Alright, looking forward to meeting some more of you tonight at our DougCo Social Dinner Club. Between those, the Supper Clubs, and the Paint Nights, it's been so awesome to experience the community aspect of all of this. Which reminds me…this will be the last last call for tomorrow night's late add Supper Club. We've already got 30+ guests, but have a few spots left if you want to experience it before it's over for the season! Oh, and these guys are finding new homes, so it might be the last chance to meet a few of them…Tickets here.

And if that doesn't interest you, we've got plenty of other events going on around the county this weekend if you need plans or want to pile on more. A few marquee ones here in the main section with Parker once again just really showing out with all the new stuff.

And a very late note: I found out JP Cocina & Cantina was opening up yesterday, dropped everything (literally nothing), and crashed their party. Street corn and the ribeye tacos: 👌. I'll keep updating it and write more in here down the road, but you can read the whole thing here.

Fiesta Parker takes over downtown Parker this Saturday, and it's the first one they've ever thrown. It's also a bigger production than a first year usually gets. Three live bands: Banda Rockera La Negra at 1:05pm, Chimbangle at 3:30pm, and iZCalli closing it out at 5:45pm. DJ Jorge Cruz opens, Mariachi Las Dahlias and Colorado Youth Mariachi play in between, and Hugo's Lucha Libre wrestling runs twice, at 2:20pm and again at 4:35pm. Zumba dancers at 2:55pm, Peruvian dancers at 5:10pm. Then food from Cencalli Taqueria, Xatrucho, Nanixhe and more, a marketplace, and inflatables, face painting and crafts for the kids.

It runs 1pm-7pm at the Parker Station North lot on Mainstreet. It's a signature event of the Parker Chamber Foundation, put together by the Parker Latino Business Committee, capped at 3,000 people, and it happens rain or shine.

A few things worth knowing before you go. General admission runs 2pm-7pm and is $35 ahead of time, $45 at the gate, and it includes a complimentary soft drink or water. Kids 12 and under get in free with a ticketed adult. The VIP experience is $60 presale and $70 at the gate, runs 1pm-4pm, and comes with two drinks, unlimited appetizer samples from the Hispanic Restaurant Association and designated picnic tables, but it's limited to the first 500 people. Entry is only at Mainstreet and S Pikes Peak Drive.

Why I might try to convince you not to go: Every adult ticket is also automatically entered to win a four-day trip for two to Jalisco, Mexico, with a two-day tequila distillery experience, courtesy of Tequila Reserva de la Torre and Cencalli Taqueria and Agaveria. I want them!

Get the full details here.

Fiesta isn't the only thing going on, either. Almost all of it lands Saturday, so you'll have to pick.

Friday, Castle Pines. Vino in the Village is at The Village Shops from 5:30pm-8pm, with more than 70 wines and spirits, whiskey tastings, food pairings from local restaurants and live music. General admission is $110, it's 21 and up, and they don't sell at the door, so grab tickets ahead.

Saturday morning, Castle Rock. Touch-A-Truck is back at the Fairgrounds for its tenth year, 9am-2pm, free. Castle Rock PD lets kids climb into the driver's seat of everything that serves the town. The first hour, 9am-10am, is sensory-friendly with no horns.

Saturday evening, Castle Pines. Party in the Park runs 5pm-9pm at Elk Ridge Park. Yachty Got Back plays, plus vendor booths, kids' activities, dinner from the In-N-Out truck, and a Stories in the Sky drone show to close it out. Free. You can pre-order your In-N-Out ahead of time, and they're asking people to leave dogs, e-bikes and e-scooters at home. Parking at the park is limited this year, so they're running shuttles from the old Safeway lot at Castle Pines Market Place 4:30pm-10:30pm.

Saturday night, Highlands Ranch. The Summer Sunset Concert at Civic Green Park has Ninety2K, a Denver 90s and 2000s rock cover band, from 7pm-8:30pm, and the drone show goes up right after. Same Stories in the Sky series as Castle Pines, one of nearly 150 the America 250 and Colorado 150 Commission is putting up around the state this year. Free. Pack a picnic or grab dinner from a food truck. Best viewing is inside the park or between Broadway and Dorchester in the Town Center area, and plan to park in the Town Center garage, because the Senior Center lot and the lots west of it are closed for the night. No glass or dogs in the park, and no strollers or wagons on the grass.

