Alive
entarts.org
Galleries of Contemporary Art (GOCA) exhibition “Simulacra (or, The Persistence of Nature in an Age of Mediation)” featuring works from Dornith Doherty, Etsuko Ichikawa, Bill Viola
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Feel The Music Join Us for our Centennial Season Scheherazade | Sept. 26 - 27, 2026
A tale of adventure & intrigue, musical storytelling at its finest
Music of the Knights | Oct. 2 - 3, 2026 Elton John, Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart & Andrew Lloyd Webber
Appalachian Spring | Oct. 17 - 18, 2026 Featuring America’s greatest composers and writers
Edward Scissorhands
Live Cinema Experience | Oct. 30 - 31, 2026 Danny Elfman’s achingly beautiful score live
Tchaikovsky / Stravinsky | Nov. 14 - 15, 2026
Pain, pleasure, and fiery passion take center stage
The Nutcracker | Nov. 27 - 29, 2026
Chloé Dufresne Music Director Five Performances
An enchanting & magical story to kick off the holidays
There is something for everyone! Explore the full Centennial Season and Buy Tickets: csphilharmonic.org
Season presented by:
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LOCAL ARTS GUIDE 2026 | 3
BE HERE WHEN IT HAPPENS BY ANGELA SEALS Executive Director Cultural O!ce of the Pikes Peak Region
There is a moment I love in almost every encounter with the arts. It is the moment something gets through to you. A painting makes you stop. A line in a poem stays with you. Music changes the feeling in a room. A performance pulls you into someone else’s story, or a familiar cultural tradition suddenly connects one generation to the next. You may not know that moment is coming, and that is part of what makes it so powerful. This year’s Arts Month theme, Made for the Moment, celebrates creativity as it happens and reminds us that experiencing art is
an act of participation. We are not simply consuming the arts. We are part of the experience! An artist may begin the moment, but all of us bring something to it through our attention, energy and response. Our presence allows it to unfold in real space, among real people. At a time when so much of life takes place through a screen, there is a real hunger for three-dimensional, in-person human connection. The arts are part of the solution.
This October, I invite you to experience real art, made for the moment. Grab a friend. Be here when it happens! More than 250 arts and cultural experiences will take place throughout El Paso and Teller counties during Arts Month. Some will happen in theaters, museums and concert halls. Others will find you in a neighborhood gallery, a library, a
park, a studio or a community space you have never visited before. There is something here for every interest. This year is especially meaningful for us at the Cultural O!ce of the Pikes Peak Region as we celebrate our 20th anniversary. For two decades, we have had the privilege of championing the artists, organizations and creative businesses that make this region such a vibrant place to live. Our creative community has grown and so have our audiences. When someone experiences an arts moment that feels like it was made for them, it changes them — and they come back for more. The arts are increasingly part of how people connect with the Pikes Peak region authentically. Arts and culture also contribute $184.6 million in annual economic activity and support 2,869 jobs across our region. That impact reaches local restaurants, retailers, hotels and other businesses. When we support the arts, we strengthen the community around them.
As you explore this year’s Local Arts Guide, begin with something familiar. Then explore something you have never tried. Visit an artist’s studio; attend a local film festival; read the work of a regional writer; or start a new tradition of your own. Invite someone who may not think of themselves as an “arts person.” You do not need special knowledge to belong in these spaces. Curiosity is enough. Explore the events calendar at ArtsOctober.com, share what you discover using #ArtsOctober, and remember that your participation is part of what makes the moment complete! Somewhere in the Pikes Peak region, an artist is getting ready to share something with you.
ON THE COVER
This October, Arts Month invites you to experience the creativity happening across the Pikes Peak region as it happens, in real time! Cover image and the 2026 Arts Month campaign are designed by locally-owned Neon Pig Creative. Visit ArtsOctober.com for the o!cial events calendar and much more! The Cultural Office’s Local Arts Guide was edited by Jonathan Toman and designed by Gina Pietramale.
