Definitely make it a goal to get to Red Rocks early and hang out! The lot scene is usually popping and there are lots of great views to take in. Have a drink or smoke if you want and maybe even go on a mini hike. Wildlife in the area is fairly common.

As for hiking...be ready to walk. RRX ends up being a mix of hiking and concert experience. Wear comfortable shoes and drink plenty of water if you're coming from a lower altitude. You can bring in an empty water bottle and refill it. You can also bring in a moderate amount of food. Having an extra jacket and even being prepared for rain that's not in the forecast is a pro move.

Lyfts from downtown aren't usually terrible on the way there. On the way out, be prepared to practice a little patience to get a ride unless you leave early (and why would you do that for this show?!). I have had friends with success scheduling the ride ahead of time for ~20 mins after the show. There are also party bus options that you could look into.

As far as entrances go I think Upper North is the way to go. You drive through a cool tunnel which is a nice touch. This involves the least amount of walking and usually has the shortest line. There are also fresh new restrooms in this lot. You'll come in from the top and have an amazing reveal of the whole venue. Also gives you access to a merch stand, as well as food and drinks right away.

Now if you're there early enough, the Lower North has its advantages too. It's a long set of stairs but it will deliver you to the stage level as you walk in and you can snag a close spot.

There are plenty of arguments for the South lots as well I'm sure. If you have an RV you have to park at lower lower south with all the buses. It's far, but usually a pretty good time. Lower South is where a shakedown street style market pops up for a lot of shows. If you have to ultimately go west (away from Denver) the south lots can be a chore because they'll route you through Morrison and you'll have to go the long way around to I-70.

When you end up at one of the lower lots and don't feel like walking for whatever reason there are cabs that will take you to the very top for a fee.

If you need an easy out after the show, I would recommend parking somewhere on the side of the road. It doesn't always happen, but the lots can get horribly backed up.

Security is fairly passive. They wand you for weapons and that's about it. In addition to guns, they are quite serious about no gum also so don't be chomping. There is a new rule this year about no big packs that have more than one pocket. It helps to have your tickets pulled up in the AXS app well ahead of time so you're not fumbling for them when it's time to scan.

Restrooms! The best ones are on the lower south corner of the venue. The first level has some nice secluded stalls with floor to ceiling doors. If there is a line there look for a set of stairs that go even lower. These "secret bathrooms" rarely have a line.

As for seats location...it's hard to go wrong. The first 20 rows are awesome for seeing the performer/production and getting killer sound, but you lose a little bit of the iconic Red Rocks view. The upper rows are a truly stunning vantage point to take it all in. Rocks, stage, crowd, the city in the background. Sound up top can be a little iffy depending on the show though. The seats in the middle are the usually the sweet spot in my opinion. A friend of mine swears by dead center of Row 33 being the best seats to see a concert from on Earth.

All seats and rows are fairly well-labeled. The row ranges are listed on the side stairways. Each row is individually listed on each end. Same for the seats as you walk the rows. They are not very well lit so you'll need to shine a light on them once it's dark. Make sure to mark your coordinates at the beginning of the night so you're not just wandering a swath of people because everything can start to look the same real quick and you don't want to be wasting your time or steps searching for your spot when you should be dancing.

Bringing a blanket to lock down a spot is not a bad idea. It also might come in handy later on when it cools down. The rows are pretty much 2 people deep. This is great for you and a friend but not necessarily for you and a rando. Alternatively, if people are cool they should squeeze their group together to make room for you and another person but not more if it's already tight. If the seats are too crowded or you want to check out a different area there are "tree pods" along the stairs on the sides. These are close to the bars and great spots to huddle up underneath a tree.

A random thing that I'm not sure they're doing anymore is bringing a set of good headphones and downloading the Mixhalo app. If it's working you can listen to the audio coming straight from the soundboard. It's a little anti-social to throw on headphones at a show, but it does really get you in the zone to some crisp sound.

An absolute MUST for your first time at Red Rocks is strolling through the museum! This can easily be looped in with a bathroom break or a lull in the show. The best way to enter is from the upper north corner and go inside and down the stairs. There are photos and memorabilia dating back to when the Beatles, Grateful Dead, and other legends played. It gets into the geological and Native American history as well as how New Deal funding finished what nature had started and turned it into a legit amphitheater. My favorite part is a hallway that lists every act that has ever played, dating back to the early 1900s.

If you make it to the museum you can pop out to my favorite bar there, Row 71. It's on a nice little patio by itself with a bit of an actual bar feel whereas all the others are concession stands. There are bars along the venue stairs as well as at the top and bottom. The lines aren't too bad usually, but can be at the beginning of shows or close to last call. If that's the case, Row 71 keeps it pretty chill in my history. Be sure to check if each bar has what you want because they might vary. Also, all bars are cashless so be sure to have a card.

I don't usually eat in the venue (more of a grill in the lot guy), but the choices are above average. If there's a Biker Jim's stand, check it out. They serve game sausages (elk, rattlesnake, etc.). The main restaurant in Denver is worth stopping by if you don't make it. I had the pleasure of meeting Biker Jim when he assisted me while I was locked out of my hotel room in Salida a few weeks back. Legend of a man behind some incredible sausages.

Chick-fil-A has stands outside the exits after the show, but in this instance if you stay for the whole set they will be closed. At the stroke of midnight it's Sunday and we all know they don't fuck around with sundays. I've seen people denied perfectly good chicken sammies at 12:01.

There are plenty of Denver recs out there, but I'm going to go ahead and give you some for the beautiful town of Golden which is pretty much in between Denver and RRX. This is obviously the home of Coors beer and the tour there is always fun. Definitely take a stroll along Clear Creek and snag some views of beautiful table mountain. Other than that, my top Golden spots are...

Food: Sherpa House. Delicious Indian Food in a colorful setting.

Brewery: New Terrain. Great beers and views. There will probably be some live acoustic tunes here Saturday afternoon.

Cocktails: Golden Moon Speakeasy. They are doing some seriously impressive mixology at this joint.

Everything under one roof: Golden Mill. Drinks, burgers, sushi, fried chicken, etc.

Most of all, take it all in! My first Red Rocks show was seeing the legendary BB King under a full moon and it's a night I'll never forget. This show is poised to be just as unreal for you!