pre-Season Bash to help encourage the snow gods to work their magic. At this wacky winter-centric event, skiers and riders alike are invited to break out their best retro-ski wear for a funky fashion show, or if you’re not feeling the neon, you can kick back and watch athletes get sendy in Teton Gravity Research’s latest film, Rogue Elements. Guests are even invited to throw back plenty of brews from 10 Barrel Brewing Company, as 100 percent of beer sales will be donated to Protect Our Winters, a Boulder-based nonprofit that is dedicated to combatting climate change and its destructive consequences. Did we mention that there will also be a burning of a giant cactus covered in Twinkies? (Yes, you read that right. We think that this is what entices those snow gods we mentioned.) Free

Enjoy a Cup of Coffee While Soothing Your Sore Muscles | November 10
Notorious for truly outrageous events (past themes have included taking glamour shots while taking mystery shots of alcohol, crafting lucky charms to keep evil at bay, etc.), the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) is featuring another original event that is likely to attract an eccentric crowd. At this MCA Black Sheep Friday event, Coffee Tasting and Cupping Therapy, guests can enjoy coffee samples while trying out the strange muscle therapy that Michael Phelps made famous during the 2016 Rio Olympics. $5

Get into the Holiday Spirit | November 24
Head to the city’s iconic Union Station for the Grand Illumination of the historic downtown landmark. LoDo will be filled with an abundance of Christmas cheer, as carolers, holiday-themed treats and drinks, and of course, the red and green lighting of Union Station, will officially help kick off the Christmas season in Denver. Free

Enjoy a Lazy Date with Netflix  | Anytime in November 
The long-awaited film based a novel from the late and great Colorado author Kent Haruf, Our Souls at Night, is finally on Netflix. The touching film stars Robert Redford and Jane Fonda. The second season of Stranger Things is also now on Netflix, so why not dedicate a day to binge watching two applauded works of cinematography? Free with a Netflix subscription

Give Back to the Community | Anytime in November 
This time of year is about way more than turkey and football, which is why spending a day at a local organization like the Denver Rescue Mission, Food Bank of the Rockies, or Cafe 180 is a great idea. All of these organizations offer various volunteer opportunities for the young and the old, so that way the entire family can feel involved this holiday season. Free