A PROGRAM OF THE CULTURAL OFFICE OF THE PIKES PEAK REGION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GAZETTE ANGELA SEALS, Executive Director
RICHARD WILLIAMS, President & COO
ERIC ANDERSON, Advertising Sales
JONATHAN TOMAN, Program Manager, Cultural Promotion & Tourism
TRACI CONRAD, Vice President of Advertising
NIKKI DIRKS, Advertising Sales
LUKE HARPER PRINCE, Program Manager, Creative Economy
KAREN HOGAN, Revenue Operations Director
YVONNE RAMOS, Advertising Sales
BECCA DAY, Communications and Operations Coordinator
CANDI THOMAS, Advertising Sales Director
KELLI ST. CLAIR, Advertising Sales
GINA PIETRAMALE, Creative Services Lead
SUE WILLIAMS, Advertising Sales
4 | LOCAL ARTS GUIDE 2026
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ADD THESE
16 ARTS MONTH EVENTS & 16 ANNUAL EVENTS TO YOUR CALENDAR BY PEAKRADAR.COM STAFF
ARTS MONTH EVENTS:
First Friday Art Walks October 2 Downtown Colorado Springs, Old Colorado City, Manitou Springs, and Woodland Park Harvest Festival October 3 Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site Movies Under the Stars: “Wicked” October 3 Bristol Brewing Company BuffaloGrass Music Festival October 2-4 Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort 17th Annual Falcon Craft Fair October 3 & 4 Falcon High School Colorado Composers: Celebrating 150 Years October 4 St. Michael’s Episcopal Church Spinphony October 9 Stargazers Theatre & Event Center Fall Fest October 10 Flying W Ranch John Crist October 11 Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts “Voices of a New World” October 16 Grace and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church Alien Ant Farm with Scarhaven & When the Hero Dies October 16 Sunshine Studios Live
ANNUAL EVENTS:
The Great Fruitcake Toss January Manitou Springs Ice Festival February Cripple Creek Carnivale Weekend February Downtown Manitou Springs MeadowGrass Music Festival Memorial Day Weekend La Foret Conference & Retreat Center – Black Forest Colorado Springs Western Street Breakfast June Downtown Colorado Springs Summer Music Festival June Colorado College Donkey Derby Days June Cripple Creek Green Box Arts Festival July Green Mountain Falls
YO U CA N
Taste of Pikes Peak July Downtown Colorado Springs
ALL
Mountain Arts Festival August Woodland Park Memorial Park Commonwheel Art Festival Labor Day Weekend Manitou Springs Memorial Park
17th Annual Viking Fair Bazaar & Brunch October 17 Viking Hall
Fiestas Patrias September Downtown Colorado Springs
Pikes Peak Zine Fest October 17 UCCS – Berger Hall
Rock Ledge Ranch Annual Powwow September Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site
“Swan Lake” October 25 Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts
Rocky Mountain Women's Film Festival October Colorado College
Ghost Stories of Old Manitou Walking Tours October 2-30 Manitou Springs Heritage Museum
Three Nights of Horror Film Festival October Ivywild School
The SofaKillers October 30 Stargazers Theatre and Event Center
Festival of Lights Parade December Downtown Colorado Springs
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Held annually over Labor Day Weekend in Manitou Springs’ Memorial Park, the Commonwheel Artists Co-op Art Festival features fine art and contemporary crafts, talented local musicians, and specialty food items. 2026 was the 52nd annual edition of the event, which draws visitors and art afficionados from around the region and beyond. Photo courtesy of the Commonwheel Artists Co-op. SEE PAGE 7
FIND IT
HISTORY & HERITAGE POETRY, PROSE, & COMEDY SPORTS & OUTDOORS THEATER & FILM VISUAL & CULINARY ARTS MUSIC & DANCE
THE CULTURAL CALENDAR FOR THE PIKES PEAK REGION LOCAL ARTS GUIDE 2026 | 5
A Hundred Years Forward:
THE COLORADO SPRINGS PHILHARMONIC’S CENTENNIAL SEASON
The Colorado Springs Philharmonic, conducted by Music Director Chloé Dufresne. Photo by Steve Walker. BY NICOLE ANTHONY SCHIFF Vice President of Advancement Colorado Springs Philharmonic
There’s a particular hush that settles over a concert hall just before the downbeat — ninety musicians lift their instruments, and for one held breath, a room full of strangers becomes something closer to a single body. No algorithm can produce that, and no recording can either. It is the specific magic of live orchestral music: a whole room moved, all at once, by the same sound in the same moment. That has been the quiet gift the Colorado Springs Philharmonic has offered this city since 1927, when twenty-seven local musicians decided that a town beneath Pikes Peak deserved an orchestra of its own. A century is a long time for any institution to hold onto a promise like that, and the Philharmonic’s hasn’t been a straight path. In all these years, we’ve survived — and thrived — despite years of uncertainty and genuine struggle. Today’s Philharmonic is committed to running business as beautifully as it plays the music. That discipline 6 | LOCAL ARTS GUIDE 2026
and commitment is reflected as the orchestra begins its Centennial Season on the surest footing it has found in a hundred years. Some centennials are content reflecting solely on the past, dusting off old photographs and calling it a celebration. The Philharmonic has other plans. Our story is unfinished, and it continues with the Centennial Season — celebrating our legacy of bringing people together through music while also leaning boldly forward. This season includes a distinct amount of new: a new conductor and music director (Chloé Dufresne), a new composer-in-residency (Eunike Tanzil), a brand-new work (premiering in the spring), and a brand-new series (Counterpoint). For an orchestra turning one hundred, that says more about where it’s going than where it’s been, and about the musical impact it has planned for Colorado Springs. Honoring our past while forward leaning shows up everywhere in the 2026-27 season. The Masterworks series opens in September with Scheherazade, paired with Ascending Creatures, a new work by composer
Eunike Tanzil — the same young composer who returns in the spring with a new composition making its world premiere alongside the orchestra’s performance of Beethoven’s Ninth. That concert encapsulates one century of music answering another. In February, the Centennial takes the stage outright: violinist Joshua Bell joins the orchestra for a Centennial Celebration performance of the Beethoven Violin Concerto, one of the repertoire’s great showcases, played by one of the great violinists of this generation. And this fall brings Counterpoint, a brand-new series built with Theatreworks that pairs orchestral music with literature and theatre at the Ent Center for the Arts. The month of May closes the season with Rachmaninoff and Copland, two composers who each, differently, wrote about what it means to build something distinctly American. Beyond the stage, the Philharmonic’s Center for Future Audiences is doing the longer-term work — bringing music to young people, community musicians, and
listeners who aren’t in the hall yet. It’s a reminder that an orchestra’s real work doesn’t happen only under the lights, it begins wherever people first discover the power of music. And still, underneath all the programming, the same simple fact holds: nothing quite replaces being in the room. Recorded music is built to sound the same every time; live music refuses that, and the refusal is the whole point. A hall lets a cello’s lowest note reach your chest before you’ve consciously heard it. It lets a hundred musicians breathe together and arrive, somehow, at the very same instant. And it puts you beside strangers who came for the same reason you did — and who, for two hours, aren’t strangers at all. That is what the Colorado Springs Philharmonic has spent a hundred years building: not just an orchestra, but a room worth walking into. As it marks its Centennial, the invitation is the one it has extended since 1927 — come, and be moved by the same sound, at the same moment, together. Learn more about the Colorado Springs Philharmonic at csphilharmonic.org. ARTSOCTOBER.COM
38 members showcase their work at Commonwheel Artists Co-op, where you can find wall art, jewelry, pottery, and much more. Photo by Julia Wright.
