Mountain Almanac for the Week of June 22

Tuesday, June 22

 The Green Mountain Falls  Town Hall has opened to the public for the first time since the pandemic.  Town hall will be open Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.  For more information, call 719-684-9414 or visit the town’s website.

Green Box Arts Festival. Registration has begun for a variety of classes, performances and events for the annual several-week festival that extends from June 21 to July 11.  The festival, which mostly occurs in Green Mountain Falls, is capped by ballet, theater and musical performances, art displays, two block parties, guided hikes and a variety of workshops.  A dedication also will occur for the forthcoming James Turrell Skyspace installation. To register and receive more information, visit greenboxarts.org.

Wednesday, June 23

Wellness Walk. Scheduled for June 23 at the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center at 9 a.m. Meet at the lower level and choose a one, two or three-mile hike. Maps are available. Healthy living tips and mindfulness exercises to enhance your walk. Dress for the weather, wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of water. Free admission.

New Gift Shop Hours. The Ute Pass Historical Society has new hours! The gift shop will be open Wednesdays 10-noon; and Thursdays through Saturdays 11-4. Stop by and check out our great selection of historical books, cards, art and jewelry. While here, ask about taking a free guided tour of  the five historic buildings in History Park. The gift shop is located at 231 E. Henrietta Avenue,  next to the Woodland Park Library. Call 719-686-7512 Watch the trailer for the Teller County dude ranch Video coming out later this year.

Thursday, June 24

The Teller County  Commissioners will meet in the Centennial Building in Cripple Creek on June 24 at 9:15 a.m. The meeting does permit limited in-person attendance.  It also is available online by accessing the county’s government website.  Highlighting the agenda this week is the county’s annual road improvement plan for 2021.

Gallop in the Garden, Scheduled for June 24  3:30 p.m. This is a 5K Fun Run/Jog/Walk in Garden of the Gods. Meet at the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center. There is free admission, but facial coverings required. .

Chuckwagon Chat, Garden of the Gods, Jaycee Chuckwagon Plaza, 1:30 p.m. Join Bowen Gillings as he presents information about the park, shares his favorite stories and places and the Leave No Trace program. The event is free.

The Woodland Park Planning Commission will meet  in the Woodland Park Council Chambers on June 24  starting at 7 p.m. In-person attendance is permitted, and the meetings are available online.  For more information, call 719-687-9246.

Friday, June 25

Tee-off Time.  The Shining Mountain Golf Course is open for daily play for the 2021 season, and the course is in great condition. In addition, the clubhouse bar is open, along with the driving range and chipping area. In addition, the restaurant is now open on a limited basis from Thursday through Sunday. Driving carts are now available.  Call 719-687-7587 for more information.

Furbaby Friday. Scheduled for June 25 at  9 a.m. at the  Garden of the Gods Visitor Center. Bring your furry friend, check in at the visitor center and get a free map of pet friendly areas in the park and register for the giveaway.

Farmers Market. Scheduled every Friday from now through September at N. Center Street near Memorial Park in Woodland Park from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Our Vendors come from all over Colorado and provide a variety of products to choose from. Including, Colorado fruits and vegetables, fresh baked bread, honey, coffee, food trucks, and more. We have space for 100 vendors, providing a large variety of products. For more information, call Lara Maas (Shadwick) at 719-400-9986.

 

Parent’s Night Out Enjoy a night out while your kids have a blast at the pool at the Woodland Aquatic Center. Your kids will swim, play games and eat pizza. Suitable for ages 6-17. Scheduled for June 25 from 3:30 to 7 p.m. For more information, call 719-687-5225.

Under the Colorado Moon. Live performances have returned to the Butte Theater in Cripple Creek, with the debut of their summer melodrama show, Under the Colorado Moon.  Then, the Golden Age Musical, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, will start on July 2.  Both shows extend through the summer until mid-August. For reservations, call 719-689-6402 or visit ButteTheater.com.

 

Saturday, June 26

Gold Camp Trolley Tours. The Gold Camp Victorian Society will present again the Original Historical Gold Camp Trolley Tours. The tours, which began on Saturday May 29,  continue every Saturday through Labor Day weekend. Each tour starts at 1 p.m. from the District Museum in Cripple Creek. These 90-minute tours are led by our Victorian hostesses and feature many of the characters from Cripple Creek’s storied history, as depicted by members of the Gold Camp Victorian Society. Please join us for the only historical trolley tour in Cripple Creek. A donation of $10 is requested. These tours are fun for the whole family. Space is limited, so arrive early to reserve your seat.

 

Mueller Hikes and Activities.  Kick off  summer at Mueller State Park, one of the secret gems of the state’s park system. While most state parks are overloaded with visitors due to the pandemic.  Mueller provides ideal trails without massive crowds. Typical weather this spring at Mueller can provide some great outings.  A full schedule of naturalist programs can help you to look, learn and enjoy the surroundings.  Enjoy guided hikes and special programs.   For more information, call 719-687-2366.