It's live.

Wanted to see what you all actually like around here, and you can see what others besides just me also like. Instead of a survey, I set it up so you can go back and change your vote, or add more as you try new places.

Tons of categories. Best burger, best green chile, best cinnamon roll, etc. Takes a minute or two, and I get to find out how developed my palate really is. Or something like that. No wrong answers.

Vote in the Best of Douglas County →

Local jobs and opportunities across Douglas County.

If you're hiring, reach out at [email protected] for a free posting.

Broadway in the Park: A Free Family Festival

Free family festival! The Performing Arts Academy brings Broadway in the Park to Highland Heritage Regional Park in Highlands Ranch. In the spirit of NYC's Broadway in Bryant Park, PAA students perform popular musical theatre songs and dances. The evening includes family activities, such as face painting and sing-alongs, plus a Kona Ice truck on site (available for purchase). The first 100 families get a special giveaway. Bring a picnic.

Friday, August 28 from 6pm-7:30pm at Highland Heritage Regional Park in Highlands Ranch. See the details here.

Music & Concerts
Highlands Ranch Senior Center - Sunflower Swing Dance at the Highlands Ranch Senior Center - Thu 8/20, 5:00pm–8:00pm - $24-$27
Pines Bar and Grill - Open Mic Night at Pines Bar and Grill - Thu 8/20, 6:00pm–9:00pm
The Parker Hotel - G Martenis Live at The Upper Deck - Thu 8/20, 6:00pm–8:00pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Buck Sergeant at Tailgate Tavern - Thu 8/20, 6:00pm–10:00pm
Philip S. Miller Park Amphitheater - Tunes for Trails: Santa Rios - Thu 8/20, 6:30pm–9:00pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Sarah P and the Haypullers at Tailgate Tavern - Thu 8/20, 7:30pm–11:30pm
Lone Tree Golf Club & Hotel - Music on the Patio: 90's till Dawn at Lone Tree Golf Club - Fri 8/21, 6:00pm–9:00pm
Pines Bar and Grill - Live Band at Pines Bar and Grill - Fri 8/21, 6:00pm–9:00pm
The Parker Hotel - Voices Kerry Live at The Upper Deck - Fri 8/21, 6:00pm–8:00pm
Sterling Ranch CAB - Ascent Concert Series at Sterling Ranch - Fri 8/21, 6:00pm–8:00pm
Prost Brewing Company - Live Music with The Tony Luke Band at Prost Highlands Ranch - Fri 8/21, 6:00pm–9:00pm
Wide Open Saloon - Last Train to Juarez at Wide Open Saloon - Fri 8/21, 7:00pm–10:30pm
Max Taps Co. - Live Music-One Way to Rock- Day one of 9th Anniversary Celebration! - Fri 8/21, 7:00pm–10:00pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Tripping Griswolds at Tailgate Tavern - Fri 8/21, 7:00pm–11:00pm
Takoda Tavern - Jimmy Junior Blues Band - Fri 8/21, 7:30pm–11:30pm
Sinners & Saints - Mike Maurer — Live at the Altar - Fri 8/21, 8:00pm–11:00pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Wicked Addicted at Tailgate Tavern - Fri 8/21, 8:30pm–12:30am
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Adam Rey at Tailgate Tavern - Sat 8/22, 12:00pm–4:00pm
Wide Open Saloon - Saturday Acoustic Show at Wide Open Saloon - Sat 8/22, 2:00pm–5:00pm
Prost Brewing Company - Live Music with Radio Revolution Colorado at Prost Highlands Ranch - Sat 8/22, 5:00pm–8:00pm
The Stagecoach Saloon - Mountain Magic Band Live at The Stagecoach Saloon - Sat 8/22, 6:30pm–10:30pm
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - John Denver: The Tribute at Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Sat 8/22, 6:30pm–9:30pm - $89
105 West Brewing Company - Live Music: Mike Maurer Band at 105 West Brewing - Sat 8/22, 6:30pm–9:30pm
Civic Green Park - Summer Sunset Concert + America 250 / Colorado 150 Drone Show at Civic Green Park - Sat 8/22, 7:00pm–8:30pm
The Whiskey Lodge - Live Music at The Whiskey Lodge - Sat 8/22, 7:00pm–10:00pm
Max Taps Co. - Vinyl Nation at Max Taps: 9th Anniversary Weekend - Sat 8/22, 7:00pm–10:00pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Last Men on Earth at Tailgate Tavern - Sat 8/22, 7:00pm–11:00pm
Studio@Mainstreet - Whiskey Road at The Studio - Sat 8/22, 7:00pm–11:00pm
Takoda Tavern - Jim Hyatt Band - Sat 8/22, 7:30pm–11:30pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - The Munchies at Tailgate Tavern - Sat 8/22, 8:30pm–12:30am
Takoda Tavern - Chuck Fisher Solo on the Upper Patio - Sun 8/23, 12:00pm–4:00pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Bryce and Company at Tailgate Tavern - Sun 8/23, 12:00pm–4:00pm
Studio@Mainstreet - Twos Company at The Studio - Sun 8/23, 1:00pm–4:00pm
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - John Denver "The Tribute" Matinee at Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Sun 8/23, 1:30pm–4:30pm - $80.75-$86
105 West Brewing Company - Live Music: Marcus Kruep at 105 West Brewing - Sun 8/23, 2:30pm–5:30pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Project X at Tailgate Tavern - Sun 8/23, 5:00pm–9:00pm
Magic Manor - Doug Davis: Music on the Patio at Magic Manor - Wed 8/26, 4:00pm–6:00pm
Savina's Mexican Kitchen - Savina's Summer Concert Series: Rhett Haney - Wed 8/26, 6:00pm–9:00pm
Festival Park - Jazz in the Park - Wed 8/26, 6:30pm–8:00pm

