🗓️ Your weekend plans, your Tuesday ballot + 38 things to do

Hi there, Boulder, and welcome back to Culture Club! It’s Thursday, Oct. 29. I’m McKenzie, here with your weekly guide to arts, culture and things to do across Boulder County.

Before we get to this week’s culture picks: Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. If you’re still filling out your ballot, BRL’s 2026 Voter Guide can help you compare candidates, understand local ballot measures and make a plan to vote. We’re also revisiting what Boulder candidates say they would do for the arts. Candidates backed cultural investment, but offered fewer specifics on putting those promises into practice or keeping artists from being priced out.

Halloween weekend is here, too. Still making plans? Browse our Halloween and Día de los Muertos guide for costume parties, trick-or-treating, live music and more across Boulder County.

And as always, I’ve handpicked every event in this week’s list, from live music and films to art, book talks and family outings. I hope you find something you wouldn’t have discovered otherwise.

Also this week: Boulder offers up to $9,500 for Pearl Street anniversary art, two exhibition deadlines are coming up and local artists pitch their creative business plans.

Have an event to share? Submit it to our community calendar, where you can also browse more offerings across Boulder County.

See you out there,

McKenzie

1. Munchkin Masquerade

Saturday, Oct. 31 • 3-6 p.m. • Pearl Street Mall

Children ages 12 and under are invited to dress up in their favorite costumes and trick-or-treat at participating businesses along Pearl Street. Find participating businesses here.

2. Spooktopia

Saturday, Oct. 31 • 7 p.m.-1 a.m. • Junkyard Social Club (2525 Frontier Ave., Unit A)

Magic Portal Parties brings live music, dancing, cocktails, tarot readings and arts and crafts to Junkyard Social Club for this Halloween party for ages 18 and up. Costumes are required. Doors open at 7 p.m., with music starting at 7:30. Details and tickets here.

3. Stephen Graham Jones discusses “Off the Reservation”

Wednesday, Nov. 4 • 6:30 p.m. • Canyon Theater (1001 Arapahoe Ave.)

Author and CU Boulder English professor Stephen Graham Jones will discuss and sign his latest novel, “Off the Reservation,” in a live recording of Radio Book Club with co-hosts Arsen Kashkashian and Maeve Conran. Admission is free, with advance registration required.

Before you vote: What would these candidates do for Boulder’s arts scene?

Boulder candidates agree that the arts deserve support. But how would they make room for artists to live and work here? With Election Day on Tuesday, revisit our five takeaways from September’s arts and culture forum, including where candidates agreed, where they differed and which questions went unanswered. Continue reading…

Still making Halloween plans? Start here.

From trick-or-treating and haunted attractions to costume parties, live music and Día de los Muertos celebrations, our countywide guide has options for families and night owls alike. Browse by community to find events near you, and check dates and ticket availability before heading out. Continue reading…

Boulder offers up to $9,500 for Pearl Street anniversary art

Colorado artists and artist teams can apply for up to $9,500 to create temporary public art celebrating the Pearl Street Mall’s 50th anniversary in 2027. Projects can include installations, performances and pop-ups, and must be free to experience. Applications are due Nov. 16 at 5 p.m., with projects scheduled for April through October 2027. Application details.

Last call for NoBo’s 2027 gallery proposals

Artists and arts organizations have through Friday, Oct. 30, to submit proposals for 2027 exhibitions at NoBo’s Bus Stop Gallery. Individual and group shows are eligible, and proposals must include ideas for at least two community events. Applying is free; selected artists must become NoBo members, and the gallery takes a 40% commission on sales. Application details.

Boulder artists share the business behind their work

Artists from the inaugural Boulder Arts Business Cohort will share their work and plans for growing their creative businesses at “Making It,” a public showcase tonight. The eight-week program covered pricing, budgeting, marketing and other skills for sustaining a creative practice.

Offered by the city’s Office of Arts and Culture in partnership with the Small Business Development Center serving Boulder County, the cohort includes artists working in music, photography, tattooing, pottery and other disciplines. The showcase takes place Thursday, Oct. 29, from 6-8 p.m. at the Canyon Theater. Details and RSVP here.

Lafayette seeks ceramic sculpture for 2027 exhibition

Colorado artists have until Sunday, Nov. 1 to apply for a hand-built ceramic sculpture exhibition curated by Ana Balzán at The Collective in Lafayette. The show welcomes figurative and abstract sculpture, including mixed-media work, as long as clay remains the primary material. Applying is free. The exhibition runs Jan. 14-March 14, 2027. Application 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, Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m.: Ecologist Merritt R. Turetsky discusses her new book, “Bogland,” with Hillary Rosner at Boulder Bookstore. [ticketed] [all ages]
Friday, Oct. 30, 5-7 p.m.: The Collective in Lafayette hosts a closing reception for its Día de los Muertos exhibit, “Arcos y Portales.” [free] [all ages]
Saturday, Oct. 31, 6-8:30 p.m.: Punketry pairs improvised punk music by Black Market Translation with local spoken-word poetry and a Halloween costume contest at Trident Booksellers & Cafe. [free] [all ages]
Sunday, Nov. 1, 2-5 p.m.: Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art hosts a community reception celebrating Día de los Muertos. [free] [all ages]
Monday, Nov. 2, 5:30-6:30 p.m.: The monthly Banned Books Club at George Reynolds Library meets to discuss “In the Dream House” by Carmen Maria Machado. [free] [adult-oriented]
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.: See “Women Artists: Four Centuries of Creativity” at the Longmont Museum. [ticketed] [all ages]
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 6:30 p.m.: Local debut author Lily discusses and signs her new book, “How Light Returned to the North Pole,” at Boulder Bookstore. [ticketed] [all ages]