COMMONWHEEL ARTISTS CO-OP continues long history of art making in Manitou BY THE COMMONWHEEL BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A charming gallery in Manitou Springs, the Commonwheel Artists Co-op is where local artists come together to promote the arts and sell their work — ranging from wall art, jewelry, pottery and glass to sculpture, clothing, and more. Thirty-eight talented members work together as the spokes of the common wheel running the shop, putting together monthly gallery shows for visiting artists, and sponsoring the annual Labor Day Arts and Crafts Festival. It all started in 1974 when a group of hippies — potters, painters, poets, and other Manitou community members — came together to discuss ways for all artists to thrive. They agreed on the name Commonwheel and started selling in Sophie Cowman’s Maybe Shop. There, they also opened a tiny
gallery space where regional artists were invited to show their art. In 1978, the group was offered the chance to rent the current gallery space on 102 Canon Avenue, which they gladly accepted. The first shelves were made from the barn wood that was torn off the walls. Over the years, the co-op members engaged in many renovations and improvements. The membership quickly grew and more artists filled the shop with a variety of handmade beautiful works of art, all made in Colorado. For a year, the members tried to include poets and actors by creating events in the basement, but that space was not well suited to such performances. Then the Manitou Art Center began hosting the Manitou Art Theatre, and the Commonwheelers were happy to see this and supported those performances. CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
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Free monthly art crawl at more than two dozen Downtown galleries, retailers & venues DowntownCS.com/First-Friday
Public Art • Galleries Live Music • Cuisine & Cocktails DowntownCS.com
/DowntownColoradoSprings
Downtown_CS
LOCAL ARTS GUIDE 2026 | 7
Elevating
en
v i e Since 1987
Held annually over Labor Day Weekend in Manitou Springs’ Memorial Park, the Commonwheel Artists Co-op Art Festival features fine art and contemporary crafts, talented local musicians, and specialty food items. Photo courtesy of the Commonwheel Artists Co-op. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
From the very beginning, the gallery space was designated for visiting local artists. Applying for a month-long show with a specific theme to exhibit their work allows artists to experience how the public reacts to their creative endeavors. Today, these monthly gallery shows are highlighted during First Friday Art Walks. In addition, our Holiday Market, Pottery by the Pound Sale, and Summer Market all provide opportunities for local artists to showcase their work in the Commonwheel Artists Co-op. One of the largest events sponsored by the Co-op is the Labor Day Arts Festival, which began in 1975 when Commonwheel hosted three separate art festivals in Manitou Springs. The Labor Day edition soon became the focus, due in part to the desire to show that Manitou Springs had much to offer beyond the summer season. With the 52nd edition in 2026, this event continues to illustrate why the arts are important to the city of Manitou Springs. Artists are juried to assure high-quality art at the festival. The early festivals included buskers and musicians playing around the park. Some members 8 | LOCAL ARTS GUIDE 2026
created a tent that could be used as a stage area where local musicians could play protected from the wind, rain, and sun. There were kids’ activities such as face painting and a balloon artist, and later the Millibo Art Theatre helped kids create giant bubbles. About 20 years ago, a kids activity area was added. Children were invited to do a creative project or just color or paint. All these options were ways to engage children in fun art-related activities, inspiring them to explore their creativity all year long. The Labor Day Art Festival has become a premiere art event in the Pikes Peak region. People from all over the state and beyond attend and support the artists. Longtime Commonwheel member Julia Wright has coordinated the festival for many years, after attending in 1975 and joining the co-op in 1976. The Commonwheel Artists Co-op has been recognized as a significant resource in the arts community by various groups, including the Pikes Peak Arts Council and the Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce. Learn more about the Commonwheel Artists Co-op at commonwheel.com. ARTSOCTOBER.COM
BLUE PONY ARTISTS & Gallery
Visit four local artists as they create and show their work: TAMMY MEESKE JULIA EVANS TERRI SANCHEZ NANCY WORTH
in a gallery/studio setting
2501 W Colorado Ave #9 (719) 650-3243
YOUR ONE-STOP SHOP FOR ART ! The Flying W Wranglers performing a joyful western song during the Cowboy Christmas Jubilee at the Flying W Ranch. Photo by Jesse Pacheco, Lucky Stars Film.
Visit Gallery 113 for amazing, affordable, beautiful art created by our 19 local artists.
