TODAY – Denver Gem & Mineral Show | The big earth-sciences and lapidary arts show runs 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $5 for adults; $3 seniors and kids 13 and older. | Denver Merchandise Mart, 451 E. 58th Ave., Denver | 303-233-2516 or denvermineralshow.com
TODAY – CU in Lafayette | University of Colorado musicians kick off the fall concert season with a performance of works by Britten, Dowland, Gershwin and more, featuring Carey Harwood on guitar and lute and tenor Robert Glaubitz. 3 p.m. Free. | Rocky Mountain Center for Musical Arts, 200 E. Baseline Road, Lafayette | 303-665-0599 or rmcma.org
MONDAY – FREE DAY! | At the Denver Botanic Gardens. | 1005 York St., Denver | 720-865-3500 or botanicgardens.org
SATURDAY – Valley Heritage & Folk Arts Festival | San Luis Valley artists, including weavers Carlos Atencio and Ed and Linda Vigil, sell their wares during the Valley Farmers’ Market, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Free | State and Main streets, Alamosa | 719-587-3626
SATURDAY – Heave logs and stones | The strong men – pros and plain folk who want to test their mettle – come out to toss big rocks, telephone poles, burlap bags and metal weights during the Snowmass Celtic Festival, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Free. | Snowmass Village Mall | Competitors call 970-925-1663
SATURDAY-SUNDAY – Rock on | Loveland’s Stone Age Fair dazzles its modern-day public with world-class displays of prehistoric artifacts and talks by big wheels in the archeology world, including Thomas Stafford, Ph.D., who was on the team that discovered Kennewick Man, starting at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Free. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. | Pulliam Community Building, 545 N. Cleveland Ave., Loveland | stoneagefair.com
SATURDAY-SUNDAY – Festival Italiano | Belmar gets out the bocce balls for the third annual Italian Food and Wine Festival, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. both days. Look for 65 Italian food, wine and arts vendors, plus performances by Gli Sbandieratori – the Florentine flag throwers – and bocce tournaments. Free. | Wadsworth Boulevard at West Alameda Avenue, Lakewood | 303-742-1520 or belmarcolorado.com
SATURDAY-SUNDAY – Festival of Color | If the drifts of golden aspen aren’t dazzling enough, check out all the pretty pieces displayed during the Maroon Bells Festival of Color, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. both days. Free. | Aspen Highlands Village
