Dog Sledding, Aretha and Chinese New Year!
According to the Chinese zodiac, we are about to enter the Year of the Pig, the sign that represents wealth and generosity. You can find fun Chinese New Year activities for the entire family in the Castle Rock area this weekend! The Outlets at Castle Rock are offering traditional Red Envelope gifting and paper lanterns for the kids! And Highlands Ranch will be holding a FREE Cultural Fair highlighting Asian traditions, music, dancing and more!
TODAY/TONIGHT, January 31
PARTY WITH SESAME STREET – LIVE
Young Sesame Street fans will be thrilled at the chance to not only see their favorite characters performing on stage but also to meet them in an up-close, pre-show experience! The whole gang will be there—Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby, and Oscar—for your kids to interact with. Kids can even help make decorations for the upcoming party, where their artwork may be featured during the show!
The performance will feature exciting new songs, as well as familiar favorites that will have everyone singing along. See Elmo build a snowman! Flap your wings along with Big Bird! Watch in amazement as Super Grover flies! It’s sure to be a festive time!
Pikes Peak Center, 190 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs
10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $20
Phone: 719-520-SHOW
FIRE UP YOUR METABOLISM
The secret to the Keto diet has to do with changing your metabolism so your body works with you to shed those stubborn pounds. Over the course of this six-week FREE workshop, you’ll learn all you need to know to be successful in your efforts.
Tonight’s lesson is Fire Up Your Metabolism, where you’ll learn how to retrain your metabolism and give yourself a fighting chance to use fat for energy, feel great, and support a healthy weight! You’ll discover how to eat to reset your metabolism.
Natural Grocers, 4510 Trail Boss Dr., Castle Rock
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Information: FREE
Phone: 303-660-2600
UNDERSTANDING YOUR TEEN
As part of Parker’s Healthy Teen Series, this informative workshop for parents is presented by Nicholas Thompson, a licensed clinical social worker and expert in the development and behavior of adolescents.
Come for some great advice about better understanding your teen and establishing a strong relationship.
Legend High School, 22219 Hilltop Rd., Parker
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Registration: FREE
Phone: 303-387-3850
Thursday-Sunday, January 31 – February 3
CHINESE NEW YEAR AT THE OUTLETS
Celebrate Chinese New Year at the Outlets at Castle Rock! There will be Chinese-themed traditions and activities throughout the center, including Red Envelopes! The ancient Chinese tradition of giving red envelopes symbolizes wishes for good luck in the new year. Tucked inside is a gift of money for the receiver. The Outlets’ version of this tradition is an $8 gift card to any store at the center!
Chinese New Year lanterns will also be available for kids. By turning in their decorated lantern to customer service, participants will receive their own red envelope with a special surprise inside.
Outlets at Castle Rock, 5050 Factory Shops Blvd., Castle Rock
Thurs./Fri./Sat., 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Sun., 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Phone: 303-688-4495
ROCK OUT AT THE RINK!
Take a spin on Castle Rock’s favorite outdoor winter venue—the Rink at the Rock! Spend some valuable quality time with the family, or meet friends and neighbors out on the ice!
This is a workout that doesn’t feel like a chore—you’ll be having so much fun, you won’t believe it’s good for you!
The White Pavilion, 414 Perry St., Castle Rock
Thurs., 3:00-8:00 p.m.; Fri./Sat., 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.; Sun., 12:00-5:00 p.m.
Cost: $6-$8
Phone: 303-814-8142
Friday, February 1
KIDS’ BASKETBALL CHALLENGE
Heat up the winter evening with some good old-fashioned competition! Kids ages 6-13 will compete to see who’s best at dribbling, shooting, and passing, with the winners of each division advancing to the sectionals, and then possibly on to the state competition! There will be separate divisions for boys and girls, as well as age divisions. Participants MUST bring a copy of their birth certificate.
Parker Fieldhouse, 18700 E. Plaza Dr., Parker
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Register: FREE
Phone: 303-805-6300
WATCH A MOVIE WHILE YOU SWIM!