Voted BEST Gallery by Gazette readers! 719.634.5299 • 125 1/2 N. Tejon GALLERY113COS.COM
FLYING W RANCH
continues long history of western entertainment BY LEIGH ANN WOLFE Owner, Flying W Ranch
Known for keeping the Old West alive, the Flying W Ranch has hosted between seven and eight million people since its founding in 1953. Although the ranch burned in the 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire, it was remarkably rebuilt in 2020 and continues steadfast to its original mission. The beautiful western grounds, the chuckwagon dinner, and the original western stage show are the three pillars of an evening spent at the ranch. The western grounds are similar to the bordering Garden of the Gods but, in addition to towering rocks, they sport memorable ranch animals such as the American Milking Devon Oxen (the oxen that brought settlers west in the 1800s) and bison from the original Charles Goodnight herd. The Russell M. Wolfe narrow gauge train takes passengers through
the heart of Christmas Rock, which offers an incline that allows views to western Kansas. A plethora of activities such as axe throwing, archery, horse drawn carriage rides, and delightful water events render the grounds truly enchanting. To further magnify the Old West, Navajo rug weavers and leather workers are executing their craft and Plains Indians showcase a powerful dance segment. Dinner is served, chuckwagonstyle, with smoked brisket, berbere chicken, and all the trimmings. Tin plates, tin cups, and plenty of seconds are part of the offering with lemonade and home-brewed iced tea. Service is lightning fast and the food is thunderously delicious. After dinner the world-famous Flying W Wranglers, the second oldest (and by far the best) western singing band in the world, take the stage to perform their original western musical stage show. Their CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
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Curated Art & Unique Goods to Inspire Your Life 2752 W. Colorado Ave., CS CO 80904 | www.surfacegallerycos.com LOCAL ARTS GUIDE 2026 | 9
Guests enjoy a traditional Native American performance in the western grounds during a Chuckwagon Supper and Original Westernstage show event at the Flying W Ranch. Photo by Jesse Pacheco, Lucky Stars Film. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
strong vocals, perfect harmonies, and superb instrumentation leave audiences in wonder. The 20-by-12foot LED video wall elevates what is already a matchless performance. Most people know Russ and Marian Wolfe as the couple who created and built the Flying W Ranch chuckwagon suppers and original western stage shows. But they were also instrumental in building a jazz culture alongside the Broadmoor Jazz Club, bringing in jazz greats such as the Jim Cullen Jazz Band, the Mason Dixie Line Jazz Band, and other greats such as Ralph Sutton, Kenny Davern, Warren Vache, Colin Gieg, and Gus Johnson. Iconic jazz parties were held at the Broadmoor, the Flying W Ranch Winter Steakhouse, and the Colorado Springs Country Club. Another cultural treasure was the yearly event when the Flying W Wranglers played with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic. The “Orange Blossom Special” never sounded so ethereal. Today, following the Waldo Canyon Fire and the subsequent 10 | LOCAL ARTS GUIDE 2026
rebuilding of the Flying W Ranch, the Cowboy Christmas Jubilee attracts thousands of people every December with an enchanting combination of western, philharmonic, and Christmas music. The Marian L. Wolfe Orchestra joins the iconic Flying W Wranglers to perform a noteworthy Christmas show that truly elevates the marvelous season of the birth of Christ, in a western way. The Christmas show follows a mouth-watering dinner of center-cut Angus strip steak, Lukes’ baked chicken, shallot-infused asparagus, garlic mashed potatoes, and dutch oven biscuits. And don’t forget that piece of the fruits-of-theforest pie, piled high with whipped cream. As a recent Google review put it: From ages 3 to 93, you will leave Flying W Ranch happier, fuller, and possibly harmonize with the wildlife on your way home. Learn more about the Flying W Ranch at flyingw.com.
TOP: Trombonist
Norman Menne, leader of the jazz band Mason Dixie Line, entertains Russ and Marian Wolfe at their jazzy holiday party at the Flying W Winter Steakhouse.
RIGHT: Russ
Wolfe, Warren Bache, Gus Johnson, Kenny Daverne, Colin Geig, Ralph Sutton, and Marian Wolfe’s at the annual holiday jazz party at the Flying W Steakhouse. Photos by Rod Fink
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The 2022 Melodrama, “Montana Serenade or Gold Time in the Rockies.” From left to right: Rebecca Morgan, Jay Greene, Bonnie Hausknecht, Rachel Rhodes, Daisya Dowen, and Bruce Littrell. Photo by Bruce Hausknecht.
IRON SPRINGS CHATEAU
brings dinner theatre to life BY LORI ADAMS-MILLER Owner, Iron Springs Chateau
Nestled at the foot of Pikes Peak in beautiful Manitou Springs is the historic Iron Springs Chateau. This hidden gem has a rich history, ranging from its years of bottling water from the Ute Iron Spring to its present day use as The Iron Springs Chateau Dinner Theater. Started as a candy and cigar store in 1880, the Iron Springs Chateau was an open-air summerhouse that was constructed at the Ute Iron Spring. Over the next two decades, the building was expanded and the mineral water was sold commercially. The building changed hands many times until Doug and Harriet Jensen purchased it in 1959 and started the Iron Springs Chateau Dinner Theater. After four years of recruiting volunteers from the local college during their summer breaks, Harriet formed the Chateau Players as a professional troupe in 1964. The Chateau has been performing familyfriendly melodramas for over 65 years.