Food & Drink
Douglas County Fairgrounds and Event Center - Taste of Douglas County 2026 - Thu 8/20, 5:00pm–8:00pm - $10-$20
Max Taps Co. - Our 9th Anniversary Weekend!!! Come celebrate with us! - Fri 8/21, 12:00pm–11:00pm
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Wine Tasting at the Castle: California Wines - Fri 8/21, 6:00pm–9:15pm - $69.95
Black+Haus Tavern - Parker - Black+Haus 5th Annual Charity Dinner & Auction - Tue 8/25, 6:00pm–9:00pm - $100-$140

Arts & Culture
Magic Manor - The Chipper Lowell Experience - Fri 8/21 7:30pm, Sat 8/22 7:30pm - $45-$50
The Wine Barrel - Magnificent Mushrooms Paint & Sip in Parker - Sat 8/22, 2:00pm–5:00pm - $49.87-$60.54
Pikes Peak Event Center - A Dance With Death: A 1950s Murder Mystery Dinner Theater - Sat 8/22, 6:00pm–9:30pm - $71.21
Legends Coffee - Parker - Charcuterie Canvas Hands-On Workshop at Legends Coffee - Sat 8/22, 6:00pm–7:45pm - $55
Max Taps Co. - Starry Mountain High Paint & Sip in Highlands Ranch - Sun 8/23, 2:00pm–5:00pm - $48
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Arts Afield 2026 at Cherokee Ranch - Wed 8/26, 8:30am–1:00pm - $39
Wild Blue Yonder Brewing Co. - Hummingbird Planter Painting & Mosaic in Castle Rock - Wed 8/26, 6:00pm–9:00pm - $57.33

