Artfest This Weekend in Castle Rock!
With the annual Castle Rock Artfest in town this weekend, you can get your fill of inspiring artwork to admire or purchase! It’s also an artsy First Friday, with the energetic performance troupe Artrageous kicking off the weekend with their FREE performance in Festival Park! Ballroom dancing, Pioneer Days, and a couple of benefit races top off the weekend events!
Thursday-Saturday, September 5-7
HIGHLANDS RANCH PIONEER DAYS
What better way to celebrate the great community we live in than by imagining what it was like to live here in years past? The entire family will enjoy reenacting Pioneer Days, complete with historical reenactments, black-smithing, pottery, Indian fry-bread, a real chuck wagon, livestock displays including a petting zoo, and more!
The event takes place at the historical Highlands Ranch Mansion and grounds, with hay rack rides providing views of the ranch not typically seen by the public. Tours of the mansion will be held throughout the event. Special performances daily include: Native American Dancing at 10:00 a.m., a raptor demonstration at 11:00 a.m., and there’s even a free shuttle ride from Cherry Hills Community Church starting at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday only! Bring the kids to see what life looked like before the arrival of the smartphone!
Highlands Ranch Mansion, 9950 E. Gateway Dr., Highlands Ranch
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $3 – $5
Phone: 720-274-6800
THE GUY WHO MIXES POLITICS AND COMEDY!
Ben Gleib, one of the “funniest comedians working today” (TBS), is also running for president. You may know him from his Emmy-nominated series, Idiotest, on Netflix and the Game Show Network or one of his hilarious stand-up specials on Showtime or Amazon Prime. He’s also made numerous TV appearances like the Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda, @midnight on Comedy Central, E!’s Chelsea Lately, or guest starring in the new Lifetime series, American Princess.
On the political side of Gleib’s life, he created the Telethon for America, a voter turnout event which he hosted with Olivia Munn, featuring Natalie Portman, Charlize Theron, Chelsea Handler, Jane Fonda, Hasan Minhaj, Pete Davidson, Amy Schumer, Adam Devine, Dr. Phil, and more. He has also been a contributor or host on CNN, Headline News, FOX News, NPR, and ABC News.This may be your last chance to see him as a stand-up comedian—his next stop could be the White House. Hey, it happened in Ukraine.
Comedy Works-South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village
Thurs., 7:30 p.m.; Fri./Sat., 7:15 p.m. & 9:45 p.m.
Tickets: $16-$24
Phone: 720-274-6800
Friday, September 6
ART RUN FOR FUN!
Sign up for this fun 10K run/walk and take it seriously—or not! The race will be officially timed by Colorado Race Timing, and you’ll be the first to run on the latest extension of The East Plum Creek Trail! However, the theme of this race is also artsy—with tie-dye t-shirts encouraged—so if you’re not exactly competitive, that’s okay, too!
This is the grand opening of the new trailhead, so even if you aren’t running, come out to celebrate with Castle Rock’s mayor and all the participants of the race! The First Friday concert in Festival Park afterwards is sure to be winning entertainment!
Festival Park, 300 2nd St., Castle Rock
4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Register: $12-$15
ARTRAGEOUS AT FIRST FRIDAY
It’s all about the arts on this First Friday in Festival Park! Artrageous is a troupe of 12 artists, singers, dancers and musicians, hailing from the high desert of New Mexico. You’ll be swept away by their high energy and passion for the arts. Their performance is a combination of fine art, live music, singing, dancing, and humor, with the intention of bringing the message that the arts are an integral part of being human.
Festival Park, 300 2nd St., Castle Rock
5:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
Phone: 720-724-2010
BALLROOM DANCE NIGHTS
If you pine for the days of dancing cheek-to-cheek, don’t miss this nostalgic evening of ballroom dancing! You’ll have the opportunity to dance the swing, waltz, rumba, cha-cha, tango, and foxtrot with your sweetheart—or with someone you meet at this event! Live music will be provided by the Mile High Big Band.
A FREE 30-minute dance lesson is included! Singles, as well as couples, are welcome. Come out for an evening of dance and make your romantic dreams come true!
Lone Tree Recreation Center, 10249 Ridgegate Cir., Lone Tree
7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Register: $8-$10
Phone: 303-708-3513
Saturday, September 7
MANY ROADS – ONE PURPOSE
It doesn’t matter if you like to ride, run, or walk—the Tour de Cure is a chance to show up and join the mission of the American Diabetes Association to raise critical funds to help fight diabetes. Every mile covered and every dollar raised brings the cure that much closer.