It isn’t a melodrama if the good guy doesn’t triumph and overcome evil, and this uniquely American genre of theater has a rich history in Colorado. In the 1960s and ’70s there were six melodrama dinner theaters in the Pikes Peak region alone. Melodrama was popular and Colorado was the place to go see it. The Iron Springs Chateau is now Colorado’s oldest for-profit theater company with the longest continuously running melodrama program. The chateau theater excels at musical comedy — whether performing our iconic seasonal melodrama shows or special events like our Valentine’s murder mysteries or the ever-popular annual production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Audience participation is our forte and the Chateau Players, all locally recruited talent, know just how to draw in patrons for a riproaring good time. Valentine’s Day is an annual celebration as only the Chateau can pull off, with a musical murder mystery — because nothing says CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
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love like murder. Original comedy murder mysteries are written by local actors and playwrights. These fun adventures include an interactive mystery that moves throughout the building as the show progresses, a three-course meal, and contests with prizes for the lucky winners. Another special event is an annual shadow cast production of Rocky Horror Picture Show that is offered during the end of October. The original 1975 movie is shown next to the stage, and the Chateau Players reenact the movie in real time using the entire theater. It isn’t our usual family-friendly show, but it certainly pairs well with Manitou Springs’ annual Emma Crawford Coffin Races. The mainstay of the Iron Springs Chateau Theater, though, is our family-friendly melodramas that are written predominately by local playwrights. Spring and summertime sport two regular season melodramas that run from April through October and alternate during the height of summer. A holiday melodrama runs from the week before Thanksgiving through Dec. 23. The audience is encouraged to interact with the characters by
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booing the villains, cheering the heroes, giving a big “ooh/ah” for the lovely heroines, and of course a “hubba hubba” for the beautiful vamps as well. There is no “fourth wall” at the chateau, so don’t be surprised when the actors personally engage you to become part of the show. Kids love clapping their hands, stomping their feet, and booing those nasty villains until good overcomes evil. Each melodrama is preceded by an optional three-course meal served in the downstairs dining rooms, and is followed by a sing-along intermission and a vaudeville-style musical revue (olio) that has a plethora of song and dance, skits, jokes, and crazy costumes. This melodrama show format was started during the Jensen’s tenure (1959-78), continued by partners/owners Vicki Kelly, Bob Kelly, and Bruce Littrell (1978-2013), and is still used today. Looking forward, we will continue to keep melodrama, with its history of comedic, exaggerated acting, dubious plots and “Good vanquishes Evil” finales as part of the Pikes Peak region experience. Our contribution to the local area has, and will continue to be, providing a safe
The 2024 Comedy Tonight Olio full cast. Back left to right: Joanne Koehler, Koda Oxford, Lori Adams-Miller, Richard Sebastian-Coleman, Brian Der Garabedian and Lexi Remy. Front: Abigail Carcich. Photo by Bruce Hausknecht. space for our staff, actors, artists, and musicians to have opportunities for learning, teaching, working, and growing in a professional theater. We contribute to our community through tourism, outreach, and just plain old good intentions. There have certainly been some
challenging times over the years, but we move deliberately forward. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for us, and we’re confident it will be a happy ending. Learn more about Iron Springs Chateau at ironspringschateau.com.
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PALMER LAKE ARTS COUNCIL serves as a Tri-Lakes creative hub BY PALMER LAKE ARTS COUNCIL
The Palmer Lake Arts Council brings together residents who are committed to fostering creativity and celebrating the arts in Palmer Lake and the greater Tri-Lakes area. Our mission is to help make Palmer Lake a vibrant hub for artistic expression, community connection, and cultural enrichment. Started in 2022, Palmer Lake Arts Council became a 501(c)(3) in 2024. We sponsor and promote a wide range of arts experiences, including: • Classes that introduce young artists to a variety of media and techniques including watercolors, sketching, and drawing. • Melodramas, plays, and other stage productions. • Outdoor sculpture pieces displayed on permanent pedestals in Palmer Lake. • Poetry readings and literary events. • Art lecture series. • Concerts and musical performances.
ART OFF THE WALL FUNDRAISER Each year, the council hosts Art Off the Wall, a lively fundraiser featuring original artwork donated by dozens of local artists. Guests can view and take home pieces from a varied collection, including: • Oil, watercolor, and acrylic paintings. • Ceramics and papier-mâché work. • Woodworking and other handcrafted pieces. HOW THE DRAWING WORKS: 1. Ticket holders have one hour to browse the artwork and record their first, second, and third choices. 2. Guests may upgrade their tickets for entry into an earlier drawing pool. 3. When a ticket is drawn, the ticket holder goes to the back of the hall to claim an available piece. The drawing creates an energetic, good-natured atmosphere as guests cheer — or playfully groan — when they discover whether their favorite artwork is still available. A variety of wonderful appetizers are served CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
Artist Justin Deister, from Louisville Colorado, stands with his piece “A Wonder Hiding in Plain Sight,” part of the Public Art in Palmer Lake program. Photo courtesy of the Palmer Lake Arts Council.
Information Night: Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.
