Denver’s 14th annual 303 Day — honoring the state’s original area code — arrives Friday, March 3, with noticeably fewer deals than last year.
Lots of businesses aren’t as desperate for your pandemic-softening dollars, which means more straight-up free events, and fewer 303 Day-specific promotions to get people in the door.
This year’s 303 Day also falls on the start of Denver Restaurant Week, which runs March 3-12, and the gallery scene’s First Friday art-crawl. It’s safe to say many of these businesses don’t want to split your attention as they sell fine art, tasty prix fixe menus and bespoke cocktails.
As always, 303 Day’s city-booster promotions are designed to show Denver’s best angles, and there are a lot of them. Find more to do at denverpost.com/theknow, metro-area events at extras.denverpost.com/calendar, and free, all-ages activities at denverpost.com/tag/cheap-checklist.
FOOD AND DRINK
Station 26 Brewing Co., located in a converted red-brick firehouse in Northeast Denver, is shilling for its beloved 303 Lager in advance of 303 Day, but also “tapping special 303 adjunct beers, releasing new 303 merch, having a Colorado-themed dinner menu from 4-9 p.m. … and having a mobile arcade at the brewery from 6-9 p.m,” according to its website. Er, did you say ARCADE? All ages and free to attend. station26brewing.co
In fact, lots of places are serving up Station 26’s 303 Lager, including a fresh shipment at 3:03 p.m. at Colorado Tap House in Arvada. Beers are $3.03 “until the keg kicks!” with a $1 off your first purchase. coloradotaphouse.com
303 Day at Rhein Haus and Wally’s includes specials such as $3.03 Miller Lite pints, $3.03 Coors Light pints and $3.03 Outlaw Lagers. For more information or reservations, visit rheinhausdenver.com or wallyswisconsin.com
All Native Foods Colorado locations will have Oatmeal Crème Pies for $3.03. This 303 Day offer is only valid in store, on Native Foods’ app, or on their website (and not valid on third party delivery apps). nativefoods.com/region/colorado
MUSIC
Boulder synth-pop bros 3OH!3 will headline Mission Ballroom starting at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the River North Art District. The stacked bill isn’t all-local but it is no-filler, with alt-pop, hip hop and rock from The Maine, and Joey Valence and Brae, as well as Denver earworm-factory Wildermiss. The show is presented by Channel 93.3, whose longtime DJ Nerf essentially invented 303 Day with the 3OH!3 boys back in 2009. 16-and-up. Sold out, but $60-$100 are available via the AXS Official Resale site. axs.com
Indie 102.3 and Number Thirty Eight have teamed up for a 6-10 p.m. event on Friday featuring three acts chosen by listeners “as some of their top favorite Local 303 artists from 2022,” organizers wrote. Indie 102.3 goodies, food and drinks, and performances from Hellocentral, Blankslate and 2mx2 lead the free gathering. nmbr38.com/events
ART AND CULTURE
RiNo Art District is taking advantage of 303 Day falling on a Friday with its latest First Friday gallery crawl and vendor showcase. Friday’s River Lot Market also collects 35 vendors at River Bar, along with food trucks and live music, from 2-8 p.m. Free. riverbar.art
303 Days at Shisha Leafa Lounge doubles as a mayoral campaign event for Ean Thomas Tafoya, who will host art, two stages of live music (including DJs, a silent disco and a freestyle cypher), food and vendor pop-ups. “Who shows up will be a surprise, attendance is recommended for those curious,” organizers wrote. Oh BTW, it’s a bar where people smoke shisha (hemp), in case that’s a turn-off for you. $20 per person, 18-and-up. Starts at 7 p.m. party-guru.com.
