📚 Why big-name writers are gathering at Trident + 41 things to do

This week’s Culture Club is sponsored by Rosetta Hall. Explore its six globally inspired kitchens, two full-service bars and a lively calendar of community events.

Hi there, Boulder. Welcome back to Culture Club! It’s Thursday, Aug. 20, and I’m McKenzie, here with your weekly guide to arts, culture and things to do across Boulder County.

In this week’s spotlight, we’re taking you inside Magic Mountain Talks, the free conversation series bringing nationally known writers and thinkers to Trident’s back patio to discuss politics, culture and power. The talks have drawn standing-room-only crowds, and they aren’t recorded. If you miss one, you miss it.

Plus: three great weekend picks, more than 40 things to do across Boulder County and an audition opportunity for local actors.

Before we dive in, take our short reader survey by Aug. 26 to tell us what matters to you this election and what you want Boulder’s candidates to answer.

As always, you can submit your own event and find more things to do on our community calendar.

See you out there,

McKenzie

Rosetta Hall is Boulder’s favorite food hall. With six kitchens, each featuring a different cuisine, two full-service bars, plenty of seating and community events happening all the time, there’s always a reason to visit. Bring your family, meet your friends and enjoy the vibe. Open daily at 11 a.m.

1. Nederland Jazz & Wine Festival

Saturday, Aug. 22 • 11 a.m.-5 p.m. • Chipeta Park (254 Lakeview Dr.)

The fifth annual Ned Jazz & Wine Festival offers a memorable mountain experience with diverse jazz acts, samples from 27 vendors, food and art.

2. Boulder Taco Fest

Saturday, Aug. 22 • noon-5 p.m. • Boulder Civic Area & Library (1001 Arapahoe Ave.)

The Boulder Taco Fest features the best tacos from award-winning restaurants and food trucks, live lucha libre wrestling, margaritas by the creek and live music. Kids under 12 are free.

3. The Hygiene Howl

Sunday, Aug. 23 • 10:45 a.m.-9 p.m. • Cafe Fritz & Willow Farm (7502 Hygiene Rd. and 11898 N. 75th St.)

This new, free, one-day music festival features an entirely Colorado-based lineup that will run all day across two stages in Hygiene. Along with live music, the Howl will offer food, face painting, a photo booth and other family-friendly activities.

Inside Boulder’s Magic Mountain Talks, where big ideas fill Trident’s back patio

The free monthly series draws nationally known writers for public conversations about politics, culture and power. Continue reading…

Looking for more to do? Explore our community calendar for dozens more events happening around Boulder. It’s free to browse and free to post. Many of the events featured in Culture Club come from the calendar, so be sure to add yours.

Visual Arts & Literature

Thursday, Aug. 20, 6-7 p.m.: All are welcome at the Queer Romance Book Club at the Romance Section. [free] [adult-oriented]
Friday, Aug. 21, 9 a.m.-noon: Art from artists’ estates and work by current artists will be for sale at Open Studios’ Fine Art Estate Sale at Elevations Credit Union. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Saturday, Aug. 22, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: The summer vendor market happens at BMoCA. [free] [all ages]
Sunday, Aug. 23, 4-5:30 p.m.: Composition Shop hosts Lit Happens Book Club with Lillian. [free] [adult-oriented]
Monday, Aug. 24, 6-7 p.m.: Writers can join the drop-in writing group at the Lafayette Public Library. [free] [adult-oriented]
Tuesday, Aug. 25, 6:30-7:30 p.m.: Boulder Writers Alliance presents an Author Showcase at Boulder Bookstore. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Wednesday, Aug. 26, 6:30-8:15 p.m.: Boulder Library’s Maker in Residence Katrina Rodabaugh delivers a talk on mending textiles, rethinking fashion and sustainability at the Canyon Theater. [registration required] [adult-oriented]

Theater, Dance & Film

Thursday, Aug. 20, 5:30-7:30 p.m.: Anyone can take the stage for five to 10 minutes at the Flipside Open Mic Night. [free] [adult-oriented]
Friday, Aug. 21, 7:30 p.m.: Alpine Artist Collective presents “Embers,” an immersive performance exploring the intersection of humans and wildfire, at Junkyard Social Club. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Saturday, Aug. 22, 7 p.m.: Oracle Performance Ensemble presents “Resilience,” a fusion of contemporary dance and color guard, at the Dairy Arts Center. [ticketed] [all ages]
Sunday, Aug. 23, 6-8:15 p.m.: The Lafayette Arts Hub presents “Tick, Tick … Boom!” a musical written by Jonathan Larson, at the Boulder Bandshell. [ticketed] [recommended for ages 12 and up]
Monday, Aug. 24, 6-8 p.m.: The Dairy Arts Center presents “How to Watch a Movie Part VII – The Politics of the Frame.” [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Tuesday, Aug. 25, 7-9 p.m.: Sk8D8 is Boulder’s monthly adult rollerskating party at the Avalon. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]