N O I T I U T ! E E FR TOP-PERFORMING K-12 CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL
MACLARENSCHOOL.ORG ARTSOCTOBER.COM
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throughout the evening, and each ticket includes two complimentary drinks.
PALMER LAKE ARTS FESTIVAL In July, the council sponsored the three-day Palmer Lake Arts Festival, which drew attendees from Palmer Lake, Monument, Larkspur, Colorado Springs, and the surrounding communities. Festival highlights included: • Live music by local bands. • Food trucks and refreshments. • Artwork for sale by local artisans. • Candy-making classes. • Instructions in painting, ceramics, and tie-dyeing t-shirts. • Live art demonstrations and hands-on creative activities. Visitors of all ages enjoyed the music, explored artist booths, created their own pieces, and purchased locally made art.
PERFORMING ARTS For the past several years, the council has hosted a variety of performing arts events, from captivating musical performances and engaging stage productions to comedy shows that bring the community together. These events celebrate creativity, talent, and
16 | LOCAL ARTS GUIDE 2026
shared experiences in Palmer Lake.
CALVIN STANDING BEAR AND MASA ITO Previous performances have included Calvin Standing Bear, a full-blooded Oglala/Sicangu Lakota from the Rosebud Reservation of South Dakota. He is a talented flutist known for traditional Lakota music as well as contemporary Lakota flute songs grounded in spirituality. He also sings traditional and spiritual Lakota songs and is an accomplished acoustic guitarist. We also supported a wonderful evening at the Palmer Lake Town Hall with Masa Ito, an internationally acclaimed classical guitarist and music professor at the Colorado School of Mines. COMEDY NIGHT AT PALMER LAKE TOWN HALL This year’s Comedy Night at Palmer Lake Town Hall featured Ben Roy and Andrew Orvendahl. Roy, who has been building comedy audiences since 2004, brought his high-energy style and distinctive voice to the stage. Orvendahl, a Denver-based comedian, has appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Comedy Central.
During “Off the Wall,” a fast-paced benefit event for the Palmer Lake Arts Council, attendees have 30 seconds to select a piece of local art off the wall to take home. Photos courtesy of the Palmer Lake Arts Council. Learn more about the Palmer Lake Arts Council at plartscouncil.org.
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Improv delight and much more at
PEAK IMPROV THEATER BY ETHAN GOLDMAN Program Director Peak Improv Theater
The Peak Improv Theater opened its doors in January 2024 as Colorado Springs’ first dedicated improv comedy venue. Since then, it has produced hundreds of live performances, taught over a thousand students, and provided tens of thousands of dollars in free programs and scholarships to the community. With excitement and energy empowering the small business and non-profit, the Peak Improv Theater and Peak Improv Foundation are just getting started bringing highquality improvised performance art, education, and community events to the front range. Before opening their brick-andmortar 80-seat venue (located on North Carefree Circle just west of
North Academy Boulevard) the Peak Improv Theater began as a hopeful idea of The Stick Horses improv troupe. Formerly The Stick Horses in Pants, they have performed all over Colorado Springs since 2004 and have been a fixture of family-friendly improv comedy. Members of the group rotated through the years, but the team always wanted a home for improvisation in Colorado Springs. After almost 20 years of performing shows, teaching classes, and running workshops, the Stick Horses saved enough money to begin the journey towards building a true improv venue and school. In October 2023, the team learned that their monthly shows at the Lon Chaney Theater in the City Auditorium were coming to an end due to new plans for the building. The Stick Horses pooled their resources, gathered existing improv
teams from around the city, and started teaching a new series of improv classes to a small community of theater enthusiasts. Those enthusiasts later became the first students to graduate from the Peak Improv Theater’s comedy education program. Starting with local improv teams like The Guest Bedroom, Improv Colorado, The Oxymorons, and The Stick Horses, the Peak Improv Theater began producing new original shows. The programming included Tune Titans: An Improvised Musical, Felty & Friends Puppetprov, and Laughter & Legends: A D&D Comedy Show. Soon after, brand new teams and shows were created to provide opportunities for the talent emerging from the community and classes. In the past two years, shows like Whimsicult, The Flock, Pretendium, Fandomonium Live!, Slidesplitters,
Jest in Time, Friends of the Pilot, Alphabet Soup, Dead Puppets’ Society, Midsummer Nights Queens, and FUNderdome all grew into exciting new nights at the space. With more new teams and shows on the horizon, the Peak Improv Theater now features over 20 unique performing groups. On any Friday or Saturday night at the a!ectionately named PiT, audiences will always be treated to something new. In addition to live performances on weekends, the PiT hosts a variety of comedy classes. Each 8-week term includes Improv 101 through 801, which cover the basics of improvisational comedy, all the way up through their advanced improv conservatory. Local stand-up comics Casey Dean Frase and Charley McMullen teach stand-up comedy, where students learn to CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
Celebrating the Legends. Preserving the Legacy. VISIT
103 Pro Rodeo Drive CALL
719-528-4764 ONLINE
prorodeohalloffame.com
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write and perform their own original stand-up sets. There are also seasonal special electives including clowning, musical improv, improvised Shakespeare, sketch writing, and improv for anxiety. Active students can see shows for free as part of their education, and each class performs a showcase show at the end of the term. Improv classes are great for building confidence and making friends. Improv people are some of the kindest and funniest people around. The community has expanded tremendously over the past few years, and they are a lovable and supportive group of profoundly fun weirdos. The Peak Improv Theater’s nonprofit, The Peak Improv Foundation, raised over $50,000 in 2026. The money provides scholarships to students for the curriculum of comedy classes on offer at the PiT, along with bringing new programs to local schools, hosting free community events, and making sure theater educators are paid a living wage. The foundation is hard at work bringing performing arts and education to all of Colorado Springs.
