BEST BETS >> THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK AROUND DENVER

The annual Whiskey Throwdown & Doughnut Showdown is a tasting event in Denver. PROVIDED BY 11 CREATIVE

Jack Black, right, portrays a Lucha Libre wrestler who raises money for orphans in “Nacho Libre,” one of the films at Cinema in the Sky. PARAMOUNT PICTURES

Crowds enjoy the music at City Park Jazz in June 2022. DENVER POST FILE

A visitor checks out the snowboarding installation as part of an exhibition coming to Wings Over the Rockies on June 1. PROVIDED BY WINGS OVER THE ROCKIES

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Whiskey and doughnuts

Saturday: Feel like spiking your blood-sugar levels — in a good way? Then get ready for the 12th annual Whiskey Throwdown & Doughnut Showdown on Saturday, May 31. The event, presented by LaMar’s Donuts & Coffee, brings together doughnut vendors from up and down the Front Range, and pairs them with local distilleries for a very, very sweet time.

There will also be a live DJ, giveaways, games, a doughnut stacking competition, a doughnut costume contest and a cocktail competition (with judging by the public). The Throwdown takes place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the RiNo Art Park, 1900 35th St. in Denver. General admission tickets are $78.79 (including fees) and include unlimited samplings (pace yourself); early entry and VIP tickets are also available. Find them at eventbrite.com.

— Jonathan Shikes

Cool off with an outdoor movie

Starting May 30: Going to the movies is one of the best ways to keep cool in the summer, and that’s especially true at Cinema in the Sky, an event series where Denverites can catch a flick from the comfort of a hotel pool. Starting Friday, May 30, the Halcyon hotel in Cherry Creek will show a different movie every Friday night on its rooftop pool deck and guests are permitted to swim or lounge on a chair while they watch. First up is “Nacho Libre,” and other titles this season include “Jumanji” (June 6), “2 Fast 2 Furious” (June 27) and “Selena” (July 25).

Cinema in the Sky runs May 30 through July 25 at the Halcyon hotel, 245 Columbine St., Denver. Doors open at 8 p.m.; the movie starts at 8:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25 at halcyonhotelcherrycreek.com. — Tiney Ricciardi

A City Park Jazz summer

Sunday: City Park Jazz, an annual series of free concerts that turns Denver’s marquee green space into the biggest and best picnic in the state on Sunday summer evenings, returns June 1. Blessing Bled Chimanga, a marimba player, singer, songwriter, and percussionist from Zimbabwe, will take the stage from 6 to 8 p.m. at the pavilion on the banks of Ferril Lake.

The concerts continue Sundays through Aug. 3 with a wide variety of artists and styles, ranging from funk to soul to mambo. Bring your own blankets, beach chairs, games, food and beverages, or head to the food trucks on site. There is very little parking, so bikes are best. cityparkjazz.org

— Jonathan Shikes

Wings Over the Rockies goes extreme

Friday-Sept. 7: Colorado’s official air and space museum, Wings Over the Rockies, is debuting its latest exhibit, 2theXtreme, featuring 5,000 square feet of examples of the surprising way that math powers the things kids love most, such as sports, games, music, and robotics, programmers said.

“Designed for guests of all ages and abilities with a special focus on students in grades 3—8, 2theXtreme brings math to life through real-world applications and hands-on activities that are as educational as they are fun,” they wrote. That means a downhill snowboard-race simulation; 360-degree “action photo stage” (like those seen in blockbuster movies), six interactive galleries, real-world role models “explaining how they use math in everyday life,” and The BotZ, “three animated character guides who support and entertain visitors with humor, clear explanations, and interactive tips.”

All ages. Open 10-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sundays. 7711 E. Academy Blvd. in Denver. Admission: $20 for adults; $15 for youth under 17; and free for ages 3 and under. wingsmuseum.org

— John Wenzel