Music & Nightlife

Thursday, Aug. 20, 7-9:30 p.m.: eTown presents the Animeros with richly cultured, danceable music. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Friday, Aug. 21, 6-9 p.m.: Left Hand Brewing premieres the Atom Jazz Fest. [free] [family-friendly]
Saturday, Aug. 22, 6 p.m.-midnight: Lunar Lux Music & Arts Festival presents a singer-songwriter show at Bizarre Electronics Lounge in Longmont. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Sunday, Aug. 23, 3 p.m.: Boulder Opera presents “Mozart vs. Salieri,” a vibrant summer opera concert. [ticketed] [all ages]
Tuesday, Aug. 25, 7:30 p.m.: FACE Vocal Band performs at Nissi’s. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Wednesday, Aug. 26, 5:30-10 p.m.: Music open mic night at Vision Quest Brewery has been going strong for five years. [free] [adult-oriented]

Food & Drink

Thursday, Aug. 20, 6-9 p.m.: St. Julien Hotel & Spa hosts a vegan harvest dinner. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Friday, Aug. 21, 5-7 p.m.: Lucky’s Market serves chef-inspired meals at Friday Night Grill. [free] [all ages]
Saturday, Aug. 22, 5-9 p.m.: Growing Gardens Farm Gala celebrates programs that support garden-based nutrition education. [ticketed] [all ages]
Sunday, Aug. 23, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.: The residents of San Lazaro host a fabulous food fundraiser to help them raise money to purchase the mobile home park. [free] [all ages]
Monday, Aug. 24, 6-8:30 p.m.: Hesher BBQ and Liquid Mechanics Brewing Company celebrate Colorado’s 150th anniversary with a three-course Colorado Beer Dinner. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Tuesday, Aug. 25, 6-7 p.m.: Mile High Spirits leads a whiskey class at William Oliver’s Publick House in Lafayette. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Wednesday, Aug. 26, 6-9 p.m.: Chef Samuel McCandless of Corrida cooks a farm dinner at Lyons Farmette. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]

Outdoors & Recreation

Thursday, Aug. 20, 6-7:30 p.m.: The Art on the Street Walking Tour introduces participants to the City of Lafayette’s rotating public art exhibition. [free] [all ages]
Friday, Aug. 21, 3-6 p.m.: Boulder Freeride hosts Dakine Days, a themed pop-up, at Beach Park on Euclid Ave. [free] [adult-oriented]
Saturday, Aug. 22, 10-11:30 a.m.: Jess Harper teaches the basics of seed-saving during a class at Harlequin Gardens. [ticketed] [all ages]
Sunday, Aug. 23, 9:30-11:30 a.m.: The City of Lafayette hosts a workshop on the plant allies in your backyard at Coal Creek Open Space. [free] [family friendly]
Tuesday, Aug. 25, 9 a.m.: Rose Gay leads a peaceful, guided rewilding hike at Chautauqua. [free, registration required] [all ages]
Wednesday, Aug. 26, 6-7 p.m.: Art in the Wild is an immersive creative experience at Yellow Barn Farm. [ticketed] [all ages]

Family & Community

Thursday, Aug. 20, 7-9 p.m.: The Boulder Model Railroad Club hosts its monthly meeting at the Tri-City Elks Club Lodge. [free] [all ages]
Friday, Aug. 21, 8:45-10 p.m.: “Remember the Titans” plays at the free summer movie series at Waneka Lake. [free] [family-friendly]
Saturday, Aug. 22, 8-9 p.m.: The whole family can enjoy a nighttime adventure at Walden Ponds while learning about Boulder County bats. [free, registration required] [family-friendly]
Sunday, Aug. 23, 10 a.m.-noon: Families can enjoy sensory-friendly Sundays at Fiske Planetarium. [free] [family-friendly]
Monday, Aug. 24, 10-10:30 a.m.: The Longmont Public Library offers bilingual storytime in English and Spanish. [free] [family-friendly]
Tuesday, Aug. 25, 5:30-7 p.m.: Neighbors help neighbors at Lafayette’s Building Community Resilience Workshop. [free] [all ages]
Wednesday, Aug. 26, 6:30 p.m.: Shankar Vedantam, host of the “Hidden Brain” podcast, will share insights in a live event at Boulder Theater. [ticketed] [all ages]

Support Boulder Reporting Lab when you buy a pass to Tulagi Fest

Don’t forget to use the code BOULDERREPORTINGLAB2026 when purchasing your pass.

Audition for “Harvey” with The Upstart Crow Theatre Company

Auditions will take place from Saturday, Aug. 29, through Tuesday, Sept. 1. Performances will run Dec. 3-13 in the Carsen Theatre at the Dairy Arts Center. Actors must bring a one- to two-minute monologue and a list of all conflicts during the rehearsal period.

Know about an exhibit, concert, festival or creative person we should feature? Reply to this email or submit it here. Culture Club exists to help people discover what’s happening across Boulder County, and we’d love your ideas. Thanks for reading, and if you make it out to something fun this weekend, let us know.