DENVER — Every weekend, Denver7 compiles a list of some fun events you might enjoy. Here are our picks for the 7 best things to do in the Denver metro area and beyond this weekend. Have a fun event you’d like to showcase? Send an email to [email protected].

1. Celebrate all things cycling during Bike Fest in Denver this Saturday

If you love to roll around town in two wheels and want to expand your social circle with other people who get around town the same way, head to the very first Denver Bike Fest this weekend. Happening Saturday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at City Park, the fest will be the perfect opportunity to meet other cycling lovers and learn more about bicycling culture. The event is free of charge. More info. here.

2. If big monster trucks are your thing, you’ll want to be at Monster Jam this weekend

Watch the biggest, baddest trucks pull off crazy stunts at Monster Jam. Happening Saturday at 3 p.m. at Empower Field at Mile High, the show will feature a blend of old-school racing and new-school free-style competition. There will also be intermission entertainment. Tickets and info. here.

3. Take a trip down memory lane this weekend during Nostalgia Con at the Colorado Convention Center

If you were a fan of Yu-Gi-Oh!, the original X-Men animated series, Pokémon and many other shows from the 90s and the early 2000s and want to revisit those memories again, head to the Colorado Convention Center for Nostalgia Con! The con is happening all weekend long with celebrity guests, a cosplay contest and more. Tickets and more info. can be found here.

4. Enjoy a Fantastic Rumpus in the Park at Denver’s City Park this Sunday

Celebrate the arrival of spring with a day of fun, frivolity, and music at Denver’s City Park this Sunday. The family-friendly picnic event will also host delicious food truck eats. The Fantastic Rumpus in the Park will happen from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., rain or shine. More info. here.

5. If you like cryptids, you’ll want to go to Bigfoot Days in Estes Park

Estes Park Bigfoot Days is returning for another year to Estes Park this Friday and Saturday, so get ready for the Bigfoot BBQ, an outdoor festival in Bond Park, as well as appearances and talks from TV Bigfoot celebrities and experts, live music, outdoor-themed activities for the whole family, food and drink, a Bigfoot calling contest, area Bigfoot tours and much more! More info. here.

6. Celebrate Día del Niño – for free – at the Denver Art Museum this Sunday

If you like museums and need something to do with the kiddos this weekend for Día del Niño (Children’s Day), head to the Denver Art Museum this Sunday. Museum admission is free and there will be musical performances, artmaking, and more. Denver7’s Anusha Roy will read to children at 11 a.m. More info. here.

7. Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) PurpleStride

The Colorado affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) invites the community to come together at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 26 at City Park to fuel progress for patients by participating in PanCAN PurpleStride®, the ultimate walk to end pancreatic cancer. Denver7 chief investigative reporter Tony Kovaleski will emcee. More info. here.

Uber threatened to halt operations in Colorado if the "Ride Share Safety Bill" becomes law due to privacy concerns from mandatory recordings.

DENVER — Uber announced it would cease operations in Colorado if House Bill 1291, known as the "Ride Share Safety Bill," becomes law. The legislation, which includes mandatory video and audio recording requirements, is expected to move to the state Senate on Monday.

"We fully support smart, effective policies that enhance rider safety," Uber said in a statement. "But as written, this bill goes too far and makes it impossible for Uber to keep operating in Colorado."

The bill would require background checks for drivers every six months, ban hiring of people convicted of certain crimes, and require companies to investigate complaints within 72 hours.

One of the company's primary concerns centers on provisions requiring continuous audio and video recording of all rides with no opt-out option, which Uber claims raises "major privacy concerns" for both drivers and customers.

Jose, an Uber driver in Denver who previously worked as a cook for 30 years, expressed mixed feelings about the potential legislation.

"Actually, that can be good because for my security, that would be good," Jose said of the recording requirement. However, he also believes drivers should have input on the regulations, adding, "We should have an option to say yes or no. We are the drivers, we do the thing, you know?"

State Representative Jenny Willford, who introduced the bill, spoke with 9NEWS about her connection to the issue.

"I came forward with my story after earlier this year sharing that I had been sexually assaulted by a ride-share driver last February," Willford said.

She dismissed privacy concerns about the recording requirements, stating, "Anywhere you go these days, there is a camera. You get in the car, you drive down the street, and there is a camera. You go to the grocery store, you check out, and there is a camera."

Rideshare company Lyft also expressed reservations about the legislation.

"We believe there is a compromise that can be reached that would be beneficial for both riders and drivers, but there are several aspects of the bill that would make implementation extremely problematic," the company stated.

Beyond mandatory recordings, the bill would also prohibit drivers from offering customers snacks and bottled water, with Uber potentially being held responsible if drivers violated this provision.

If passed, the legislation would affect thousands of Colorado residents who rely on rideshare services.

