NEW YEAR’S EVE

So many ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve all around Denver. But the perfect ending, and beginning, is the traditional downtown New Year’s Eve Fireworks over the crowds on the 16th Street Mall. Two shows, 9 p.m. and midnight. Viewing near the middle of downtown near Curtis Street. No need to worry about parking because RTD is offering free bus and rail service  (bus, MetroRide, light rail and commuter rail) starting at 7 p.m. and running through 7 a.m. New Year’s Day. MallRide is free, too, which runs down 15th and 17th Street with the Mall renovation construction underway.

NEW YEAR’S EVE

It’s an early Noon Year’s Eve for the kiddos, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus, 2121 Children’s Museum Drive, ball drops at the top of every hour from 10 a.m.–3 p.m., New Year’s programming, treats from The Teaching Kitchen. Tickets available at the door. mychildsmuseum.org

NEW YEAR’S EVE

New Year’s Torchlight Parades and Fireworks, 5:30-10:30 p.m., at Snowmass Village for skiers and snowboarders ages 8-years-old and older, gosnowmass.com/event/nye-torchlight-parade. Telluride Ski & Snowboard instructors carry torches down the mountain beneath fireworks, 6:30 p.m., telluride.com/festivals-events/events

NEW YEAR’S EVE

Something for the youngsters at WOW! Children’s Museum in Lafayette,110 N. Harrison Ave. Celebrate countdown a few hours early with kids karaoke, museum play time, crafts, refreshments, face and arm painting and noisemakers. Advance registration admission $13 per child, $7 for adults. Party #1 10 a.m.- noon, 68348.blackbaudhosting.com/68348/New-Years-Eve-Party-1 . Party#2, 1-3 p.m., 68348.blackbaudhosting.com/68348/New-Years-Eve-Party-2

NEW YEAR’S EVE

A busy night for all the clubs and restaurants and Denver’s newest nightlife spot, Riot House, has its champagne grand opening at 9 p.m., 1920 Market St. Its sister club is the well-known Riot House in Scottsdale, Ariz. For VIP reservations: riothouse.com/vip-bottle-service. More on Instagram and Facebook.

NEW YEAR’S EVE

Mirrors and fireworks on New Year’s Eve as the Pikes Peak AdAmAn Club makes its 101st annual trek up Pikes Peak. After hiking up the peak and spending the night, on Sunday at noon, weather permitting, the climbers will flash mirrors from timberline to friends, family and the communities far below. At 11:55 p.m. they will set off the New Year’s fireworks that can be seen all along the Front Range.  

THURSDAY-MONDAY

Grab your ice skates for outdoor opportunities this weekend. There’s Arvada’s Skating in the Square under the twinkling lights of the Olde Town Tree, 7305 Grandview Ave., $7-$10, tinyurl.com/ycm2z8fs. Denver’s Downtown Rink is open through Feb. 11, 1601 Arapahoe St., free, skate rentals available, winterindenver.com/rink. The newest addition, in Denver’s LoDo, is McGregor Skate in McGregor Square, 1901 Wazee St., skate rentals and admission $15, bring your skates $6, child $9 or $6 with their own skates, mcgregorsquare.com/events/mcgregor-skate. In Colorado Springs, Skate in the Park, Acacia Park downtown, $10 includes skates, downtowncs.com/event/skate. Also: New Year’s Eve and Day, Old Town Skate in Louisville; The Ponds at Southlands, Aurora; The Rink at Belmar, Lakewood.