6 weekend things to do around Colorado Springs and beyond: Philharmonic, art and plant market, and more
THURSDAY
Immerse yourself in other ways of life when World Music Ensemble presents music and dance from various traditions and cultures. The ensemble is directed by University of Colorado at Colorado Springs music instructor Haleh Abghari and dance professor Rosely Conz with guest pianist Shazia Ali, guest percussionist Chris Koroshetz and dance students. The free show is at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Ent Center for the Arts, 5225 N. Nevada Blvd. Reservations required; habghari@uccs.edu, tickets.entcenterforthearts.org/events.
FRIDAY
Check out the performances Dragonfly Aerial Company took last month to Viva Fest, a festival of variety acts in Las Vegas. The competitive team of 13 nabbed several first-place awards and third place “all around” out of 400 competitors. Tickets are $20 and the show’s at 7 p.m. Friday at The Dragonfly Theatre, 5780 E. Woodmen Road, Suite No. 140; 719-749-1459, simpletix.com/e/the-viva-show-tickets-166029.
SATURDAY
The way spring springs up with zero help or reminders is a miracle. Pay some respect to the plant kingdom at the free FloraFest Art & Plant Market at Cottonwood Center for the Arts. From 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday visit more than two-dozen artists and gardeners and visit food trucks, a craft table for kids and a beer and bellini garden, 427 E. Colorado Ave.; 719-520-1899, cottonwoodcenterforthearts.com/florafest.
SATURDAY-SUNDAY
Colorado Springs Philharmonic and guest conductor Michael Repper will present the last concert in the orchestra’s Signature Series with “Price and Beethoven.” The program features Joan Tower’s “Made in America,” Florence Price’s “Piano Concerto in One Movement” with guest pianist Michelle Cann, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $35.75-$92, Ent Center for the Arts, 5225 N. Nevada Ave.; 719-255-8181, csphilharmonic.org/event/price-and-beethoven, entcenterforthearts.org.
SUNDAY
Geeks, artists, cosplayers and those who love them should head to COS City Hub on Sunday for Natso Mini-Con by GalaxyFest. Fans of anime, sci-fi and comics will enjoy vendors, cosplay contests and local celebrities @WaveRobin from X, @C1_5u5hi from TikTok, and grimdarkmatt from Tumblr. It’s 2-7 p.m., $5, $10 family of four; 4304 Austin Bluffs Parkway; 719-651-5544.
SUNDAY
Abendmusik, an auditioned community choir, will celebrate its 50th anniversary at 3 p.m. Sunday at Broadmoor Community Church, 315 Lake Ave. The free performance will feature music from the group’s concerts through the decades, including classical, folk, Broadway and a capella styles; abendmusikchorus.org.
SUNDAY-SEPT. 8
Married artists Jacobo and María Ángeles, who are based in San Martín Tilcajete in Oaxaca, Mexico, are planting some of their animal sculptures at Denver Botanic Gardens for the new exhibit “Spirit Guides: Fantastical Creatures from the Workshop of Jacobo and María Ángeles.” The flashy, vivid and patterned imaginary hybrid animals are a melding of contemporary and folk art. The exhibit will run Sunday through Sept. 8 at the York Street location, 1007 York St. Tickets are $11.50-$15.75, free 2 and younger; 720-865-3500, botanicgardens.org/york-street.