It doesn’t get any better than this! Fun for all ages, watching a movie while swimming combines everyone’s two favorite activities! Come out and enjoy a swim in a warm, indoor, salt-water pool while watching How to Train Your Dragon 2. Lifeguard supervision, popcorn, and a drink are included in the price!
Dolphinz Swim School, 18920 E. Plaza Dr., Parker
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Register: $10 per child; 1 adult free with each child purchase
Phone: 720-851-1524
Friday-Sunday, February 1-3
NEWSIES LIVE ON STAGE!
Based on the 1992 Disney movie starring a young Christian Bale, the musical Newsies comes alive on stage with an energetic score and large-scale dance gymnastics. When a band of newsboys decide to go on strike in turn-of-the-century New York City, they take on a powerful corporate publisher. Newsies was inspired by the real-life Newsboy Strike of 1899. All the now-classic songs from the movie are in the stage adaptation, including Carrying the Banner, Seize the Day, and Santa Fe.
PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $29-$34
Phone: 303-805-6800
Saturday, February 2
COMMUNITY CPR AND FIRST AID CLASS
Have you always thought it would be a good idea to take a basic CPR and first aid class? Now’s your chance to cross it off your “should do” list! This community class provides training in basic lifestyle skills and CPR for adults, infants, and children, as well as Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training. This class is open for ages 12 and older, and participants need to bring a notebook and a lunch. Register for class #43132 online.
Castle Rock Recreation Center, 2301 N. Woodlands Blvd., Castle Rock
8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Registration: $88-$105
Phone: 303-660-1036
DOG SLEDDING EXCURSION
Here’s something you don’t get to do every day—ride on a dog sled! This special event is conveniently organized to start in Castle Rock, but you’ll venture out into the beautiful Colorado wilderness for an afternoon of fresh air and winter landscapes.
Price includes transportation, your own guide, and of course, mushing your dog sled on a six-mile loop!
Miller Activity Complex, 1375 West Plum Creek Pkwy., Castle Rock
8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Registration: $105-$115
FREE CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL
Kick off the Year of the Pig with this fun, FREE Chinese New Year Cultural Fair! The Chinese horoscope predicts 2019 will be excellent, without any bad periods and full of achievement! Come celebrate this prediction, as well as Asian art and culture, with your friends and neighbors.
Take part in an array of educational and arts & craft displays. You can even purchase a souvenir!
Southridge Recreation Center, 4800 McArthur Ranch Rd., Highlands Ranch
12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
Phone: 303-791-2500
CHINESE DANCE PERFORMANCE
While strolling through the Cultural Fair, why not take in a live performance by the talented Great Wall Chinese Academy? The entire family will enjoy watching exciting Chinese dragon and lion dances, beautiful Chinese folk dances, amazing Chinese martial art Kung Fu, as well as traditional choral and instrumental performances.
Southridge Recreation Center, 4800 McArthur Ranch Rd., Highlands Ranch
2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $8-$11
Phone: 303-791-2500
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
There was only one Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul, but local performer Mary Louise Lee does a spectacular job of paying a beautiful tribute to her! With her amazing range, emotional fire, and onstage charisma, Lee brings your favorite Aretha songs to life in a way that honors the great legend. A full orchestra takes you on a journey through some of Aretha’s most popular songs as well as some lesser-known gems.
Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $35
Phone: 720-509-1000
Sunday, February 3
HANSEL AND GRETEL
Opera Colorado presents a delightful and whimsical performance of the beloved fairy tale, especially adapted for the stage. As part of the Passport to Culture series, this performance allows children and families to experience the arts outside of the classroom!
With enchanting sets, costumes and music, the familiar story follows Hansel and Gretel into a magical forest where a zany witch lures them into her gingerbread house. The children must use their wits to outsmart the witch and escape.
Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree
1:30 and 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: $5
Phone: 720-509-1000
Crystal Valley is the Best of Both!
Close enough to be a part of the cultural and recreational activities in the Castle Rock area, yet surrounded by nature, the family-friendly community of Crystal Valley is the best of both worlds! Stop by and visit one of the beautiful model homes from Richmond American Homes, D.R. Horton, or Kauffman Homes. With ranch and two-story models available, new homes are affordably-priced from the $300s.
