8 Weekend Things to do Around Colorado Springs and beyond
THURSDAY-SUNDAY
Perfect for Halloween weekend, The Vampire of Cripple Creek complete with Count Dracula, the new owner of a haunted hotel who’s enamored with a lovely young woman. Alas, she dies of something mysterious and that’s just fine with him. The Butte Theater, 139 E. Bennett Ave. Tickets $17-$29. For hours and tickets: ci.ovationtix.com/35629/production/1230506
SATURDAY
The holiday arts and crafts fair season begins and the Senior Center Arts & Crafts Fair offers the perfect opportunity to visit the new Colorado Springs Senior Center, 1514 N. Hancock Ave. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. seniorcenter.ppymca.org/events-programs
FRIDAY
Little folks ages 3 to 5, accompanied by adults, have their own special Halloween morning, Little Learners: Monster Mash, at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, 215 S. Tejon St. From 10 a.m. to noon Friday they’ll hear stories, have a monster dance party and monster cooking decorating. Wear your costumes. Registration $3, tinyurl.com/3jukxt63
FRIDAY
Take a Murder Mystery Hike in Mueller State Park in Divide as you try to figure out how homesteader Sumner Osborn disappeared in 1941, 4:30-7 p.m., Friday. Day pass $10 per vehicle, Homestead Trail, 21045 Colorado 67; 719-687-2366.
SATURDAY
Opera Colorado at Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver, opens its 43rd elegant season with one of the most iconic operas, Verdi’s “La Traviata.” Four performances through Nov. 9, followed in May by Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly. operacolorado.org/this-season
SUNDAY
Community musicians with a “lifelong learning of music” are featured when the New Horizons Bands of Colorado Springs, both the concert and symphonic bands, present their fall concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, Shockley-Zalabak Theater at Ent Center for the Arts. Donations accepted. nhbcos.org/concerts
SATURDAY
End-of-season bike expo VeloSwap returns to National Western Complex in Denver on Saturday with bike deals, dealers’ excess inventory and swapping. Open 8:30 a.m. for Bicycle Colorado members, 9 a.m. general public, kids’ zone 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., International Bicycle Flat Tire World Series 11 a.m. to noon. veloswap.com