Crystal Valley Blog

With several Earth Day celebrations scheduled this weekend, you can get your fingers in the dirt or participate in a captivating virtual session about whales. There’s even an online benefit for the Denver Audubon Society featuring a local stand-up comedian! You’ve also got an opportunity to get out and see some IN-PERSON theatre or music—there’s something for everyone in the Castle Rock area!

TODAY/TONIGHT, April 22

VIRTUAL CAREER FAIR FOR TEENS
Help your teenagers explore their options with this educational sampling of a wide variety of career fields—all online. Register to attend and hear stories from speakers involved in various careers and how they arrived where they are today.

Three sessions will be held, highlighting different fields: Arts, A/V Technology & Communication, and Transportation & Logistics (4:00-5:00 p.m.); Hospitality & Tourism, Management & Administration (5:00-6:00 p.m); Special Session Exploring Youth Apprenticeships (6:00-6:30 p.m.).

Youth Career Fair Online
4:00 – 6:30 p.m.
Register: FREE

ONLINE COLLEGE FAIR
This spring, the only way to get a college tour seems to be online. With this “one stop” college fair, high school students can explore a wide range of colleges in a time-efficient way! 

Rocky Mountain Association for College Admissions Counseling will be offering their annual Spring College Fair virtually. Students and parents can meet with representatives from many colleges and have their questions answered. The event is FREE, but registration is required.

RMACAC Virtual Spring College Fair
5:00 – 7:45 p.m.
Register: FREE

THE SECRET OF WHALES
Celebrate Earth Day with an up-close and personal look at the hidden life of whales! This FREE online event features a preview of the new Disney+ original series, Secrets of the Whales, with National Geographic photographer Brian Skerry, creator of the program.

Skerry followed whales with his camera to get a glimpse of their hidden culture and relationships. You’ll hear stories about his adventures, see images he captured, and even get to ask him questions during the audience Q&A! No registration required—just log in and enjoy!

Lone Tree Arts Center Online
5:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE

ONLINE BENEFIT FOR BIRDS

Western Tanager

Another way to celebrate Earth Day is to help raise funds for our feathered friends! The Denver Audubon community holds an annual fundraiser, and this year it will be a virtual event on Zoom.
Join local comedian Adam Cayton-Holland—who happens to be a birder and friend of Denver Audubon—as he provides the evening’s hilarious entertainment. You might recognize him from one of his many appearances on Conan, Comedy Central Presents, and The Late Late Show with James Corden. He also created, wrote, and starred in truTV’s Those Who Can’t. There will also be an auction with great prizes like a 4-night stay in Glenwood Springs, Loveland Ski Passes, and an Osprey backpack!

Denver Audubon Online
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Register: $25 for two logins

Friday, April 23

FILM MUSIC DOCUMENTARY
Film buffs and contemporary music lovers will be riveted to this documentary that traces the path of a film’s score from the first notes on the piano to the dramatic chords during the story’s climax.

As part of Colorado Springs Philharmonic’s series with Rocky Mountain Women’s Film, this FilmHarmonic screening highlights the struggles that musicians and filmmakers face in both the creative and technical aspects of the movie.

Colorado Springs Philharmonic Online
Starting at 12:00 a.m.
Tickets: $12

ROCK HAWK HALF-MARATHON
Start the trail-running season with a favorite race, named Best Kids Race in Competitor Magazine’s “Best Of” runner poll! This half-marathon, 10K or 5K is a perfect way to ease back into running or train for longer summer events. With trails on rolling hills and gorgeous views, this race will make you happy you’re out and moving! 

First time runners, veteran trail runners, and families with kids love the Ridgeline Trail systems that aren’t overly technical. Sign up now and get ready to run!

Phillip Miller Activity Complex, 1375 W Plum Creek Pkwy., Castle Rock
7:00 a.m.
Register: $55-$105
Phone: 303-320-3343

NOTHING BUT THE BLUES
The Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra is thrilled to be back in a live, IN-PERSON concert! You can share in the joy of jazz when they present Nothing But the Blues, an homage to blues and swing artists like Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Ella Fitzgerald and more! 

