There’s only a few days left in the year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still have some fun and learn something in the process! One of the great things about living in Denver is the variety of cultural activities available year-round.

Art by Lola Montejo, from Core New Art Space

Here’s some quick highlights of New Year’s activities at Denver’s many museums, galleries, and other cultural institutions:

• Admission at The Denver Art Museum is free for children 18 and under through January 1st! And yes, the museum will be open the day of New Year’s Eve. Look on the DAM website for information on the different guided tours available throughout the day.
• If you need a family-friendly event that won’t keep your kids up past bedtime, The Children’s Museum of Denver is ringing in the new year throughout the day with its annual Noon Year’s Eve celebration. Check the schedule for information on activities, including Storytime, craft projects, and more!
• Down in the Santa Fe Arts District, Core New Art Space is going to be hosting an early-bird reception for the show “High Times In Madrid,” complete with Spanish tapas, red wine, and disco music.
• Meanwhile, Cluster Studios is hosting its annual “New Year’s Eve soiree,” Howl. This is a bit pricier than museum admission or an art opening, with tickets running $40. The event is based on a the theme “1858,” and will include burlesque, fortune telling, live music, “old-timey” cocktails, and more.
• And finally, if you’re looking for a more “adult” event complete with delicious, organic, local food, the Denver art and literature institution The Mercury Cafe is hosting an erotic poetry festival. Word on the street is that there will even be steampunk belly dancers. (As Jenn Wohletz puts it in the Westword, “We’re not certain what parts of the costumes the antique watch fobs will be attached to, but it might be worth finding out.”)