Hello Kitty Bonanza

This September, Hello Kitty is meowing into Denver with opportunities for families to enjoy delightful desserts, shopping, and a chance to meet the Japanese character that came to America more than 40 years ago.

The fun starts on September 7, with a visit from the Hello Kitty Cafe truck at Park Meadows from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fans of the Japanese cartoon character can shop exclusive items like T-shirts, headbands, tote bags, and lunch boxes. Almost-too-cute-to-eat treats like decorated cookies, popcorn, and macarons will also be available for purchase. 8401 Park Meadows Center Dr., Lone Tree. 

As part of Shofu-en Japanese Garden 40th Anniversary at Denver Botanic Gardens, the Hello Kitty fun continues. From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on September 13 and 27, Hello Kitty and Pikachu (costumed staff) will be available for a visit and photos with kids as they relax in the Japanese Garden. Included with admission to Denver Botanic Gardens.

A Blast for Kids at Colorado Mills

Colorful planets orbit Mars Outpost, the new space-themed kids play area that opened at Colorado Mills in Lakewood on June 22. While parents take a break from shopping, kids (up to 42 inches tall) can burn off energy, peer through a telescope, climb on a rocket, and learn about the universe and the scientific process through interactive screens. The new play area—located in front of Build-A-Bear Workshop—is a collaboration between the freshly renovated Colorado Mills and Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Watch It Again!

Yes, you’ve seen them one-hundred-and-one times, but maybe not like this. Throughout September, Movie Tavern Aurora is hosting Disney’s Enchanted Tales Film Series, showing four Disney favorites back on the big screen. Each weekend, one classic will play several times each day, Friday through Sunday, including Moana (September 6-8), Cinderella (September 13-15), Peter Pan (September 20-22), and The Little Mermaid (September 27-29). Tickets are a magical $6 per person.

Donate a Comfort Friend

Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children (RMHC), KOSI 101.1, and CBS4 Denver have teamed up for Teddy Bear Patrol, collecting plush animals for local first responders and emergency medical teams, who will give them to kids for comfort in emergency situations.

Local families are invited to donate new plush animals through September 14 at one of 20 drop-off locations around metro Denver, including RMHC and CareNow Urgent Care locations. Or bring your donation to one of two Teddy Bear Patrol parties on September 14, at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children at Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or Sky Ridge Medical Center from 9 a.m. to noon. In addition to face-painting, crafts, and stage performances, kiddos can watch their own stuffed friends get an X-ray, see how casts are put on a broken bone, attend first aid classes, explore emergency vehicles, and meet first responders.

Resource Center Helps Teen Moms

On September 5 at 3:30 p.m., Hope House of Colorado, a residential organization that supports and empowers teen moms in the metro area, will open its new Resource Center. The center will allow Hope House to assist up to 450 teen moms annually with access to their free self-sufficiency programs.

One-to-One Education

The first Colorado campus of Fusion Academy, a one-to-one school (one teacher, one student) for students in grades six through 12, opens its doors in Greenwood Village this month. Fusion Academy meets the needs of a variety of students through personalized education, including a customized schedule. There are more than 55 campuses across the United States.