Crystal Valley Blog

Douglas County Libraries offer a spectacular selection of weeklong half-day summer camps for kids ages 5-12, and now is the time to sign up before there’s no space left! Library locations in Parker, Castle Rock, Lone Tree, and Highlands Ranch will be holding an assortment of camps from cooking to Lego design to art to computers! There’s something for every interest and age group! Also this weekend, Cinco de Mayo celebrations, a Taste of Highlands Ranch — 10 minutes from Castle Rock, and the Cowboy Ball!

Today and Following!

REGISTER NOW FOR CAMP DCL!
Camp at Douglas County Libraries is a week of hands-on fun and unique learning experiences for kids ages 5-12! All camps are half-day (some morning, some afternoon) and include supplies and daily snacks. Camps are filling up fast, so sign up now before it’s too late!

Kids ages 6-10 who love to cook will get a kick out of Global Flavors, a hands-on exploration of the world through its foods, offered in July in Castle Rock. Or maybe your 7-11 year old would rather learn all about the exotic animals of Africa by creating art projects about them in Zoofari Animal Art, a summer camp in early June in Highlands Ranch. Out of This World Space Art is another June art camp offered in Parker and Castle Rock. If your kids love Legos, there’s a Lego Harry Potter camp in Castle Rock, and a Lego Minecraft camp for younger campers in Parker.  Also for 5-7 year olds is a Robotics computer class in Highlands Ranch and a Minecraft Computer class in Lone Tree!

Douglas County Libraries in Parker, Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch, and Castle Rock
Various weeks, June 3 – August 2
9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Registration: $165 – $240 per week
Phone: 303-791-7323

Thursday-Saturday, May 2-4

LATE NIGHT WITH JAKE JOHANNSEN
A favorite of late-night TV hosts, Jake Johannsen has an affinity for the stranger things in life. As a self-confessed weaver of weird tales, Johannsen has been impressing fans with his quirky brand of comedy, including David Letterman. With more Letterman appearances than any other comic (44 to be precise), as well as gigs on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and Politically Incorrect, Johannsen is no stranger to late-night television.

His many late night appearances gave him the exposure he needed to land his very own HBO comedy special, This’ll Take About An Hour, which was rated as one of the “ten best television shows of the year” by People Magazine and received a Cable Ace Award nomination for Best Writing in an Entertainment Special. TV Guide named it one of the “50 Funniest Moments of TV.” Johannsen’s bizarre take on life and his uniquely intelligent style have made him a regular at comedy clubs all over the country. Don’t miss your chance to see him in person!

Comedy Works-South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village
Thurs., 7:30 p.m.; Fri./Sat., 7:15 and 9:45 p.m.
Tickets: $19-$27
Phone: 720-274-6800

Friday, May 3

TASTE OF HIGHLANDS RANCH
It’s back! This community favorite features all-you-can-enjoy wine, beer, and spirits, as well as delicious bites from more than 30 area restaurants. Spend an evening with friends and neighbors at one of the first parties of the season. The outdoor beer garden, complete with music, really sets the tone for the upcoming summer season!

You’ll also receive a commemorative wine glass (while supplies last) and you have the option to purchase a nifty reusable plastic plate with a slot for your wine glass! No more juggling with all your plastic silverware, plate, and wine glass! This is an adult party and you must be 21+ to attend. Get a babysitter and enjoy a parents’ night out—no children or infants at this function. 

Eastridge Recreation Center, 9568 University Blvd., Highlands Ranch
6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Tickets: $40-$45
Phone: 303-791-2500

LA MUSICA LATINA
Move to the exciting beat of Latin music with the Lone Tree Symphony Orchestra! The program includes classic favorites Girl from Ipanema and Gould’s Latin American Symphonette. Local artists will be joining LTSO for a lively performance. 

Lone Tree Symphony Orchestra has been entertaining the area for almost twenty years as a first-class community orchestra with a mission to provide classical music on a local level. Musicians and audiences reap the rewards!

Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $14-$26
Phone: 720-509-1000

BLOCKBUSTER MUSIC
Film buffs and music lovers will enjoy the final concert of the season from the Parker Symphony Orchestra—a tribute to popular and classical music from the movies! This concert is a family favorite!

The program includes the theme from The Godfather, the opening music from Amadeus; Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, used in many animated films; Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, from the original Phantom of the Opera; and Summertime from Porgy and Bess, among many others!

PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $35-$40
Phone: 303-805-6800

Friday-Saturday, May 3-4

MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU
Music from one very special movie universe! To celebrate all things Stars Wars, the Colorado Springs Philharmonic will perform a concert featuring John Williams’ iconic music. This family-friendly performance includes the well-known marches and themes that will inspire your inner Jedi, whether you’re channeling the Empire or backing the Rebellion!

Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts, 190 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $50-$80
Phone: 719-577-4556

Saturday, May 4

UP THE CREEK
Get outside and enjoy the spring weather while joining your neighbors in doing something good for the community! This annual Castle Rock event helps keep the community’s water clean and promotes the importance of protecting the environment.

Volunteers will be given gloves, bags, and transportation to different creeks and trails in the area. Help clean up your greater backyard and get the area ready for summer recreation. Anyone can volunteer: teens, families, community groups, and businesses.

Festival Park, 300 Second St., Castle Rock
8:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Registration: FREE

COWBOY BALL
The annual Cowboy Ball returns with great music, dancing, dinner, and a live and silent auction! Pull out your boots and your cowboy hat, and get ready to country-swing with the best of them! 

This fun evening also supports a great cause, the Douglas County Fair Foundation, who provides sponsorships for fair activities, youth development projects, youth scholarships, and educational programs about the value of agricultural tradition and our rural history. Don’t miss your chance to support  the local Fair and Rodeo while having a fun night out!

Douglas County Fairgrounds, 500 Fairgrounds Dr., Castle Rock
6:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Tickets: $45-$75

Saturday-Sunday, May 4-5

CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION
Everyone’s favorite Mexican holiday is coming to the Outlets at Castle Rock! Stroll the courtyard near Polo Ralph Lauren and you’ll find local food trucks, Tacos with Altitude and Philly on the Go, plus sweet treats from Kona Ice and Castle Rock Kettle Corn. 

Mexican beers will be available for purchase for a $5 (per beer) donation to the Humane Society of the South Platte Valley. At 1:00 p.m. there will be a festive performance by Ballet Folklorico Baile Caliente, traditional dancers from multiple regions of Mexico!

Outlets at Castle Rock, 5050 Factory Shops Blvd., Castle Rock
12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Information: FREE
Phone: 303-688-4495 

LOVE THROUGH THE AGES
You’ve never heard a selection of love songs quite like this! The talented Parker Chorale presents a vocal concert with love songs that date back to the time of Henry VIII all the way up to present day!

Parker Chorale is the all-volunteer adult community singing group who are dedicated to promoting the arts and music education in the local community. This concert features the 2019 Parker Chorale Grant Recipients, Ponderosa High School’s Pegasus and Estrella Choirs. 

PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker
Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $35-$40
Phone: 303-805-6800

Sunday, May 5

HIGHLANDS RANCH FARMERS’ MARKET
The Farmers’ Market in Highlands Ranch begins this weekend (one month sooner than our own Castle Rock market!) and it’s back full of tasty and healthy seasonal produce! Bring the whole family out to celebrate the coming summer—just around the corner. The Farmers’ Market will be exploding with all the colors, smells, and varieties of Colorado’s bounty.  

As part of the Denver Farmers’ Market association, the Highlands Ranch Market also brings you a plethora of sauces, pastas, flowers, breads, and more. What a great way to spend a beautiful spring morning!

Town Center South, 9288 Dorchester St., Highlands Ranch 
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m
Cost: FREE
Phone: 303-809-2865

SNAP – THE MAGIC SHOW
A magical performance of theatre or a theatrical performance of magic? Either way, you’ll be dazzled by the ingenious shenanigans taking place on stage! The world’s greatest illusion artists from Korea bring an astounding, enchanting experience to Lone Tree!

The entire family will enjoy this fast-moving performance with magic, mime, comedy and more. There’s even a story! Three tricksters find a secret door that is the portal to time travel, and when they step through, they encounter all kinds of characters, including the Dreamer, the Alchemist, and the Time Traveler. Join them on this fantastical journey!

Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree
1:30 and 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $35-$45
Phone: 720-509-1000

Music, Classes and More Near Crystal Valley!

Enjoy life in Castle Rock within minutes from the master-planned community of Crystal Valley – where nature is around every corner of the neighborhood! Looking for a new home you can add your signature style to? Tour the nine amazing models from Richmond American Homes, Century Communities, D.R. Horton, and Kauffman Homes and and find out why our community is among the top five fastest-growing in the state with new homes priced from the $300s.