💧 Boulder's sauna boom + 41 things to do

This week’s Culture Club is sponsored by Rosetta Hall, your downtown destination for great food, drinks, live music and community events.

Hi there, Boulder, and welcome back to Culture Club! It’s Thursday, Nov. 5. I’m McKenzie, here with your weekly guide to arts, culture and things to do across Boulder County.

Saunas might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of culture. But in Boulder, they’re becoming a social scene of their own. Three new sauna clubs are opening in less than a month, offering everything from wood-fired heat and icy cold plunges to yoga, coffee and even a Japanese-inspired listening room.

Today’s Spotlight explores what’s driving Boulder’s sauna boom, and whether there’s room for all these new clubs. After Election Day, an hour in a sauna might sound pretty good right about now.

Plus: Three standout events, a chance to win Sundance tickets, grants for local artists and an opportunity to bring your work to the Dairy Arts Center. And, of course, more than 40 handpicked things to do across Boulder County, organized by category and curated by yours truly.

As always, you can submit your own event and check out more offerings on our community calendar.

See you out there,

McKenzie

Discover your new favorite dish or drink and enjoy live music and community events at Rosetta Hall. We’re located in the heart of downtown just steps away from the Pearl Street Mall. Sip, eat, enjoy, repeat. See you there, Boulder!

1. Handweavers Guild Show & Sale

Wednesday, Nov. 4-Sunday, Nov. 8 • times vary by day • Boulder County Fairgrounds (9595 Nelson Road, Longmont)

The Handweavers Guild of Boulder hosts its annual Fiber Art Show & Sale at the Boulder County Fairgrounds. A local tradition since 1971, the event features work by more than 100 guild artists, a juried exhibition, one-of-a-kind handmade gifts and fiber art supplies for sale.

2. Citywide First Friday

Friday, Nov. 6 • 4-7 p.m. downtown; 6-9 p.m. in NoBo

It’s First Friday, and there’s plenty to see. Downtown, catch the closing of The New Local’s Women of the Living West exhibition, celebrate International Fountain Pen Day at Two Hands Paperie or see Karina Vogt’s paintings in Entangled Realities at Wonder. Then head to NoBo for more art and music.

3. Beyond the Walls Street Art Summit

Saturday, Nov. 7-Sunday, Nov. 8 • 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday; 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday • Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (1750 13th St.)

Street art takes center stage this weekend as BMoCA and Street Wise Arts team up for two days of mural tours, talks, film and more. Get to know the artists and ideas behind the work on our city walls.

Boulder’s sauna clubs are suddenly everywhere. What’s driving the boom?

Three new sauna clubs are opening in less than a month, betting that hot rooms, cold plunges and alcohol-free gathering spaces can become Boulder’s next social hubs. Continue reading…

Think you know your movies? You could win Sundance tickets

Sundance Film Festival Trivia Week is bringing six nights of free, independent film-themed trivia to more than 30 bars and restaurants across the Front Range, with prizes including tickets to the 2027 Sundance Film Festival.

Two chances to play in Boulder County:

Sunday, Nov. 8, 6 p.m.: Ghost Box Pizza in Lafayette
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 7 p.m.: Avanti Boulder

Up to $5,000 available for Boulder County artists and arts groups

The Boulder County Arts Alliance is offering grants of up to $5,000 for artists’ projects, equipment purchases and arts organizations’ operating expenses. Applicants must be BCAA members and have lived or operated in Boulder County for at least one year. Individual applicants must be 18 or older. Deadline: Thursday, Nov. 12, at 5 p.m. Application details.

Dairy offers venue and production support for arts projects

Artists and arts groups can apply to the Dairy Arts Center’s co-production program, which provides free venue access and support with technical production, ticketing and promotion under a revenue-sharing arrangement.

The program welcomes theater, dance, film, music, literary arts and other disciplines. Applications are accepted year-round, with reviews in December and June. Program details.

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, Nov. 5, 7-8:30 p.m.: Christine Tracy hosts a monthly local writers’ reading at Inkberry Books in Niwot. [free] [all ages]
Friday, Nov. 6, 7-8:30 p.m.: Alumni of “Listen to Your Mother Boulder” perform a live storytelling show at the Dairy Arts Center. [ticketed] [all ages]
Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: The CU Boulder School of Education hosts the 2026 Children’s Book Festival at the Boulder Public Library. [free, but registration required] [family-friendly]
Sunday, Nov. 8, 1-3 p.m.: NoBo Library hosts a casual watercolor meetup for artists of all levels, with some supplies provided. [free] [all ages]
Monday, Nov. 9, 6:30 p.m.: Fireside Ink presents a fireside chat on the state of publishing in 2026 at the Boulder Bookstore. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 6-9 p.m.: “Stories After Dark” is an evening of true personal storytelling at the Merc in Jamestown. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 3-4:30 p.m.: Boulder Community Knitting meets at Meadows Branch Library to knit a shared pattern for children in need. [free] [all ages]

