Yes, it’s that special time of year again, and it’s time for us to provide a sampling of special Independence Day events all over our state.  So, put up a flag and let’s celebrate!

(All events listed take place on July 4, 2008 unless otherwise noted)

Arvada - Spectacular Fireworks and Free Family Fun
Where:  Lutz/Stenger Sports Complex on W. 58 th Avenue at Oak St. just west of Kipling (parking lot opens at 2:00 pm)
Events begin at 3:00 PM 
Party with some great bands provided by KOOL 105 Radio.
9:00 PM - Fireworks, with a simulcast of great oldies music.
Classic car show, live entertainment, Kids’ Park with bounce houses, caterpillar crawl, face painting, games; Child identification DNA Kit offered by the Citizen’s Police Academy Alumni, Fire truck and emergency vehicle display

Boulder - Ralphie’s Independence Day Blast
Location: Folsom Field
Free admission to AVP ProBeach Volleyball Tour matches,  Skip-Its Jump Rope Team,  Colorado Shakespeare Festival featuring songs from Woody Guthrie’s American Song, City Open Space and Mountain Parks Sing Along
9 PM - Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra
9:30 - 10 PM - Fireworks display

Castle Rock - Rockin’ the Fourth: Red, White & Boom
Location:  Rhyolite Regional Park, 1701 Crystal Valley Parkway - accessible from South Lake Gulch Road (Gilbert Street) and the East Frontage Road (Wilcox Street)
5 to 10 PM - music, including a performance by the Shiloh River Band; Air Force flyover, colors presented by the U.S. Marines and a community mural to U.S. troops abroad; apple pie-baking contest, demonstrations by the Greater Castle Rock Art Guild and appearances by Castle Rock Players and Colorado Renaissance Festival performers. Children’s entertainment will include the Radio Disney Street Team, bouncy houses, water slides, crafts, face painters, balloon artists and a youth parade.
Fireworks will be launched from the top of the park’s Quarry Mesa.

Colorado Springs - Fabulous July 4th Celebration with Fireworks
Location:  Memorial Park; 1605 E Pikes Peak Ave
8 PM - Patriotic Celebration Concert with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic Orchestra complete with canons from Fort Carson 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, and a spectacular fireworks display.
Bring a picnic, claim a grassy spot and enjoy Big band, Broadway, Rock and Roll and patriotic favorites.

Creede - Independence Day Festivities
Location:   Downtown
Parade, fireworks, vendors

Cripple Creek - Fourth of July Celebration
July 4 - 5
Fireworks display choreographed to music on both nights, games, street vendors, competitions, live entertainment, petting zoo, face painting.  Watermelon eating contest on Saturday at 2:00 PM followed by a watermelon seed spitting contest at 2:30 PM.

Frisco - Fantastic Fourth of July
Location:  Frisco Main Street
Kids Fishing Derby (Meadow Creek Park – Kids must bring poles), Arts & Crafts Fair, Kids’ Bike decorating contest, Parade (decorated bikes included), music, live entertainment, Fireworks display over Lake Dillon

Golden - Golden Lions Club Fourth of July Festival
Location:  10th and Maple streets in Golden
Free rides for all the kids, plus entertainment, live bands and a fireworks show at around 9:30 PM.

Highlands Ranch - Fourth of July Celebration
Location:  Town Center Highlands Ranch
Parade at 9 AM;
11 AM - 6 PM:  games, live entertainment, face painting, pony & hayrack rides
3 PM - Pet/Bike Parade
9:15 PM - Fireworks

Keystone - River Run July 4th Bike Parade and Block Party
Time:  10:30 AM – 1 PM
Where:  River Run Village
Bring your bike, tricycle, or wagon and join us for our popular annual bike parade.  Bike decorating party, bike parade, free music, bounce houses, kids crafts, face painting, and entertainment.  No pets.
For more information, call the Keystone Mountain Concierge at (970) 496-4FUN (4386).

