Arvada Christmastime Outings

Looking for some last minute Christmas celebrations? There’s perhaps no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than attending some of the local seasonal events in Arvada. So, grab a coat and the kids and make your way out to join in the merriment with your fellow Arvadans. Here are just a few great options for you and your family this holiday season.

She Loves Me

Photo Credit P. Switzer Photography 2014

For those with a love of the theater, this year’s musical production of She Loves Me might just be that holiday gem you’ve been looking forward to. Based on the play by Miklos Laszlo, She Loves Me centers around two feuding clerks in a European perfumery during the 1930’s that find consolation from their anonymous romantic pen pals. Unbeknownst to them, their pen pals are actually each other! Uproarious, smart and sentimental, this romantic comedy is perfect for those looking to laugh while also getting a nice touch of holiday nostalgia. Featuring music and lyrics by the creative team of Fiddler on the Roof and directed by the acclaimed Gavin Mayer, She Loves Me is sure to please. Tickets range from $36 to $73 and performances go through to December 21^st.

Saturdays with Santa in Olde Town Square

Families with young ones that want to meet Santa should attend Saturdays with Santa in Olde Town Square this coming Saturday from noon till three. Enjoy the seasonal music while taking pictures of the munchkins with Saint Nick! Parents, remember to bring your own camera because there isn’t an onsite photographer. La Dolce Vida will sell hot chocolate and hot cider. The event is sponsored by the merchants in Historic Olde Town Arvada and the Arvada’s Visitors Center. This is a free event but you may want to bring a few bucks to buy some of the warm drinks by La Dolce Vida. 

Fine Art Market 2014

Support your local artists at this year’s annual Fine Arts Market at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities in the Main Gallery started on December 11th and is going till December 21^st. 

The Gallery Divisions fundraiser gives Arvada residents the special opportunity to support their local artists in a convenient shopping experience. The sale and show features a number of acclaimed Arvada artists and artisans that work in wide variety of fields like ceramics, jewelry, print making, painting, metal work, drawing, photography, fibers, woodwork and even mixed media. The event also features a silent auction held in the area adjacent to the Main Gallery. You may place a bid in person or via phone at 720-898-7251. This is a free event, unless of course you choose to buy of piece of art.

Upcoming Arvada Outdoor Winter Activities

Upcoming Arvada Outdoor Winter Activities

Don’t let the cold keep you inside all winter long! With so many interesting and engaging activities and events available in Arvada this season, you really have no excuse for living like a winter hermit. Here are just a few upcoming attractions that you should definitely consider. So grab a coat and bring your friends or family along to any of these winter outing options.

Majestic View Nature Center:

When you’ve been stuck inside for days on end you may find yourself longing to reconnect with nature. If this feeling resonates with you consider a visit to the Majestic View Nature Center and Community Park located at 7030 Garrison Street. Majestic View is wonderful place to appreciate and learn about the areas cultural history and natural features.

At just over 80 acres, the park features some truly stunning demonstrations gardens, wetland areas, as well as a lake. On your walk through the park you will find a variety of wildlife species and native prairie grasses. You may want to bring a camera or some binoculars for your walk through these parts.

After a walk through the park you can also engage in hands on nature and environmental exhibits in the 3,000 square foot Nature Center. The center also features a kid’s area and classrooms for the young ones. The Majestic View Nature Center is open Monday through Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Girlfriends Night Out:

On November 20^th you won’t want to miss Girlfriends Night Out at the lovely Echter’s Garden Center for an evening of food, music and locally made products. You can keep warm by sampling some delicious local restaurants and caterers while checking out some of the local crafts like handbags, jewelry, scarves, as well as cooking supplies and body care products.

If you’re feeling a bit physical you can grab your date and take to the dance floor in front of the live band to keep warm and add to the festive atmosphere. Tickets to Girlfriends Night Out are $20 with half of the ticket cost going to benefit the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer. You will also be glad to know that you save 20% off regularly priced Echter’s products when you shop during this event.

The event starts at 5:00 p.m. and goes till 8:00 p.m. and the Garden Center is located at 5150 Garrison St. Arvada, Colorado 80002.

Turkey Chase 5k:

Start you Thanksgiving morning off right by participating in this years Turkey Chase 5k at the Van Bibber Creek Trail located at The Apex Center on 13150 West 72^nd Avenue. You can keep warm with a light jacket and your body’s own generated heat while you enjoy the wonderful views of Arvada’s most scenic and sprawling parks set against the majestic Rocky Mountains! To learn more about the wildlife and vegetation you will see on the run, visit the Candelas Rocky Flats Tumblr. 

This is a great opportunity to get outside and burn some calories before the holiday feast, as well as to support a great cause that is the Denver Rescue Mission. All proceeds from this event will benefit this program, which helps men, women and children in the greater Denver Area and Northern Colorado get back on track, heal emotionally, develop spiritually and become productive members of the community. The Turkey Chase starts at 9:00 a.m. on November 27^th. 

