WEEKEND ON THE GO!: Balloons, sculptures and powwow
Admit it: we're lucky here in the Pikes Peak region. Even though the unofficial end of summer approaches this weekend, we have one big event after another on tap over the next few days.
OUTDOORS
Labor Day weekend, for many of us a three-day labor-free zone, will fill our skies with balloons.
The free Colorado Balloon Classic plans to launch with more than 60 balloons for its 34th flight Saturday through Monday in Memorial Park, off Pikes Peak Avenue between Hancock Avenue and Union Boulevard. The concessions open at 6 a.m., and the balloons will rise, depending on weather, at 7 a.m. The Balloon Glo activities begin at 4 p.m. Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday, and the balloons are lighted at 8 p.m. both days.
SPORTS
Plenty of sports action this weekend: Air Force football vs. Northwestern (La.) State, noon Saturday; CU vs. CSU football, Denver’s Invesco Field, noon Saturday; Colorado Springs Sky Sox, final home series of season, Friday and Saturday nights, Sunday and Monday afternoons; American Discovery Trail Marathon, Palmer Lake to America the Beautiful Park, 6:30 a.m. start; city golf championship, Patty Jewett Golf Course, all day Saturday through Monday.
MUSIC
Folk icon Arlo Guthrie, known for “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” and a cover of “Steve Goodman’s “City of New Orleans,” will perform (and tell stories) on the Fine Arts Center lawn. The concert, which will open with a set by Pueblo’s Haunted Windchimes, starts at 7 p.m. Monday.
Tickets are $32; csfineartscenter.org or 634-5583.
CULTURE
The Indian Arts Market and Powwow will celebrate Indian cultures 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday in Woodland Park. The grand entry is scheduled for noon, Memorial Park off U.S. Highway 24, Woodland Park, free;
marketandpowwow.com.
ART
The Commonwheel Artists Labor Day Arts and Crafts Festival celebrates its 36th year, in Manitou Springs’ Memorial Park. There will also be concerts, food vendors and children’s activities.
MORE EVENTS THIS WEEKEND:
JONAH WERNER
Singer/songwriter Jonah Werner celebrates the release of his new CD, “Fight,” with a party at The Loft, 8 p.m. today, 2502 W. Colorado Ave., No. 301, $15; 201-2209 or brownpapertick ets.com.
TATTOO AND ARTS FESTIVAL
Immersed in Ink will hold a weekendlong ode to tattoos. At the festival, there’ll be live tattooing, side shows, human suspension, wrestling by the Half Pint Brawlers, an alternative-model search and graffiti wall open to the public, 2-10 p.m. today, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and noon-8 p.m. Sunday, Crowne Plaza Hotel, 2886 S. Circle Drive, $20 day pass/$35 weekend pass/free kids 11 and younger; immersedinink.com.
ARTWALK PRESENTED BY ENT BUSINESS BANKING
Go on a walkabout in Old Colorado City and watch for art sightings. The majority of Old Colorado City’s galleries and art studios, including All That Glitters, Arati Artists Gallery, Cucuru, Hunter-Wolff Gallery, The Michael Garman Museum, Pine Creek Art Gallery, Range Gallery, Simpich Showcase, The Second Floor Studios, The Squash Blossom, Thunder Mountain Trading Co. and Velez Galleries, will hold free receptions 5-8 p.m. today; bestartontheavenue.com or 520-9494.
FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK
Jean Gumpper’s woodblock prints are front and center in the new exhibit “Shifting Currents.” It opens at Smokebrush Gallery and Foundation for the Arts, 218 W. Colorado Ave. The free opening reception and First Friday Art Walk is 5-8 p.m. today; smokebrush.org or 444-1012.
JAZZ ASPEN SNOWMASS
Take a beautiful pre-fall drive to Aspen for Jazz Aspen Snowmass. Big-name musicians are congregating in the tiny town, including Wilco, The Black Crowes, Glenn Frey and Joe Walsh, Lynyrd Skynyrd, DeVotchKa, Court Yard Hounds and others, today through Sunday, Aspen and Snowmass, $56-$190; jazzaspen.org or 1-866-527-8499.
A TASTE OF COLORADO
Fill ‘er up with a banquet of foods and beverages at the annual A Taste of Colorado. As it digests, vibrate to the sounds of swing band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Steve Azar and The Four Tops and more, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. today, 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday, Civic Center Park, downtown Denver, free; atasteofcolorado.com or 1-303-295-6330.
FEED THE FURRIES BENEFIT
AND CLASSIC CAR SHOW
If you include your dog in your list of children, you’ll enjoy Feed the Furries Benefit and Classic Car Show, with contests, games, raffles and more, to benefit rescue dogs, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Lucky Dog Resort and Training School, 4401 Mark Dabling Blvd.,
free; 599-9663.
GRASS IT UP AT TRI-LAKES CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Local band Grass It Up has evolved into a five-piece band that is gaining momentum in the bluegrass scene, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts, 304 Colorado 105, Palmer Lake, $10-$12; 481-0475 or trilakesarts.org.
THE AVETT BROTHERS & GOV’T MULE AT RED ROCKS
The Avett Brothers are hot right now, with their latest roots-folk/pop/bluegrass album “I and Love and You.” The rock band Gov’t Mule formed in 1994 as an Allman Brothers Band side project with Warren Haynes and Allen Woody. It now tours the country regularly with big-name musicians stepping in briefly for guest spots, 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Red Rocks, Morrison, $39.50-$44.75; ticketmaster .com.
THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS
The Black Rose Acoustic Society presents this bluegrass band, 7 p.m. Sunday, Stargazers Theatre and Event Center, 10 S. Parkside Drive, $20; 476-2200 or
www.stargazerstheatre.com.