Kremmling - Fire Up the Cliffs 4th of July Celebration
Featuring Mike Music and Friends, BBQ by the Kremmling Volunteer Fire Dept. begins at 6:00 PM  in the Town Square Park, Chamber sponsored dessert feast follows.
Fireworks start at dark from the Kremmling Cliffs

Montrose - Summerfest/Red, White & Balloons
9 AM - 7 PM at the McNeil Sports Complex (off Rio Grande behind Tri-State)
Contests and races for kids and adults, DJ playing throughout the day, free balloons, face painting, and Mare rides

Ouray
Where:  Main Street
Parades, kids’ games, firehose waterfights, and spectacular fireworks display; Lemonade & Brownies at the Ouray County Historical Museum; 4WD Flare Parade at dusk, Fireworks after dark

Paonia - Cherry Days 
July 4 - 6 
Parade, Kids’ Carnival, live music & entertainment

Snowmass -Independence Day Activities
Nature hike or nature trail walks guided by a naturalist, Kids’ Krafts class, Free access to the two 18-hole disc golf courses
July 5 at 7 PM on Fanny Hill:  FREE Sunset Concert and Fireworks by rhythm & blues trailblazer Mavis Staples, a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer - concert will be followed by a fireworks display.

Steamboat Springs - Cowboys’ Roundup Days & Fourth of July Celebration
July 4 - 6
Parade, Art show, Pioneer Day Block Party with Strings in the Mountains free concert at the Tread of Pioneers Museum, fireworks, Farmers’ Market, cattle drive down Lincoln Avenue, Ranch Horse Competition at the Romick Arena (free admission), Rodeo at Romick Arena (free rodeo) — see website for schedule.

We’ve just scratched the surface when it comes to listing all the goings-on around Colorado for the big 4th.  Happy Independence Day to all!

June 6 - 7, 2008
Civic Center Park

The year:  1979. 
The place:  the grounds of East High School.  

I stroll among the numerous booths, admiring arts & crafts, picking up literature on every “cause” I can imagine (and many I hadn’t ever imagined), people-watching, laughing with my friends.  I’m at my first People’s Fair, and it’s entertaining, surprising, thought-provoking, and an all-around fun time.

Yep, this is truly a Denver “must-do” event that’s been around a long time and has grown far beyond its beginnings as a simple neighborhood festival.  Don’t get me wrong:  It is still community-oriented.  It benefits many non-profit organizations.  And it is huge.

How huge is it?  According to the Capitol Hill People’s Fair website:

“With over 250,000 fair-goers and numerous exhibitors, vendors, and volunteers, Civic Center becomes Colorado’s third largest city over the weekend.”

That’s huge.

So, if you’ve never been — head downtown for a wonderful weekend of arts & crafts, performances, food, and fun.  And if you’ve been to the People’s Fair before — maybe we’ll run into each other again this year.

Admission is free.

If you’re intrigued by science & techie stuff — weather, electromagnetism, atomic clocks, and the like — then This Tour’s for You!

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (formerly known as the National Bureau of Standards) offers public, guided tours lasting about 2 hours on Thursdays at 1 PM (except for federal holidays).

Learn about:
Lasers, optical fibers, superconducting integrated circuits, atomic clocks, cryogenics, electromagnetic interference, telecommunications technology

Most importantly, perhaps you can find the answers to questions that have surely haunted you:

Why do we need leap seconds?
What is the origin of hours, minutes and seconds?
What is the law on time zones?

I know I’ve always wanted to understand these things better.  I certainly don’t want to get a ticket for illegal use of time zones.

Tours begin in the lobby of Building 1 (the building with the flagpole in front).  Visitors see a cryogenics demonstration and the atomic clock.  Tours are free, but U.S. citizens must make reservations at least one week in advance; foreign visitors must register two weeks in advance.  Reservations may be made by calling (303) 497-5507.   No self-guided tours are allowed.

Now that spring is trying to be here, our thoughts turn to getting outdoors and enjoying the warm (?) weather!  What better way than on a bike!

Derailer Bicycle Collective is a communal, volunteer-run bike shop.  This isn’t your normal bike shop, however.  Here, you can borrow tools (for free) and obtain free parts (frames, pedals, handlebars, cranks, tires, tubes, patches, bottom brackets, derailleurs, brakes, reflectors, accessories, and most any other part imaginable…), work with a knowledgeable volunteer to learn how to fix your own bike, rent a bike for free, or build yourself a bike from the frame up with a little help and at no cost to you!

