Film festivals, holiday markets and another ski resort cranks up the lifts
By Steve Graham
Get Out of Town is our weekly roundup of recommended events across Colorado, mostly focusing outside of Denver, to help everyone enjoy the entire state. For more happenings, check out our events calendar.
Build poles, gear up and ski in Steamboat
Steamboat Resort opens for the season at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, with free donuts and mimosas before the first lift run at 8:30. Prizes are hidden throughout the mountain all day, and Heavy Diamond Ring will play a concert at 2:30 p.m.
Before those festivities, Mountain Tap Brewery hosts an outdoor gear pop-up shop, with various local gear makers. Or craft your own local gear at Storm Peak Brewing on Saturday. From 2 to 7 p.m., get 10 percent off Grass Sticks ski poles or craft your own custom poles, and enjoy a free beer with any purchase.
Tree lighting in Grand Junction
Downtown Grand Junction is getting a bit of a jump on the season with a tree lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. Saturday. Santa will magically light up Main Street and the Christmas tree from the Wells Fargo rooftop.
After the lighting, Ramblebine Brewing will host a tree lighting and ornament making party at 7 p.m.
Backcountry Film Fest in Durango
“Celebrate the power and spirit of humans in winter” with a night of short films about adventure, travel, ski culture and more Thursday at the Durango Arts Center.
The event is a fundraiser for the San Juan Citizens Alliance.
Mountain bike films in Colorado Springs
Freehub Magazine and the Colorado Springs Mountain Bike Association host a film festival at 6 p.m. Friday. In addition to seven short films, the event includes food trucks, drinks and giveaways. Proceeds from $20 tickets go to trail-building projects.
Shop local at holiday markets
Skip the big box stores and don’t abuse Amazon warehouse employees. Shop local at holiday markets and bazaars popping up all over the state. Here is a sampling for this weekend:
The Pueblo Convention Center hosts the city’s largest holiday market on Saturday and Sunday, with vendors from across Colorado, as well as school bands and choirs, step dancers, Christmas stories, Santa and more.
Mash Mechanix Brewing and 1350 Distilling in Colorado Springs both host Christkindl Markets on Saturday, with door prizes, food trucks, drink specials and at least 40 vendors. Donate a new, unwrapped toy or give a cash donation for Toys for Tots to get a free 1350 shot.
The Art Center in Grand Junction hosts a holiday fine art and craft fair Friday through Sunday, with at least 35 vendors offering jewelry, ceramics, woodcarving, paintings, metalwork and more.
Also in Grand Junction, the Grand Junction Convention Center will have a craft fair on Saturday and Sunday.
A holiday fair comes to the Southeast Weld County Fairgrounds in Keenesburg on Saturday and Sunday, with crafts as well as honey, jams and jellies, candles and more.
For more local ideas, check out the holiday gift guide here on our website next week.
As always, please send us your events and announcements. We’re happy to share them. If they don’t fit in the Get Out of Town column, we will add them to our events calendar.