Colorado Springs Events

We are excited to announce the 2020 Green Box Arts Festival will take place from Wednesday, June 24 through Monday, September 7 in Green Mountain Falls, Colorado.

Featured events include several new public art installations with self-guided art tours, weekly ArtDesk Broadcasts, and Animal Soul Sculptures.

The self-guided art tour can be enjoyed all summer long and no registration is needed. New public art for summer 2020 includes Heartmouth by Pard Morrison and Pondering Ponderosas with Purpose by Chad Mount. For descriptions and locations of these new installations as well as our permanent public art.

This summer, we are inviting and equipping you to Get Outdoors!

Although we cannot hold our annual Get Outdoors Day event, we encourage you to go with family and close friends and explore this amazing region and all of the fun outdoor activities from your back yard to your Colorado State Parks - the beauty and exhilaration of nature awaits you!

Check this event frequently for useful tools, information, and inspiration for having an incredible, safe summer of sun and fun!

Download/print the monthly calendar and checklist of suggested activities and see how much outdoor fun you and your family can enjoy!

Enjoy a new exhibit at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, Una Familia Grande: The Conejos Neighborhood Project that displays artifacts, photographs, and stories that puts this once vibrant neighborhood back on the map.

Through this community-based history project, neighbors will tell their own stories and visitors will gain insight into the Conejos Neighborhood’s unique community identity, history, and culture.

Join one of the fastest growing outdoor sports!

Bear Creek Regional Park has a series of archery camps for youth and adults. USA certified archery coaches will lead a fun interactive camp to learn the basic archery skills.

Coaches teach the system that the Olympic team uses with a step-by-step approach to develop the individual’s skills at their own pace.

Registration includes one free lesson at Archery School of the Rockies. Each camp session is three days long, Tuesday through Thursday.

This exhibit invites all artists to share their thoughts and beliefs through unique works of art. It is open to all faiths and beliefs, as well as all media, all ages, and 2D or 3D works.

This year we have 50 amazing artists and 108 pieces! By August the full exhibition will be digitized and formatted into an 8 x 10 table top book. Cover artist and price to be announced in August.

Get a sneak peek of the exhibit on our YouTube Channel and the Virtual First Friday Video. This month will feature a slide show of the work in the exhibit with a few quick interviews with the artists and how their work fits the theme. Please support other local art venues by participating in the Virtual First Fridays. You can see who’s doing what on Peak Radar.

Exhibit, 3rd Friday Reception, and Parking Lot Art Party:

The exhibit opens on the 9th of July. Join us for the 3rd Friday Reception on July 17th from 3-7 p.m. for this amazing collection of works from regional artists. The August 3rd Friday Reception is the Book Signing Reception and will be held August 21st from 3-7 p.m.

For the 3rd Friday Reception, July 17th, we are having our Parking Lot Art Party with tents and artist booths in the parking lot and individualized tours of the gallery. And we are going to do these all summer on 3rd Fridays! We still have to maintain social distancing and limit the number of people in the gallery at one time so we will have artists, art and art demos in the parking lot.

Andre Eddens will be spray painting and local artists Jeff Mallo, Elin Skov Vaeth, Larry McGough, Lois Jacobson, Nicole Vallance, Vinda Robison (and hopefully more) setting up booths.

And since we missed our May Military Appreciation show, Linda Case will have a booth set up to honor our military customers. As part of her and our appreciation, if customers with a military I.D. make a purchase in the gallery (art or framing) they will receive a free book!

We will also have food and beverage trucks! For your dining pleasure, we will have Tango Springs, an Argentinian Food Truck, Taste Bud Rescue Food Truck, and Campfire Coffee Beverage Truck.

During these instructor-led walking tours, participants will make lose sketches and paint scenes of downtown Colorado Springs in personal art journals.

The instructor for this class is Jana L. Bussanich.

Join us for our new sketch series, offered Wednesday's January 8 - November 25, 2020.

“The sketch hunter moves through life as he finds it, not passing negligently the things he loves, but stopping to know them, and to note them down in the shorthand of his sketchbook.”

― Robert Henri

Each tour starts offsite at Jana L. Bussanich Art Studio.

Arrive and to meet members of the group, bring your coffee, and enjoy instructor demonstrations.

You may treat your registration like a five-class punch card: come consecutively OR to the sessions that work with your schedule.

New students are welcome! This class is appropriate for all levels, beginner to advanced, ages 13 and older. Current watercolor technique and color theory students are encouraged to shift away from their usual practice and acquire new knowledge and skill during this summer course.