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 5 p.m.   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.  Coronavirus restrictions, though, apply, and the indoor museum exhibits and the theater will remain closed throughout the summer. The park video, though, is available at the Fossil Bed’s website. Visitors also can enjoy massive petrified redwood trees in an outdoor exhibit. The visitor center is open Wednesdays through Sundays.  For additional information, please call (719) 748-3253 or visit our website: www.nps.gov/flfo or on Facebook or Twitter at /FlorissantNPS.

Electronic Recycling Event. Keller Williams Clients’ Choice Realty & the City of Woodland Park are hosting an Electronic Recycling Event on Saturday, June 26. It will be held at the city’s public works facility, located at 2410 Rampart Range Road, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Midsummer Night’s Dream. Scheduled for June 26 at 6 p.m. in Bancroft Park in Old Colorado City. It is sponsored by the Old Colorado City Branch of Pikes Peak Library District. This is an event. Three fairies wreaking revenge, four people escaping in love, and six works aspiring to artistic greatness all add up to chaos during one magical, mystical night in the woods in one of Shakespeare’s most bubbling, lyrical, and Ridiculous comedies. Six actors play multiple roles in this hilarious return of Theatreworks’ Free-For-All.

Upcoming

Gold Camp Adventures. Tours of the Cripple Creek & Victor Mining District will be offered this summer from the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum. The new tours will highlight gold rush history and gold mining. The tours will be conducted using transportation and drivers from Parks & Recreation and an experienced tour guide from the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum. All of the tour proceeds from the new tours will benefit Parks & Recreation and the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum, furthering the missions of both community-minded organizations as a win-win fundraising option for both. The tours will provide the chance to learn about the district’s unique gold rush history – including gold mining old and new, pioneers, and ghost towns. Tours can be packaged with a walking tour of the Sunnyside Cemetery near Victor on select Saturdays this summer as well as with museum admission and gold panning. For more information, call Ruth Zalewski at 719-689-5509.

Ute Pass Historical Society Annual Cemetery Crawl Take a walk around the Woodland Park Cemetery on July 4th and meet some of the old pioneers who are resting there. Tours run every 15 minutes from 1 to 3. Cost is $5, and tickets are available at the gate. Parking at the event is at 650 Short Street in Woodland Park. Please call UPHS at 719.686.7512 or check our website: www.utepasshistoricalsociety.org

The Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration.  Scheduled on July 4 at Memorial Park in Woodland Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. features kid activities, a food court, live music and performers, artists, crafters, a beer garden, fire engine rides, the flag raising while the Wind Symphony performs and much more!

Fireworks Show. Come and see the most spectacular fireworks display in the Pikes Peak region!!  The City of Cripple Creek will be hosting the 2021 4th of July Fireworks on Sunday, July 4th starting about 20 minutes after dusk (approx. 9:30 p.m.).  The fireworks will be set off from the south side of town, south of Myers Ave.  Help us celebrate our nation’s birthday! For more information, call 719-689-3461.

Summer Family Bible Conference. The Summer Family Bible Conference is a free, five-day event sponsored by Andrew Wommack Ministries. It’s an event where the entire family can experience adventure and grow in faith while enjoying scenic Woodland Park, Colorado. The conference will be held at Charis Bible College, July 5–July 9, and sessions are available for children (ages 5–12), youth (ages 13–17), and adults. Children under five are welcome; however, childcare will not be provided,  On July 7, there will be a family barbeque (tickets required) and activities for the whole family. Guided tours will be available the same afternoon. Also, on July 4, everyone is invited to celebrate America’s birth as Charis Bible College presents In God We Trust, an original musical. Doors open at 1:30 p.m.; at 2:30 p.m. this patriotic program begins with the local sheriff’s department presenting the color guard. The musical follows immediately at 3 p.m.  The conference is free, but registration is required for all attendees, including youth and children. To register and to order barbeque tickets go to SummerFamily.org.

Bronc Day. The 83rd annual Bronc Day  is scheduled for Saturday July 31 from 9am to 3pm
Enjoy a one day, one of a kind family fun western themed event with entertainment, a parade, food, kids’ games, gold panning, vendors, horses, bright blue skies, a beautiful lake and so much more! Bronc Day is one of the longest historical events running in Southern Colorado. It began in 1939 to welcome cowhands, tourists and families who were coming to the Ute Pass area to rodeo, vacation or work the summer trades. It led to some fun times and Bronc Day became an annual day that people set aside to attend as part of their summer experience and family memories! Over the years, it has expanded with kids’ games, gold panning. lots of vendors selling their wares and fabulous food from our local merchants. All this along with live entertainment: singing, Victorian dance lessons, western costumes, rubber ducky races on the creek and much more. It truly is the friendliest day and the most fun event for your family to enjoy! There is no admission fee. So put July 31st on your calendar for a drive to the beautiful town of Green Mountain Falls and the 83rd Annual Bronc Day Festivities.