A&E best bets: Parade of Lights, gingerbread bridges & mistresses of mayhem

Friday only

No, not a gingerbread house – a gingerbread bridge. And a really strong one at that. It’s the Gingerbread Bridge Competition at the Boulder Draft House from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Engineer-designed bridges get put to the test: how much sand can they withstand? May the yummiest bridge win!

Friday and Saturday

It’s the 35th year for the dazzling floats and festivities known as the 9NEWS Parade of Lights. Head to downtown Denver on Friday at 8 p.m. or Saturday at 6 p.m. for marching bands, giant balloon characters, holiday performances and twinkling lights out the wazoo. Watch for free or buy grandstand seats in advance. Tickets: $17

Hear the big three — Mozart, Beethoven and Strauss – in one of two evenings at the Colorado Symphony Julian Kuerti, the highly acclaimed assistant conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, makes his CSO debut conducting Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4, Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 4 Strauss’ Don Juan. Performances at 7:30 p.m. both nights. Tickets: $15 to $75

Saturday only

Up for a brawl on wheels? You got it! Those mistresses of mayhem, the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls’ 5280 Fight Club, takes on the Detroit Derby Girls at 6:30 p.m. at the Bladium in Stapleton. Tickets: $15

Friday-Saturday-Sunday

See Jean Shepherd’s classic A Christmas Story as you’ve probably never seen it before – on stage. The Aurora Fox not only brings you Ralphie and company, but a lobby display of vintage toys, including a real Red Ryder BB gun (don’t touch – you’ll shoot your eye out!) Performances at 7:30 Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets: $12 to $24

Artsy and festive all at once: it’s the Hudson Holiday, an outdoor light wonderland created by the Museum of Outdoor Arts and Hudson Gardens in Littleton. Open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. each night, it features a winter garden railroad encrusted with 10,000 Austrian crystals, light-laden trees, horse-drawn carriage rides and plenty of hot cocoa. Tickets: $6 to $8 (kids 3 and under are free)
www.hudsonholiday.com or call 303-797-8565, ext. 321, for dates and details.

Sunday only

Who doesn’t love belting out “Sergeant Pepper?” or “Hey, Jude?” The Mercury Café commemorates John Lennon’s death with a free sing-along of all your favorite Beatles tunes at 2 p.m.; lyrics provided.

Coming up — Dec. 10 at the Wynkoop Brewing Co.

It’s a special beer dinner featuring locally made seasonal beers paired with a one-night-only menu of fine Wynkoop fare. The 6:30 p.m. dinner includes four courses, six great beers and a room full of happy beer and food lovers getting their Christmas cheer on. Brewers from guest breweries will be on hand to talk about their winter-minded creations.  Check out ColoradoBiz TV to see the Wynkoop’s Marty Jones talking about the upcoming dinner. Cost: $35 per person

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