Nightlife & Entertainment
Purgatory Cellars Winery - Mahjong 101 with Evergreen Mahjong Collective - Thu 8/20, 5:00pm–7:30pm - $35
Max Taps Co. - Poker-free to play - Thu 8/20, 7:00pm–9:00pm
Studio@Mainstreet - RION EVANS Presents Comedy Show at The Studio - Sat 8/22, 6:00pm–7:30pm - $9.85-$15
Wide Open Saloon - SPARTA 112: MMA at Wide Open Saloon - Sat 8/22, 6:00pm–11:00pm - $60-$125
Wide Awake Eatery - Sip & Spin Sundays at Wide Awake Eatery - Sun 8/23, 2:00pm–5:00pm
Alidade Brewing - Mah Jongg Monday - Mon 8/24, 5:00pm–8:00pm
Olive Juice Beauty Bar - Mahjong 2.0: Beyond the Basics with Trista Sutter - Wed 8/26, 5:00pm–7:30pm - $65.87

Family
Douglas County Fairgrounds and Event Center - Touch-A-Truck 2026 - Sat 8/22, 9:00am–2:00pm
Philip S. Miller Park Amphitheater - Popcorn in the Park: The Goonies - Sat 8/22, 5:00pm–8:00pm
Backcountry Base Camp - Backcountry Outdoor Movie: How to Train Your Dragon (Live Action) - Sat 8/22, 8:00pm–10:00pm - $30
Dove Ridge Park - Back to School Movie Night in the Park: Shrek - Sat 8/22, 8:20pm–10:20pm

Fitness & Wellness
RNK Running and Walking - Chog (Chill Jog) with RNK Running - Thu 8/20, 6:00pm–7:00pm
RNK Running and Walking - Saturday Long Run with RNK Running - Sat 8/22, 7:00am–9:00am
Civic Green Park - Free Yoga in the Park at Civic Green - Sat 8/22, 8:00am–9:00am
Sweetwater Park - BODYBAR Pilates in the Park — Lone Tree - Sat 8/22, 9:00am
Lost Coffee - Lost Runners Run Club with RNK Running - Sun 8/23, 8:00am–9:30am
Philip S. Miller Park Amphitheater - Sunday morning Yoga in the Park - Sun 8/23, 8:30am–9:30am
Lone Tree Arts Center - Pulling As Performative Movement Workshop for Parkinson's at LTAC - Mon 8/24, 10:30am–11:30am
Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space - RNK Monday Trail Run: Lost Canyon Ranch - Mon 8/24, 5:30pm–6:30pm
Festival Park - Monday evening Yoga in the Park - Mon 8/24, 6:30pm–7:30pm
RNK Running and Walking - Weekly Reset Walking Club with RNK Running - Tue 8/25, 5:30pm–6:30pm
Belvedere Park - Yoga in the Park at Belvedere Park (August) - Tue 8/25, 6:30pm–7:30pm

Festivals & Fairs
Salisbury Regional Park - Colorado Dog Days of Summer Festival - Sat 8/22, 10:00am–2:00pm - $25 per dog
Parker Station North Parking Lot - Fiesta Parker - Sat 8/22, 1:00pm–7:00pm - $35-$60

Community
The Village Shops at Castle Pines - Vino in the Village 2026 — Castle Pines Chamber - Fri 8/21, 5:30pm–8:00pm - $110
Castle Rock Museum - Walking Tour of Downtown Castle Rock - Sat 8/22, 10:30am–11:30am
Wide Open Saloon - Knock Knock Angels Benefit Concert - Sat 8/22, 3:00pm–10:30pm
Elk Ridge Park - Castle Pines Party in the Park - Sat 8/22, 5:00pm–9:00pm

Looking for more? Every Douglas County event we track lives on our events calendar: dougcosocial.com/events.

Emma Paints Colorado is closing out the summer with a couple of guided paint-and-sip nights, no experience required. Emma walks the whole room through it step by step while you grab a drink and make something you'll actually want to hang up. Materials, an apron, and a framed canvas are all included.

First up is Magnificent Mushrooms at The Wine Barrel in Parker this Saturday, August 22, 2pm-5pm. Then she's at Max Taps in Highlands Ranch for Starry Mountain High, a Van Gogh-inspired Colorado landscape, this Sunday, August 23, 2pm-5pm.

