Good Friday morning, Boulder. Today’s edition is sponsored by Downtown Boulder Partnership. Bands on the Bricks returns to Pearl Street Mall this summer with free Wednesday night concerts, dancing under the stars and happy hour specials June 10-July 29. 

Leading today: According to survey data obtained by Boulder Reporting Lab, 70% of the more than 7,500 people who weighed in on Boulder County’s proposed trail-use pilot opposed the idea of closing some trails to bikers on certain days. In a debate that has divided trail users, mountain bikers made up more than half of respondents and voiced concerns about losing access, while supporters cited safety and accessibility concerns. Brooke Stephenson reports.

Also today: We’re thrilled to welcome McKenzie Watson-Fore to the Boulder Reporting Lab team as our Arts and Culture Editor. Today, she covers “Uncontainable,” an immersive Boulder performance staged in the former Macy’s parking garage. Later this month, she’ll launch Culture Club, BRL’s new arts, culture and events newsletter, which will expand our coverage of Boulder County’s creative community. You can reach her at mckenzie@boulderreportinglab.org.

And finally: Heading to Boulder Roots Music Fest? Use partner code BOULDERREPORTINGLAB2026 when purchasing tickets, and a substantial share of proceeds will help support Boulder Reporting Lab’s independent local journalism.

Plus more, Below the Fold:

Thanks, as always, for reading,

– The BRL team

Support our Boulder journalism

Bands on the Bricks returns to the Pearl Street Mall with free summer concerts Wednesdays from June 10-July 29. Dance under the stars to a variety of amazing bands at Boulder’s favorite outdoor concert tradition. The beer garden opens at 5:30 p.m., live music starts at 6 p.m. and headliners play from 7-9 p.m. Don’t miss Happy Hour from 5:30-6:30 p.m. with $2 off all beverages. 

Boulder County survey finds strong opposition to trail-use pilot that could limit bike access

The survey revealed sharp differences among trail users, with hikers more likely to support the proposal and mountain bikers making up the largest share of respondents. Continue reading…

Inside a former Macy’s parking garage, Boulder artists transform shipping containers into immersive theater

The collaborative production by Boulder-based 3rd Law Dance/Theater and the Catamounts uses shipping containers and a former Macy’s parking garage to explore how people gather and connect amid arts funding cuts and the decline of traditional public spaces. Continue reading…

Planning to go to Boulder Roots? Use Boulder Reporting Lab’s partner code and support local journalism

Use partner code BOULDERREPORTINGLAB2026 after purchasing Boulder Roots Music Fest tickets, and a significant share of the proceeds will support Boulder Reporting Lab’s local journalism. Continue reading…

Heat ramps up — 90s return to Boulder this weekend

Boulder rolls into Friday with another dose of early‑June warmth as a strengthening ridge settles more squarely over Colorado. Temperatures will push into the mid to upper 80s under mostly sunny skies, with only a few pockets of harmless virga drifting off the higher terrain late in the day.

The real heat is queued up for the weekend. Both Saturday and Sunday are on track for low to mid‑90s, almost certainly delivering Boulder’s first 90-degree day of the year (unless we quietly snagged it yesterday). Storm chances remain minimal and largely confined to the Mountains, where a few isolated high‑based storms may pop but won’t offer meaningful cooling or rainfall.

A weak front will slip through Sunday night, trimming temperatures just a touch for Monday — but we’re staying in the 80s. By Tuesday, the heat rebuilds aggressively, and next week may end up hotter than the weekend, with highs potentially reaching the mid to upper 90s a few days in a row.

We may technically still be in spring, but given the hot stretch ahead, the atmosphere clearly didn’t get the memo.

— BoulderCAST

Submit your climate-ready landscape to Boulder’s new community showcase (sponsored)

Celebrate the landscapes helping our community adapt to a changing climate. Whether it’s a backyard, a shared neighborhood space or even a small apartment balcony, submit your project or idea and help spotlight the power of climate‑ready design in Boulder.

All projects that meet the basic criteria will be featured in our digital showcase, and the first 200 qualifying submissions will receive a $50 gift card as a thank you for participating.

Boulder moves to create new festival permit as Sundance preparations ramp up

Boulder City Council on Thursday advanced a new permitting process for large festivals that city officials say is needed before the Sundance Film Festival arrives in January 2027. A public hearing on the ordinance is set for June 18. 

The proposed ordinance would create a new permit for festivals that draw more than 15,000 people. Among other changes, it would establish rules for temporary signage during major festivals, when businesses are expected to activate spaces across the city with showrooms, events and parties.

Applicants would be required to submit a sign plan meeting certain requirements, including adequate clearance for pedestrians, restrictions on how signs are attached to landmarked buildings and compliance with outdoor lighting rules. 

The ordinance would also relax spacing and density restrictions for food trucks during qualifying festivals. City officials said they modeled the ordinance on a similar permitting process used in Park City, Utah, Sundance’s former home. Read on BRL. 

League of Women Voters to host Boulder County primary candidate forums

The League of Women Voters of Boulder County will host two candidate forums ahead of Colorado’s June 30 primary election, offering voters a chance to hear from candidates in contested local Democratic races.

A virtual forum for candidates running in the Democratic primary for Colorado House District 19 is scheduled for Monday, June 8, at 4 p.m. Residents can submit questions for candidates through June 6 at the League’s website.

A second forum for candidates running for Boulder County treasurer will take place Wednesday, June 11, at 6 p.m. at Longmont Public Media, 457 Fourth Ave. in Longmont. The event will also be livestreamed. Questions for candidates can be submitted through June 9.

Recordings of both forums will be posted afterward on the League of Women Voters of Boulder County website, its YouTube channel and VOTE411.org.

Primary election ballots will begin mailing June 8 to active registered Democratic, Republican, Unity, Libertarian and unaffiliated voters. Unaffiliated voters will receive both Democratic and Republican ballots but may only return one.

Learn about tenant rights and home safety June 9

The City of Boulder is hosting a free tenant rights and home safety event June 9 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Penfield Tate II Municipal Building. Staff will be available throughout the event to answer questions, and two presentations are planned.

The first session, from 5:30 to 6 p.m., will cover tenant rights and services, including eviction prevention, rental assistance, mediation resources and regulations affecting manufactured home communities. The second session, from 6:15 to 7 p.m., will focus on home safety topics, including wildfire resilience, permitting requirements, building safety codes and seasonal water conservation. Refreshments, Spanish interpretation and bilingual materials will be available.

☀️ Explore events in Boulder and use the self-submission form on our events page to reach thousands in our community — for free! To have your event featured on our Monday to-do list, make sure to submit it to our events calendar.