Crystal Valley Blog

If you’re ready to start celebrating the holidays, there’s a Nutcracker performance and a tree-lighting concert—complete with a visit from Santa—in the Castle Rock area this weekend! Favorite holiday shopping venue A Paris Street Christmas Market is at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, as well, along with a number of theatre and music happenings.

TODAY/TONIGHT, November 14

ALL ABOUT THAT BASS
The intimate Classical Music Series at the elegant Highlands Ranch Mansion continues with a special nod to the bass! While the bass line is an essential part of all music, it’s rare to find the double bass featured in the classical chamber music repertoire. All that changes tonight, however, with the diverse sonorities of fascinating Czech composer Erwin Schulhoff’s Concertino for Flute, Viola, and Bass. Following this work is a unique version of Tchaikovsky’s famous string sextet, Souvenir de Florence, with the string bass providing depth and energy that adds a whole other dimension to the work.

The evening will include an hour-long open house for self-guided Mansion tours and light appetizers. The performances are held in the solarium, filled with the history of the Mansion.

Highlands Ranch Mansion, 9950 E. Gateway Dr., Highlands Ranch
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Cost: $25-$30
Phone: 303-791-0177

Thursday – Sunday, November 14-17

BEAUTIFUL PLAY ABOUT HOPE
This “sustained theatrical exercise in empathy” (The New York Times) is a moving play about a woman who takes on the unpaid, anonymous job of an online advice columnist—and the unexpected connections she makes with her readers.

Based on the best-selling book by Cheryl Strayed, Tiny Beautiful Things was adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) and places Strayed in her home, where the letter writers appear and share their deepest hurts and struggles. The letters are an integral part of the play and are filled with both heartbreak and humor. While the play is full of beauty and hope, there is also mature content and potentially disturbing themes, so it is not recommended for anyone under the age of 18.

Fine Arts Center at CC, 30 West Dale St., Colorado Springs
Thurs./Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $18-$20
Phone: 719-634-5581

Friday, November 15

FINAL NIGHT FOR LITTLE WOMEN
Join the March sisters on stage in an adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel that brings the story to the present day! You’ll recognize all of the stories and tribulations that Jo, Amy, Meg and Beth must endure, but in a different setting.

This production of Little Women is suitable for the entire family!

The Schoolhouse Theater, 19650 Mainstreet, Parker
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $27
Phone: 303-841-4500

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN MATINEE
The classic silver screen musical starring Debbie Reynolds and Gene Kelly is a cheerful bit of sunshine in these stormy contemporary times! Travel back to simpler days when the only problems were how to break into show biz and how to win the guy’s heart! 

This is an adult event with a cash bar and signature cocktails celebrating the Golden Age of Cinema. Ticket price includes movie and popcorn. Cocktails, beer, wine and candy will be available for purchase.

Southridge Rec Center, 4800 McArthur Ranch Rd., Highlands Ranch
2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Tickets: $5-$7
Phone: 303-791-2500

Friday-Saturday, November 15-16

PARIS STREET CHRISTMAS MARKET
Imagine you’re on the streets of Paris in the days leading up to Christmas. Streets are lined with boutiques, full of unique handcrafted holiday gifts. Best of all, you needn’t travel any further than Castle Rock to stumble upon this festive scene! 

Kick-off your holiday shopping season at the exquisite indoor Rue de Noel, a Paris Street Christmas Market, where you can browse and buy from more than 60 holiday vendors inside the Douglas Country Events Center. Even better, the Market is partnering with the Help & Hope Center, so you will also have the chance to donate packaged or canned food for neighbors in need.

Douglas County Events Center, 500 Fairgrounds Dr., Castle Rock
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
Phone: 303-791-2500

THE FIRST NUTCRACKER OF THE SEASON!
Get a head start on the holiday festivities at the most famous ballet performance of the year. Best of all, it’s close to home! The Denver Academy of Ballet is one of the premier dance schools in the city, and this performance shows off the technical skill, enjoyment, self-esteem, and musicality of its students.

In case you aren’t familiar with the story, Clara and her brother Fritz host a magnificent Christmas party with their parents, made more dramatic by the arrival of the mysterious Dr. Drosselmeyer, who brings a special gift for Clara – a wooden nutcracker. Throughout the magical night, the Nutcracker comes to life and transports Clara on a magical journey, filled with battles against giant rats and all other kinds of whimsical adventures!

Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree
Fri./Sat., 6:30 p.m.; Sat., 1:00 p.m.
Tickets: $20-$36
Phone: 720-509-1000

Saturday, November 16

FREE TREE-LIGHTING CONCERT
Everyone will be rockin’ around the Christmas tree as pop star AJ Mitchell headlines at a FREE concert to celebrate the lighting of the tree at the Outlets! Local favorite band Raising Cain will warm up the crowd, and you’ll be able to purchase tasty bites and delicious beverages from a variety of food trucks and an on-site beer and wine bar.

It wouldn’t be a tree-lighting without Santa, so bring the kids along for their first chance this year to see him, as he lights over 8,000 bulbs on the Outlets at Castle Rock’s 55-foot Christmas tree! There will even be a special fireworks show! 

Outlets at Castle Rock, 5050 Factory Shops Blvd., Castle Rock
3:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Phone: 303-688-4495

Saturday-Sunday, November 16-17

WORLD-CLASS TRUMPETER
One of the most renowned trumpet players in the world leads this gorgeous concert by the Colorado Springs Philharmonic. Pacho Flores of Argentina will be featured in a nuanced program of classical works with a South American twist. The concert includes Gershwin’s Cuban Overture, Concierto de Otoño by Márquez, Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5: Aria, and Ginastera’s Four Dances from the ballet Estancia. Don’t forget to come an hour early to catch the pre-concert lecture!

Pikes Peak Center, 190 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs
Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $26-$75
Phone: 719-960-4725

Sunday, November 17

BACKCOUNTRY WILDERNESS HALF MARATHON
If you planned on running this epic trail earlier in the fall and were snowed out, the Backcountry Wilderness Half-Marathon has been rescheduled for this weekend! If you didn’t have a chance to sign up before, join in the fun now!

Possibly one of the most scenic trail runs you will ever encounter, this 13.1-mile half-marathon is a single loop on a 100% dirt/gravel track. Soak in the awesome mountain views and maybe even catch a glimpse of wildlife along the way! Registration includes a long-sleeve technical race shirt, a custom race bib, finisher medal, FREE all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast from Flippin’ Flap Jacks, FREE beers from Living the Dream Brewing, and a post-race party!

Paintbrush Park, 11033 Monarch Blvd., Lone Tree
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Registration: $80-$85
Phone: 303-791-2500

FREE ADMISSION DAY AT BLUE SKY GALLERY
Much more than a museum, this community treasure looks ahead to the future instead of documenting aerospace achievements of the past! The Blue Sky Aviation Gallery is the newest Wings Over the Rockies location—and right in the neighborhood! See for yourself what this unique, interactive exhibit has to offer you and your family on this FREE day of admission!

Immerse yourself in aviation with a behind-the-scenes experience that includes pilot-quality flight simulators, a chance to listen in on air-traffic-controller chatter, and general aviation technology.

Exploration of Flight, 13005 Wings Way, Englewood
12:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
Phone: 303-360-5360

TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA
The progressive rock group with a huge worldwide fan base will appear again for one day only for their highly-anticipated Winter Tour, featuring their much-acclaimed album, Christmas Eve and Other Stories. 

Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) performs their multi-platinum rock opera, a story set on Christmas Eve when a young angel is sent to Earth to bring back what is best representative of humanity. The story follows favorite TSO themes of “strangers helping strangers” and “the kindness of others,” as a young girl reunites with her distraught father. You’ll hear fan favorites Ornament and the epic Old City Bar, both of which have not been performed live in recent years. The rock opera also features classics including Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24, Oh Come All Ye Faithful, Good King Joy, Promises To Keep, and This Christmas Day. 

Broadmoor World Arena, 3185 Venetucci Blvd., Colorado Springs
3:00 and 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $59-$80

Christmas is Coming to Crystal Valley!

The holidays are on their way to the master-planned community of Crystal Valley, which offers access to plenty of things to do every weekend! If you’re in the area, stop by the amazing model homes from Century Communities, D.R. Horton, Kauffman Homes, and Richmond American Homes, and find out why our community is among the top five fastest-growing in the state with new homes priced from the $300s.