Mother’s Day and Farmer’s Market This Weekend
As spring fully bursts into bloom, local activities and events are reemerging. While most are still “virtual”, local venues are getting more and more creative. Douglas County Libraries are holding their regular storytime events online and HRCA is continuing several of their “regular” events through live-streaming. And while we’ll have to wait till June for Castle Rock’s Farmer’s Market – the one in Highlands Ranch is back—with health and safety precautions!
TODAY/TONIGHT, May 7
ALL ABOUT BEES
This educational and interactive virtual class from the Butterfly Pavilion is especially for 3rd – 5th graders (but the rest of the family might enjoy it, too!) Learn all about these amazing creatures and the health-giving honey they produce, as well as their current blight—and what you can do to help.
Butterfly Pavillion Online
11:00 a.m.
Register: FREE ($3 suggested donation)
Thursday-Friday, May 7-8
LIBRARY STORYTIME ONLINE
Straight from the Douglas County Libraries into the comfort and safety of your home, the Storytime series emphasizes the same five simple activities it always has—reading, talking, writing, singing and playing—that help children learn the skills to be ready to read.
A great way to do this (and earn fun prizes along the way) is to sign up for 1000 Books Before Kindergarten and print your reading log. Exposure to lots of books is a great predictor of reading readiness and school success!
Douglas County Libraries Online
10:30 – 11:00 a.m. via Zoom
Cost: FREE
Thursday-Sunday, May 7-10
MOTHER’S DAY RACE IN YOUR OWN SPACE
You can still sign up for and run the annual 5K Highlands Ranch Mother’s Day race this year—it’s just on different terms because of COVID-19. This VIRTUAL 5K race still raises money for a great cause and still lets you complete the race—but in your own safe space. This is a chance to get outside and stay active while eliminating large gatherings and practicing social distancing.
It’s so easy to sign up and participate! Just register online and you can run the race anywhere prior to May 10! If you had previously registered for the original Mother’s Day 5K, your registration will automatically be transferred to the virtual race and you’ll be credited any price difference.
HRCA Mother’s Day Race
Register: $5 – $15
Email: racedirector@hrcaonline.org
Friday, May 8
LUNCHTIME DANCE PARTY
It’s something to look forward to! From UCCS in Colorado Springs, local DJs spin a weekly dance party you can join through Instagram! Designed back in 2012 as a fun way to workout over lunch, the Dance Party is no less fun in its virtual incarnation! You’ll enjoy a high-energy one-hour DJ set in your own home—you supply the water and healthy food, and let UCCS supply the DJ and one-hour dance set.
UCCS Galleries of Contemporary Art
12:00 -1:00 p.m.
Cost: FREE
DATE NIGHT AT HOME
Order a pizza for the kids and plant them in front of a movie, then enjoy making a romantic dinner for two, guided by a live-streamed class with a professional chef! On the menu tonight: Scallops & Risotto! Pick up your meal kit prior to the class.
During the sixty minutes of professional chef-led instruction, you will be virtually guided through the creation of this menu as you follow along in your very own kitchen. Set up your iPad or laptop and create a hearty and satisfying meal with your partner as you learn the tips, tricks, and tools to create this menu! Price includes access to the virtual live-streamed class, chef-prepared Meat & Cheese appetizer, and all the ingredients to create the menu: Pan-Seared Scallops, Lemon-Herb Risotto, and Chili-Roasted Broccolini, as well as chef-prepared Lemon-Blueberry Crumble Bars.
Uncorked Kitchen Livestream
4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Register: $70 (includes Dinner Kit for Two and Online Class)
VIRTUALLY MIX A DRINK!
In this special Art of Making Cocktails series of online classes from Highlands Ranch Community Association, you’ll learn how to create craft cocktails that will impress! If you have the ingredients on hand while the Zoom class is going on, you can participate and make your own drinks in real-time!
Tonight’s cocktails feature Mount Gay Rum. You’ll learn how to make Rum Punch and Daiquiris. The class is free, but pre-registration is required in order to get the Zoom link.
HRCA Online
5:00 p.m.
Registration: Free
Friday – Sunday, May 8-10
BULLETS ON BROADWAY
Bullets on Broadway is murder mystery party game you can download, print, and play! Plus, virtual playing rules are included to play by video chat with friends and family! The Story: It’s opening night of Murder in the First on Broadway, and nerves are high. The cast and crew are all a buzz backstage with the excitement of the lights, the sounds – and the dead body of big-shot Broadway Producer. There lies Jack Bialystock, shot in the back center stage before the curtain could rise. Was the murderer a cast member, like Anita Part who’s making her Broadway debut tonight, or seasoned performer Sienna Stealer? Was it the snooty theatre critic Bob Blandley, or a member of the audience like Megan Phan who somehow wandered backstage?
There’s only one way to find out: play the game Bullets on Broadway! But hold onto your overpriced wine — the murderer may be YOU! This downloadable party game is for 6 to 15 participants, and can be virtually played at anytime.
Bullets on Broadway
Anytime
Cost: $14.50 per person
CARE CAMP WEEKEND AT HOME
It’s frustrating for everyone to have to put their vacations on hold, but for kids who attend Care Camps, this year’s hiatus is especially hard. In normal times, KOA Care Camps were something that kids with cancer looked forward to, and since they can’t attend this year, KOA is holding a “Virtual Big Weekend” to raise money for them—and to let YOU have fun camping in your own backyard!
These family-friendly virtual activities will include live and interactive events via the internet, including family fort-building competitions, campfire stories, camp dancing, tent-building tutorials, and much more! Spend a VERY special camp weekend at home with your family—and campers everywhere!
KOA Care Camps Online
Fri., 2:00 – 6:30 p.m.; Sat., 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; Sun., 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Cost: $10 donation per family
Sunday, May 10
RESTAURANT-QUALITY MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH
Okay, so you are having Mother’s Day Brunch at home—that doesn’t mean it can’t be as delectable as what you would eat in a restaurant. The whole family can participate in this special chef-instructed livestream class to create a culinary masterpiece!
You’ll create a special menu of Cocoa & Hazelnut French Toast, Chorizo and Sweet Potato Hash, & Strawberry Shortcake during the virtual class. Pick up your ingredient kit the day before, and you’ll be ready to serve Mom breakfast in bed!
Uncorked Kitchen Livestream
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Register: $30 per person; pre-registration required.
HIGHLANDS RANCH FARMER’S MARKET IS BACK!
This is NOT a virtual event! Yes, you will be able to attend an actual event in person, taking all of the social distancing precautions. The Highlands Ranch Farmer’s Market brings you the best produce and homemade baked goods, as well as cooking utensils, garden adornments, and much more!
COVID-19 Safety Procedures include the following: tents will be spaced further apart and booths may have an empty table separating shoppers from the food and farmers. Vendors will be wearing masks and gloves. The number of shoppers will be limited, and shoppers are encouraged to wear masks as recommended by the CDC.
Town Center South, 9288 Dorchester St., Highlands Ranch
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Cost: FREE
No shortage of activities in the Crystal Valley area!
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, especially if you love the outdoors! Schedule a private or virtual tour with a sales associate to view 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 master-planned communities in the state with new homes priced from the $300s.