Why do they offer this?  The folks at Derailer believe that…

 ”…bicycles are the most affordable, sustainable, efficient, healthy, environmentally friendly, FUN, and liberating form of transportation and recreation.”

Do you agree & want to help this volunteer organization?  Here are a few things they could use:

• any bike tools
• metric box wrenches (esp. 10 & 15mm)
• crescent wrenches
• office supplies
• lighting equipment (bulbs, lamps, etc)
• rubber cement
• patches
• kerosene (or other degreasers/solvents)
• 20” tubes, tires and wheels
• tubes and tires, all sizes
• wheels, 24” or smaller
• alloy wheels, all sizes
• 700c wheels
• grease
• kids bikes
• floor pumps
• bike locks (keys or combos)
• helmets
• quality components
• bike stands
• portable storage (sheds, etc)
• grinder
• conduit bender
• oxyacetylene welder and/or T.I.G. welder
• Dremmel tool
• bi-lingual bicycle books, resources and volunteers!

So, as soon as this snow melts off the bike paths, let’s get out for a spin.

Derailer Bicycle Collective is located at 411 Lipan St. in Denver.
email:  derailerbicyclecollective@yahoo.com
(303) 893-0305

We’d like to invite you to join us on Saturday, March 15 at 2:00 PM for a Pennies for Peace Walk.

Meet at the Tennis Courts at Baldridge Park (Rio Grande Ave., just south of the MAC)

Walk with us to the Peace Pole at the Ute Museum
 
Please come support & celebrate the accomplishments of our Montrose youth in this program to promote peace -
One School at a Time.
 
Join students, teachers, and community members who have been helping build schools in remote mountain regions of Central Asia - One Penny at a Time.
 
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You may have read about some of the “Pennies for Peace” activities in Montrose.  If not, here are some links to articles in the Montrose Daily Press:

Look for the article/photo about halfway down the page:
http://ee.montrosepress.com/content/e-edition/2008/02/24/C2.pdf
 
Front-page story:
http://ee.montrosepress.com/content/e-edition/2008/03/07/A1.pdf

February 16, 2008 - 10 AM to 9 PM  and
February 17, 2008 - 10 AM to 6 PM

The new Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum will be celebrating a grand opening weekend, and we’re all invited!

The event will include several free events which are open to the public.

Saturday, Feb. 16
10 AM - Ribbon cutting - a puja (blessing ceremony) will also take place

2 PM - Ed Bernbaum, author of the award-winning Sacred Mountains of the World, will speak about mountain culture and sacred mountains

4 PM - Jake Norton, photographer, guide, and member of the Mallory and Irvine Research Expeditions, will speak about “Culture and Change in Mountaineering”

7 PM - Lynn Hill (The best rock climber in the world - IMHO - and my hero!!) will speak about “Free Climbing the Nose”

Sunday, Feb. 17
11am - Tonya Riggs, member of the Peace Climb 2006, will speak about her expeditions

2pm - Kelly Cordes, strict adherent to light weight alpinism, will speak about “Trying, Falling, and Sometimes Succeeding”

The museum is located within the American Mountaineering Center at 710 10th St.,  in Golden.

January 31 and February 1, 2008 

Rock ’n Roll meets Ice Carving — and the results are going to be a blast!

The Rock on Ice team is comprised of six world champion and certified ice carvers who thrill audiences by creating beautiful ice sculptures in only minutes with rock n’ roll music as the backdrop.

On Thursday and Friday, stroll around the base area during the day to watch ice carving demos.  Then, starting at 6 PM on Thursday, watch out!  “Dueling Chainsaws” features carvers and their chainsaws with just 20 minutes each to create a work of ice art.  The audience gets to decide who wins the dueling event.

On Friday at 6 PM, be entertained by the Rock on Ice finale, with a high-energy show of ice carving choreographed to rock ‘n roll.

Stick around for après ski and tubing after the lifts close each afternoon.  Prior to the evening shows, autograph sessions will take place where kids can have their names carved into a block of ice.

For more details, see the Rock on Ice web page.

Sounds way cool, doesn’t it?

