Don’t Miss Denver’s Most Magical November Tradition
🦋 Monarch Magic: Your Last Chance to See the Monarchs
Estes Park by u/Throwaway_yo321
Hey Denver ! 🧩🎉
Happy Monday, Denver! Quick correction from Friday — I accidentally linked the 2023 Civic Center holiday page (new-parent multitasking strikes again). Appreciate the grace.
Now for the fun stuff: our first-ever Cutest Pets Contest is officially live, and today’s poll lets you help choose our next local guide. And if you’ve been meaning to float through Butterfly Pavilion’s Monarch Magic, consider this your friendly nudge — there’s still plenty of time to catch the monarchs before the exhibit wraps on November 30.
It’s warm, it’s colorful, and honestly, the perfect little escape while we wait for Denver’s first snow to finally show up. Let’s get into the magic.
🌼 Looking for more things to do in Denver? Dive into Things to Do in Colorado, Kid-Friendly Hikes, or discover our favorite Colorado Day Trips.
Poll: Help Us Choose Our Next Guide
You’ve been asking for more ways to get involved, and we listened—contests, community votes, the whole thing. Before we spill the next big guide, help us decide what to work on first:
What should we cover next?
Click an option to vote
You asked for more ways to get involved, so we kicked things off with our first-ever Cutest Pets Contest (yep, details are just below).
🦋 Monarch Magic Is Back — And There’s Still Time to Go
If you haven’t floated through the Butterfly Pavilion’s Monarch Magic exhibit yet, don’t worry — November isn’t over, and the monarchs aren’t done showing off. This month-long experience is one of the Pavilion’s most stunning traditions, blending science, culture, and a whole lot of whimsy in their warm, tropical conservatory.
Walk into Wings of the Tropics and you’ll find hundreds of monarch butterflies mingling with thousands of other bright-winged species. It’s peak serenity — and a perfect warm break from Denver’s chilly, very-much-snowless November.
Here’s what makes it worth catching before it flutters away:
🦋 Daily Monarch Releases
Watch monarchs take flight in the rainforest conservatory — a genuinely “stop and stare” moment.
🌎 An Epic 3,000-Mile Journey
Learn how monarchs migrate all the way from the northern U.S. and Canada down to Mexico’s oyamel fir forests. Interactive exhibits + VR stations make it feel real.
🌱 Real Conservation Work
Butterfly Pavilion is actively supporting monarch habitats in Mexico, including planting 100,000 native oyamel fir trees to help protect overwintering grounds.
🌼 How You Can Help
Get tips on planting your own pollinator-friendly garden, supporting conservation, and joining community science projects.
If you need a wholesome, wonder-filled outing before Thanksgiving hits, this one’s pure magic.
📍 Butterfly Pavilion, Westminster
⏰ Daily through Nov 30 | 9 AM–5 PM
🎟️ Adults $17.45 | Kids $12.45 | Seniors $15.45 | Under 2 Free
🌆 Mile High Happenings
Monday, November 17
Tuesday, November 18
Where are you heading this week? Tag us in your adventures! 🚀
Think Your Pet Is The Cutest? Prove It.
We’re hosting the first-ever What’s Happenin’ Cutest Pets Contest, and your furry friend deserves a moment in the spotlight. Submit a photo, and our community will vote for their favorites. The top pets win prizes and get featured in the newsletter.
Want to boost your pet’s chances?
Invite your friends and family to vote for them using your unique referral link.
And don’t worry—if your pet doesn’t win, you still can.
Whoever brings in the most referrals wins a bonus prize, no matter how their pet places.
So show off your fluffball, share your link far and wide, and snag a prize for you or your pet.
Submit your entry below and start sharing. 🐶🐱✨
How to get referrals
Local Happenings
Colorado Weather Update
Denver’s snow drought continues, with no measurable flakes expected through at least Tuesday — putting the city on pace for one of its latest first-snow dates on record. The mountains, though, are getting the action: up to 10 inches of snow are forecast for the Park Range and surrounding high-elevation spots starting Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
🍽 Not sure where to eat tonight?
Our Restaurant Finder takes the guesswork out of dining by showing you the best local restaurants based on real reviews and vibes, not just ratings. Whether you’re in the mood for a quick bite or a date-night spot, we’ve got you. No endless scrolling, no decision fatigue...just solid recs.
🧠 Need a brain break?
Play trivia, crosswords, and word searches built just for locals. These games aren’t just fun...they’ll test how well you actually know your city. Great for killing time, learning something new, or proving you’re the true local legend.
🍔 Who’s Flippin’ the Best Burger in Denver?
From juicy patties to secret sauces, Denver’s burger scene is stacked. We’re putting the Mile High City’s best burgers head-to-head to find out who really rules the grill. 🍔🔥
Catch You Midweek
Alright, Denver — go vote, go cuddle your pet, and maybe go hang out with a few hundred butterflies before the month ends. If you snap a monarch pic, reply back and show me. Have a great start to your week!
💬 Got ideas for making What’s Happenin’ Denver even better?
I’d love to hear from you. Just hit reply — I read every message and always respond when I can.
See you Wednesday.
— Ben
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