Peak Improv Theater teachers and leadership team. From left: Casey Dean Frase, Julia Boese, Ethan Goldman, and Meggan Hyde. Photo by Brennan McCarthy. It’s never been easier to join the Peak Improv Theater community. Free improv jams where anyone can get on stage and play are on Thursdays, The Stick Horses
City Above Clouds 1876 ArttheSoiree
family-friendly improv show on the First Friday of every month is pay-what-you-want, and if you want to drop into an Improv 101 class your first week is completely
free, with scholarships for full classes available. Learn more and join the growing community at peakimprov.com.
You have the vision. We have the tools. You belong at the Library. At PPLD, you can: e rinter engra er e ing a hine o t are i lay your art
In Honor of Colorado & Arts Month
Woodland NothingPark Like It Before &
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a e la e to learn to reate ra t e lore e our tu io or o a ting re or u i an o ie All at no cost!
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Shuttle Stop HubART 400West WestMidland Midland 400
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www.reserveourgallery.art 18 | LOCAL ARTS GUIDE 2026
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YOUTH DOCUMENTARY ACADEMY fosters storytelling that matters BY TOM SHEPARD Executive Director Youth Documentary Academy
TOP: YDA instructor Mona Adelgren with student Kareem Hopper. Photo courtesy of Youth Documentary Academy.
In 2013, a small group of educators, filmmakers, and arts leaders gathered to discuss the dearth of professional film arts and media training academies for youth in southern Colorado. In addition, we began responding to academic research which increasingly points to a young person’s connection to, knowledge of, and ability to share one’s family and community history as a major predictive factor for building resilience in young adulthood, including college readiness and engaged citizenship. Who gets to tell their story in America?
If a program could engage youth whose interests in the arts, film, and storytelling finds form through projects derived out of their own lived experiences, it could be transformative. Furthermore, if a program could be fostered in the middle of the country, it might level the playing field among elite film arts academies which typically reside in larger coastal cities and who serve primarily wealthy families. Since that time, the Youth Documentary Academy (YDA) has trained hundreds of diverse students, produced over 150 films, created a national PBS series called “Our Time” that reaches 82 percent of PBS stations nationwide, and started a traveling high school film festival focused on teen mental health and CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
ABOVE: Two YDA students from the inaugural class of 2014. Photo courtesy of Don Jones Photography.
Professional Theater in the World’s Greatest Gold Camp
Sweeney! Demon Barber of Cripple Creek
It ’s Mo re T h a n Ra d i o . It’s Connection. It ’ s C o m m u n i t y.
October 2nd November 1st
November 20th December 27th Your holiday favorites set in the 1960s!
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Your 24/7, listener supported, locally curated stations
SCAN & FIND... Our streams, apps, socials, and subscribe to our newsletters, to keep up with local events and behind-the-scene features. 1921 N. Weber St. Colorado Springs, CO 80907 | (719) 578-5263 membership@kcme.org / membership@jazz935.org LOCAL ARTS GUIDE 2026 | 19
Enrich Your Child’s Life With Dance
SOUTHERN COLORADO'S PREMIER DANCE SCHOOL Celebrating 29 years of dance excellence!
YDA graduate Bailey Francisco’s film “AFTER WAR” aired nationally on PBS. Photo courtesy of Don Jones Photography. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19
Offering advanced, intermediate, and beginning-level classes for ages 2.5-Adult in Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Tap, Sparkle Dance, and Acro.
Contact us today for a FREE Trial Class
719-272-7078 admin@danceinthesprings.com danceinthesprings.com
IN PERFORMANCE: A Colorado Nutcracker December 22-23, 2026
Alice in Wonderland April 24, 2027
20 | LOCAL ARTS GUIDE 2026
the stories that matter to young people. In over a decade, YDA has become a go-to for programmers, educators, and advocates alike who seek a model of storytelling with an authentic first-person point of view. YDA films have garnered an Emmy, over $300,000 in scholarship money to our filmmakers, and screenings before members of Congress, the Congressional Black Caucus, and hundreds of community screenings and film festivals nationwide. Our films, screened at Youth Media Matters festivals in area high schools, have reached nearly 15,000 students in El Paso County with invitations from schools and communities across the state — including Denver, Fort Collins, Boulder, Durango, Alamosa, and more. In addition, our students’ short films are now regularly featured in festivals, conferences, and summits statewide including Denver Film, Green Box, Aspen Film, Windrider Film Forum, The Council on World Affairs, the Air Force Academy’s Leadership Conference. Rocky Mountain Women’s Film, Educating Children of Color, the Arc, and Short Circuit to name a few. At a time when attacks on public media are unprecedented, young people from our very own communities are driving important conversations — not only in
Colorado but across the country, asking viewers to stop, listen, and be curious. When I was the age of my students, I believed Story (with a capital “S”) didn’t exist in my hometown of Colorado Springs. It existed in “more important” places like New York and California. Now, I understand that everyone has a story to tell. When young people see themselves and their own lived experiences, or those of their families and communities, as access points to Story, we all benefit. And when adults become more skillful at listening to the young people in their lives, even when the topics are tough, we dare to smash the walls that divide us. YDA is proud to be embarking on our 14th year in 2027 and continuing to help support the next generation of filmmakers from our city. Learn more about the Youth Documentary Academy at youthdocumentary.org. Tom Shepard, a Sundance awardwinning documentary filmmaker, is the founding Executive Director of Youth Documentary Academy in Colorado Springs. He is the series Producer of “Our Time,” now broadcasting on PBS stations nationwide and streaming at PBS.org. ARTSOCTOBER.COM
Art Gallery & Frame Shop 16+
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Since 2010, we've loved helping people discover art they connect with and framing the pieces that mean the most. Whether you're looking for a one-of-a-kind gift, starting your collection, or just feeling inspired, we’re here to help. See you soon! Emily & Reed
Visit Us!
