Ah yes, summer in Colorado: Ski boots are swapped out for their more leathery, laced companions and fridges are stocked with bright saisons instead of husky porters.
And the kids? “There’s nothing to do.”
Not true. Rising temperatures here in the Aurora area bring a fresh docket of sounds, suds and scintillating sights in which to sink your cultural incisors. From boisterous burros to assaults on Guinness World Records, here’s a brief glimpse at what to expect in and near Aurora this summer. Sunscreen not included.
MUSIC
City Park Jazz Concert Series
6 – 8 p.m., every Sunday through Aug. 9. Located at the bandstand on Ferril Lake, City Park, near Colorado Boulevard and 17th Avenue, Denver. Admission is free. Visit cityparkjazz.org for more information.
Whoever says Sunday nights are reserved for eulogies to the weekend and “60 Minutes” has clearly never been to Jazz in the Park. With shows held rain or shine, pass on Leslie Stall for a week or two this year and enjoy the world-class sounds with a summer sunset in the background. Leslie who? Exactly.
Aurora Summer Concert Series
6:30 – 8 p.m., every Thursday June 18 – July 30. Various Aurora public parks. Admission is free. For information, call 303-344-1500.
There’s something special about the convenience of being able to bike or walk to a show, and with seven of them spread throughout the city this summer, there’s a decent chance that could be a delightfully opportune reality. Each concert is free and will have food available from local vendors, including Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q, McAllister’s Deli and Legends of Aurora Sports Grill. Food providers rotate each week.
Tunes on the Terrace at the Lone Tree Arts Center
8 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights June 20 through Aug. 7. The Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree. Tickets start at $22. Call 720-509-1000 or visit lonetreeartscenter.org for information.
A touch of Buddy Holly and a pinch of classic Celtic tunes sprinkled throughout the summer seem like pretty solid reasons to schlep down to Lone Tree at least a couple times this summer. The serene, green outdoor venue doesn’t hurt either.
ART
The Aurora Arts Festival
10 a.m. – 8 p.m., June 28, Fletcher Plaza, 9898 E. Colfax Ave. Admission is free. Visit auroraculture.org or call 303-344-2223 for more information.
It’s a tad unfair to toss the annual Aurora Arts Festival under a strictly visual arts umbrella, as the burgeoning tradition in the Aurora Cultural Arts District is slated to offer 50 local artists, two stages, food, and a Mu Brewery beer garden. Yowza.
Conscious and Unconscious: Subjects of the Real & Surreal
Daily through Aug. 30. Visit arvadacenter.org/galleries for exact hours of operation. Entry is free. There will be artist talk backs at 7 p.m. on June 25 and Aug. 13, as well as 11 a.m. on July 18.
Freud — and probably Dalí, too — would be beaming with delight at such a metaphysical show. It opens with a free reception from 6 – 9 p.m. on June 4.
Behind the Badge: Public Safety in Aurora
Showing 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesday – Friday and 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The exhibit runs through Sept. 13 at The Aurora History Museum, 15051 E. Alameda Pkwy. Admission is free. Call 303-739-6660 for more information.
Over a hundred years of crime and fire fighting means a lot of history and artifacts — check it all out for free at the Aurora History Museum’s newest exhibit.
EATS
South Pearl Street Brew Grass
4 – 8 p.m., June 13, 1200 block of South Pearl Street, Denver. Admission is free. visit southpearlstreet.com/events for details.
Local beer, rippin’ bluegrass and South Pearl Street restaurants? Yes, please.
Summer Solstice Brew and BBQ Festival
Starts at 10 a.m., June 20, Lone Tree Brewing Company, 8200 Park Meadows Dr., Suite 8222, Lone Tree. Admission is free. For more information, visit lonetreebrewingco.com.
An alcohol-themed event that starts at 10 a.m. and is set to offer “beermosas” definitely has our attention.
Arvada On Tap Craft Beer and BBQ Fest
12 – 8 p.m., July 25, Ralston Park, West 64th Avenue and Simms Street, Arvada. Admission is $5. For more information, visit visitarvada.org/events/arvada-on-tap.
Beer, barbecue — ‘nuf said.
FOR THE FAMILY
Colorado Burro Racing
Various weekends through Sept. 12 at venues in Georgetown, Idaho Springs, Fairplay, Buena Vista, Leadville and Victor. Spectating is free. For details and schedules, visit packburroracing.com.
Any organization that makes a butt pun in its title definitely knows what it’s doing, and the Western Pack Burro Ass-ociation does, well, that. If you’ve never watched a group of yocals scurry for 12 miles while corralling a donkey, you are truly missing out. Put it on the calendar now and make a point not to skip this little-known Colorado phenomenon.
Fourth of July Spectacular
4 – 10 p.m., July 4, Aurora Municipal Center, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway. Admission is free. Visit auroragov.org or call 303-739-7163 for more information.
With a hot dog eating contest, fire works, and country pop star Emily West on the schedule, seems like the city really has this whole “America” thing down pat.
Aurora Global Fest
2 – 8 p.m., Aug. 22, Aurora Municipal Center, Great Lawn, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway. Admission is free. Visit auroragov.org or call 303-739-7163 for more information.
If you need some convincing that Aurora really is the most diverse burg in Colorado, and perhaps the entire Mountain West, the city’s Global Fest is perfect, microcosmic evidence. Attendees can sample kimchi, injera and more at this culinary and cultural festival.
FOR THE KIDS
World’s Largest Swimming Lesson
Time is TBA, June 18, Water World, 8801 N. Pecos St., Federal Heights. Tickets are $38.47 for adults and $33.27 for kids. Call 303-427-7873 or visit waterworldcolorado.com.
While that record six-week run without a shower when you were 17 was impressive, the folks at Water World are serving up a shot to be a part of an officially sanctioned Guinness World Record this June with an attempt to hold the world’s largest swimming lesson. That’s a lot of water wings.
Colorado Music Festivals’ Young People’s Concert
10 a.m., June 26 and 27, Chautauqua Auditorium, 900 Baseline Road, Boulder. Tickets are $8. Call 303-440-7666 or visit comusic.orgv for more information. For ages 4 and up.
Let the tots know that there’s more to music than the Billboard Hot 100 with the help of music director Jean Marie Zeitouni, who will command the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra through a rendition or the classic “Peter and the Wolf.” Afterward there will be face painting, balloon tying and an instrument petting zoo.
Bugs and Drugs Summer Camp at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Aug. 3 – Aug. 7, Pickup and Drop-off at Anschutz Medical Center Education 1. $100 per camper. Intended for high school students ages 15-18. Call or email Colleen Catalano at 303-724-9354 or pharmd.info@ucdenver.edu for more information.
This isn’t your grandmother’s summer camp — no S’mores here. Instead of the standby sugary treats, campers will learn about common microogranisms, medications and how to launch a career in the field of infectious disease.