This activity includes urban walking, stairs, sketching and painting outdoors or in local shops, libraries, parks, museums, and other public spaces. Bring a water bottle, wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing.

In case of inclement weather, the class will take place inside at Jana L. Bussanich Art Studio.

Materials:

• Bring Sketchbook (#140 cold press watercolor paper recommended)
• Fine-tip Permanent
• MarkerWatercolor Paint Kit with a brush, water pot, and mixing tray
• Other mediums like colored pencil and watercolor markers

Find us on the Southeast side of the Pioneer’s Museum every Wednesday, June through October, from 3pm to 7pm–opening day June 10th!

Pre-orders for pickup at the market for those wanting/needing it will be open from Fridays at noon until Mondays at midnight on our online store on Open Food Network.

This cozy afternoon market features local farms and ranches, artisanal food vendors, artists and more. There’s metered street parking available along Nevada, Vermijo or across the street on Pueblo, or you can easily park in the garage on Nevada for less than $1.

Family friendly, all ages, all levels welcome.

Dallo Fall:

"I was born in the village of Thionk Essyl in the southern Casamance region of Senegal, West Africa. I grew up there living a traditional Diola life, fishing in the river, growing rice, gathering fruit and wild food in the forest. Dance is a central part of my culture. Every major event in the lives of our people is celebrated with dance. I love teaching African dance because it allows me to share the beauty of my culture with others."

Below is a short YouTube film about Dallo Fall and her ability to teach how to go far beyond moving your body, by teaching how to drum and to sing and most importantly, how to survive.

Paint the Town Blue kicks of August 6 with Eric Boa and the constrictors from Boulder.

Eric is a guitar virtuoso and is sure to please with his blues and boogie stylings. He has been a favorite in these parts for years.

Come join us and bring your dancing shoes.

You’ve found it – the original Colorado Springs food tour that started in 2010!

Explore Colorado Springs on the #1 Rated Food and Drink Attraction!

This established and popular tour highlights five distinctive local destinations that are the best in their class.

We’ll visit some of the most loved restaurants in downtown Colorado Springs while sharing local history and fun facts. Each locale has a unique flavor with food that is both delicious and approachable.

Highlights of this tour include:

Enjoy 8-10 generous tastings from five local restaurants, hole-in-the-walls, and artisan food shops in downtown Colorado Springs
Visit the historic Antlers Hotel and enjoy historical storytelling of Pikes Peak, William Jackson Palmer, the railroad, and more
Try one of Colorado’s eight famous foods, the delicious and mild Pueblo Green Chile
Experience one of downtown Colorado Springs’ most sought-after restaurants, which is hidden underground (Sundays only)
Dine at the restaurant of a Food Network Chopped Champion and get a sneak peek at its secret speakeasy

Join us for food, drinks, live music and community building. Masks are required at check in and when ordering food and drinks. Social distancing of 6ft between you and the next person/group is necessary.

The venue is beautiful and the music is superb! Join us for the 3rd concert in our summer series! Parking is limited so please carpool or ride your bike! #findyourmeadow #meadowgrassfest #rockymountainhighway

The Mitguards’ musical style, a hybrid of American roots music that includes folk, country and swing, makes their sound powerful and distinct. Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the band consists of Chris Mitguard on acoustic guitar, harmonica and vocals and Deb Mitguard on mandolin, accordion and vocals. Their original songs, framed by unique musical arrangements, weave a mixture of humor and tragedy through the stories they tell.

Chris, a Colorado native, is the songwriter for the band and has been writing songs since he was a young boy in the 1960's. His songs create powerful, visual, almost cinematic images. His well-crafted story lines are full of twists, turns and irony. They create the perfect backdrop for his sad, beautiful, sometimes dangerous, and undeniably human characters.

Deb grew up north of Detroit and has been performing since she was a young girl. Through the years she fell in love with mandolin and accordion and has developed a unique and charming style of playing. She has a natural sense of composition and theme, which adds layers of texture to The Mitguards’ sound.

Says Bill Reed of the Colorado Springs Gazette, “In his (Chris’) songwriting, Mitguard resists the urge to turn roots music into a reach for some mythical, idyllic past, and goes for a more relevant and immediate impact." The Mitguards are constantly expanding and stretching their material and performance style. Their spirited banter and engaging humor on stage creates an endearing and intimate atmosphere.

