With school back in session, our summer roundup this week focuses primarily (though not exclusively) on the weekend’s happening as we enter peak festival season. Summer is almost over, so take advantage of these outdoor concerts, art exhibitions, gatherings and celebrations while you still can. If there’s an event you’d like to promote on our calendar, use the self-submission form on our events page.
Visit the BRL events calendar for more things to do.
Tree Tender Training: Help revive Boulder’s tree canopy
A quarter of Boulder’s trees are ash trees, and they’re dying because of a bug that’s killing them off. The PLAY Boulder Foundation, in partnership with the city’s Parks and Rec Department, is hosting its last “tree tender training” this Tuesday, the final workshop in a series, with the goal of helping to increase the city’s tree canopy while educating residents about this mounting problem. The training, which costs $40 a person, will include education in “identification, biology, common myths, care and pruning, planting and irrigation.”
Tuesday, Aug. 22, 5-7:30 p.m., Farmhouse at Valmont Bike Park, 3160 Airport Road (white building located in the south end of the Valmont Bike Park parking lot), $40
Golden Hour: Happy Hour at the Boulder Museum
Drop in to this week’s Golden Hour at the Museum of Boulder for evening drinks, music and rooftop views. The event will feature new product samples from Denver-based Family Jones Distillery and live music by DJ Soul Loraine, a musician, dancer and actress. Ticket includes beverage samples and appetizers.
Friday, Aug. 25, 5-7:00 p.m., Museum of Boulder, 2205 Broadway, $15
Melanin Funk Festival
Attend the 2023 Melanin Funk Festival this Friday night in downtown Boulder for a celebration of Black culture, part of the City of Boulder’s “Social Streets” initiative hosted by the Downtown Boulder Partnership along 13th Street between Arapahoe Avenue and Canyon. The event, on 13th Street, will offer live music, local artists, food and drinks. Musical performances will include Annastezhaa of Ramakhandra, DJ Berry and The Reminders.
Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, 6-9 p.m., 13th Street (between Arapahoe Avenue and Canyon Boulevard), free
Boulder Vintage Bicycle Swap & Show
Immerse yourself in the world of cycling nostalgia at the Boulder Vintage Bicycle Swap & Show. Check out a curated showcase of classic, vintage and antique bicycles — from heavyweights and 1-speeds to klunkers and BMX bikes. Bicycle components and parts will also be on display. Some bikes are making the journey from Nebraska and Texas. Along with bikes, attendees will find food, refreshments, a beer garden and a live band.
Saturday, Aug. 26, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., 1201 Arapahoe Avenue (Arapahoe and Broadway, across the creek from the Farmers Market), free
Boulder Taco Fest
Boulder Taco Fest is a full-day event with tacos, tequila and entertainment along Boulder Creek. The day includes lucha-libre wrestling and live music. Kids enter free and can enjoy inflatables and piñatas. The event will feature vendors including Torchy’s Tacos, Tacos Don Julio, Tia Linda’s Margaritas, Avery Brewing and others. Advance tickets are 20% off. Those running the event say it sells out every year.
Saturday, Aug.26, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Boulder Civic Area / Boulder Creek, Broadway & Canyon Boulevard, $30-$100
Community Roots Art Festival
Discover the Community Roots Art Festival, a grassroots event in its third year, “with a mission to highlight local Black, Indigenous, and brown self-identified artists by celebrating their authentic expressions of art.” Explore an artist market, enjoy diverse performances, savor local food and drinks, and participate in a raffle. Entry is free, with optional donation tickets to support artists and the festival’s future.
Saturday, Aug. 26, 1-11:30 p.m., Vision Quest Brewery, 2510 47th Street, Suite A2, free
Planet-Based Living Festival
The third-annual Planet-Based Living Festival will celebrate everyday choices that benefit the environment, emphasizing consumer power for positive change. Festival-goers can take yoga classes, speak with community nonprofits, try food samples and more. All food will be plant-based.
Sunday, Aug.27, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Central Park Bandshell, 1212 Canyon Boulevard, free
Inhale/Exhale at The Dairy
Oracle Performance Ensemble, a Colorado nonprofit, specializes in the art of color guard and dance. Established in 2005 as an alternative to conventional gym and competition performances, the ensemble is now showcasing its production “Inhale/Exhale” at the Dairy Arts Center. The performance will feature nine original choreographed pieces.
Saturday, Aug. 26, 7 p.m., and Sunday, Aug.27, 2 p.m., Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut Street, $25
Great Boulder Duck Race
This Sunday, participate in the Great Boulder Duck Race at the Scott Carpenter Pool by adopting a duck. The adoption donations will support PLAY Boulder’s programs for low-income families and people with disabilities. In the race, numerous rubber ducks will be released into the pool’s lazy river, competing to reach the finish line. Every adopted duck enters a drawing for prizes from local businesses, with a starting price of $10 per duck.
Sunday, Aug. 27, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Scott Carpenter Pool’s Lazy River, 1505 30th Street, free to enter, adoption by donation
NedFest Family Reunion
Check out this reunion of the beloved Nederland Musical and Arts Festival, with musicians from a diverse array of bands as they join forces for an all-weekend show that promises funky tunes and dancing. The event will feature NedFest veterans, including Dave Watts and Scott Messersmith, Kyle Hollingsworth, Jfunky tunes and continuous dancing. Children under 12 enter free.
Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 26-27, all day, The Caribou Room, 55 Indian Peaks Drive, Nederland, $60-$148
And don’t forget the Mapleton Hill Rummage Sale on Saturday the 26th from 8-2!
https://www.mapletonhillrummagesale.com/home