The city of Boulder wraps up with 150th anniversary festivities today and Sunday with Historic Boulder’s “Home for the Holidays” house tour and holiday boutique, the Boulder History Museum’s Winter Fest Gingerbread Contest, and the annual Lights of December parade, which loops around the Pearl Street Mall tonight from 6 to 7 p.m. Home tours hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday; tickets $14-$20 at the Historic Boulder office, 1123 Spruce St., the Table Mesa and 30th Street King Soopers, the Boulder Book Store, the West End Gardener, Page Two in Gunbarrel and Timbalier Dry Goods in Lafayette. Visit boulder for more event details.
Holiday open house
Look for holiday gifts, decorations, foods, crafts, drawing and door prizes today and Sunday during this event at the Evergreen Design Center. Nonperishable food items also are being collected for Evergreen Christian Outreach. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today and 12 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. 27965 Meadow Drive (off Main Street in downtown Evergreen), 303-674-3345, . 1-888-Ulta-Lit or 888-858-2548.
Eco-spirit
Nearly 40 metro-area schools accepted a challenge from The Inverness Hotel and Tagawa Gardens to transform trash into festive holiday tree decorations. Their handiwork is on display at the hotel, and the public is invited to view the trees and vote for their favorite. The “Trash to Trees” program provides schools with a chance to win cash and prizes as part of this seasonal recycling exercise. Trees are on view at The Inverness Hotel (200 Inverness Drive, Englewood, 303-799-5800) through Dec. 13. Details at .
Retail refuge
Shoppers in Cherry Creek North have a new option for ducking away from the crowds. Janan Creative Arts & Gallery is a temporary holiday artist co-op that spotlights a selection of work by local talents. The gallery, relocated from the Berkeley neighborhood, also offers art and crafting classes, such as Sunday’s “Making Angels” class in which students create ornaments from recycled materials. The angels will be sold at a benefit for the Denver Children’s Home at the gallery Thursday. 210 St. Paul St., 303-399-3556,
Guiding light
Ulta Lit Technologies, makers of twinkle lights, yard ornaments and lighted wreaths, has launched a toll-free helpline to assist in untangling twinkle-light dilemmas. Now through Christmas Eve, the Ulta Lit Hotline will be open 7 days a week, 8 am. to 4 p.m., for step-by-step holiday light assistance. 888-858-2548
