Always on Sundays
SU|The monthly series presents “Only in America,” performance readings by Wellington Webb, Jamie Horton, Kathleen Chalfont, Mercedes Perez and Tyrees Allen, 2 and 7 p.m.|$85 entire series, $20 single ticket|Stage Theater, DCPA, 303-494-0523, storiesonstage.org
Art Shares 2005
F|Private tours of over 20 Santa Fe art galleries and a reception at Museo de las Americas, 6-9 p.m. |$25|861 Santa Fe, 303-861-7507
Ballpark Market
SA|Denver’s urban flea market, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. |Larimer steet between 21st and 22nd streets, 303-589-2800, ballparkmarket.com
Bead Renaissance show
TH-SEPT. 18|Wholesale and retail trade show, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Sept. 17 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 18 |Free|Ramada Plaza & Conference Center, 10 E. 120th St., 303-452-4100, beadshow.com|NORTHGLENN
Buffalo Racing car show
SU|Features exotic, foreign and domestic street and racing cars, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. |Free|CU-Boulder, 720-565-6888|BOULDER
Celebrate Layette
SA|Annual event includes a performance by Hazel Miller, a parade, salsa recipe competition, beach party and more, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. |303-926-4352, discoverlafayette.com|LAFAYETTE
Christmas Folk Art show
-SU|9 a.m.-5 p.m. today and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday|The Hearthstone Inn, 506 Cascade Ave., 719-473-4413|COLORADO SPRINGS
Cultural arts tour
SA|The tour and progressive dinner benefits the Lakewood Arts Council, 4-7:30 p.m. |$25, $15 in advance|South Union Gallery, 85 S. Union, 303-980-0625|LAKEWOOD
Goodguys event series
-SU |Features hot rods, customs, classics, street rods and more, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. today-Saturday and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.|$15, $12 seniors, $6 children ages 7-12|Pikes Peak International Raceway, 719-382-7223, ppir.com|COLORADO SPRINGS
Longs Peak Scottish Irish Highland Festival
-SU|Features bagpipe, dance, athletic competitions, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. |$20, $5 children ages 6-15|Stanley Park, U.S. Hwy 36 and Community Drive, 800-90-ESTES|ESTES PARK
Lowry’s Glory Days
SA & SU|The sixth annual community festival offers an art tent, car show, flight activities from the Wings Over the Rockies Museum, live music, children’s activities and more. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. A Saturday Night Adult Street Dance is also on the schedule, 7:30-11 p.m. $5 each, $10 includes a reserved table, one drink ticket and appetizers|Admission to the festival is free|Lowry Town Center, Second Avenue and Quebec, 303-340-3833, lowryfoundation.org
Magic show
SA|The annual show features magicians form around the country, 7:30 p.m.|$5-$22|Lincoln Center, 417 West Magnolia, 970-221-6730|FORT COLLINS
Not So Late
TH|Patio party to benefit the Diana Price-Fish Cancer Foundation, 5:30-9 p.m. daily|$15|Inn at Cherry Creek, 233 Clayton St., 303-639-9110, dpfcf.org
Oktoberfest
-SU & SEPT. 16- 18|World-famous festival that honors German heritage. Activities include music, dance performances, children’s activities, an accordion concert, traditional Biergartens and more, 11 a.m.-1 a.m. today-Saturday and Sept. 16-17 and noon-6 p.m. Sunday and Sept. 18.|Larimer Square, 303-685-8143, oktoberfestdenver.com
Plaza de Los Leones Fiesta
-SU|Activities include a teen dance, car show, children’s events, fire engine slide and more, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.|719-214-4051|WALSENBURG
Stars of Magic
SA|Features Gregory Wilson, 7:30 p.m. Reservations required|$18|Theatre of Dreams, 303-660-6799, amazingshows.com|CASTLE ROCK
Stories and Songs
TH|Community Harmony and Cultural Heritage Awareness celebrates Mexican Independence, 1:45 p.m.|Irving Street Library, 303-430-2400, ext. 2306|WESTMINSTER
NATURE
Butterfly Pavilion
Tropical conservatory for butterflies and other invertebrates. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily|$7.95 adults, $5.95 seniors and Westminster residents, $4.95 ages 4-12|6252 W. 104th Ave., 303-469-5441, butterflies.org|WESTMINSTER
Denver Botanic Gardens
SA & SU|Chile Harvest Festival, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.|$7, $5 children ages 4-15, $20 family package|1005 York St., 720-865-3500, denverbotanicgardens.org
Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield
SA-SU|Sixth annual corn maze is open 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and noon-8 p.m. Sunday through Oct. 31. |$8, $7 seniors, students, $6 children|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
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 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
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
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
