Tuesday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Services. We will be celebrating this Christmas Eve with four worship services. Three will be held at Woodland Park Community Church at 9:30 am, 3 pm, and 6 pm and these will be candlelight services. We will also host a service in Cripple Creek at the Carr Manor Banquet Hall, located at 350 East Carr Ave, at 12 pm. Hot beverages and homemade cookies will be available at each service. Childcare will be available at all WPCC services for children up to 4 years of age. Our Cripple Creek service will be a family service with no childcare available. For more information, call 719-687-9444.
Additional Christmas Eve services will be held by a number of churches in the lower Ute Pass and Teller County area, with a variety of times. Check with churches in the area for more information. Also, some local eateries are featuring Christmas Eve dining specials.
Santa arrives at Town Clock. Santa will be in downtown Historic Manitou Springs at the Town clock in Manitou Springs from 6 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 24. For more information, contact the Manitou Springs Fire Department at 719-685-1444.
Wednesday, Dec. 25
Merry Christmas From TMJ Staff. All government offices and most restaurants will be closed. Local casinos in Cripple Creek and many convenience outlets will remain open.
Salvation Army Community Christmas Dinner. A community Christmas dinner will be held at Memoria Hall at City Hall in Manitou Springs (606 Manitou Avenue) on Christmas Day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, contact Andy Wells, 719-459-1630. If ou are interested in volunteering, call 719-636-5277.
Thursday, Dec. 26
No Teller County Commissioners meeting. The Teller County Commissioners, which normally meet the second and fourth Thursdays of the month, will not meet this Thursday due to changes associated with the Christmas holidays. No more meetings are scheduled for the remainder of the year.
Dinner Sleigh Ride. Come enjoy a dinner sleigh ride with your family, and ours at the M Lazy C Guest Ranch 801 County Road 453 in Lake George. Start off the evening with a sunset horse drawn sleigh ride up to the dining hall. Take a seat and enjoy the Brisket, Chicken, or Veggie dinner. The dinner comes with sides, a roll, and a homemade dessert. Listen to our two wranglers sing country, and Christmas songs with two stepping and line dancing. Head back over to the sleigh and finish off the night with a magical star lit ride to your vehicles. If you do not see a date that works for you please feel free to give us a call! Please note that sleigh rides are snow permitted. If we do not have enough snow the ride becomes a wagon ride, which is similar to the sleigh with wheels instead of runners. Scheduled for Dec. 26, 28, 29, 30 and Jan. 3 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Call 748-3398 for more information.
Friday, Dec. 27
Final Few Days For All I Want for Christmas Is: More Olio! The Butte Theater will host a full length Christmas Olio, under the direction of the Mountain Rep Theater company from now through Dec. 29. The show is great for families. For ticket information and show times, visit www.buttetheater.com.
Holiday Headframe Lighting. The giant headframes that are the remains of 1890’s gold mining days will again light up the night sky around Victor and Cripple Creek again this holiday season. These unique mining structures are one-of-a-kind remnants of the gold rush era. This marks the 20th anniversary of the event. Holiday ornaments, some as large as 20 feet tall, will be lit against the starry night skies of the Victor and Cripple Creek starting Friday, Nov. 29. Everything from a Christmas wreath to a snowman will be on display this year.A self-guided driving tour map will be available at area businesses, as well as the Cripple Creek Heritage Center and online at STCFG.com. The lights will be best viewed after dark and will be in place Friday through Sunday nights through New Year’s Day, weather/safety and volunteers permitting. This holiday lighting tradition is sponsored by Newmont Goldcorp, on whose property most of the headframes are located. Volunteers from the communities staff the generators and line power connections each weekend. Other sponsors include an anonymous donor, Southern Teller County Focus Group, Cripple Creek Parks & Recreation, and the Cripple Creek District Museum. Support also comes from Black Hills Energy crews who help refurbish the lamps on the ornaments and donate power installations. More information is at STCFG.com.
Saturday, Dec. 28
Fossil Beds Activities. The Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Florissant is open year-round. The Monument is now open daily 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Monument will be closed on Christmas Day. There also are a number of special programs, guided hikes and special events for the next month. Here are a few highlights of remaining programs *Science Saturday, December 28th, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.Join Geoscientist-in-the-Park Intern Nichole for some fun, hands-on science activities and learn about the structure of the Earth, volcanoes, and much more. Participants can also complete a Junior Ranger Activity Book and earn a Junior Ranger Badge. Drop-in any time between 11 – 3:00 PM. The science activities are ongoing throughout the day and last about 30 minutes. Follow up with the Monument’s hands-on interactive exhibits and fossil displays, a film, and/or a short hike. Dress in layers. There are no additional fees for any park programs beyond the daily entrance fee of $10.00 per adult (15 and younger are free). Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument offers 15 miles of beautiful, yet lesser known, hiking trails to explore, a free Junior Ranger Program, three short self-guided trails, a park video and museum exhibits, and bookstore. For additional information, please call (719) 748-3253 or visit our website: www.nps.gov/flfo or on Facebook or Twitter at /FlorissantNPS The Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument offers 15 miles of beautiful, yet lesser known, hiking trails to explore, a free Junior Ranger Program, three short self-guided trails, a park video and museum exhibits, and bookstore. For additional information, please call (719) 748-3253 or visit our website: www.nps.gov/flfo or on Facebook or Twitter at /FlorissantNPS
Mueller Hikes and Activities. As the warmth of summer gives way to cooler nights, celebrate fall at Mueller State Park, as the forest turns golden! Typical weather this fall at Mueller brings picture-perfect, blue-sky days. A full schedule of naturalist programs can help you to look, learn and enjoy the surroundings. Evening amphitheater programs will continue on weekends and guided hikes are available almost daily. Special programs this month include elk bugling hikes and fall challenge hikes! The Fall Challenge is an invitation to hike all the trails at Mueller, with a guide or on your own, about 60 miles, in one month! All activities are free; a park pass for your vehicle is the only cost. Scheduled hikes, with special naturalists and park experts, are held on most weekends. For more information, call 719-687-2366.