The Mitguards have played internationally in Canada and Australia. They perform primarily throughout the west with regular tours through Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota, and northern California.

First Friday Art Walks in Downtown Colorado Springs, Old Colorado City, and Manitou Springs are free community events that take place on the first Friday of each month from 5-8 p.m.

The Art Walks feature gallery openings, live demonstrations, a chance to meet local artists, shopping and dining, special performances, and much more! Taken together, the three concurrent Art Walks comprise a “Creative Corridor” along Colorado Avenue and Manitou Avenue.

To help make your First Friday experience more convenient and enjoyable, the Cultural Office and our program partners are pleased to provide free ADA accessible shuttle bus service from April through October. Two buses make a continuous loop between Downtown Colorado Springs and Old Colorado City, and a third bus makes a continuous loop between Old Colorado City and Manitou Springs. The stop in Old Colorado City is a transfer point. Park near any shuttle bus stop location, then hop on, hop off!

STOPS INCLUDE:
– Cottonwood Center for the Arts
– Downtown/Acacia Park
– Boulder & Tejon
– Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
– Art Depot Galleries
– Old Colorado City
– Manitou Town Clock
– West Manitou
– Manitou Art Center

Local artists and performers are along for the ride in each bus to entertain you, guide you, and share stories and interesting facts about our community. The free shuttle bus service is intended to serve local residents as well as visitors to the Pikes Peak region.

Note: Riders, please plan your route and timing carefully. Most galleries are only open from 5-8 p.m. and not all galleries are open on every First Friday. Keep an eye on PeakRadar.com/FirstFriday for updated schedule, route, and gallery information.

Photo by Mike Pach.

Join us at Chavez Gallery for a virtual first Friday event featuring new themed artwork from Liese Chavez!

Sometimes you must set a trap to get a meal.

Get to know the new Art on the Streets public art exhibit through a passport-guided scavenger hunt featuring giveaways, samples, and goodies at 13 different sculpture and mural locations around the Downtown Creative District from 5-8 p.m.

Pre-registration is required for all participants age 5 and up.

All sculptures are family-friendly; some goodies are only for ages 21-plus.

Visit the Facebook event on Downtown Colorado Springs page as we add details about locations, challenges & prizes.

Please join us for a series of living sculptures by Colorado-based artists. The series will take place atop a public pedestal traditionally meant to hold a historical monument, a transformation will occur from pedestal to outdoor public stage hosting performances that acknowledge underrepresented people in the cultural labor force.

Performers:

• Ashley Cornelius
• Jasmine Dillavou
• Sage & Gregg Deal
• MORSKA
• dylan scholinski
• Cliff Garrett
• Su Kaiden Cho
• Bruce Price

This will be a safe & socially distanced outdoor event so please wear a mask if you attend.

The series will tandem the kick off of the Downtown Partnership's Art on the Streets and following these performances, an artwork will be unveiled to further mark the occasion.

The downtown partnership has chosen to temporarily exhibit Nikki Pike's sculpture that reads “WE the PRIVILEGED.” in reference to Robert Indiana's widely recognized text-based sculpture LOVE, as well as the Preamble to the United States Constitution.

By changing “we the people” to “we the privileged,” the artist asks the viewer to ponder the power dynamics associated with traditional monuments.

A special thanks to all of our supporters:

• Bee Vradenburg Foundation
• UCCS Visual & Performing Arts Department
• Art on the Streets
• GOCA
• UCCS Downtown
• The Matrix Center
• The Faculty Minority Affairs Committee

Nikki Pike's WE was originally curated by Black Cube Nomadic Art Museum as part of a wider project, Temporary Monuments. The project was conceived, co-produced, and commissioned together with the Denver Theater District.

An original fractured fairytale play, written and directed by theatre students Mikayla Taylor and Audrey McGee!

With a star-studded local cast of 16, a lighthearted script, and an outdoor space perfect for socially distant audiences, this show will surely bring a smile to young faces all across town!

'Ever In Between' is a fun fairy tale adventure that brings audience members deep into the mystical woods of Sherwood Forest where they encounter a classic hero vs. villain story featuring many familiar characters.

The villain of the story, the Evil Queen, who desires one thing--to be the most beautiful in all the land--seeks to bring an end to Snow White, the fairest of them all. The Queen sends a Huntsman to dispose of Snow White, only to be foiled by everyone’s favorite honorable thief, Robin Hood. Soon falling head-over-heels for her (as opposed to his friend Marian), he finds her a place among his Merry Dwarves. However, Snow’s safety is compromised when the Queen plots an amusing series of murder attempts. Can Robin, Marian, and the Dwarves protect her, especially with the confusing presence of Rumpelstiltskin, Hansel, and Gretel?