"Tens of thousands of Coloradans would lose flexible earning opportunities, and hundreds of thousands could lose a key way to get to work, school, or the doctor," Uber warned.

Many drivers like Jose, who switched to Uber after decades in another profession, would need to find alternative employment.

"Doing Uber is a really good option not only for me, even for people who were laid off," he said.

Both rideshare companies indicated they are open to working with legislators on a compromise that addresses safety concerns while allowing them to continue operating in the state.

Colorado braces for possible severe weather south and east of Denver, with hail and wind threats looming Wednesday afternoon.

DENVER — Colorado is preparing for its first severe weather risk of the season on Wednesday.

The region will have a chance at severe weather as a trough of low pressure and warm temperatures fuel afternoon showers and storms on Wednesday.

Those storms will move from west-to-east, first developing around the Interstate 25 corridor mid-to-late Wednesday afternoon. The storms will have a limited hail and damaging wind threat, and that risk will increase the further east you go from Denver. There's a small hail risk in Denver, but the risk for large hail will be higher from Deer Trail and Greeley on east.

Storms clear out Wednesday night, but we'll have another round of storms Thursday. Those could carry a slightly higher severe weather risk if we can clear out our skies enough.

Highs will be in the mid-60s with more clouds Thursday, with storms in the mid-to-late afternoon with a hail and wind threat once again.

Credit: KUSA

Severe storm risk for 4-23-25.

Friday will feature more of a northerly upslope wind, meaning cooler and grayer weather with scattered showers throughout the day and a high only in the low 60s in Denver.

We'll clear out and warm up this weekend, with highs in the 70s on Saturday and near 80 on Sunday under mostly sunny skies, though we could see a few storms east on Saturday in particular.

Next week starts unsettled with showers possible Monday through Wednesday and highs in the 60s.

Credit: KUSA

Storms for Wednesday 4-23-25.

Denver forecast

Credit: KUSA

Update 5:12 p.m.: The FAA issued a ground stop for flights out of DIA until at least 5:30 p.m. due to thunderstorms.

Update 3:45 p.m.: A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for a large swath of southeast Colorado, with tornadoes, 2-inch hail and high winds possible, forecasters said.

The storm could impact people living near Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Burlington, La Junta and Lamar -- roughly 1 million residents altogether, according to the National Weather Service.

Wind gusts up to 70 mph are also possible through 10 p.m.

Update at 3:35 p.m.: More than 500 flights were delayed at Denver International Airport on Thursday afternoon as thunderstorms brought high winds, hail and the threat of tornadoes to metro Denver and the Eastern Plains.

Update 3:15 p.m.: National Weather Service forecasters issued a tornado warning for Elizabeth until 3:30 p.m.

A tornado is indicated on the weather radar and quarter-sized hail is also possible, forecasters said.

The area includes five schools and around 6,200 people.

Update 2:55 p.m.: A severe thunderstorm could bring half-dollar-sized hail, strong winds and a tornado to portions of Arapahoe, Douglas and Elbert counties this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the northeast corner of Douglas County, southern Arapahoe County and northwest Elbert County until 3:15 p.m.

There's also a severe thunderstorm warning in effect for people living north of Denver International Airport along Interstate 76, including Lochbuie, Hudson and Keenesburg.

This is a developing story and may be updated.

Previous reporting: Severe thunderstorms will continue Thursday across Colorado's Eastern Plains, bringing up to tennis-ball-sized hail and damaging winds, according to the National Weather Service.

The strongest chance for severe weather will be between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Thursday in southeastern Colorado, forecasters said. There will also be a low risk of tornadoes during that time, mostly along the Colorado-Kansas border.

Tennis-ball-sized hail, about 2 1/2 inches in diameter, was recorded Wednesday near Matheson in Elbert County, according to NWS records. Hail about 1 3/4 inches in diameter, the size of a golf ball, fell in Elbert, Limon and along the Colorado-Kansas border.

Any hail that's larger than an inch across, about the size of a quarter, is considered "severe," according to meteorologists.

Forecasters expect hail of that size to return Thursday afternoon across the Eastern Plains.

Strong winds up to 65 mph will also buffet eastern Colorado, forecasters said. Non-tornado winds above 50 mph are classified as “damaging” by NWS meteorologists.

Rain showers are forecast for Denver between noon and 3 p.m. Thursday, with thunderstorms developing later in the afternoon and lasting through midnight, according to NWS forecasters. It's unlikely the metro area will see the same level of hail and wind as the Eastern Plains.

Cool, rainy weather will continue across Colorado on Friday before warm, dry weather returns for the weekend, forecasters said.

The sudden drop in precipitation could bring elevated fire danger, according to a NWS Hazardous Weather Outlook.

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Originally Published: April 24, 2025 at 7:02 AM MDT