This week’s Culture Club is sponsored by Downtown Boulder Partnership. Pearl Street Arts Fest returns July 17-19 with juried artists from across the country.
Hi there, Boulder — welcome back to Culture Club! It’s Thursday, July 9, and I’m McKenzie, with your weekly guide to arts, culture and things to do across Boulder County.
This week, we explore what happened when artists got a rare chance at a Pearl Street storefront — and why the experiment couldn’t survive market rents. You’ll also find our picks for the week ahead, including the Colorado Music Festival’s 50th anniversary opening, outdoor dance, hot air balloons and dozens more events.
We’re building Culture Club with readers, and I’d love your help. If a story resonates, let me know. If there’s an artist, performance, exhibit or cultural issue you’d like us to cover, just hit reply or send me a tip.
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See you out there,
McKenzie
Pearl Street Arts Fest returns July 17-19 for its 49th year in downtown Boulder. Stroll the Pearl Street Mall as it becomes a lively outdoor gallery showcasing 100+ juried artists from across the country. From bold sculpture and fine photography to handcrafted jewelry and mixed media, there’s something for every art lover. Bring friends, bring family and experience one of Colorado’s most iconic summer celebrations of creativity, culture, and community.
1. Colorado Music Festival
Thursday, July 9, and Friday, July 10 • 7:30-9 p.m. • additional events through August 9 • Chautauqua Auditorium
The Colorado Music Festival opens its 50th anniversary season with two nights headlined by Himari, a world-renowned 15-year-old violinist, who will play Sibelius and Tchaikovsky. The festival brings professional musicians from around the world to perform in Boulder throughout the summer.
2. Artistic Ventures in Dance (AVID) presents GATHER at the Glen Huntington Bandshell
Wednesday, July 15 • 6:30-8 p.m. • Glen Huntington Bandshell (1212 Canyon Blvd.)
This free outdoor dance showcase includes all new works by three different contemporary choreographers. Attendees can bring a blanket and a picnic and experience a world-class dance performance.
3. Erie Balloon Festival
Friday, July 10-Sunday, July 12 • 5-7:30 a.m. each morning; 5-8:30 p.m. Saturday night • Weld County Rd. 5 & Colliers Pkwy.
The Erie Chamber of Commerce sponsors this weekend-long event filled with dozens of magnificent hot air balloons. Spectators can come watch the Mass Ascension as balloons rise before the Colorado sunrise. Food trucks, music and tether rides will be available throughout the festival. Events are weather permitting.
A Boulder experiment in affordable downtown art space comes to an end
A Pearl Street storefront became an informal test of whether below-market rents could help artists while filling vacant commercial space. Then a market-rate tenant arrived. 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, July 9, 4:30-6 p.m.: The Great Indian Novel discusses books written in English about life in the Indian subcontinent and meets at the Boulder Public Library Main Branch [free] [adult-oriented]
- Friday, July 10, 5:30-7 p.m.: Boulder’s Groundworks Art Lab Opening Reception celebrates an exhibition of work produced by visiting artists [free] [adult-oriented]
- Saturday, July 11, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.: The Outcast Knitting Group meets at the Broomfield public library to work on projects in a relaxed, informal atmosphere [free] [all ages]
- Sunday, July 12, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Constance Wilde teaches botanical dyeing in a hands-on mountain workshop [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
- Monday, July 13, 6-7 p.m.: Monday nights at the Lafayette Public Library feature the drop-in Lafayette Writers Group [free] [adult-oriented]
- Tuesday, July 14, 6:30-7:30 p.m.: Denver-based poet Topaz Hooper participates in the Trident Poet Series at the Trident Cafe [free] [adult-oriented]
- Wednesday, July 15, 6:30-7:30 p.m.: Lindsay Bartels speaks about her new book, Imogen in Waiting: A Memoir of Modern Reproduction, at Boulder Bookstore [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Theater & Dance
- Thursday, July 9, 6:30-9 p.m.: “The Kingslayer Fantasy Film Festival” includes short movies by Colorado filmmakers built around a medieval-style stage play at the Canyon Theater. [free] [adult-oriented]
- Friday, July 10, 4:30-6 p.m.: Gina Medina hosts a drop-in beginner hip hop class in the conference room at East & Co [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
- Saturday, July 11, 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.: CenterStage Theatre Company presents Alice by Heart, a touching musical by the Tony and Grammy award-winning creators of Spring Awakening [ticketed] [all ages]
- Sunday, July 12, 2-3:30 p.m.: The Dairy screens the 1983 Tarkovsky film, Nostalghia [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
