I’ve gathered a range of activities to celebrate the start of the season — find something you like and head outside.
Take an Artistic Rest at SeeSaw Art Gallery
There are few things summer is better for than getting some relaxation time, something that SeeSaw Art Gallery, 5 W. Radcliff Ave. in Englewood, is celebrating with its new exhibition, Rest Awhile. It’s on display until Aug. 3.
The first solo show from artist Amanda K. Snyder, Rest Awhile “reflects on how oftentimes it’s the carefree moments in life that are relished most; the instances when there’s permission to relax, let go and reflect,” according to provided information. They become cherished memories and moments we aspire to return to. The exhibit features “rediscovered” mid-century paintings that capture familiar places of leisure.
Find more information at www.seesawgallery.com.
Thornton Pride Throws a Retro Beach Party
The City of Thornton is celebrating Pride Month in the perfect summer way — with a Retro Beach Party.
The free event is held from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 21 at the Thornton Arts and Culture Center and Lu Murray Park, 9209 Dorothy Blvd. Attendees are encouraged to dress for the beach and have fun putting together an outfit.
At the Culture Center visitors will enjoy live entertainment and more, while at Lu Marray Park, visitors can dance to music from a DJ and other live performers. They can also dine at food trucks and participate in a range of activities, including arts and crafts, cornhole, limbo, face-painting, beach ball volleyball and more.
This is a great way to blend all the fun of summer with the important recognition of the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. All the details are available at www.thorntonco.gov/community-culture/festivals-events/2025-thornton-pride.
Plenty of Music and Tasty Food at Edgewater Music Festival
Delicious barbeque and killer blues music just seem to go together, which is one of the reasons that people flock to Edgewater every year for the annual Edgewater Music Festival.
The 28th iteration is from 2 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, June 21 at Citizen’s Park, 5401 W. 22nd Ave. All the proceeds from the event benefit Habitat for Humanity Metro Denver and other affordable housing programs.
Some new features this year include a Harley-Davidson raffle and two stages of live music, including performers like Hand Turkey, Wild Love Tigress and Chris Daniels and the Kings.
Attendees will get to peruse the wares of a fun and eclectic range of vendors, like Puppet Me This, The Metaphysical Shop and Skultin Wire Works. And don’t forget the food—it’s a critical and finger-licking component to the proceedings.
For more information and tickets, visit www.edgewatercomusicfestival.com.
Work Up a Sweat at Lakewood’s Family Fun Day
Summer is the time when you want to be outside and getting really active, so the City of Lakewood is throwing an event to let families do just that.
Lakewood’s Family Fun Day is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 21 at Carmody Park, 2200 S. Kipling St. The aim of the free event is to celebrate fitness for all ages and features a variety of ways to get going.
Some of the events people can participate in are a color run, scooter obstacle course and sports and fitness demos, including Zumba, hip-hop and pickleball. There also will be water games, parachute play and a gymnastics course. Fun prizes will be available for some of the winners.
Attendees can bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the park and then get a cold treat from Kona Ice to cap things off.
More information is available at www.Lakewood.org/FamilyFunDay.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Tash Sultana at Red Rocks
Australia’s Tash Sultana is one of those musicians that once you catch wind of, you wonder where they’ve been your whole life. The singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist writes tunes that can get under your skin, with immaculate grooves and a sly wit. There’s elements of pop, blues, R&B and even hip-hop in their music. Plus, Sultana is a top-tier guitarist but can play just about anything — and often does.
Sultana is coming to Red Rocks, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway in Morrison, at 8 p.m. on Friday, June 20. It’ll be a great evening of music under the stars, so get tickets at www.axs.com.
Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.