THURSDAY-JAN. 21

It’s time for the Colorado Old West tradition National Western Stock Show, kicking off at noon Thursday with 30 impressive Longhorn cattle herded through downtown Denver near Union Station with cowboys and cowgirls on horseback, bands, floats and spectators in jeans and cowboy boots, too. Starting Saturday, days and nights of pro rodeo, 118 years of history, horse competitions, Mexican rodeo and stock show at 4655 Humboldt St. A nationally famous Western art show and great Western shopping, with all the Christmas lights still on all around Denver as well. Schedule and tickets: nationalwestern.com

FRIDAY

The first First Friday Art Walk of the new year is here, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., all along Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe. Visit galleries, studios, art alleys and pop-ups along the street to see work by hundreds of artists. District on light rail and galleries mainly between 5th and 11th Avenues. denversartdistrict.org/first-friday

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

Talented young people are the creative ones behind the cabaret entertainment “The Future is Bright!” — “The Future is Bright!,” two weekends, Friday-Sunday and Jan. 12-13. 22 songs from 22 different musicals. The Schoolhouse at Mainstreet, 19650 Mainstreet in Parker. A benefit for the Denver Actors Fund, $15-18. parkerarts.org/event/the-future-is-bright

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

The first of two special weekend ice climbing festivals in Ouray, the All In Ice Festival especially for minority and marginalized communities, is Friday through Sunday, allinicefest.com. Skilled climbing presentations are planned for the annual Ice Festival Jan. 18-21, ourayicepark.com.

SATURDAY

They even have their own song, “The Whiffenpoof Song,” and 114 years of history and The Yale Whiffenpoofs of 2024 are returning to Newman Center for the Performing Arts, 2344 E. Iliff Ave., at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. This is the oldest a cappella group in America. Tickets $12-$30 whiffenpoofs.com/concerts/newman-center-for-the-performing-arts

SUNDAY

Clocktower Cabaret, well known for drag shows and burlesque, goes Motown Sunday with An Old School R&B Live Radio Musical Revue featuring One on One and the Miles Apart Band. 7 p.m., doors at 6:30 p.m., at 1601 Arapahoe St. Tickets $30-$40, ci.ovationtix.com/35628/production/1065730