See all of Emma's upcoming paint nights here

On the Horizon
Downhill Brewing Parker - Rainbow Daisies Paint & Sip in Parker - Thu 8/27, 6:00pm–9:00pm - $60.54
Downtown Parker (check in at Parker Chamber Office, 19751 E. Mainstreet) - Parker Wine Walk - Fri 8/28, 4:30pm–7:30pm - $25-$30
Monk & Mongoose Coffee Co - Summer's Last Chapter Flower Arranging - Fri 8/28, 5:00pm–7:00pm - $119.22
Highland Heritage Regional Park - Broadway in the Park - Fri 8/28, 6:00pm–7:30pm
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Hike: Setting of the Sun & Rising of the Full Moon - Fri 8/28, 6:15pm–9:00pm - $40
O'Brien Park - Art in the Park 2026 - Sat 8/29 10:00am, Sun 8/30 8:00am
Sterling Ranch CAB - Splash Bash at Sterling Ranch - Sat 8/29, 12:00pm–3:00pm
The Historic Maytag Ranch - Under a Wild Sky 2026 — Douglas Land Conservancy Fundraiser - Sat 8/29, 4:00pm–8:00pm - $175-$350
Park Meadows - Park Meadows 30th Anniversary - Sat 8/29, 4:00pm–7:00pm
McAwesome Ranch - The 2026 Colorado Bluegrass Festival - Sat 8/29, 5:00pm–10:30pm - $47
Philip S. Miller Park Amphitheater - Summer Concert Series: Still the Same — A Bob Seger Tribute with the Denver Pops Orchestra - Sat 8/29, 7:00pm–10:30pm - $34-$44
PACE Center - Benise - 25 Years of Passion! - Sat 8/29, 7:30pm–9:30pm - $54.50-$64.50
Sterling Ranch CAB - Dive-in Movie Night: Moana 2 at Sterling Ranch - Sat 8/29, 8:30pm–10:30pm
Bluffs Regional Park Trail - Bluffs 8K Trail Run at Bluffs Regional Park - Sun 8/30, 8:00am–10:00am
Lone Tree Arts Center - Passport to Culture: LocoMotion - Sun 8/30, 1:30pm–2:30pm - $9
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Princess Party at the Castle - Sun 8/30, 1:30pm–3:30pm - $53.95
RNK Running and Walking - RNK Monday Trail Run: Kinney Creek Trail - Mon 8/31, 5:30pm–6:30pm
Lone Tree Arts Center - Seedlings: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - Tue 9/1, 9:30am–10:30am - $5
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Arts Afield 2026 at Cherokee Ranch - Wed 9/2, 8:30am–1:00pm - $39
The Schoolhouse - Parker Arts Lecture: Colorado's Wild West - Wed 9/2, 6:30pm–8:00pm
PACE Center - Member Event: From Penny to Profession - Thu 9/3, 6:00pm–7:30pm - $5
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Murder & Mystery: Till Death Do Us Part - Fri 9/4, 6:00pm–9:15pm - $85.95
Wide Awake Eatery - Dinner and Dueling Pianos at Wide Awake Eatery - Fri 9/4, 6:00pm–9:00pm - $28.52
Denver Polo Club - Closing Weekend Polo Tailgate at Denver Polo Club - Sun 9/6, 10:00am–3:00pm - $28.52+
Festival Park - Castle Rock Artfest 2026 - Sat 9/12 9:00am, Sun 9/13 10:00am
Denver Polo Club - Colorado Highland Games - Sat 9/26, 9:00am–5:00pm - $11.67-$37.25

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Douglas County will vote in November on going from three commissioners to five
TLDR: The Douglas County Clerk and Recorder issued a Statement of Sufficiency on August 12, putting the "3 to 5" initiative on the November ballot. Organizers began collecting signatures in March, and the Elections Office certified 20,434 of them as valid against the 15,087 required, a validation rate of 88.7%. If it passes, the Board of County Commissioners would go from three members to five, with at least some elected by district instead of county-wide. Douglas County currently has three commissioners, all elected at-large, serving a population of more than 400,000.

