This week’s events in alphabetical order.
Aircraft and car show
SA|9 a.m.-5 p.m. at Front Range Airport. |5200 Front Range Pkwy., 303-261-9100, ftg-airport.com|WATKINS
Bead Renaissance show
-SU|Wholesale and retail trade show, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. today-Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday |Free|Ramada Plaza & Conference Center, 10 E. 120th St., 303-452-4100, beadshow.com|NORTHGLENN
Cletus Fest
SA|The hillbilly festival includes live entertainment, vendors, food and more, noon-10 p.m. |$12, $10 if dressed in proper hillbilly attire, free for children under age 12|Invesco Field at Mile High, 303-725-9010, cletusfest.com
Cultural Festival
W|Activities include Native American dance performance, games, open-mic, food and more, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. |Free|Naropa Green, 2130 Arapahoe Ave., 303-447-0202|BOULDER
Denver Gem and Mineral show
-SU |Dealers and exhibitors display gems from around the world, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. today, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.|$5, $3 children ages 13-17, free for children under age 13|Denver Merchandise Mart, 451 E. 58th Ave., 303-233-2516, denvermineralshow.com
Federal Heights Day Festival
SA|Activities include All-You-Can-Eat pancake breakfast, car show, live entertainment, craft fair and more, 7 a.m.|90th avenue between Federal and Pecos, 303-428-3526, ext. 239|FEDERAL HEIGHTS
Gallery walks
F|Cherry Creek North hosts the walk, 6:30-8:30 p.m. |Free|303-394-2904
Gateway to the Rockies Parade and Art Festival
SA|9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. |303-361-6169, aurorabusiness.org|AURORA
International map fair
SA & SU|Fifth annual event features map dealers, buys and traders, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday.|$5|Denver Central Library, 10 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy., RMmaps.org
Magic of the Rialto
SA|Performances by The Great Loudini, Tim Follery, Bob Blea and Cody Landstrom|$10, $8 seniors and students|Rialto Theater, 228 E. 4th St., 970-962-2120, rialtotheaterguild.org |LOVELAND
Magician’s for Mississippi
SA|Benefit performance for the Red Cross of Mississippi, 7:30 p.m.|$50|Theatre of Dreams, 735 Park St., 303-660-6799, amazingshows.com|CASTLE ROCK
Maroon Bells Festival of Colors
SA|Features art, live entertainment, children’s activities and more, noon-4 p.m.|970-925-9010, aspenhighlandsvillage.com|ASPEN
Oktoberfest
-SU |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 noon-6 p.m. Sundayand Sept. 18.|Larimer Square, 303-685-8143, oktoberfestdenver.com
Street Fair
SA|Halfway to ST. Patrick’s Day fair features Irish bands, foods, step dancers, whiskey tasting and more, noon-8 p.m.|2200 block of Kearney Street in Park Hill, 303-399-8463
Stories and Songs
SA|Community Harmony and Cultural Heritage Awareness celebrates Mexican Independence, 11 a.m.|College Hill Library, 303-404-5106|WESTMINSTER
Summerset Festival
SA & SU|The Foothills Foundation celebrates the summer’s end with a pancake breakfast, entertainment, a fishing derby, car show, community education exhibit and more, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday|303-973-9155, summersetfest.com|LITTLETON
NATURE
Barr Lake State Park
SA|Fall Birding Festival, 7 a.m.- 1 p.m.|M-OCT. 21|Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory banding research station, 7-11 a.m.|13401 Picadilly Road, 303-659-6005; parks.state.co.us |BRIGHTON
Butterfly Pavilion
Tropical conservatory for butterflies and other invertebrates. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily
F|$7.95 adults, $5.95 seniors and Westminster 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: Explore the East Canyon Preservation area, Saturday, 3:30 p.m.-sunset.|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
Denver Botanic Gardens
M|Free day for Colorado residents, 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 Central Library
M|FUNdamentals of Birding presentation as part of the Fresh City Life program|Free|10 W. 14th Ave., Pkwy., 720-865-2044
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
Majestic View Nature Center
This week’s activities include Nature Adventures: a Parent/Child Program for ages 4-6, 11-11:45 a.m.Reservations required for all programs|7030 Garrison St., 720-898-7405|ARVADA
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
Longmont Studio Tour
SA & SU|Wells Fargo presents the self-guided tour of area artists, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday| 303-678-7869, www.longmontarts.com|LONGMONT
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
Silver Thread Studio and Gallery Tour
SA |Self-guided tour, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.| 719-658-0312, creede.com|CREEDE
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
SU|Ghosts of Cheesman Park tour meets at the south plaza of the Capitol Hill Community Cneter/Greater Capitaol Hill Events Cneter, southeast corner of 13th Avenue and Williams Street, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.|$10, packages of four are available for $30|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
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, $20 single ticket|Stage Theater, DCPA, 303-494-0523, storiesonstage.org
Ballpark Market
SA|Denver’s urban flea market, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. |$|Larimer steet between 21st and 22nd streets, 303-589-2800, ballparkmarket.com