Upcoming
Shooting Program For Kids. Join the Teller County Marksmanship & Self-Defense Group shooting program for grades 8-12 students ofTeller County.Instruction will cover basic marksmanship and emphasize the safe and responsible operation and use of firearms. The course, in conjunction with Teller County 4-H Shooting Sports, will offer both rimfire and air-rifle instruction, and be conducted in Victor and Divide.Instructors will include NRA certified and US Olympic qualified personnel. All necessary equipment, firearms, and ammo will be provided.Parents Contact Annie Durham 719-722-9248.
TSC (Teller Senior Coalition) Transit is excited to announce our bus service on Wednesdays and Fridays in Woodland Park and the lower Ute Pass area. TSC also offers a joint venture with Cripple Creek Transit on Wednesdays to provide much needed transportation service between Cripple Creek and Woodland Park. TSC Transit will be picking up from the Senior Center and will be making stops at Pikes Peak Family Medicine, Pikes Peak Regional Hospital, City Market, Safeway, Walgreens, Walmart and the Department of Social Services upon request. In addition, new ride services are available on a limited basis to Green Mountain Falls, Cascade and Manitou Springs. Call 719-687-0256 for more details or visit the TSC website at www.tellerseniorcoalition.org. for a full schedule of pick up and drop off time .
A special New Year’s Eve Celebration will be held at the Ute Pass Cultural Center on Dec. 31/Jan. 1 from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Featuring dancing, drinks, party favors, hors d’oeuvres and more. A number of local businesses are sponsoring the event.
New Year’s Eve Parties. A variety of New Year’s Eve parties and celebrations are scheduled for most casinos in Cripple Creek and at many local restaurants/bars in the area.
Adaman Fireworks Show. A huge fireworks show will occur at the top of Pikes Peak around midnight, Dec. 31. The fireworks show culminates a hike up the Barr Trail undertaken by new members of the group. An earlier show commences around 9 p.m. in honor of five original AdAmAn members.
First Day Hikes. Colorado State Parks have taken on the tradition of hosting hikes on New Year’s Day – to start the New Year out right! Join in First Day Hikes at Mueller! Bring water, snacks, (snowshoes?) and dress for snow! Hikes will be held throughout the day at Elk Meadow, Wapiti Nature Trail, and Outlook Ridge. For more information, call 719-687-2366.
Ute Pass-Woodland Park Kiwanis Bingo. Join the fun during the 1st & 3rd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Twenty dollars buys a packet for 10 games, 6 cards for each game It’s a great opportunity to have fun and socialize with your friends and neighbors. Come early and have dinner! Food and drinks will be available for purchase during the games! This event is sponsored by the Ute Pass-Woodland Park Kiwanis club. The proceeds benefit the children of Teller County. For more information, call 315-5004 or email upkiwanis@gmail.com.
Sales Tax Changes. A lunch and learn series, sponsored by the Woodland Park Chamber of Commerce, is scheduled for Jan. 9 at the Ute Pass Cultural Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. A presentations will be conducted by Lara Hunter of Kelley & Chulick CPAs. Call 719-687-9885 to register. This is the first lunch and learn event of 2020.
Social Media In Our Backyard. Scheduled for Jan. 15, 2020 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Ute Pass Cultural Center. Learn how to use social media to enhance your marketing. Learn from people who have been successful because of their online presence. Honorary Co-Hosts of this event include the Pikes Peak Rotary Club and Ute Pass Kiwanis Club. Special Guest – Kevin Knebl via live webinar. He’s the most-recommended business speaker on LinkedIn (2018), Co-author of “The Social Media Sales Revolution” Featuring a panel of distinguished guests: Pete Treloar (Business Owner/Marketing Professional, including A-Z Storage), Alex Gauthier (Director of Marketing at Heuberger Motors), Kathy Lowry (Executive Director Teller Senior Coalition) and Bob Kittridge (CIO Kittridge Connection). For more information, call Gayle Gross at 719-233-9902.
Chamber Business After Hours is Teller County’s largest networking event. All Greater Woodland Park Chamber of Commerce members are encouraged to attend. Take advantage of this opportunity to network and catch up with your friends, clients and customers plus meet new members in an informal setting. Business After Hours is a great way to share information about your business and learn about other members. Fun, food, drinks and door prizes. Don’t forget your business cards. The first Business After Hours for 2020 is scheduled for Jan. 21 at the Woodland Aquatic Center, 111 N. Baldwin, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The event, hosted by the city of Woodland Park and the Aquatic Center, will feature Hors D’oeuvres and refreshments, along with certain pass discounts for Business After Hours attendees. For more information, call 719-687-9885.
