This week’s events in alphabetical order.
Bin Bonanza
SA|Annual The Littleton Fine Arts Guild holds it annual event featuring unframed and matted work, 8 a.m.-4 a.m.|2069 W. Powers Ave., 303-795-0781|LITTLETON
Boulder Fringe Festival
F-AUG. 28|The festival continues offering theater, visual art, dance, comedy, storytelling, concerts and more. Times vary|Various locations in downtown Boulder, 720-563-9950, boulderfringe.org|BOULDER
Carnation Festival
F-SA|Skateboarding competition and demo, live entertainment, fashion show, ultimate frisbee game and more.|Anderson Park, 720-371-4149, wheatridgecarnationfestival.org|WHEAT RIDGE
Center Harvest Festival
F & SA |The annual event offers a benefit dance, pancade breakfast, 5K run/walk and more.|719-754-3137|CENTER
Golden Fine Arts Festival
SA & SU|The annual event features artist demonstrations, musical entertainment, carriage rides and more, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday a.m.|Free|303-279-3113, goldenfineartsfestival.org|GOLDEN
Grand County Parade of Homes
SA & SU |Tours of mountain homes in Winter Park, Fraser, Tabernash and Granby, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Raffles, performances and giveaways included|Free admission|grandcountyparadeofhomes.com, 866-726-4118|GRAND COUNTY
L’Afrique, C’est Chic!
SA|Alliance Francaise de Denver hosts cultural activities celebrating French-speaking Africa, 3-8:30 p.m. Reservations required|$7-$9|303-831-0304, afdenver.org
Littleton’s Western Welcome Week
F-SU|The annual community celebration, with the theme “Embrace the Spirit of Learning,” continues with more than 40 events including art shows, a parade, fireworks, music, arts and crafts, children’s activities and more. Times vary|Various locations in Littleton, 303-794-4870, westernwelcomeweek.com|LITTLETON
Mineral show
F-SU|Lake George hosts its annual show featuring fossils, jewelry and minerals.|Free|303-838-8859|LAKE GEORGE
Paris Street Market
SA|Belmar Shopping Center host an open-air, vintage and antique market, 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.|Wadsworth and Alameda, 303-795-7149, aparisstreetmarket.com|LAKEWOOD
Parade of Homes at Pradera
F-SEPT. 5|”2005 Parade of Homes” offers tours of seven custom homes, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily|Tickets vary, can be purchased at Pradera or King Soopers|Interstate 25 and Founders Parkway, paradeofhomesdenver.com
Welcome Fest 2005
|University of Colorado at Boulder welcomes its students back with live music, 8 p.m. |Club 156, 303-492-7704|BOULDER
Yappy Hour Party
F|An evening of fun for dogs and their humans to benefit Diana Price-Fish Cancer Foundation, 7-9 p.m.|$25 per person, free for dogs|City Bark, 370 Kalamath St., 303-639-9110, dpfcf.org
NATURE
Butterfly Pavilion
Tropical conservatory for butterflies and other invertebrates. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily|$7.95 adults, $5.95 seniors and West-minster residents, $4.95 ages 4-12|6252 W. 104th Ave., 303-469-5441, butterflies.org|WESTMINSTER
Castlewood Canyon State Park
This week’s programs include “Medicinal Plants of Castlewood Canyon,” 9:30-11:30 a.m., Sunday; “Critter Trails – Creep Crawlies,” 10-11 a.m. Thursday|Reservations required for all programs. $5 daily pass required on all vehicles entering the park or annual State Parks pass|2989 S. Colorado 83, 303-688-5242; parks.state.co.us|FRANKTOWN
City of Aurora Parks and Open Space
M|Hosts bird watching for all ages, 6 a.m.-noon. Bring binoculars, |Free|Murphy Creek Golf course, 1700 S. Old Tom Morris Road, 303-739-2428, auroragov.org|AURORA
Denver Botanic Gardens
Twenty-three acres featuring more than 32,000 plants from such distant places as Australia, Africa and the Himalayas. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday-Tuesday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Friday|1005 York St., 720-865-3500, denverbotanicgardens.org
Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield
The nature preserve offers nature trails, wildlife observation area, display gardens, educational exhibits, a historical farm, a 19th century one-room schoolhouse and more|8500 Deer Creek Canyon Road, 303-973-3705|LITTLETON
Denver Zoo
The zoo is home to more than 4,000 animals, representing 750 species. Visitors can experience an indoor rain forest in Tropical Discovery, sea lion show, gorilla, big cat feedings and more. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, admission gates close at 5 p.m.|$7-$11, free ages 3 and under|City Park, 303-376-4800, denverzoo.org
Garden of the Gods
Nature walks offered at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily; various nature presentations offered daily; visit the center and find out how the rocks got there; junior ranger program for children 7-12. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily|1805 N. 30th St., 719-634-6666|COLORADO SPRINGS