January 15 @ 7 PM (Colorado Springs)
January 16 @ 7:30 PM (Boulder)
January 17 @ 7:30 PM (Evergreen)
January 18 @ 7 PM (Montrose)

If you’re tired of hearing all the gloom and doom about terrible things happening in the world, and need something to boost your hopes for the new year of 2008, make it a point to come hear about what Greg Mortenson has been doing since 1993 to promote peace in the very troubled regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan by building schools — over 60 schools so far.

Tom Brokaw had this to say about Mortenson’s story, told in the book “Three Cups of Tea”:

“Three Cups of Tea is one of the most remarkable adventure stories of our time. Greg Mortenson’s dangerous and difficult quest to build schools in the wildest parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan is not only a thrilling read, it’s proof that one ordinary person, with the right combination of character and determination, really can change the world.”

Congresswoman Mary Bono (R-CA) said:

“I’ve learned more from Greg Mortenson about the causes of terrorism than I did during all our briefings on Capitol Hill. He is a true hero, whose creativity, courage, and compassion exemplify the true ideals of the American spirit.”

Greg will be speaking at 3 Front Range locations in January 2008, and a representative of Central Asia Institute (CAI), his non-profit organization, will be telling his story in Montrose as well.  Please visit our calendar for more details on each event (free tickets are required in advance for several) and links to more details.

We predict that Greg Mortenson may someday earn a Nobel Peace prize.  We also predict that you’ll come away from one of these presentations (or from reading his book) feeling truly inspired about what can be done by even just one person.

It inspired us so much that we’ve worked to organize a program locally, sponsored by Altrusa of Montrose, including a kick-off to a “Pennies for Peace” drive in some of our schools and local organizations.

Use this link to order “Three Cups of Tea” from Amazon, and a small amount of the proceeds of the sale will go to CAI. 

P.S.  I just discovered an excellent source of current information about Greg Mortenson — a Blog from Central Asia Institute.  It’s filled with news articles, videos, interviews, and more.

December 15 and 16, 2007 

When you were a kid, remember playing with a LEGO set?  Remember building a rectangular box and calling it a house, then feeling so proud when you managed to build a funny-looking stack that represented a person? 

How about the first time you saw a really incredible LEGO creation that made your efforts look totally lame?

In my case, I simply gave up.  However, there are people out there — adults! — who recognized a challenge and turned their LEGO skills into a true art.   They’ve even formed organizations, and the one I want to tell you about today is known as CoWLUG — Colorado/Wyoming LEGO Users Group.

In September, these creative folks set up a large scale LEGO town over a two-day period at the Colorado Mills mall.   That was such a bit hit with local shoppers that they’re going to do it again on December 15 and 16.

If you can get there early on the 15th, you’ll have the best opportunity to watch these LEGO artists actually set up their amazing display.  Once the town is up and running — yes, there are moving objects as part of the display — members of CoWLUG will be available to answer questions.

Photos are encouraged, and if you get inspired to try your creative hand with LEGO bricks, the LEGO Outlet store is right there in the mall, ready and waiting to fulfill your dreams!

For a taste of what’s in store for you (wow!), take a look at this video from the September event.   From Ghost Busters to trains, tanks to farms, ambulances & paramedics to Godzilla-like creatures, this town had it all!

If you love skiing and snowboarding, here’s a combo that’ll probably get you drooling!

Volunteer to work at an upcoming race or other competition being held at Winter Park.

a)  You’ll get to watch the competition up close and personal while you work.

b)  You receive a free day pass for the day you are working, so once the event is finished, you can hit the slopes.

c)  For every 4 hours you work as a volunteer, you ALSO get a free, full-day lift ticket which you can use for yourself or give to a friend.  There is no limit to the total number of free lift tickets you can earn, so the more you volunteer, the more you ride for free.

As you can imagine, volunteer spots are limited, and some events are already filled.  Read more about the volunteer system on this Winter Park volunteer page, where you’ll also find contact information and a list of the 2007/2008 Winter season events needing volunteers.

Daylight savings time is gone for a while, the days are shorter and the nights longer, and lots of holidays are coming.  Aha!    Let’s light up the evenings with some
Lights!  Parades!  Action!

So, if you enjoy pretty lights and love a parade, these next couple of months should keep you very, very happy.  Here are some light parades you may enjoy:

Lights of December Parade (Boulder)
December 1, 2007 at 6 PM - downtown Boulder
The parade begins and ends at 15th and Pearl, winding around downtown Boulder.