Vocalist Heidi Schmidt will sing Blues in The Night and many other favorites. CJRO may be playing the blues, but you’ll be up and dancing! 

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

Friday-Saturday, April 23-24

LIVE ON STAGE: KIDS’ THEATRE!
This kid-centric version of Legend of Sleepy Hollow is BY kids, FOR kids! And even though it’s about a Headless Horseman, it’s not as scary as it sounds! You’ll have socially-distanced seats in the theatre for this IN-PERSON event! Tickets must be purchased 24 hours in advance.

The Schoolhouse, 19650 Mainstreet, Parker
Friday, 6:00 p.m; Sat., 2:00 and 6:00 p.m.
Tickets: $15
Phone: 303-805-6800

Saturday, April 24

RE-SCHEDULED: EARTH DAY PLANTING
Originally scheduled for last weekend, this Earth Day event was postponed due to weather, so now you can take part in the event today! Help with harvesting and planting willows along East Plum Creek Trail at crossings that were disturbed as a result of the recent construction for the southern extension of the trail between South Perry Street and Crystal Valley Parkway.

East Plum Creek Trail, 734-970 Meadows Pkwy., Castle Rock
9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Register: FREE
Phone: 303-814-7456

SUU AVIATION
Southern Utah University Aviation is back at Wings Over the Rockies’ Englewood location to talk to anyone interested in learning how to become a pilot. As one of the nation’s top aviation schools, SUU will be bringing some of their helicopter and airplane instructors along with the aircraft they fly. You’ll have a chance to ask questions and hear stories from experienced instructor pilots.

Exploration of Flight, Centennial Airport, 13005 Wings Way, Englewood
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $4-$10
Phone: 303-360-5360 ext.160

MAKE A FAIRY OR GNOME HOME!
Kids will love getting on their hands and knees in the Backcountry to help build some tiny homes for fairies and gnomes in the Enchanted Forest! These little creatures come out when all the humans have gone home, and they’ll be delighted to find houses just for them.

In addition to sticks and stones and bits of moss, there will be some extra building materials on hand that are perfect for fairy and gnome homes. Kids will also make a fairy wand or wizard staff craft to take home.

Backcountry Wilderness Area, 6005 Ron King Trail, Highlands Ranch 
12:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Register: $28-$30
Phone: 303-471-7052

THE COMEDY ZONE
A hilarious night of adult comedy is live and IN-PERSON at the PACE Center in Parker! Three comedians will keep you entertained all evening long! Popular mid-western comedian AJ Finney weaves hilarious stream-of-consciousness stories around psychedelics, jam bands, and Volkswagens. He was one of the chosen performers in Season 8’s Last Comic Standing, was featured on Fox’s Laughs, and was crowned “Best of the Midwest” winner at Gilda’s LaughFest in Grand Rapids.

Georgia Comstock is a Denver comic who is loved for her sass and goofy premises. She was the 2018 winner of Denver’s Phone It in Film Festival and performs all over the country. Emceeing the event is local comedian Geoff Tice, a regular at Comedy Works in Denver. He’s performed at festivals such as SF Sketchfest, Limestone Comedy Festival, High Plains Comedy Festival and Red Clay Comedy Festival.

PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker
7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $29
Phone: 303-805-6800

Sunday, April 25

SCIENCE AND ART SHOW
Do you have inquisitive kids? They are going to love this show! A combination of dazzling physical feats like juggling and unicycle riding are combined with behind-the-scenes explanations for the science behind the artistry.

National Juggling Champion and kinetic comedian Peter Davison juggles, rides, balances, and clowns around before pausing to explain how he does it. This show is packed with audience participation, education, and entertainment!

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

Plenty of Weekend To Dos Near Crystal Valley!

There’s no shortage of things to do near the master-planned community of Crystal Valley! You can get back to nature and still have easy access to all your favorite activities in the Castle Rock area. With beautiful model homes from D.R. Horton, Kauffman Homes, Richmond American Homes, and Century Communities, it’s easy to picture yourself in your own new home, priced from the $300s.