Fall Festivities in Arvada, CO

Come October, Arvada is bustling with activities and celebrations. From Fall to Halloween, Arvada has an event for every autumn occasion. No matter if you have kids or pets, or if you’re a young couple looking for a fun date, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Arvada’s Festival of Scarecrows

A decorative scarecrow from the festival. Source: The Arvada Examiner

                Equal parts a celebration of fall and Halloween, Arvada’s Festival of Scarecrows usually occurs around the middle of October. The festivals sprawls across Olde Town Arvada, but a majority of events happen at Olde Town Square. The festival takes its name from the scarecrow contest. For this contest, groups and individuals create and decorate their own scarecrows, and judges pick the best ones. The top scarecrows receive cash prizes or gift cards.

                There are plenty of other contests for your consideration as well. For the decorated pumpkin contest, residents deck out their pumpkins with everything from streamer hair and makeup to hats and boots. Judges award prizes based on originality and creativity. Foodies and kitchen masters can take part in the pumpkin dish contest. Contestants can enter up to three items where pumpkin is a main ingredient. Judges will award prizes for the top three dishes in each of the five categories. Other competitions include a pumpkin pie eating contests and a pumpkin seed spitting contest.

                For the less competitive, there are plenty of other attractions to enjoy at the Festival of Scarecrows. Parents can proudly watch their children march in a kid’s costume parade. There’s also a maze for kids where the course boundaries are made using non-perishable food donations. Add in games, karaoke, hayrides and music, and you’ve got an event that’s a ton of fun for the whole family!

Arvada Harvest Festival

A banner at the beginning of the festival’s parade. Source: City of Arvada website

                At the beginning of September, Arvada commemorates the paving of the first road from Denver to Arvada with the Arvada Harvest Festival. Because of its historic origins-the first celebration dates back to 1925-this festival is the oldest and largest celebration in Arvada.

The main attraction is the Harvest Festival Parade. The parade is composed of several marching bands, plus floats from various school organizations, service clubs, and local businesses. Another unique event is the Teddy Bear Picnic. Perfect for kids and their favorite stuffed friend, the picnic allows children to bring their favorite stuffed animal to dine on a picnic lunch.

The list of other activities for the Harvest Festival is massive: music performances, a carnival complete with games, vendor booths, movies in the park, a garden harvest contest, a beer garden, ice cream social, and bingo, among others.                                

Other Halloween Festivities

                Some other smaller Halloween events can be found below:

               

-“Trick or Treat” Stage Performance is a horror story themed play that runs Fridays and Saturdays in October. It’s great for those who enjoy scary movies.

-The Apex Halloween Carnival is a great family-friendly festival. It has everything from games and bounce houses to hay rides and ghost stories.

-Trick or Treat Street happens in Olde Town Arvada. Here, businesses create a trick or treat environment for kids.

-Pet Howl-oween is a costume contest for dogs. Prizes are available for the most creative and frightening outfits, and all proceeds from the event go to charity. It’s a perfect night to bond with your favorite pooch!

                Additionally, you can find plenty of local haunted houses and other parties, or enjoy the crisp fall weather with other outdoor activities around Candelas.

What are your favorite fall activites?

                 

Beyond Rocky Flats Wildlife Refuge: The Outdoors Surrounding Candelas

The most notable fixture of the Candelas scenery is the Rocky Flats Wildlife Refuge. Over 300 species of animals called this six-thousand-acre sanctuary home. Currently several miles of trails are being created to connect to existing hiking and biking paths. Soon enough residents will be able to enjoy a run or a bike ride in the fresh air while watching all sorts of fascinating creatures frolic through the grass and trees. Thankfully, there are plenty of other open parks in or near by Candelas for its homeowners to explore before Rocky Flats opens.

Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge         Photo: US Department of Energy

Coal Creek Canyon Park houses plenty of wildlife habitats for elk, bobcats and plenty of other animals. Residents can even feed bears in designated areas around the park. Campers will gravitate towards White Ranch Park. Along with camp grounds, the park offers 20 miles of hiking trails, lots of open fields and rolling foothills. Finally, for those who feel most at home on the water, there’s Standley Lake Regional Park. Here, one can enjoy boat rides and fishing on the lake, camp out on the shores, or take in some wildlife watching with the park’s various critters.

Standley Lake         Photo: colorado-hiking.net

For the most dedicated outdoorsmen, Candelas can be your gateway to a whole other span of awe-inspiring natural space. Plans are in place for a trail to run from Candelas into the Rocky Mountain National Park. Residents will enjoy access to some of the most majestic mountain scenery in the entire nation. In nearby Arvada, animal lovers of all ages can take in the trails and wetlands of the Majestic View Nature Center and Community Park.

Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park         Photo: Wikipedia

Finally, we would be remiss to not mention the activities available at Denver, the heart of a sprawling metropolitan area of which Candelas is a part. Fishermen can enjoy excellent fly fishing not far from the city’s center. Chatfied State Recreation Area has attractions for the whole family, from horseback rides and biking to swimming and sailing and everything in between. For those who just want to take a peaceful stroll through nature, look no further than the Castlewood Canyon State Park.

Castlewood Canyon State Park                      Photo: Examiner.com

Even beyond the Rocky Flats Wildlife Reserve, residents of Candelas enjoy some of the richest natural amenities in the country. What are your favorite things to do outside?

You can learn more about the Rocky Flats Wildlife Refuge wildlife and vegitation on the Candelas Rocky Flats Tumblr.