TODAY
Jazz, anyone?
Vail Jazz Party
10 a.m.- midnight today; noon-5 p.m. Monday, in the Centennial Ballroom at the Vail Cascade Resort & Spa, 1300 Westhaven Drive, vailjazz.org or 1-888-824-5526
For some people, jazz is a religion. The Vail Jazz Party has embraced the notion and will kick off today’s jam with a Gospel Prayer Meetin’ that starts at 10 a.m. with a performance by Gerald Clayton and, at 10:45, the Mile High Chapter Choir. The festival lasts till midnight. Tickets at the door.
MORE FOR TODAY
10 A.M. – 31st annual Gathering at the Great Divide Art Festival | Breckenridge artists put it all out on the streets – painting, photography, wood, glass, jewelry, ceramics and sculpture. Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. today and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday. Free. | Main Street at Wellington, Breckenridge
8 A.M. – Steamboat Stock Dog Challenge | Top border collies and their handlers show their stunning teamwork, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. today and Monday. Free. Please leave your own dogs at home. | Stanko Ranch, 3 1/2 miles west of Steamboat Springs on Country Road 33 (a.k.a. Twentymile Road) | yampavalley.info/pets1868565.asp
MORE FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY – 5280 Fight Club vs. Slamazons | Flat-track women’s roller derby queens square off at Thunder in the Rockies, noon to 3 p.m. Take a look at skating for free, but you’ll need a $10 pass to the motorcycle rally. | Budweiser Events Center, Loveland | rockymountainrollergirls.com
TUESDAY – Gunnison Open Art Exhibition | At the Gunnison Arts Center, through Oct. 2. Free. | 102 S. Main St., Gunnison | 970-641-4029
WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY – Meeker Classic Sheepdog Championship Trials | The granddaddy of Colorado stock dog competition gets going with preliminary runs at 7 a.m. Wednesday and a food and craft fair that opens at 9 a.m. If you can’t get there until the weekend, plan to hit a pancake breakfast at 7 a.m. Saturday and then settle in for free bluegrass music 4-10 p.m. Daily gate pass $10; $5 for kids 8-16; under 8 set gets in free. Please leave your own dog at home. | Meeker | meekersheepdog.com or 970-878-5510
THURSDAY – Hot, hot, hot! | Fired Up for Kids, which publishes a firefighters pin-up calendar to raise money for The Children’s Hospital burn unit, debuts the 2007 calendar at Denver’s Best Girls’ Night Out, 7-11 p.m. $25 in advance, $30 at the door; $75 for a private VIP party 6-7 p.m. Tickets at ticketswest.com and King Soopers | Mile High Station, 2027 W. Colfax Ave., Denver | firedupforkids.org
FRIDAY – Lost Songs & Last Chances | Denver Poet Laureate Chris Ransik reads from his new collection of poetry at 7 p.m. Free. Reception and signing follows at Book Buffs Ltd., 1519 S. Pearl St., Denver | Cameron Church, 1600 S. Pearl St., Denver | 303-722-3630
FRIDAY – Longmont Studio Tour Preview | Catch an early glimpse of the seventh annual Longmont Studio Tour. Forty-eight artists from 34 studios will preview their works in advance of the Sept. 16-17 studio tour and an opening party, 6:30-8:30 p.m. The exhibition will hang through Oct. 22. | Longmont Museum & Cultural Center, 400 Quail Road, Longmont | 303-651-8374 or ci.longmont.co.us/museum
FRIDAY – Pick of the Litter | The Art Quilt Association, a group of 62 Western Slope fiber artists, present a juried show of art quilts and other fiber works. Open Wednesday through Monday, 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. through Oct. 8. | The Creamery Arts Center, 165 W. Bridge St., Hotchkiss | 970-872-4848 or northforkarts.org
FRIDAY – Chatfield Corn Maze | The Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Corn Maze, this year in the shape of a spider spinning its web, opens today. Open Fridays 4-9 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sundays noon-8 p.m. through Oct. 29. Open 4-9 p.m. Oct. 30-31. Tickets $8 adults; $6 children. Discounted tickets for Botanic Gardens members. | 8500 Deer Creek Canyon Road, Littleton | 303-973-3705 or botanicgardens.org
FRIDAY-SUNDAY – Vail Oktoberfest | Soak in the suds, the sun, sausage and music, 6-10 p.m. Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. | Lionshead Village Sept. 8-10; Vail Village Sept. 15-17 | vailoktoberfest.com or 970-476-6797
FRIDAY-SUNDAY – Longs Peak Scottish/Irish Highland Festival | Estes Park braces for a rush of tartan. The annual Highland confab, which includes music and dance, plus athletes competing in events such as the caber toss, hammer and stone throw. The event gets going ta 9:30 a.m. with a parade through historic downtown Estes Park. The festival runs noon-5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets $20; $5 children. Discounted tickets available at Safeway stores. | Stanley Park Fairgrounds, south side of U.S. 36 in Estes Park | 800-903-7837 or scotfest.com
SATURDAY – Nature walk, on the wild side | Naturalist Pam Little leads an easy, informative walk from the Heronry Group Picnic Area at Chatfield State Park. Free with park admission. 9 a.m. | Chatfield State Park, 11500 N. Roxborough Park Road, Littleton | 303-791-7275
SATURDAY – Poudre Landmarks Foundation Historic Homes Tour | Start the day with a farm-fresh country breakfast at the Water Works, 2005 N. Overland Trail 7:30 -11 a.m., then head out to tour the Seaworth Farm, Bee Family Centennial Farm, Schild Dairy, Nix Farm, Nelson Farm Milk House, Avery House and Museo de las Tres Colonias. Tour is $17 in advance; $20 on tour day. | Avery House, 328 W. Mountain Ave., Fort Collins |970-221-0533 or poudrelandmarks.com
SATURDAY – Snowmass Village Oktoberfest | The third annual festival kicks off at noon with Alpine Echo playing traditional German polka tunes, plenty of beer, food and kids activities. The vibe changes at 5 p.m., when Papa Grows Funk takes the stage at the Ticket Pavilion for 90 minutes of funk and R&B music. | Snowmass Village Mall | snowmassvillage.com
SATURDAY – Crested Butte Alpine Jam Concert | Presented by KBUT Public Radio, noon-8 p.m. $25 advance; $30 at the gate. | Crested Butte Center for the Arts outdoor stage. 606 Sixth St., Crested Butte | 970-347-7444
