Crystal Valley Blog

From a couple of Turkey Day 5K runs to holiday performances all over the area, there are plenty of activities to get you in the holiday spirit this weekend! Parker’s Holiday Lighting takes place this weekend, along with the opening of the Ice Trail and the North Pole Pass!

TODAY/TONIGHT, November 25

TURKEY ROCK TROT
Before indulging in the big feast later, work up an appetite by running in Castle Rock’s Thanksgiving morning tradition! Everyone is welcome—the 17th Annual Turkey ROCK Trot 5K is a fun run that the entire family can participate in. You can run, walk, stroll, or push a stroller!

Douglas County Events Center, 500 Fairgrounds Dr., Castle Rock
7:30 – 11:00 a.m.
Register: $15 – $35

TURKEY DAY 5K RUN
Another Thanksgiving Day 5K race in Parker gives you the opportunity to hang out with friends and family while getting a workout. The Turkey Day 5K starts and finishes at the Parker Recreation Center, and registered participants will receive commemorative fleece mittens, race bib, and hot cocoa, cider, or coffee. 

Parker Recreation Center, 17301 E. Lincoln Ave., Parker
8:00 a.m.
Register: $30-$40
Phone: 303-841-4500

Friday, November 26

JAZZY CHRISTMAS
The Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra will be swinging into the holidays with special guest vocalist Heidi Schmidt singing your favorite seasonal tunes. The jazzy arrangements are perfect for capturing a nostalgic Christmas atmosphere! You’ll be singing along to songs like Go Tell It on the Mountain, The Christmas Song, The Little Drummer Boy, and instrumental selections from Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite.

PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker
4:00 p.m.
Tickets: $29; Phone: 303-805-6800

PARKER’S HOLIDAY LIGHTING
Christmas is coming to Parker! It will be a winter wonderland in O’Brien Park whether or not there is snow! The Town Tree will be lit by the Mayor while the Parker Chorale leads a sing-along to Silent Night. Then the whole park will be lit up in a sparkling showcase of white lights!  

Take a walk all around O’Brien Park to discover fun holiday ice sculpture displays. The gazebo will be filled with the sounds of the holidays as local choirs sing favorite holiday carols. You may even run into some holiday characters hanging out in the park! Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in town for this festive evening, as well as Elsa and Olaf!

O’Brien Park, 10795 Victorian Dr., Parker
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Information: FREE
Phone: 303-805-3253

Friday-Sunday, November 26-28

ICE TRAIL OPENING! 
There aren’t many ice trails in this country—a skating path that’s reminiscent of a frozen river or canal like they have in Nordic countries. But did you know Parker has an ice trail in Discovery Park? You can meander through the park on skates, stopping at one of the fire pits next to the ice trail to get warm or to take a rest and enjoy some hot chocolate. Concessions, skate rental, and restroom facilities are available for all skaters visiting the park. Bring your own skates or rent a pair for an additional $4.

Discovery Park, 20115 E. Mainstreet, Parker
Fri./Sat., 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.; Sun., 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $6-$8

SHORT & SWEET NUTCRACKER
Just the right length for the attention span of young children, The Nutcracker: Short & Sweet is a perfect way to introduce your family to the beloved holiday dance classic. This version is only 60 minutes from beginning to end!

Your children will be delighted by visions of sugerplums dancing in their heads, as well as Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, and the beautiful Sugarplum Fairy dancing on stage! Live music is performed by the Colorado Springs Philharmonic Orchestra and Colorado Springs Children’s Chorale, while the Oklahoma City Ballet performs the dance!

Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts, 190 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs
Fri./Sat., 1:00, 4:00, and 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $41-$64

HUDSON GARDENS CHRISTMAS
An enchanting display of Christmas lights all over Hudson Gardens is guaranteed to fill you with Christmas cheer! A grove of dancing Christmas trees, a multi-colored forest inhabited by giant snowmen, the holiday light tunnel, and glowing reindeer will put a smile on every face! Tickets are available online only.

Hudson Gardens, 6115 South Santa Fe Dr., Littleton
5:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Tickets: $12-$15
Phone: 303-797-8565

DISNEY ON ICE
Dream Big is the inspiring ice show that features Disney characters who have mustered strength and determination in their journeys. Miguel from Coco must travel to the Land of the Dead to unlock his family’s history; Moana and Maui bravely restore the stolen heart of Te Fiti; and Anna and Elsa must save their kingdom. 

See Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy skate in classic programs, as well as stars from Frozen, Moana, Coco, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Tangled, The Princess and the Frog, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty.

Broadmoor World Arena, 3185 Venetucci Blvd., Colorado Springs
Fri./Sat., 7:00 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Tickets: Starting at $20

HARD LIVIN’ HUMOR
Dean Delray is one stand-up comedian who has lived the experiences he shares in his comedy—all of it. As a motorcycle-riding, hard-driving comic, he delivers a hard-livin’ no-holds-barred perspective. Before he took to the stand-up stage, Delray was a hard-rock musician, opening for acts like Tom Petty, Lenny Kravitz and The Black Crowes. Delray has been featured on WTF with Marc Maron, Mohr Stories, You Made it Weird and his own weekly podcast, Let There Be Talk, on the All Things Comedy network. His stand-up act is warm, inviting, and subversively full of conviction.

Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Pl., Greenwood Village
7:15 and 9:45 p.m.
Tickets: $23; Phone: 720-274-6800

Saturday, November 27

THE NUTCRACKER BY CHILDREN
The timeless holiday ballet classic is performed in its entirety by more than 60 young Colorado Springs dancers! Your children will be inspired and you will be amazed at the jaw-dropping, gravity-defying, graceful and exciting dancing by this talented young troupe. A bonus pre-show features performances from The Greatest Showman.

Shockley-Zalabak Theater, 5225 N. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs
2:00 and 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $15-$69

AN IRISH CHRISTMAS
Put together the talents of an Irish dance world champion with a worldwide touring Irish musician, add a Broadway director and an Emmy award-winning set designer, and you have a dazzling new Christmas musical, Christmas In Killarney! Set in Ireland in the late 1920s, Christmas In Killarney combines the excitement of Irish dance and the harmonies of traditional Christmas classics.

You’ll see what it means to celebrate Christmas “the Irish way” and discover that many of our own Christmas traditions originated there.

PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker
2:00 and 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $29
Phone: 303-805-6800

BALLET COMEDY CLASSIC
Ballet Ariel’s 23rd season opens with one of the most delightful comic ballets of all time, The Toymaker’s Doll, Coppelia. Children will love the antics of the mischievous dancing doll while adults will be drawn in by the sophisticated inference to Pygmalion: a toymaker falling in love with his creation.

Schoolhouse Theatre, 19650 Mainstreet, Parker
6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $20-$26

Saturday-Sunday, November 27-28

HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS
Downtown Parker is the perfect place for a self-paced weekend of holiday activities! Now that the Town Tree is lit up and holiday lighting displays are twinkling throughout O’Brien Park all the way to Discovery Park, you can find lots of places for a festive selfie! Activities will be spread out all around town, throughout the day and night! You can also take part in the Elf Around Town Scavenger Hunt! This holiday season, on Saturdays and Sundays leading up to Christmas, try to find one of Santa’s real live elves around downtown Parker. If you see the Elf around town, take a picture of him and post the picture on the Town’s Facebook page!

All entries will be entered into a prize drawing!

O’Brien Park, 10795 Victorian Dr., Parker
Information: FREE
Phone: 303-805-3253

NORTH POLE PASS
This is the most popular choice to spend time with Santa—a 90-minute trip to the North Pole to experience all kinds of holiday adventures, including a visit to a petting zoo, playing reindeer games with Santa’s elves, milk and cookie refreshments, and of course, time with the Jolly Ol’ Elf himself! This activity is for children ages 3 to 10.

The pass also includes a one-time coupon for ice skating at the Parker Ice Trail at Discovery Park (skates included) to be used anytime during operating hours Saturday,  Nov. 27 through Friday, Dec. 3.

Schoolhouse Theatre, 19650 Mainstreet, Parker
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Tickets: $25-$30
Phone: 303-805-3253

PICTURES WITH SANTA
Get your Christmas orders in early! Santa is all ready to listen to your kids’ wishlists, and you’ll get a professional photo package of the momentous occasion! You can even opt for an additional family portrait or get a pet photo with Santa!

Outlets at Castle Rock, 5050 Factory Shops Blvd., Castle Rock
Sat., 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; Sun., 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Walk-up or Reserve: $39.99-$49.98
Phone: 303-688-4495

Sunday, November 28

CHRISTMAS SWING-A-LONG
Everyone’s favorite vintage crooners, The Beverly Belles, are back with an all-new holiday show, celebrating the music and comedy of the 1940s! Their variety show-style program features special guests The Honey Taps and comedian Heath Hyche as their ridiculous “manager.” You’ll enjoy all your favorite holiday tunes, the music of the 1940s, and today’s top hits in vintage style.

PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker
2:00 and 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: $54 – $74
Phone: 303-805-6800

A FACE CHRISTMAS
The popular all-vocal rock band Face is back with a new version of their fun, festive holiday concert! Perfect for the entire family, this concert will get everyone in the holiday spirit. Using only their voices, the band melds popular tunes, complex harmonies, and beat-box rhythms into a captivating holiday performance. The 4:00 p.m. show is a special sensory-friendly performance that will last about an hour.

Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree
4:00 and 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $20 – $55

Family-friendly Activities in the Crystal Valley area!

There’s always something to do near the family-friendly community of Crystal Valley! Enjoy the  relaxed lifestyle of Castle Rock and surrounding area where cultural and entertainment activities abound! Tour the nine amazing models from Richmond American Homes, D.R. Horton, Century Communities, 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 low $400s.