Reba McEntire + corn mazes = fall fun
Saturday-Sunday. This weekend sees a proliferation of Front Range fall events geared toward families, led by biggies such as LaSalle’s Fritzler’s Farm Park — whose corn maze this year features a giant likeness of Reba McEntire — and Erie’s Anderson Farms (andersonfarms.com).
At Fritzler’s, maze-runners will have a chance to enter to win a grand prize trip to Nashville for a concert called “Not That Fancy: An Evening with Reba & Friends” on Nov. 5 at the Ryman Auditorium, as well as a two-night hotel stay there. And, of course, Fritzler (like Anderson) will have plenty of pumpkin picking, hay rides, scary attractions, adult drinks and kids attractions. (Weirdly, Elizabeth’s The Patch also has a Reba-themed maze this year; thepatch.farm.)
Fritzler’s fall fest runs Saturdays and Sundays through Sept. 30, and Fridays-Sundays in October through Oct. 29, at 20861 County Road 33 in LaSalle. Tickets on-site run $40-$56 during peak hours, and $30-$46 during non-peak times, with cheaper prices online. Call 970-737-2129 or visit fritzlerfarmpark.com/fall-days to see the full list of dates.
Saying nothing, loud and clear
Friday-Sunday. “Without human speech, images become especially resonant and the great silent films reach towards poetry and music,” said Denver Silent Film Festival director (and former Denver Post critic) Howie Movshovitz in a press statement. That’s the idea behind his classic movie celebration, which returns Friday, Sept. 22-Sunday, Sept. 24, for its 10th edition.
There will still be plenty of things to hear. With live musical accompaniment, guests and performers — including former Telluride Film Fest music director Hank Troy and Denver jazz musician Tenia Nelson — and the 16 shorts and feature screenings, the festival covers a lot of ground.
It opens Sept. 22 with the 1925 comedy-drama “Lady Windermere’s Fan,” directed by Ernst Lubitsch, and ends Sept. 24 with 1924’s “The City Without Jews.” Individual screening passes are $15 for non-members, and full-festival passes are $75. Full schedule and more at denverfilm.org/denver-silent-film-festival.
Making moves with Martha Graham Dance
Friday-Saturday. The legendary Martha Graham Dance Company, created by one of dance’s most influential modern figures, will visit the University of Denver’s Newman Center for performances at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 22, and Saturday, Sept. 23.
Founded in 1926, the New York-based company is anticipating its centennial in 2026 by “embarking on a three-year celebration of Graham’s work and legacy.” Works to be performed include classics like Diversion of Angels (1948), as well as CAVE (2022), “a thrilling new work by Hofesh Shechter created for the Graham company,” according to a press statement.
Tickets for the shows at June Swaner Gates Concert Hall, 2344 E. Iliff Ave. in Denver, are on sale for $39-$88. Call 303-871-7720 or visit newmancenterpresents.com.
Aspen Filmfest turns 44
Through Sunday. The 2023 Aspen Filmfest happens to fall on its 44th birthday — perhaps an off year when it comes to cake-and-present celebrations, but another fine one for high-country film buffs. The dozens of screenings, mixer events and Q&As started Sept. 19, and will run through Sunday, Sept. 24, solely at the Aspen Film Isis Theatre (as opposed to multiple venues, as in the past).
It’s not cheap: Individual screenings are $25 for the public, and a full festival pass is $350 — although that comes out to about $21 per film if you see all 16 of them. You’ll get an array of comedies, dramas, overseas films and more that have so far only been at other marquee film fests, including in Toronto, Cannes and Venice. That includes newly announced Saturday night film “The Holdovers,” the latest from Oscar-winning director Alexander Payne, which premiered at Telluride in August.
Various times and showings at 406 E. Hopkins Ave. in Aspen. 970-925-7584 or aspenfilm.org
