Crystal Valley Blog

The wide variety of happenings this weekend near Castle Rock include classic concerts by Motown legends, The Temptations, and the musical celebs famous for La Bamba, Los Lobos. There are also plenty of other things to do, from chili cook-offs to Lakota drumming to sports gear swaps and vintage markets. Whatever mood you find yourself in, you are sure to find something to do in the Castle Rock area this weekend!

TODAY/TONIGHT Thursday, March 1

WICOTI AND LAKOTA DRUMMING – YOU ARE INVITED!
 A Wicoti is a gathering of people, and in the words of a Lakota Elder, “everyone is invited—because we are all related.” This special evening is one of several events hosted by Cherokee Ranch and Castle to share Native American culture and wisdom with the wider community. 

Set aside the hectic pace of the modern world and come experience the rich culture of the Lakota people. You will be surrounded by the powerful rhythms of the Lakota Drummers as they present traditional songs in the Great Hall at Cherokee Castle. The drum is not only a musical instrument, but a symbol of spirituality, and carries the heartbeat and stories of life today and yesteryear. The drum summons all to experience the beauty, spirit, and hope of its people. This magical evening is appropriate for all ages, and an abridged tour of the castle will be available prior to the Wicoti and Lakota drumming.

Cherokee Ranch, 6113 N. Daniels Park Rd., Sedalia
6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $22
Phone: 303-688-5555

Thursday-Saturday, March 1-3

HIGHLANDER COMEDY WITH DANIEL SLOSS
You don’t need to be from Edinburgh to laugh at Daniel Sloss’s jokes—this young Scottish comedian has been appearing to rave reviews all over the world! He’s even been invited to give a prestigious TEDx talk about how comedy is a series of short and truthful stories. 

As one of the fastest rising stars of UK comedy, Sloss has appeared on all of the UK’s premier television shows. At just 17 years old, he became one of the youngest-ever finalists in the UK’s national comedy competition So You Think You’re Funny? Sloss made his US television debut on Conan, leading to three appearances in just over six months. He has also appeared on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The Pete Holmes Show and @Midnight. 

Comedy Works-South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village
Thurs., 7:30 p.m.; Fri./Sat., 7:15 and 9:45 p.m.
Tickets: $17-$25
Phone: 720-274-6800

Friday, March 2

KINDA CLASSICAL, KINDA DUKE-ISH
You will be sighing and swaying to the singular sounds of the music of Duke Ellington when the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra performs his classic compositions in the style of Count Basie, Woody Herman, and many others. No music today compares to this rich, nostalgic sound, so you are in for a treat if this “old” music is new to you!

The Colorado Jazz Repertory orchestra is Colorado’s premier large jazz ensemble. With everything from big band jazz to exciting modern programs and special performances featuring internationally renowned guest soloists, this Colorado-grown ensemble performs all the classic tunes and more! Don’t miss your chance to become a fan of this exciting group!

PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $24-$29
Phone: 303-805-6800

YOUNG VOICES AND SYMPHONY CONCERT!
There is nothing as powerful as a children’s choir to uplift your spirits and glimpse the hope and potential of humanity! You won’t want to miss Young Voices of Colorado, a non-profit children’s choir as they join the Lone Tree Symphony Orchestra for an evening of magical and breathtaking choral performance. Children’s themed symphonic pieces, such as Debussy’s Children’s Corner will be featured. If you aren’t already familiar with the City of Lone Tree’s very own symphony orchestra, you will be thrilled to find this treasure a short drive from Crystal Valley off of I-25 and Lincoln!

Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $13-$25
Phone: 720-509-1000

Friday-Saturday, March 2-3

OLD HOUSE VINTAGE SHOPPING EXTRAVAGANZA!
If you love flea market shopping, but it’s still too cold to get out there and rummage around, the Old House Vintage Market brings the experience to you! Named 5280 Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Best Festival last year, the Old House Vintage Market is an upscale antique, vintage, salvage, upcycled and handmade market featuring the best creative businesses in Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming, Texas and New Mexico!  This well-thought-out shopping event opens with an exclusive Friday Night Shopping Party and extends through all-day Saturday shopping. It’s sure to be lively as an in- house DJ spins tunes while you browse! Kids 12 and under are FREE so bring the whole family!

Douglas County Fairgrounds, 500 Fairgrounds Rd., Castle Rock
Fri., 5:00-9:00 p.m.; Sat., 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: $6-$16
Email: oldhousevintagemarket@gmail.com

WEST SIDE STORY—THE FILM—WITH LIVE MUSIC!
The Bernstein at 100 Festival wouldn’t be complete without showcasing Leonard Bernstein’s most renowned work, West Side Story—and it doesn’t get any better than this! The Oscar-winning film, West Side Story, will be projected above the stage with original vocals and dialogue, while the Colorado Springs Philharmonic Orchestra performs the score live. Can you imagine a more immersive way to experience this beautiful and authentic love story?

West Side Story blew away audiences in the 1960s with its depiction of interracial romance, gang violence and the bittersweet victory of love—and paved the way for brave and honest cinema ever since. Bernstein’s groundbreaking score was at the heart of it all, so this opportunity to hear the music as it would have been performed in the sound stage is a rare opportunity!