The bicycle Tour de Cure is for people of all ages and cycling abilities, featuring four well-marked cycling routes with safety marshals and safety vehicles—and fully stocked rest stops to fuel your journey! If you prefer to run or walk, the 5K route is a great way to get out, have fun, and celebrate those who are living with diabetes. Lunch and a celebration afterwards is included for all participants!
Salisbury Park, 11920 Motsenbocker Rd., Parker
7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Registration: $35
Phone: 720-855-1102
WALK AND ROLL!
The point of this powerful two-mile accessible walk is to bring together families, friends, neighbors, and local businesses to traverse the path together in order to raise awareness and funds for FSH Muscular Dystrophy. After the walk, enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast in the park, with live music by Sal Mancini, as well as games, balloon art, and face painting for the kids!
The Amphitheater at Philip S. Miller Park, 1375 W. Plum Creek Pkwy., Castle Rock
8:00 am – 11:00 am
Registration: FREE
DOGGIE SPA DAY
After a long, hot summer with your best friend in tow, isn’t it time your pooch got a day of leisure, too? For one morning only, the outdoor pool at Westridge in Highlands Ranch will turn into a four-legged splash frenzy! If your dog is social and loves to hang out with other canines, imagine how much fun it will be to swim with them!
On this special day, there will be no chemicals in the pool, and all dogs must show proof of current vaccinations to participate. Additionally, a responsible human, 16 or older, must be present, with a limit of two dogs per person. Sorry, but humans aren’t allowed in the pool—it will make you appreciate what your dog goes through when he reads a “no dogs allowed” sign!
Westridge Rec Center, 9650 Foothills Canyon Blvd., Highlands Ranch
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Tickets: $7 – $10
Phone: 303-791-2500
SOULFUL VOCALS
That emotive pair of musicians, Lorrie Morgan and Mark Wills, will enchant you with an evening of meaningful music! Lorrie Morgan was the first woman in her genre to begin her career with three consecutive Platinum albums back in the 1970s, and has re-emerged with her latest solo album, Letting Go…Slow.
Her earliest hit singles included Trainwreck of Emotion, Five Minutes, and What Part of No, as well as many other chart-topping songs.
PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $79-$94
Phone: 303-805-6800
Saturday-Sunday, September 7-8
ARTFEST IS BACK!
This annual juried art show brings the finest talent from the region, state, and country to Castle Rock for one weekend! In addition to a wide variety of visual art on display, there will be live music on stage, including Wooleye, Bluzone, and Professor M!
Kids will love the interactive exhibits designed especially for them, and of course, no festival would be complete without fabulous food and beverages! Delight in the artistic impressions of more than 170 artists from across the country. You can appreciate—or purchase—your favorite art this weekend!
Downtown Castle Rock/Festival Park, 300 2nd St., Castle Rock
Sat., 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; Sun., 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
Phone: 303-688-4597
Sunday, September 8
PARKER FARMERS’ MARKET
With the arrival of September, Colorado produce is at its peak! Bring the whole family down to Parker’s Farmers’ Market to pick their favorites from the wide variety of local produce, breads, pastas, sauces, flowers and more. With over 70 vendors in attendance, you’ll need to bring several shopping bags!
Mainstreet in Downtown Parker
8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m
Cost: FREE
Phone: 303-693-3662
FREE THEATRE TOUR AND OPEN HOUSE
If you ever wondered “how did they do that?” while watching a theatre production, this is your chance to discover first-hand what Lone Tree Arts Center is like from the stage and behind the scenes! This event is FREE—but you still have to register.
You’ll have a chance to go on a backstage scavenger hunt, and find out who has graced this community stage. Check out all the names on the signature wall! You’ll have an opportunity to hear insider stories and get access to sensory-friendly resources from community partners.
Lone Tree Recreation Center, 10249 Ridgegate Cir., Lone Tree
1:00 p.m.
Registration: FREE
Phone: 720-509-1000
The Arts Are Alive in Crystal Valley!
Away from it all, but close to everything, the master-planned community of Crystal Valley offers access to plenty of things to do every weekend! If you’re in the area, stop by the amazing model homes from Century Communities, D.R. Horton, Kauffman Homes, and Richmond American Homes, and find out why our community is among the top five fastest-growing in the state with new homes priced from the $300s.