Gates Planetarium
10 a.m.- 5 p.m. daily|Combination museum and planetarium tickets available during the day: $13, $9 ages 3-18 and 65 and over; evening tickets: $8, $5.50 ages 3-18 and 65 and over|Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 303-322-7009; dmns.org
Morrison Nature Center
This week’s activities include “Summer Bug Safari,” 11 a.m. Saturday;guided nature walk, 10 a.m. Sunday. Reservations required for each program|Star K Ranch, 16002 E. Smith Road, 303-739-2428, auroragov.org|AURORA
TOURS
Actually Quite Nice Ltd. Brew Tours
6703 Grandview Ave., 303-431-1440|ARVADA
Antique District Tour
Explore Denver’s Broadway Antique District on a double-decker bus |303-744-0281
Bear Creek Horse and Carriage
Old West carriage and hayrides|3033 S. Estes St., 303-980-6130|LAKEWOOD
Celestial Seasonings Tour
Free guided tours. Tea tasting, art department, production. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, hourly|4600 Sleepytime Drive, 303-581-1202|BOULDER
Cherokee Ranch and Castle
A tour detailing the castle’s history, architecture and collection of art and antiques, 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays, noon Thursdays |$12|Afternoon tea and tour, 2 p.m. Thursdays|$30 ages 12 and over |303-688-5555|SEDALIA
Colorado Governor’s Residence at Boettcher Mansion
TU|The Colorado Historical Society offers summer tours 1-3 p.m. Tuesdays through August|Free|400 E. Eighth Ave.
Colorado Historical Society
Offers a variety of two-hour walking tours of the Civic Center, LoDO and 17th Street, along with some specialty tours|coloradohistory.org/programs/tours_treks.htm
Colorado Sightseer
Half- and full-day van tours of Denver, the foothills and Pikes Peak area. Call for times and dates|$30-$70 |303-423-8200
Coors Field
Walking tour of the ballpark offered 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Monday-Saturday on nongame days, through September; 10 a.m. and noon on evening game days; no tours afternoon game days. All proceeds benefit the Colorado Rockies Baseball Club Foundation. Group tours of 25-100 by appointment|$4-$6|20th and Blake streets, 303-762-5437
Denver History Tours
Choose from the “Golddust and Traildust Tour,” the “Victorian Denver” tour or the “Take a Walk on the Wild Side” tour|$20 adults, $15 seniors, $5 ages 12 and under, reservations required|720-234-7929
Gallery walks
F|Cherry Creek North hosts a free tour of six galleries the third Friday of each month, 6:30-8:30 p.m.|303-394-2904
Hammonds Candies
Free guided tours, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday; reservations for 10 or more|4969 Colorado Blvd., 303-333-5588; hammondscandies.com
Historic Audio Walking Tour of LoDo
Explore historic LoDo with an audio walking tour usting a portable CD player or via cell phone by calling 703-637-9355. Use promo code 240 for 40-minute tour ($8) or code 280 for 80-minute tour ($15). Codes provide 72-hour access once activated. CD’s are available at the Tattered Cover or Visitor Center (16th and California). Pick up a tour map/brochure at the 16th Street Visitor Center, DIA, the Convention Center, downtown hotels or visit rmaguides.com. E-mail: tours@rmaguides.com; address Rocky Mountain Audio Guides, P O Box 22963, Denver, CO 80222; 303-898-7073. Quantity discount and custom packages available.
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
Offers free guided tours of its facilities, Learn about LASP’s history and its current missions, visit the engineering labs, clean room and mission operations| 1234 Innovation Drive, 303-735-5814; lasp.colorado.edu|BOULDER
Molson Coors Brewing Co.
M-SA|Free tours 10 a.m.-4 p.m. year-round |13th and Ford streets, 303-277-2337|GOLDEN
Pepsi Center Tours
Tour facilities, including press box and locker rooms. 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, 10:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Saturday|1000 Chopper Circle, 303-405-8556
Rockies Brewing Co.
Tours and beer tastings, 2 p.m. Monday-Saturday Free|2880 Wilderness Place, 303-444-8448|BOULDER
Stephany’s Chocolates Factory
Free tours of a working chocolate factory for all ages. Monday-Thursday. Reservations required|6770 W. 52nd Ave.,303-421-7229, ext. 111|ARVADA
Tours with Phil Goodstein
SA|”Ghost Walk,” 7-9 p.m. Meet in front of the statue of the Indian on the east side of the Capitol on Grant Street between 14th and Colfax avenues.|$15|303-333-1095
U.S. Dept. of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Visitors can explore renewable energy and energy efficiency concepts through an interactive exhibit hall and reading room. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday|15013 Denver West Parkway, 303-384-6565, nrel.gov|GOLDEN