Theater & Dance

Thursday, Nov. 5, 7-9 p.m.: Longmont Museum hosts a screening of “Like Water for Chocolate,” a 1992 film set in revolutionary-era Mexico. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Friday, Nov. 6, 7-9 p.m.: Viva Theater presents “Birthday Candles,” a play tracing one woman’s life from 17 to 101, at the Dairy Arts Center. [ticketed] [all ages]
Saturday, Nov. 7, 7 p.m.: T2 Dance Company presents “Voices,” a collaborative showcase of different perspectives through movement at the Dairy Arts Center. [ticketed] [all ages]
Sunday, Nov. 8, 2-4 p.m.: To celebrate CU Boulder’s 150th anniversary, students partnered with the Tectonic Theatre Project to create “The 150 Project,” a play about the university’s history at Old Main Chapel. [ticketed] [all ages]
Monday, Nov. 9, 7-8:30 p.m.: Film expert Jeffrey Kash introduces Charlie Chaplin’s silent comedy classic “Modern Times” at the Dairy Arts Center. [ticketed] [all ages]
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 3:30-6 p.m.: “The Zionist Story,” a documentary on the history of Zionism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, screens at the Canyon Theater and is followed by a community talkback. [free] [adult-oriented]

Music & Nightlife

Thursday, Nov. 5, 7:30-10 p.m.: Before the Sun and Angel Corsi play an intimate listening-room-style concert at Longmont Public Media. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Friday, Nov. 6, 7-9:30 p.m.: eTown hosts a radio taping with The Cactus Blossoms and a special guest. [ticketed] [all ages]
Saturday, Nov. 7, 4 p.m.: Loud Women Fest Colorado comes to the Fox Theatre. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Sunday, Nov. 8, 3:30-4:30 p.m.: Chicago blues guitarist Joanna Connor leads a slide guitar workshop at Roots Music Project. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 6:30-9 p.m.: Band Speed Dating at Dog House Music Studios is a free mixer where bands and solo artists can meet and collaborate. [free] [all ages]
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 6-9:30 p.m.: Colorado balladeer Duncan Coker plays at Trident Booksellers & Cafe. [free] [all ages]

Food & Drink

Thursday, Nov. 5, noon-8:30 p.m.: Left Hand Brewing celebrates National Stout Day with $5 pints of Milk Stouts all day long. [free] [adult-oriented]
Friday, Nov. 6, 6:30-8:30 p.m.: The Boulder JCC hosts “Shake, Stir and Sip,” a hands-on mocktail-making class. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Saturday, Nov. 7, 5-8 p.m.: Sustainable Resilient Longmont hosts a dinner celebrating the Longmont Sustainability Awards at the Times Collaborative. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Sunday, Nov. 8, 9 a.m.-noon: Ozo Coffee hosts a hands-on barista class. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Monday, Nov. 9, 5:30-8:30 p.m.: Oskar Blues Brewery Taproom hosts a vegan market with plant-based vendors, food and goods. [free] [all ages]
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 6:30-8 p.m.: “Wine, Women and Wealth” is a monthly networking group for women to learn about money over wine and light appetizers, at West and Main Homes in Louisville. [free, registration required] [adult-oriented]
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 6-7:30 p.m.: Spruce Farm & Fish at the Hotel Boulderado hosts an exclusive monthly wine club event. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]

Outdoors & Recreation

Thursday, Nov. 5, 3-5 p.m.: Rope Wranglers is a weekly outdoor bouldering club that meets on Flagstaff Mountain. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Friday, Nov. 6, 7-8 p.m.: Planetary scientist Fran Bagenal shares mission insights celebrating 50 years of Voyagers 1 & 2 at Fiske Planetarium. [ticketed] [all ages]
Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Super Science Saturday is a public science celebration at NCAR’s Mesa Lab. [free] [family-friendly]
Sunday, Nov. 8, 1:30-4 p.m.: “Embrace the Jog” track meet is a community track meet blending jogging, friendly competition and group energy, at Centennial Middle School. [free] [all ages]
Monday, Nov. 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m.: The Boulder Nordic Team hosts its 35th annual Nordic Ski Swap at the Boulder Elks Lodge. [free] [all ages]
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 6-7:30 p.m.: Naturalists present a slide program on Boulder County’s 2 billion-year geologic history at the Parks & Open Space Building. [free, registration required] [all ages]

Family & Community

Thursday, Nov. 5, 4-7 p.m.: Restorative Justice hosts a casual meet-and-greet to show how they’re keeping youth out of the criminal justice system. [free] [all ages]
Friday, Nov. 6, 6-8 p.m.: Firehouse Art Center in Longmont hosts a tween night with good vibes and cool crafts. [ticketed] [ages 9-12]
Saturday, Nov. 7, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.: Mountain View United Methodist Church hosts its 13th annual holiday charity bazaar. [free] [all ages]
Sunday, Nov. 8, 2-4 p.m.: A free art day for kids at the Boulder Public Library is followed by a special dance performance at 3 p.m. by T2 company dancers. [free] [family-friendly]
Monday, Nov. 9, 5:30-6:30 p.m.: The Boulder Public Library offers a free weekly class to help adults prepare for the U.S. citizenship test. [free] [adult-oriented]
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.: The New Local hosts school-day-off art classes for children ages 5-10. [ticketed] [ages 5-10]

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.

💧 Boulder’s sauna boom + 41 things to do