Pikes Peak Center, 190 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs              
Sat., 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $24-$78
Phone: 719-520-SHOW

Friday-Sunday, March 2-4

CHILDREN’S THEATRE – ANDROCLES AND THE LION
When courageous Androcles takes a thorn from the Lion’s paw, he makes a friend for life. Based on the well-known Aesop’s fable, Androcles and the Lion is a prize-winning play, applauded around the world again and again! This playful, irreverent version of the story uses the stock characters of Italian “commedia dell’arte” to transform this fable into a colorful theatrical experience. The play rollicks with zany comedy and also glows with the warmth of friendship. “A fun, entertaining evening of theatre for young children” (Utah Theatre Bloggers Association). This performance is recommended for children ages 5 and older.

Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, 30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs
Fri., 6:00 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 1:00 p.m.
Tickets: $10-$20
Phone: 719-634-5581

Saturday, March 3

BACKCOUNTRY GEAR SWAP
Don’t miss your chance to trade out your slightly-used but no-longer-needed outdoor gear for some brand-new-to-you and just-what-you-needed equipment! You will be glad you came when you start out next season with the gear you always wanted! Bring in your still-in-great-shape backpacks, camping gear, skis, headlamps, boots, and anything else (except your long underwear!), and expect to find the same available for purchase. 

All the seller work is done for you: tagging gear, setting up tables, and collecting payment. You just need to register (FREE), fill out an inventory list, drop off the gear, and plan how you are going to spend a check for 80 percent of your earnings! All proceeds benefit the Backcountry Conservation and Education Fund nonprofit. Make sure to sign up for a Friends of the Backcountry nonprofit membership if you want first picks at the early bird shop at 7:00 a.m.!

Southridge Rec Center, 4800 McArthur Ranch Rd., Highlands Ranch
7:00-10:00 a.m.
Registration: FREE
Phone: 303-791-2500

MAC ’N’ CHEESE & CHILI COOK-OFF
Whether you’re a top chili chef or an expert chili taster, this is a chance to show off your skills while supporting youth programs in our community! Come treat your taste buds to a variety of scrumptious recipes at the Mac ’n’ Cheese & Chili Cook-Off. 

Delight your senses with unlimited mac ’n’ cheese tastings, unlimited chili tastings, appetizer spread, craft beer, free raffle items, silent auction items, entertainment, and much more. The event is hosted by PR Youth Running, a nonprofit dedicated to helping kids gain self-esteem, confidence, and daily health through running programs.

Douglas County Fairgrounds Kirk Hall, 500 Fairgrounds Rd., Castle Rock
11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $9.40-$31.45
Email: martybussie@pryouthrunning.org

LA BAMBA AND MORE WITH LOS LOBOS!
Best-known for their world-wide smash hit La Bamba, Los Lobos has been winning the hearts of audiences for over three decades with their powerful and personal style of rock music with heart. Since the release of their debut album Just Another Band from East L.A., the group has been proving they are not “just another” anything! In fact, the band has achieved the seemingly impossible— gaining mainstream rock success while maintaining their Mexican roots.  

Their latest album, Gates of Gold, strives to reach further than ever while remaining true to their humble beginnings. “We’re a Mexican-American band, and no word describes America like immigrant, so it’s perhaps natural that the songs we create celebrate America in this way.” So says Louie Perez, the “poet laureate” of Los Lobos, when describing the songs on the band’s new album. With a blend of old favorites and inspiring new tunes, this is one concert you won’t want to miss!

PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $59-$64
Phone: 303-805-6800

Saturday-Sunday, March 3-4

GET DIZZY WITH PRADHANICA’S INDIAN DANCE!
Pradhanica is the name for “female leader”—which perfectly describes solo dancer Jin Won as she presents a contemporary interpretation of the classical Indian dance form of Kathak. Amid dizzying spins, fast-paced footwork, immersive emotions, and dynamic drumming, Won demonstrates her mastery over rhythm in a performance described as “exuberant” by The New York Times. Don’t miss this chance to experience a unique and exhilarating art form that fuses primal percussive musicality with fleet-footed choreography to a transformative effect!

As part of the Passport to Culture series, the Sunday performances are kid-friendly presentations of the Indian classical dance and offers children and families a chance to experience arts and culture outside the classroom, including a celebration of Holi, the Indian Festival of Color!

Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree
Sat., 8:00 p.m.; Sun., 1:30 and 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: $5-$40
Phone: 720-509-1000

Monday-Tuesday, March 5-6

PARTY WITH THE TEMPTATIONS!
There’s no way you haven’t heard at least a few of their many hits—The Way You Do the Things You Do, My Girl, Since I Lost My Baby, Get Ready, I Can’t Get Next to You, and Papa Was a Rolling Stone. People have been humming these classics and re-making them since the 1960s. Now this legendary Motown group will be appearing in Lone Tree, and you won’t want to miss your chance to see The Temptations live in concert!

For more than fifty years, The Temptations have prospered, propelling popular music with a series of smash hits and sold-out performances throughout the world. The history of The Temptations is the history of contemporary American pop music—so grab your piece of history today!
Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $55-$90
Phone: 720-509-1000

All-Star Entertainment near Crystal Valley!

There is no shortage of entertainment options in the Crystal Valley area – this weekend or any other! Families will find plenty of things to do nearby, including exciting live performances and activities for every age. If you find yourself near Plum Creek Parkway, venture east and south to visit the stunning new models offered by Richmond American Homes, D.R. Horton and Kauffman Homes. Beautiful new designs are available in ranch and two-story models and priced from the high $300s.