Christmas Parade of Lights (Cañon City)
December 1, 2007
Contact the Chamber of Commerce at 719-275-2331 for details.

Festival of Lights (Colorado Springs)
December 1, 2007 at 5:50 PM - downtown Colorado Springs
(corner of Tejon and St Vrain Street, moving south on Tejon to Vermijo Avenue, turning west to Cascade Avenue, then north to Kiowa Street)
The events include cultural and artistic programs, performances and other festivities.

Parade of Lights (Delta)
December 7, 2007 from 6 to 7 PM
Grand Marshall Santa Claus (the REAL Santa) leads the parade down Main Street from 9th to 3rd. Each year, dozens and dozens of floats compete for prizes and YOUR affection.  After the parade, Santa greets all the children at the Wells Fargo Bank lobby, at 5th and Main.

Parade of Lights (Denver)
November 30 at 8 PM, and December 1 at 6 PM - Downtown Denver
(starts in front of Civic Center Park and the City & County Building on Bannock Street at 14th Avenue)
Spectator viewing for the Parade is free all along the two-mile route.  Marching Bands, Floats, giant balloons, horse-drawn carriages, and numerous performers will keep the crowds oooh-ing and aaah-ing.

Catch the Glow Holiday Celebration & Parade (Estes Park)
November 23, 2007 at 5:30 PM - along Elkhorn Avenue
Theme floats from across America, storybook figures, angels, snowmen, marching bands, entertainers, wildlife characters, the Colorado Crush Arena Football League team will be represented … and Santa ends the parade.  Other events start at noon, including visits with Santa, pony rides, hay rides and adorable walking characters along Elkhorn Avenue.

Parade of Lights (Grand Junction)
December 1, 2007 at 5 PM - Main Street, Downtown Grand Junction, from 9th St. to 2nd St.
Christmas Past, Present, and Future - Watch over 100 floats light up the night on seven blocks of Main Street. 

Country Christmas/Parade of Lights (Holyoke)
December 3, 2007
Holiday kick-off with stores open offering discounts, a parade of lights, soup supper, carolers, hot apple cider, Mr. & Mrs. Santa pictures, free movie, hayrides, and much more.

Hometown Holiday Parade (Longmont)
December 8, 2007 at 5 PM - Main Street
Enjoy 70 parade entries of lights, music and parade action.

Parade of Lights (Lyons) 
December 1, 2007 - 6:30 PM - Parade starts at Main Street and Broadway
7:15 PM - Live music and entertainment - Raul Vasquez Community Stage - Sandstone Park 4th & Broadway
7:45 PM - Fireworks (west of main street) Viewable from Sandstone Park.
8:00 PM - Awards ceremony at the Raul Vasquez Community Stage - Sandstone Park 4th & Broadway

Pueblo Parade of Lights (Pueblo)
November 24, 2007 at 5:30 PM
100 floats, bands, animals, vehicles and individual walkers traverse the 1.2 mile parade route from the Mesa Junction, down Union Avenue and Court Street to Pueblo Bank & Trust for the award ceremony and cider and cookies.  Fireworks, Music and Festive Fun!

Lighting of Christmas Mountain USA (Salida)
December 23, 2007 - Historic Downtown Salida
Come enjoy the festivities, refreshments, decorations, parade and Santa.  Parade of Lights Theme is Christmas through the eyes of a child. 

Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade (Winter Park)
December 24, 2007 at 5:30 PM - Base of Winter Park Resort
The event begins with Christmas carols around the bonfire at the base of Winter Park Resort, next to the Zephyr Lift.  At 5:30 PM, a procession of torch-bearing skiers begin their way down Lower Hughes trail, followed by Santa Claus and his helpers.  A fireworks display and snowcats adorned with Christmas colors light up the slopes in a Christmas tree formation to conclude the festivities. 

November 25 - December 15, 2007

Free.  Totally, absolutely free.  Nothing to buy, no sales pitches to sit through; just ski or ride for FREE.

“Ski Free” is back, and it’s for real!  Here’s the blurb on the Crested Butte Mountain Resort site if you don’t believe it.

 See you on the slopes at Crested Butte!

Wow — Free!