There is a full-length show to be performed at our stage, but for those who have been cooped up in quarantine a bit too long, we have pre-show scenes scattered along the La Foret Trail, leading from Mary Kyer Park to our venue!

Before each performance, audiences will gather in small, socially-distanced groups to walk the trail and be introduced to our characters! (For those with less time or who find the walk a bit much, they can head straight to the stage and catch the pre-show summary in their programs.)

Broken Arrow performs the music of Neil Young, featuring both the rockin' electric Crazy Horse tunes and the more acoustic, pedal steel driven country rock material.

The band delivers these classic songs faithfully while taking them out on some jamming excursions and tastefully tweaking some of the arrangements.

Joe Mass nails the Neil vocals perfectly and the harmonies are spot on. These guys always have audiences on their feet singing along and demanding encores at every show.

Created in 2010, this year marks the 10th consecutive year of The Broadmoor Pikes Peak Cycling Hill Climb, an annual event of the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation.

The Broadmoor Pikes Peak Cycling Hill Climb Gran Fondo features a non-competitive fun ride that give cyclists of all abilities a truly unique experience on Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain.

Cyclists will ride in a fully supported event. Competitive Race & Gran Fondo: 12.42 miles/20km – 4,725 ft elevation gain

At an elevation of 14,115′, Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain, is one of Colorado’s 54 fourteeners, mountains that rise more than 14,000 feet (4,267.2 m) above sea level, and the highest summit of the southern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. It is located within the Pike National Forest. The mountain is named in honor of American explorer Zebulon Pike and is a designated National Historic Landmark.

We are also looking for volunteers to help with this event.

Volunteer Roles: aid station management, athlete check-in, information booths, set-up/tear-down, course marshals, scoring, timing, hospitality and many other activities. To volunteer, please visit our website or call us at the number below.

Our longest running market location, the Margarita at Pine Creek is the best way to spend a Saturday morning. Online pre-order launch Saturday June 13 and physical market opening Saturday June 20!

Pre-orders will be available Tuesdays-Thursdays for pickup on Saturdays on our online store on Open Food Network.

Usually, outside of Covid times, every Saturday, June through October, the Margarita opens their patio with live local music, brunch fare, an espresso bar and full drink bar, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

CFAM sets up behind the restaurant with our local growers, ranchers and farmers. We also invite our many artisanal prepped food vendors and a large selection of hand crafted art vendors to this delightful market.

What did suffrage mean to the lives of women in the Pikes Peak Region? Facilitated by staffers of the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, this tour highlights women’s stories of work, activism, and philanthropy in the historic working-class neighborhood of Southwest Downtown.

Discover how the 19th Amendment – which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year – paved the way for women to actively advocate for themselves, their families and their community.

*Pictured: Women Suffragists outside of the National Woman’s Party Headquarters in Colorado Springs, 222 N. Tejon Street,1916, Harry L. Standley, Photographer, courtesy Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum.

Iron Springs Chateau is temporarily closed and is anticipating reopening May 1.

2020 marks The Iron Springs Chateau’s 60th anniversary of continuous family friendly hilarious entertainment!

Please join us for our opening night of “Honesty Always Wins…or…This Mine is Mine” on Friday, March 13, 2020.

This show, written by Manitou Springs actor/playwrights, Ms. Vicki Kelly and Mr. Bruce Littrell, is a fun loving melodrama that takes place in the Colorado Mountains where men are men and villains never prosper!

In this story, the Worthmore women have been slaving to make sure they can pay the evil black widow Ena Pinch her percentage of the restaurant they run, but Mrs. Pinch has evicted them! Thank heavens the nerdy accountant Pomeroy has a plan and that handsome hero Big Buck Brawny is the luckiest man in Colorado.  With goodness on their side, the evil Mrs. Pinch doesn’t stand a chance!

The melodrama is followed by a sing-along intermission and a “1960’s for 60 Years” laugh-In themed Vaudeville style musical revue full of comedy, songs, dances, jokes, and crazy costumes! It’s a blast for the whole family!

The show is directed by Lori Adams-Miller, musical direction by Bruce Littrell and Bonnie Hausknecht, costumes by Aaron Graves and choreography by Daisya Dowen, Rebekah Ratterree, and Lori Adams-Miller.