Do Something New in the New Year!
Make 2019 the year to try some new activities with the family and make time to do the things that are most important to you. We are fortunate to live in an area where nature is right outside our doors, and this weekend there are many family activities that help you make the most of it. Let the kids day-camp at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo! See a 3D movie about the wilderness in your backyard! Celebrate the new nature exhibits at Bear Creek Nature Center, or take a backcountry hike in Highlands Ranch!
Thursday-Friday, January 3-4
TAKE THE KIDS TO DAY CAMP AT THE ZOO
Looking for something special for the kids to do on their last days of winter break? How about spending the whole day at the zoo? This educational and fun day camp offers different themed activities for different age groups, so no matter which grade your kids are in, they will have a blast!
Kindergarten campers will get to watch the animals playing in the snow and construct their own snow globe displays; 1st and 2nd graders will do real life experiments in the snow; 3rd and 4th graders will investigate animal mysteries; and 5th and 6th graders will explore the secrets of the rainforest to discover how they can help preserve the earth!
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd., Colorado Springs
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Registration: $30.75-$65.75
Phone: 719-424-7827
Thursday-Saturday, January 3-5
CHECK OUT THE LIGHTS!
If you didn’t have a chance over the holidays to take in the winter wonderland of lights at Cave of the Winds, it’s not too late! Take a break from city events to drive down to the quaint town of Manitou Springs, where you can observe a quarter of a million lights at the top of Williams Canyon!
The Illumination Festival is still going on, so check out the giant animated Christmas tree, and enjoy hot chocolate and s’mores around the bonfire as you bid the holiday season farewell for another year!
Cave of the Winds, 100 Cave of the Winds Rd., Manitou
5:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Cost: $25 per car
Phone: 719-685-54442
KEITH ALBERSTADT’S UNIQUE COMEDY
Up and coming comedian Keith Alberstadt has a clever way of looking at life that is sharply perceptive and highly creative. His treasure trove of unique material has been featured in his contributions to Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
You may have seen him on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert or Late Night with Seth Meyers, or on CMT’s Next Big Comic, where he was in the Final Four. Alberstadt has also been on NBC’s Last Comic Standing and has appeared on CNN’s Not Just Another News Show. He has also performed numerous times for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Comedy Works-South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village
Thurs., 7:30 p.m.; Fri./Sat., 7:15 and 9:45 p.m.
Tickets: $16-$24
Phone: 720-274-6800
Thursday-Sunday, January 3-6
SKATE INTO THE NEW YEAR!
What could be a better way to get off on the right foot in the new year than by gliding around a festive ice rink with family and friends? Ice skating is great exercise and a ton of fun! Whether you are a seasoned pro or just beginning, the Rink at the Rock has rentals and lessons, so you can get out on the ice and have a great time!
The White Pavilion, 414 Perry St., Castle Rock
Thurs., 4:00-8:00 p.m.; Fri., 4:00-9:00 p.m.; Sat., 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.; Sun., 12:00-5:00 p.m.
Cost: $6-$8
Phone: 303-814-8142
TAKE A PEEK IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD
The magic of 3D movies will astound you again with this entertaining new feature about the wonders of nature in our own backyards! Backyard Wilderness 3D follows a little girl named Katie, who lives in a suburban neighborhood next to the woods. When Katie becomes aware that there is more going on in her world than what exists on screens, she is delighted by the intricate secrets that nature has hidden so close to her front door.
You will accompany Katie as she discovers the wonders of nature over the course of four seasons, thanks to cameras mounted inside dens and nests, and moving along the forest floor and pond bottom. You will be moved at the beauty of this intimate peek inside the natural world.
CU South Denver, 10035 S. Peoria St., Lone Tree
10:00 a.m., 12:00 and 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $8-$12
Phone: 303-315-9448
EXPLORE THE CREATIVE EDGE
Open up your world to a new appreciation of art with this special exhibit of Abstract Art by members of the Parker Arts Guild. With strong themes and messages, as well as attention to color, line, design, composition and patterns, this exhibit demonstrates the power of abstract art. Peruse the paintings and see what kind of an emotional response they strike in you—all pieces are for sale if you end up falling in love with one!
The Schoolhouse Gallery, 19650 E. Mainstreet, Parker
Call for hours
Information
Phone: 303-805-6800
FINAL WEEKEND FOR MATILDA THE MUSICAL
Matilda is a precocious and misunderstood child whose gifts are ridiculed by her cruel family. In this delightful stage adaptation of the classic children’s book by Roald Dahl, Matilda the Musical will uplift the entire family with its positive message about being true to yourself. Don’t miss your final opportunity to see this special story come to life on stage!
Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, 30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs
Thurs./Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $20-$50
Phone: 719-634-5581
Friday, January 4
SWING INTO THE NEW YEAR
What could be better than dancing the night away, cheek to cheek with your sweetheart or with someone new you meet at this event? The Mile High Big Band will be playing an exciting mix of music LIVE, including swing, waltz, rumba, cha-cha, tango, foxtrot and more, all for your dancing pleasure! Singles as well as couples are welcome! To register online, look for Ballroom Dance Nights on the link below, or use class number 461981 in the keyword search.
Lone Tree Recreation Center, 10249 Ridgegate Cir., Lone Tree
7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Register: $8-$10
Phone: 303-708-3513
Saturday, January 5
CELEBRATE NEW NATURE EXHIBITS
The whole family will enjoy this celebration of new exhibits at the Bear Creek Nature Center! Take part in fun and educational presentations from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, featuring the Greenback Cutthroat Trout! There will be live animals from Pikes Peak Community College’s Wild Things program, and kids will love the Bear Creek Habitat’s puppet shows!
Enjoy free pizza and other light refreshments while you listen to the groovin’ sounds of the All In! Jazz Trio. There will also be two contests to enter—an Exhibits Scavenger Hunt, where teams compete to gather information about the new exhibits, and a Most Creative Selfie contest! Don’t miss the fun!
Bear Creek Nature Center, 245 Bear Creek Rd., Colorado Springs
12:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Phone: 719-520-6387
ENJOY A “CRAFTERNOON” AT THE LIBRARY
Put away the electronics for a few hours and remember what it feels like to make something with your own two hands! There’s nothing like craft projects to bring the whole family together. Head over to the library in Castle Pines to begin your own project involving recycled or repurposed materials. All you need to bring is the desire to learn a new skill, and you’re ready to craft!
Castle Pines Library, 360 Village Square Ln., Castle Pines
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Registration: FREE
Phone: 303-791-7323
TAKE A HIKE
Has it been a long two weeks with everyone home together for holiday break? Then get out of the house and take a family hike before cabin fever strikes! Backcountry Base Camp is the starting point for a short nature hike and a chance to explore in the woods. You will appreciate the fresh air, the peaceful sounds of nature, and the opportunity for the kids to work off some of that pent-up energy. They can build a snowman or just enjoy tromping through the snow. After the hike, there will be a bonfire to warm up by and toast marshmallows (weather permitting).
Backcountry Wilderness Area, 6005 Ron King Trail, Highlands Ranch
2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Register: $6 – $10
Make 2019 a Crystal Valley Year!
It’s a Crystal Valley New Year as this master-planned community just minutes from historic downtown Castle Rock. Stop by and explore the nine models from D.R. Horton, Kauffman Homes and Richmond American Homes and find out why this community is among the top five fastest-growing in the state! You’ll find new homes priced from the $300s, available in ranch and two-story models.