Lone Tree is writing five times more speeding tickets on RidgeGate Parkway
TLDR: Citations along the roughly three-mile stretch of RidgeGate east of I-25 are up 453%. Officers wrote 221 tickets between January and June, compared with 40 in the same period last year. Patrol Commander Ron Pinson told Axios officers have clocked drivers going over 70 mph where the construction-zone limit is 35, and the city has put out radar trailers that flash drivers' speeds back at them. The road used to cut through mostly open land and now runs past apartments, the new justice center and an under-construction King Soopers Marketplace, and Pinson says the worry is what happens as that development brings more people on foot and on bikes.

Parents, Fridays change tomorrow
TLDR: Starting Friday, August 21, Douglas County School District elementary and middle schools begin 45 minutes later every Friday so teachers can meet for collaboration time. Buses run 45 minutes later too. Preschool schedules are unchanged. This is every Friday going forward, not a one-off, and charter schools may run a different schedule, so check with yours directly.

The county wants to be an easier place to open a business
TLDR: Douglas County launched a strategy on August 17 aimed at speeding up development review and improving coordination between county departments and partner agencies, with the goal of making approvals faster and more predictable for anyone trying to build or open something here.

A Highlands Ranch dad built an FDA-authorized maternal health system in his basement
TLDR: Robert Bunn was working for an oil company when his wife went through multiple miscarriages and he couldn't understand why doctors had no way to see them coming. He had a background in software and data science but none in medicine, so he read his way in, built a computer out of spare parts in his basement, and spent a year feeding it ultrasound images looking for patterns tied to how many days were left before delivery. That became Delivery Date AI. The University of Kentucky handed over 80% of its women's health data and held back the rest to test whether it worked. A peer-reviewed study of more than 5,700 patients found it could predict days to delivery across all trimesters, in some cases from as early as six weeks, and the FDA granted it De Novo authorization in March.

A Parker coffee company is opening its third Denver-area shop
TLDR: Convict Coffee, founded in Parker in 2024 by Dan Klehm and his family, is opening at 2260 E. Colfax Avenue in Denver, alongside the original Parker location and a shop on Evans. The whole business is built around second chances. They support programs that help formerly incarcerated people avoid returning to prison and create jobs for people coming out, and say they've raised more than $150,000 toward that work since launching in April 2024. No opening date announced yet.

There's new public art around the county and you've probably driven past some of it
TLDR: Douglas County's Art Encounters program has installed dozens of new sculptures for 2026-27 in public spots across Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Parker and Roxborough.

Lone Tree Arts is using theater to help people with Parkinson's
TLDR: The Lone Tree Arts Center teamed up with the Parkinson Association of the Rockies on a program where people living with Parkinson's build theatrical characters through movement, pairing physical activity with artistic expression. "The arts don't leave anybody behind," said Patrick Elkins-Zeglarski, community programs director for Lone Tree Arts. "No matter where you are or who you are, the arts can offer something to you." The Parkinson Association has been around since 1981 and serves close to 25,000 people a year across Colorado and Wyoming.

Lone Tree wants to hear from you twice next week
TLDR: City Council holds a Town Hall and Open House Tuesday, August 25 from 5:30pm-7:30pm at The Lone Tree Hub, 8827 Lone Tree Pkwy. It's an open-house format with information stations where you can talk directly with the Mayor, Council and staff. The next night, Wednesday, August 26 from 5:30pm-7:30pm at the Lone Tree Arts Center, the city holds an open house on the Unified Development Code, the rulebook that will guide how land gets developed in Lone Tree going forward.

The county keeps building, and keeps holding onto the parts that made it
TLDR: Drive around Douglas County right now and it's neighborhoods going up, widened roads and shopping centers that didn't exist a generation ago. But turn off onto a country road, spend an afternoon on an open-space trail, or walk through the barns at the Fair and Rodeo, and the other version of the county is still right there. A good read on how the rural history keeps shaping a place growing this fast.

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