Theater, Dance & Film

Thursday, Oct. 29, 7-9 p.m.: East Window in North Boulder screens contemporary Southeast Asian video works, followed by a discussion with CU Boulder art historian Brianne Cohen about her new book, “The Empathic Lens: Art, Animism, and Ecology in Contemporary Southeast Asia.” [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Friday, Oct. 30, 7 p.m.: The Dairy Arts Center hosts “Pick Your Poison: Movie Scare-a-thon,” a choose-your-own-adventure movie night with multiple horror screenings and live music in the lobby. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Sunday, Nov. 1, 3-5:15 p.m.: The Boulder Jewish Film Festival continues with a screening of “Reading Lolita in Tehran,” an adaptation of Azar Nafisi’s 2003 memoir, at the Dairy Arts Center. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Monday, Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m.: The International Film Series screens Hayao Miyazaki’s “Castle in the Sky” in 35 mm. [ticketed] [all ages]
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 7:30 p.m.: The International Film Series presents a free screening of “The Girl Who Went Away,” followed by a talkback with filmmaker Emett Casey. [free] [all ages]
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 6-8 p.m.: The Dairy Arts Center screens “Watch You Rise,” a documentary by local filmmaker Isabella Grace Cohn, followed by a panel discussion about sexual assault, power and consent. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]

Music & Nightlife

Thursday, Oct. 29, 6:30-8:30 p.m.: Muse Performance Space presents a soul-jazz tribute marking Lou Donaldson’s 100th birthday, featuring Wil Swindler on alto sax and a Hammond B3 organ trio. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Friday, Oct. 30, 8-11 p.m.: Rock for the People hosts its annual Dracula’s Bloodsuckers Ball at Dog House Music Studios, featuring DJ sets, a costume contest, cocktails and more. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Saturday, Oct. 31, 2-3 p.m.: The Boulder Symphony plays an interactive Curiosity Concert Halloween Spooktacular for children and families at Grace Commons. [ticketed] [family-friendly]
Sunday, Nov. 1, 7 p.m.: The Tallest Man on Earth plays at the Boulder Theater with Andrea von Kampen opening. [ticketed] [all ages]
Monday, Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m.: The Grammy-winning Takács Quartet performs at Grusin Music Hall, with cellist Mihai Marica in his debut season as a member of the ensemble. [ticketed] [all ages]
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 6:30-8:30 p.m.: Dog House Music Studios hosts the Femme Musicians Meetup & Jam. [free] [all ages]
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 7-9:30 p.m.: Composer and Music Genome Project architect Nolan Gasser leads a concert-lecture exploring why we like the music we do, combining live performance and audience interaction at eTown Hall. [ticketed] [all ages]

Food & Drink

Thursday, Oct. 29, 6-9 p.m.: The Jasmine Bar hosts a murder mystery dinner with the Dinner Detective. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Friday, Oct. 30, 6-8 p.m.: Ajax Tavern and Maker’s Mark host a four-course Halloween whiskey dinner. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Saturday, Oct. 31, 1-3 p.m.: Nora’s Speakeasy in Louisville hosts a guided cocktail class focused on vodka and gin. [ticketed] [adult-oriented]
Sunday, Nov. 1, 6:30-8:30 p.m.: Left Hand Brewing hosts Adult Drag Bingo with Miss Jessica. [free] [adult-oriented]
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 7-9 p.m.: Cellar West hosts an open mic night, with beer and food truck fare available for purchase. [free] [adult-oriented]

Outdoors & Recreation

Saturday, Oct. 31, 9-11 a.m.: Performance & Recovery Labs hosts a casual Halloween gravel bike ride with costumes, coffee and donuts. [free] [all ages]
Sunday, Nov. 1, 1-3 p.m.: Join Lafayette Birds! for a birdwatching gathering at the Greenlee Wildlife Preserve at Waneka Lake. [free] [all ages]

Afternoon sun falls on Greenlee Wildlife Preserve in October 2026. Credit: McKenzie Watson-Fore

Family & Community

Thursday, Oct. 29, 4 p.m.: The Apothecary in Lafayette hosts a Halloween potion-making workshop for children ages 6-10. Costumes are encouraged; expect to get messy. [ticketed] [ages 6-10]
Friday, Oct. 30, 10:30-11 a.m.: Halloween storytime at the Lafayette Library features the Mountain Buddies performing Halloween songs. [free] [family-friendly]
Saturday, Oct. 31, 9:30 a.m.: Longmont’s Halloween parade is followed by trick-or-treating at downtown businesses. [free] [family-friendly]
Sunday, Nov. 1, 3-5:30 p.m.: Relish Food Hall hosts a puzzle social for puzzle lovers. [free] [all ages]
Monday, Nov. 2, 7-9 p.m.: Language Exchange Night at Trident Booksellers & Cafe brings language learners and native speakers together for conversation. [free] [all ages]
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 9:30-11 a.m.: Mornings at the Museum offers hands-on science and nature activities for children ages 2-5 and their caregivers at the CU Museum of Natural History. [ticketed] [family-friendly]

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.