- Tuesday, July 14, 7:30-8:30 p.m.: Twelfth Night plays at the Mary Rippon Outdoor Theater as part of the Colorado Shakespeare Festival [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
- Wednesday, July 15, 6:30-9 p.m.: Waltz Revolution takes place at the Avalon Ballroom every first and third Wednesdays; no partner required [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Music & Nightlife
- Thursday, July 9, 6-8:30 p.m.: Moms Unhinged present Coming in Hot! A menopause standup comedy event that supports access to reproductive care, at the Dairy Arts Center [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
- Friday, July 10, 5-9 p.m.: Live bands play alongside food trucks and the local artist market at Lafayette’s Art Night Out along South Public Street [free] [family-friendly]
- Saturday, July 11, 6-8:30 p.m.: Von Disco provides musical backing for live poetry and spoken word performances during Jazzetry at Trident Cafe [free] [adult-oriented]
- Sunday, July 12, 5:30-7:30 p.m.: Miss Jessica leads Adult Drag Bingo at Left Hand Brewing [free] [adults only]
- Tuesday, July 14, 7:30 p.m.: Juno Award-winning quintet Canadian Brass plays the Chautauqua Auditorium [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
- Wednesday, July 15, 5:30-8 p.m.: The Saint Cecilia plays downtown Boulder at Band on the Bricks [free] [adult-oriented]
Food & Drink
- Thursday, July 9, 4-7 p.m.: Summer happy hour happens every Thursday at east Boulder’s new community hangout, East & Co. [free] [all ages]
- Saturday, July 11, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.: The Art of Cheese leads a feta-making class at Magpie Arts Studio in Hygiene [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
- Sunday, July 12, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Queer Tea meetup happens on the second Sunday of every month at Longmont’s Luminous Tea House and Cafe [free] [adult-oriented]
- Tuesday, July 14, 6-8 p.m.: Museum of Boulder hosts a closing reception with food and drinks on the last day of the Boulder EATS! exhibit [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
- Wednesday, July 15, 6-9 p.m.: Crafters can bring their own projects for Crafts and Cocktails at Abbott & Wallace Distilling [free] [adult-oriented]
Outdoors & Recreation
- Thursday, July 9, 6-9 p.m.: The Wibby Cornhole League meets every Thursday throughout the summer at Longmont’s Wibby Brewing [free] [adult-oriented]
- Friday, July 10, 9-10 a.m.: Recreation fitness instructors lead a one-hour free Pilyoga class at Longmont’s Dawson Park [free] [adult-oriented]
- Saturday, July 11, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Jill Cohen and Michael Rich lead a Nourish Your Nervous System workshop with herbs and somatic practices at Gather Farm [free] [adult-oriented]
- Sunday, July 12, 9-10 a.m.: Sunday morning yoga at the yard takes place outside Lafayette’s Vintrey [free] [family-friendly]
- Monday, July 13, 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.: Rocky Mountain Pilates and Yoga offers a free 30-minute Intro to Pilates [free] [adult-oriented]
- Tuesday, July 14, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.: Nature Journal Club is a free outing in nature to sketch, draw, write and connect [free] [adult-oriented]
- Wednesday, July 15, 5-7 p.m..: Rope Wranglers offers a free beginner-friendly introduction to outdoor rock climbing at CrownRock Trail Head in Boulder [free] [adult-oriented]
Family & Community
- Thursday, July 9, 11 a.m.: Storytime for all ages at Lafayette’s WOW! Children’s Museum [ticketed] [family-friendly]
- Friday, July 10, 9:45-10:30 a.m.: Children ages 3-6 can visit the farm at Longmont’s Agricultural Heritage Center to learn about plants, animals and agricultural life [free] [family-friendly]
- Saturday, July 11, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.: Pollinator Palooza at Jack’s Solar Garden in Longmont celebrates the bees, butterflies and beetles that are essential to our ecosystems [free] [family-friendly]
- Sunday, July 12, 2-3 p.m.: Leon Joseph Littlebird tells stories and plays instruments to explore the origins of music at the Meadows Branch Library [free] [family-friendly]
- Monday, July 13, 5:30-7 p.m.: Meadow Music starts with a toddler-friendly .2 mile hike and is followed by music with Jeff & Paige at the Chautauqua Green [free] [family-friendly]
- Wednesday, July 15, 10-11 a.m.: Storytime in the Wonder Garden at the Museum of Boulder is even better with bubbles [ticketed] [family-friendly]
City of Boulder accepting nominations for inaugural Poet Laureate Program
Nominations are open to a Boulder-based poet with an active creative practice and the ability to fulfill program responsibilities. The Poet Laureate will participate in public readings, facilitate workshops, and design a signature community project that reflects the city’s identity and values. The Poet Laureate will receive a $10,000 honorarium and have the opportunity to serve as the Library’s Writer in Residence as well. Nominations are accepted from July 8-August 13. Learn more and fill out a nomination form here.
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.
