SUNDAY
Celebrate Black History Month with free admission to the Colorado History Museum every Sunday in February and weekly programs that commemorate Colorado’s African-American pioneers. Today: The story of Mary Randolph, who was put off a stagecoach bound for Denver on a bitterly cold day in 1859. Randolph made her way to the city and became the first African-American woman to build a brick house in Denver. Performances at 1:30, 2 and 2:30 p.m.; Colorado History Museum, 1300 Broadway, Denver; .
TUESDAY
Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday Celebration brings downtown Breckenridge alive with a parade down Main Street, live music and dancing at local bars, New Orleans food and drink specials, and lots and lots of beads. Procession steps off at 4:30 p.m. at the south end of town and heads north on Main to Lincoln/Ski Hill; .
TUESDAY-SATURDAY
Eskimo Artifacts from Arctic Alaska exhibition of clothing, masks, hunting and fishing tools, dolls, toys, fetishes and other items collected by Durango residents Dennis and Ollie Hood, who lived in Alaska beginning in the 1950s. Part of the Durango Collects series. Animas Museum, 3065 W. Second Ave., Durango. Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.
WEDNESDAY-FEB. 10
Winter Carnival in Steamboat Springs means ski jumping, the Soda Pop Slalom, the Diamond Hitch Parade and fireworks supporting the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. The fun begins 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Opening Ceremonies at Olympian Hall, Howelsen Hill Hall. A Winter Carnival Button is required to participate. Details at .
THURSDAY-FRIDAY
The Peking Acrobats, some of China’s most gifted tumblers, contortionists, jugglers, cyclists and gymnasts, whirl through four shows in Fort Collins. Tickets $8-10; 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., Fort Collins; .
FRIDAY-FEB. 10
Mancos Mush Dog Sled Race gets going for spectators with an art auction Friday night and runs with races, more art shows and a musher banquet. Details at .
SATURDAY
Let’s Make History celebrates Black History Month by letting kids explore an African-American grandmother trunk, create a journal and learn about African-American history through crafts, activities and puzzles. Plus, Sojourners, a Spirituals Project ensemble that preserves and revitalizes the music and teachings of American slaves, performs. 1 p.m.; $3 participation fee in addition to museum admission for adults. Children 12 and younger get into the museum free on Saturdays; 1300 Broadway, Denver; . or 303-866-4686.
Colorado House Rabbit Society Bunny Tune-Up Class covers care and feeding for pet rabbits, including proper handling, grooming, monitoring bunny health (a rabbit goes from fine to nearly fatally ill with horrific speed), clipping nails and teeth. Free to those whose rabbits are adopted from shelters, or who work at an animal shelter or veterinary clinic; $15 for owners of pet-store or breeder-purchased bunnies. 1 to 5 p.m., Broomfield; e-mail co-hrs@comcast.com to register.
Up With People is back and performing again in Denver for the first time in a decade. The performance will showcase dancers and singers from around the world as well as educate audience members of ongoing global issues in communities worldwide. All ticket proceeds from the performance will benefit Habitat for Humanity. 7:30 p.m., Temple Buell Theatre at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, Denver; tickets $18-36, available online at . or at the box office before the performance.
LUNAR NEW YEAR EVENTS
Here are a few places to celebrate the opening of the Year of the Rat:
THURSDAY
Colorado Springs Chinese Cultural Institute dinner features a lecture by Wally G. Astor, Ph.D., explaining the origin of Lunar New Year, background and traditions in the celebration of the new year, the astrology associated with the “Year of the Rat.” 6:30-9 p.m., Jade Dragon Chinese Restaurant, 3958 N. Academy Blvd., Colorado Springs. Tickets $30 nonmembers; $25 for CSCCI members. Reserve by Monday by calling Mali Hsu at 719-287-7624.
SATURDAY
2008 Colorado Asian Pacific Spring Festival and Chinese New Year Celebration includes performances by internationally renowned performers from China and the eastern U.S., plus magic, folk and opera singing, lion dancing, ancient Asian music, kung fu, solo and group folk dances and more. 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Abraham Lincoln High School, 2285 S. Federal Blvd., Denver. Tickets $15 adults; $12 children 3 to 16 and seniors 70 plus, includes lunch. or 303-221-2015.
Denver Chinese Cultural Center Lunar New Year Celebration includes storytelling, folk dances, crafts and other customs, 2-3:30 p.m., Aurora History Museum, 15051 E. Alameda Parkway, Aurora. Tickets $4 for Aurora residents; $5 nonresidents. Register with the city of Aurora, 303-326-8650, registration number 115019
UNC Community Arts Workshop Celebrates Year of the Rat. Make lanterns, toys, decorations and Chinese brush paintings. Ages 8 to adult, 1-4 p.m., Frasier Building, Room 119, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, 970-351-2200. Fee: $12 adults; $6 children
FEB. 15
Asian Pacific Development Center Fundraiser: Lunar New Year. Dining, entertainment and silent auction. 5:30-8:30 p.m., The Palace Chinese Restaurant, 6265 E. Evans Ave. Tickets: $65 per person. Reservations, call Angela Cho at 303-365-2959, ext. 104.
FEB. 16
Vietnamese Student Association at CU-Boulder presents Chao Mung Xuan. Lion dances, martial arts demonstration, a fashion show, traditional Vietnamese dances, laughs and special performances by two of today’s most popular Vietnamese singers: Luong Tung Quang and Bao Han. 7 p.m.-midnight, Glenn Miller Ballroom in the UMC at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Free.
VSA-Denver’s Vietnamese Tet Gala. Formal dinner gala celebrating the Lunar New Year with proceeds supporting VOICE, an organization that helps provide direct legal, social, educational, financial and medical services to Vietnamese victims and survivors of sex trafficking. 6:30 p.m.-midnight, Hyatt Regency Denver, 650 15th St. Tickets, $50-$100. Information: Hoang Nguyen at 303-523-6475 or Hong Vo at 720-341-4160.
FEB. 23
Chinese New Year Banquet. The Organization of Chinese Americans, Denver chapter, and the Japanese American Citizens League, Mile-Hi chapter, present their annual Lunar New Year’s celebration, including dining, entertainment and door prizes. 6 p.m., The Palace Chinese Restaurant, 6265 E. Evans Ave. Tickets: $39 per person. Contact Richard Hamai at 303-839-9637. Payment due by Feb. 15.
