VISUAL ART
They blanket the arts
Saturday. Quilts. No fans of any artistic form are more passionate and enthusiastic than devotees of quilts. So, expect an exhibition opening Saturday and running through Feb. 7 at the Longmont Museum & Cultural Center, 400 Quail Road, to be a hit. The show, titled “Connecting Threads: Traditional and Contemporary Quilts,” features quilts made between 1845 and 1998 from the museum’s holdings and a private collection. Also on view will be recent creations by the Front Range Contemporary Quilters. A public reception is set for 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 4. Viewing hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays, with late hours on Wednesdays to 8 p.m. Free. 303-651-8374 or . Kyle MacMillan
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Mozart Moment
Sunday.Chamber Music. No classical composer is more beloved than Mozart. Three of his masterworks will be showcased at 2 p.m. Sunday in an Englewood Arts program titled “Mozart Musicale” in Hampden Hall, on the second level of the Englewood Civic Center, 1000 Englewood Parkway. The concert will feature Up Close and Musical, a chamber orchestra composed of musicians from the Colorado Symphony, with flutist Catherine Peterson and oboist Monica Hanulik as soloists. On the line-up will be the composer’s Flute Quartet in D major, Oboe Quartet in F major and Symphony No. 35, “Haffner.” $15, $12 seniors and $5 youth. 303-806-8196 or . Kyle MacMillan
Love to hear percussion
Sunday. Percussion Music. It has become an annual tradition. Each Sunday after Thanksgiving, the percussionists of the Colorado Symphony — William Hill, John Kinzie, Terry Smith and Steve Hearn — team with a group of guest artists for a program titled “Drums of the World.” This year’s version, which will take place at 2:30 p.m. in Boettcher Concert Hall, will include such works as Christopher Rouse’s “Ku-Ka Ilimoku,”Mario Gaetano’s “Junk Funk” and Thierry de May’s “Musique de Table.” $25, $12.50 children. 303-623-7876 or . Kyle MacMillan
POP MUSIC
Joyful duo
Sunday.Vocal rock. It’s fascinating, the idea that power couple Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova had dissolved their intimate relationship by the time they started work on their latest record as the Swell Season, “Strict Joy.” And now the duo claims to be better bandmates than ever. But will this music attract as much attention as their first projects, which circled around the success of the indie film “Once”? The Swell Season plays the Ogden Theatre on Sunday. Tickets, $30, are available via or 303-830-8497. Ricardo Baca
Holiday tradition
Monday.Cowboy poetry and country music. Michael Martin Murphey is a popular name in these here parts, much because of the singer-songwriter’s dedication to celebrating the holiday season with his fans. The owner of six gold records and multiple hits, the Texas-born Murphey has been twanging up the holiday concert circuit for 22 years, and he’ll be back in Denver with a show at the Paramount Theater on Monday. Tickets, $35-$42.50, are available via . Ricardo Baca
FAMILY FUN
Classic yule film on stage
Tonight-Sunday. Movie on stage. The classic holiday movie “A Christmas Story” gets the stage treatment at the Aurora Fox Theatre, starting tonight. Just like the movie, Jean Shepherd’s adaptation tells the story of young Ralphie Parker and his Christmas quest for a Red Ryder BB gun. The Fox has treats planned for opening weekend, too: Tonight, roast marshmallows and meet Santa after the show. On Saturday, adoptable greyhounds from Friends of Retired Greyhounds will “act” in the show, with meet-and-greets before and after the performances. Sunday is special for seniors, with reduced admission and free hot beverages. The play runs through Dec. 20. 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. The Aurora Fox Theatre, 9900 E. Colfax Ave.; 303-739-1970. Tickets are $24 for adults, $20 for students and seniors, $12 for children under age 12. Call to buy tickets in advance. Kathleen St. John
Light up!
Tonight. Holiday kickoff. Denver lights up for the holidays at tonight’s Grand Illumination in Downtown Denver. The sparkles start at Union Station: Before the lights go on at 6:30, visitors can sample treats, listen to a choir, work on a craft project and visit with Dinger Claus — the Rockies’ mascot will be in special holiday uniform. Shortly after, the switch gets flipped on the City and County Building’s classic light display, followed by a “Glow Walk” down the 16th Street Mall with carolers and glow sticks. The event kicks off Downtown Denver’s “Winter in the City” campaign, two months of holiday activities, entertainment and special deals. Entertainment begins at 6 p.m. tonight. Union Station, 17th Street and Wynkoop Street. The countdown at the City and County Building, Bannock Street and Colfax Avenue, begins at 6:45 p.m. Admission is free. Visit for more information. Kathleen St. John
Jazz for juniors
Saturday. Kid concert. The whole family can chill out and be cool at “Jazz for Kids” at the Children’s Museum of Denver. The Saturday Family Showcase features local bass player and composer Michael Friedman. Friedman’s interactive program includes jazzy reworkings of children’s favorites — feel free to snap and hum along. 11 a.m. Saturday. Children’s Museum of Denver, 2121 Children’s Museum Drive; 303-433-7444. Museum admission is $7.50 for guests age 2 to 59, $5.50 for 1-year-olds and seniors age 60 and older. Admission to the concert is an additional $1 per person. Kathleen St. John
Fishy event
Saturday-Sunday. Dining with Santa. It’s a slightly strange combination, but it works: The Downtown Aquarium presents its annual “Breakfast with Santa” events starting this weekend. Each breakfast buffet includes visits from Santa Claus and Sharkey, the Aquarium’s mascot. Photos are encouraged, especially if Santa decides to take a dip in the giant fish tank. The event runs Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 13, and every day Dec. 19-24. Seating begins at 8:30 a.m. Downtown Aquarium, 700 Water St.; 303-561-4450. Breakfast is $14.99 for adults and $7.99 for children ages 3 to 12. Children age 2 and younger are free. Call to make reservations. Kathleen St. John
Making a very big entrance
Tonight. Holiday fest. Downtown Littleton hosts its own celebration of holiday lights tonight at the 26th annual Candlelight Walk and Tree Lighting Ceremony. Live entertainment and music will line Main Street in preparation for Santa’s arrival. At 6:30, he’ll make his way down the street on his way to light up the town Christmas tree. Be sure to pack a camera — Santa and his reindeer will be posing for photos. Food and toy drives will be set up as well. 6 p.m. tonight. Historic Downtown LIttleton, Main Street. Admission is free. Free parking is available at Arapahoe Community College, 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton. Visit for more information. Kathleen St. John
FILM
Plugged in before his time
Thursday.Filmmaker in Person. No rest for the weary at the Starz FilmCenter. The Denver Film Society carries on the spirit of the just concluded Starz Denver Film Festival with its DocNight program. Thursday, director Ondi Timoner will be on hand for her Sundance Award-winning documentary “We Live In Public.” The film introduces audiences to Josh Harris, dubbed “The Greatest Internet Pioneer You’ve Never Heard Of,” who took self-surviellance on the web to radical extremes. Happy 40th Birthday Internet? DocNight, Thurs. 7 p.m.; Starz FilmCenter at the Tivoli, 9th & Auraria Pkwy. $6-$9. For information: 303-820-FILM or . Lisa Kennedy
