Holiday Festivities Arrive in Grand Style
Trevor Phipps
It is now official that fall is here, and even though the weather will be cooling down, the region bustles with some sizzling events.
For the second year in a row, many events will make their grand return after the pandemic shut down many popular celebrations
The holidays will again look more like the pre-pandemic era than it did in 2020 and 2021 as Christmas parties and trick or treating will be back once again. Parades that take place in the fall and winter are also scheduled as normal, with no pandemic restrictions in sight.
This week, the Woodland Park High School’s famous homecoming week is the first big celebration of the fall season. The festivities start on Sept. 25 with the parade and bonfire taking place on Sept. 27 and the big game against Manitou Springs on Sept. 29. The homecoming dance will then be held on Sept. 30.
In Cripple Creek, the Two Mile High Club Aspen Tours started last weekend and they are slated to run until October 3 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. To contact Mother Nature directly to find out exactly when the aspen leaves will be changing in the high country, call (855) 479-3332.
This weekend, the southern Teller County area will be welcoming the Cripple Creek & Victor Yoga Festival that kicks off on Friday at 9 a.m. There will then be a number of yoga teachers and events available thru Sunday.
On Saturday, the Cripple Creek District Museum will finish up its Music at the Depot summer live music series. Make sure to catch High Lonesome Colorado Bluegrass from 2 to 6 p.m.
Starting October 6, Cripple Creek welcomes leaf peepers to their annual fall festival. During the event, the festivities include live music, a beer garden, vendors, professional wood carving displays, demonstrations, and sculptures for sale.
The event will also feature live music by The Locals and The Bushcocks on Saturday, and The Tenderfoot Bluegrass Band on Sunday.
The next big time for celebration in the high country will be Halloween. Costume parties for the adults and trick-or-treating for the kids will both be making a big return for the third year in a row.
And again, this year, it seems as if Halloween events are multiplying. Visitors can here spooky tales of Victor at the Spirits of Sunnyside Cemetery Walking Tour on October 7 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and the Stranger Side of Victor Downtown Walking Tours from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on the same day.
From October 13-15, the Lightbulb Theatre Company will be presenting “For the Record-Murder Mystery Play” at the Ute Pass Cultural Center. There will be showings on Oct. 13 from 7 to 8:30 p.m., on Oct. 14 2 to 3:30 p.m. and 7 to 8:30 p.m. and Oct. 15 from2 to 3:30 p.m.
The festivities continue October 19 with the Kiwanis Wicked Halloween Bingo. On October 21, the Woodland Aquatic Center will be hosting their Third Annual Pumpkin Dive from 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
The city is hosting Trick or Treat in Memorial Park on October 27 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. And then Costume Cornhole takes place that night from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Ute Pass Cultural Center.
The city of Cripple Creek will be holding its annual Trunk or Treat on October 31 at the Parks and Recreation building from 5 to 7p.m. The city will also be celebrating the Halloween season with a special musical at the Butte Theater.
Coming to the historic Butte Theater this fall is “the Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” that runs at various times from Oct. 6 to Nov. 4. Tickets can be purchased at https://buttetheater.com/ or by calling (719)689-6402.
“This one-man show is a marvelous new adaptation full of great humor and charismatic storytelling,” the Butte Theater website says about the fall play. “Perfect for the whole family and fans of the beloved classic.”
The Butte Theater will then celebrate the Christmas holiday with “The Christmas Cricket of Cripple Creek” from Nov. 24 to Dec. 31. The Holiday Headframe Lighting is planned for November 25 at 4:30 p.m.
Then, on Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. Woodland Park’s famous Lighter Side of Christmas parade will be back again. This year’s theme will be “Woodland Park’s Nightmare Before Christmas.”
During that same weekend on Dec. 2 and 3, several will be celebrating holiday décor at Woodland Park’s Holiday Home Tour. This event has taken place every year since 1999. People travel from all over the Southern Colorado region to tour decorated homes in the Woodland Park area.
From Dec. 7 to 9 Cripple Creek will celebrate Christmas in the Gold Camps with holiday activities throughout the weekend. On Dec., 9 there will be the Annual Christmas Craft Fair at the Parks and Recreation building from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the Colorado Springs Chorale Concert at the Cripple Creek Baptist Church from 3 to 5 p.m.
Other Local Events
Besides strictly holiday events, there are other festivities in store, such as the Night at the Library on Oct. 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Woodland Park Library and the Choices Gala from 6 to 9 p.m. that same night at the Ute Pass Cultural Center. The Chamber of Commerce also plans to host its Fall Business Expo on Oct. 26 from 5 to 7 p.m.
The Our Reserve Gallery has also proven to be a prime spot for events. The gallery is holding a rehoming art event from Sept. 26 to Oct. 3 where people can purchase pieces of art from others.
Our Reserve Gallery then hosts its Halloween Party on Oct. 27 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. and it will feature Cari Dell along with costume contest where awards will be given for the best dressed Halloween costume, best dressed famous artist, and best dressed character from a painting.
From Nov. 5 to Dec. 23, the gallery will feature Holiday Gift tables where anyone can bring something in to sell for the holidays. They will then celebrate their Artist Sunday on Nov. 26 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Stay tuned to TMJ’s Mountain Almanac section that comes out every week to read about more local events as they come up.
