Crystal Valley Blog

Regardless of the weather, spring has officially sprung! If you stayed in town for spring break, check out some fun events this weekend, like a full moon hike, Disney on Ice, and if you’re in the mood for some music a Sinatra tribute and 70s rock legends Three Dog Night perform! You’ll also find great classes in the area—including Science in the Kitchen and Intro to Hip Hop! 

TODAY/TONIGHT, March 21

FULL MOON HIKE 
The whole family will enjoy this chance to get up close and personal with nocturnal animals! All ages are welcome to this moonlit hike around Fly’n B Park in Highlands Ranch. Look and listen for sights and sounds from all kinds of night creatures! Feel pelts, observe skulls, and learn fun facts about local wildlife. Bring your flashlight and dress appropriately for the weather.

Fly’n B Park, 2910 W. Plaza Dr., Highlands Ranch              
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Registration: $10-$12
Phone: 303-791-0430  

Friday, March 22

SCIENCE IN THE KITCHEN  
What do you get when you cross food and science? Magic in the kitchen! This is the coolest science workshop ever! Kids in grades 2-4 will have a blast learning about the amazing and sometimes tasty materials available from the local grocery store! These science experiments may look like magic, but they use things found in your kitchen cupboards. DO try these experiments at home, but they may be a bit messy…!

Lone Tree Library, 10055 Library Way, Lone Tree
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Registration: FREE
Phone: 303-791-7323

HIP HOP IN A DAY!
What kid doesn’t have a hip hop artist inside, just waiting to come out? If this has been a LONG spring break with the kids at home, let them come to this introductory dance class to work off some of that excess energy! Kids ages 7-13 will learn basic jazz and hip hop moves, then show off their skills during the last 15 minutes of class. Enter Activity #459743 to register.

Lone Tree Recreation Center, 10249 Ridgegate Cir., Lone Tree
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Registration: $16-19
Phone:  303-798-5131

70s MUSIC LEGENDS – THREE DOG NIGHT
Don’t miss your chance to see the music icons known for some of the biggest hits of the 1970s, including Joy to the World, Mama Told Me Not to Come, An Old Fashioned Love Song, Shambala, and Black and White. Three Dog Night recorded the music of the best, and mostly undiscovered, new songwriters of that time, including Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Elton John, Laura Nyro, Paul Williams and Hoyt Axton, among many others.  

The group’s eclectic taste, combined with its ability to recognize and record hits in a unique, distinctive and appealing style, resulted in 21 consecutive Billboard Top 40 hits between 1969 and 1975, including three Number 1 singles, 11 Top 10 singles, and 18 consecutive Top 20 singles.

Pikes Peak Center, 190 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs              
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $44-$99
Phone: 719-520-SHOW 

Friday-Sunday, March 22-24

DISNEY ON ICE: WORLDS OF ENCHANTMENT 
It may be springtime, but the magic of Disney on Ice will extend Colorado’s love of winter for one more weekend! This ice-skating extravaganza features some of your favorite classic Disney movies and characters, including Lightning McQueen, Mater, and the crew of Cars, who will perform high-speed ice-racing like you’ve never seen before! Also appearing on the ice will be The Little Mermaid’s Ariel and her underwater kingdom. And fans of Toy Story can cheer on Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and Jessie as they try to escape from Sunnyside Daycare in one of their most daring adventures ever! 

It wouldn’t be Disney on Ice without the wintry world of Arendelle, with sisters Anna and Elsa from Frozen. From wheels to waves, icy wonderlands to infinity and beyond, you will see your favorite Disney moments come to life when Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Enchantment!

Broadmoor World Arena, 3185 Venetucci Blvd., Colorado Springs             
Fri./Sat., 7:00 p.m.; Sat./Sun. 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Tickets: $20-$70
Phone: 719-520-SHOW

BEN AND THE MAGIC PAINTBRUSH
Children will love this play about an orphaned brother and sister, Ben and Megan, who fall into the trap of the villainous Mrs. Crawley. Ben is a wonderful artist, and Mrs. Crawley captures him to help her make a magic paintbrush. But never fear, for Megan comes to the rescue with bravery and kindness. Children ages 7 and over will be enchanted by this charming play!

Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, 30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs
Fri., 6:00 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 1:00 p.m.
Tickets: $10-$20
Phone: 719-634-5581

Saturday, March 23

HIGHLANDS RANCH SPRING BAZAAR
Not only is spring in the air…it’s in the neighborhood! One of the area’s most popular shows, the Highlands Ranch Spring Craft Bazaar is in town this weekend. This fabulous marketplace features over 125 commercial and hand-crafters’ displays, where you can browse and purchase unique and high-quality products including photography, original art, sculpture, ceramics, specialty food, precious jewelry and gems and much more. 

You will be inspired and delighted at the all the ways you can spruce up your home this spring by adding a creative flair! Everything is priced to sell, and to top it off, admission is FREE, so bring the entire family!

Eastridge Rec Center, 9568 University Blvd., Highlands Ranch 
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
Phone: 303-791-2500

80S ALTERNATIVE ROCK ARTIST HOWARD JONES
Fans of the fresh and inspiring 1980s music of Howard Jones will be thrilled to hear he is appearing for one night only in Parker for an intimate stripped-down acoustic show featuring his many hit tunes. Electronic music pioneer Howard Jones will be playing the electric piano, Robin Boult (Roger Daltry, Dave Stewart, Fish) will join him on acoustic guitar, and Nick Beggs (Kajagoogoo, Belinda Carlisle, John Paul Jones) will be on chapman stick.

Howard Jones first brought his considerable songwriting and musical abilities to the music scene in 1983 with hit songs, New Song and What Is Love? In 1985, Jones released a follow-up album, Dream Into Action, which quickly became a Top Ten Platinum album in the United States and featured the smash hits, Things Can Only Get Better, Life In One Day, and No One Is To Blame. Jones has sold over 8 million albums worldwide and continues to make new music and tour the world.

PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $69-$89
Phone: 303-841-4500

FRANK SINATRA TRIBUTE
The classic tunes of the classic crooner are brought to life with this phenomenal tribute to Ol’ Blue Eyes. Local song and dance man, Leonard E. Barrett, Jr., is well-known to regional audiences for his sophisticated acting and exceptional vocal quality. For this intimate evening of music, he takes on the persona of Sinatra with verve and skill, teaming up with the incredible pianist and vocalist Rehka Ohal, whose voice has been compared to Norah Jones, Diana Krall, and Mavis Staples. 

It will be an Italian-themed evening, with a pre-show dessert reception, including traditional chef-prepared cannoli and amaretti cookies, as well as Italian cordials or your favorite cocktail or wine.

Cherokee Ranch & Castle, 6113 N. Daniels Park Rd., Sedalia 
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $60
Phone: 303-688-5555

Saturday-Sunday, March 23-24

MOZART CLARINET CONCERTO
The talented clarinet maestro, Sergei Vassiliev, joins the Colorado Springs Philharmonic in celebration of a relative latecomer to Western classical music—the clarinet. While both Vivaldi and Handel occasionally employed the instrument, the clarinet did not come into regular use until the late eighteenth century. 

In this wide-ranging selection of clarinet-featured compositions, you will hear pieces from Gershwin to Debussy, as well as Villa Lobos’ Trio for Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon. To round out the evening, Mozart’s extraordinary last instrumental piece, Clarinet Concerto, demonstrates the beauty of this instrument in the hands of two masters—the composer and the musician.

Ent Center for the Arts at UCCS
Dusty Loo Bon Vivant Theater, 5225 N. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs
Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $20-$36
Phone: 719-255-3232

Sunday, March 24

CELTIC EXPLOSION WITH ROCKY MOUNTAIN BRASSWORKS
It’s an evening to celebrate all things Celtic, with a talented brass and percussion ensemble, the Rocky Mountain Brassworks! This British-style band will entertain with traditional music that tells the tale of the people from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and England. A beautiful video presentation will accompany the music to transport you to the British Isles and beyond. 

The Rocky Mountain Highland Dancers will also be performing in the distinct Scottish style of dance, as well as the wonderful McTeggart Irish Dancers and their rousing performance of Irish dance. Everything you could ever ask for in Celtic music and dance, together in one fabulous evening!

PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker
2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $20
Phone: 303-841-4500

Family-Friendly Things to Do Near Crystal Valley!

There’s always something to do near the family-friendly community of Crystal Valley! Enjoy the relaxed lifestyle of Castle Rock and surrounding area where cultural and entertainment activities abound! Check out the beautiful model homes from Richmond American Homes, Kauffman Homes, and D.R. Horton, and picture yourself in your very own dream house! With ranch and two-story floor plans available, new homes are priced from the $300s.