Museum Guests getting ready to race down the interactive track. Photo courtesy of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum.
Discover the legends of America’s greatest athletes at the
USOPM
BY MAGGIE PERCIVAL Sales & Communications Coordinator United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum
Memories are uncovered and legacies are remembered at the United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum in downtown Colorado Springs, where you can learn about athlete artifacts, play interactive games, and experience immersive content that highlights what it takes to become one of America’s greatest athletes. The 60,000 square foot space — modeled after a discus throw — houses 13 galleries with over 600 artifacts on display, including a full
Olympic torch and medal collection, uniforms, equipment, and items reflecting the modern Olympic Games from 1896 to present day. Opened in summer 2020, the museum stands as a global leader in accessibility and universal design, offering guests universal design technologies such as open captions, universal keypads, and accessible exhibit spaces with ramped experiences. Team USA athletes played an integral role, contributing their expertise to ensure an authentic experience and universal design. Americans with Disabilities Act compliance is meticulously upheld throughout the museum. CONTINUED ON PAGE 22
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Open Tue - Sat 10:30 to 5:30 • Sun 11 to 3 2528 W. Colorado Ave, Colorado Springs 45degreegallery.com
50 YEARS OF SONG 1977-2027
For 50 years, the Colorado Springs Children’s Chorale has helped young people find their voices, build confidence and experience the joy of making music together. Since 1977, thousands of singers have grown through exceptional music education, unforgettable performances and lifelong friendships. This anniversary season honors everyone who made our first 50 years possible—and welcomes a new generation to the stage.
EXPLORE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON KIDSSING.ORG LOCAL ARTS GUIDE 2026 | 21
The United State Olympic & Paralympic Museum alongside the front range of Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak. Photo courtesy of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum.
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Every artifact in the museum is carefully placed to create a holistic story of the athlete’s journey. Beginning with the Ancient Games, guests will travel throughout time learning the history of the modern movement and Paralympic Games. As you move through the rest of the galleries, there are chances to train as the athletes do with interactive games and experience the accomplishments of the Summer and Winter Games. Guests can choose a self-guided experience, navigating the galleries at their own pace, or purchase tickets for one of the guided tours. Guided tours are led by experts who focus on the heart and soul of each artifact. Whether it is exploring the statistics of Bob Beamon’s jump or showcasing the incredible triumph of Paralympic legend Trischa Zorn Hudson, each story adds to the legacy of Team USA’s accomplishments and legacy. Beyond the walls, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum 22 | LOCAL ARTS GUIDE 2026
aims to inspire generations through immersive and virtual programming such as Legacy Library or Games History Hour, offering free experiences for history enthusiasts, educators, students, and lifelong learners. The museum continues to make waves as one of the most impressive attractions in Colorado. In 2020, it was honored with the prestigious title of the country’s Best New Attraction in the USA Today 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards. The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum is more than a museum — it’s a life-changing experience that will continue to educate and inspire the public to take part for generations to come. Interested in a visit or want more information on events and programs? Please visit our website at usopm.org and follow us on all social platforms @usopmuseum.
Olympic figure skater Meryl Davis speaks to a group of students during a visit to the museum. Photo courtesy of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum ARTSOCTOBER.COM
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LOCAL ARTS GUIDE 2026 | 23
ARTS MONTH IS HERE...
T S I R C N JOH
CHECK OUT WHAT’S COMING TO COLORADO SPRINGS THIS OCTOBER! The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight
Killers of Kill Tony Pikes Peak Center
October 10
Pikes Peak Center
October 9
John Crist Live!
Jim Henson’s
Labyrinth In Concert
Pikes Peak Center
Pikes Peak Center
October 11
October 13
Kansas
Jimmy Failla
Pikes Peak Center
Pikes Peak Center
October 15
Fourever Fab and Sixtiesmania
October 17
Monster Jam The Broadmoor World Arena
October 23-25
Pikes Peak Center
M A J R E T MONS
October 20
Whitney Cummings
World Ballet Company
Swan Lake Pikes Peak Center
Pikes Peak Center
October 25
October 24
Chloé Dufresne
Music Director
...this October at Pikes Peak Center
Y E N T I H W S G N I M CUM
Music of the Knights October 2-3
Edward Scissorhands October 30-31
To get tickets, or to see a full list of upcoming events, visit PikesPeakCenter.com or BroadmoorWorldArena.com