Had an awesome time last night at ClueClock in Castle Pines with some of the DougCo Social squad. This is a great place for family fun, a night out with friends, work parties, you name it! We tried out their new Game Show activity (they also have Escape Rooms). It was a back-and-forth game, but I'm happy to report that my team (the red team?) ended up victorious! Check out their website here and the game shows here.
this is where we did battle
Oh, and if you read last week, you'll know that I wrote about Devils Head…well, Margaret Ellis reached out to me. She's the woman whose poem I quoted, and she lived up there for 35 seasons with her husband Billy and a bunch of kids over the years. She sent me another poem as well as some photos. One year the County Fair had artists paint dumpsters. Here's one side of hers:
Four Saturdays of Oktoberfest
Last year in downtown Castle Rock.
Every Saturday from this weekend to the end of the month, somewhere in Douglas County there's a polka band and a line of people finding out how long they can hold a full liter of beer out at arm's length. Six Oktoberfests across four Saturdays, and every one of them is free to walk into. Here they are in order.
This one's two days out. They tap the Helles and the Pumpkin Ale, KB Ranch brings mini Highland cows and donkeys from 1 to 4pm, polka runs 2 to 6pm, and the stein hoisting competition is at 4pm. Big Stuff Colorado is parked out front 11am to 8pm. Free, 18425 Pony Express Drive, which longtime Parker people will know better as the old Barnett & Son building.
Same brewery, other taproom, bigger version. Doors are open all day and the schedule runs 11am to 8pm: Helles and Pumpkin tapping at 11, Big Stuff Colorado on food from noon, the donkeys and mini Highland cows back on the patio 1 to 4pm, live polka 2 to 6pm, and stein hoisting at 4pm. Free. Their words, not mine: “TWO Oktoberfests. TWO chances to pet farm animals while drinking beer.”
The big one. Wilcox Square, 1 to 9pm, free, no ticket needed. It opens with a keg tapping at 1pm, then Castle Rock Dance Academy, then Neue Polka from 2:30 to 6:45, then DJ Markus closing it out 7 to 9pm. Sixteen food trucks, including Bohemian Wurst, Berliner Haus, Pierogies Factory and Woodhill BBQ. Twenty-three places pouring, from 105 West and Alidade to Great Divide and Rockyard, plus a non-alcoholic option. Free bounce houses and a rock wall for the kids, and stein hoisting competitions at 2:20, 3:20, 4:20 and 5:20pm.
Same day, other end of the county, and this is the one with the animals. Noon to 10pm, free. Zuma Horse Rescue brings mini horses at 2pm. They're pouring an Oktoberfest Märzen and a Munich Helles, Rustic Nomads is doing a special menu, and there's a growler holding contest, a photobooth, costume contests and free pretzel necklaces. Dog-friendly, which given the mini horses feels like the right call.
This one's HRCA's. 1 to 9pm, free, at 9315 Dorchester. Steve Rock Tanzkapelle opens, Denver's Thirsty 5 plays at 2:30, and then it gets strange in the best way: dachshund races at 4:30, which are free to enter and you sign up at the info table the day of, dachshunds only. Bavarian folk dancing at 5:15, stein hoisting at 6, and Dead Floyd, a Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd tribute out of Fort Collins, closes it 7:30 to 9pm. Free parking and Link on Demand runs to it. The Oktoberfest 5K is the same morning at 9am, but that's a separate ticketed race.
Providence Park, 11am to 7pm, free. Best Dressed Contest, Best Dressed Dachshund Contest, pretzel eating, stein hoisting, kids' games, local vendors and live music.
And one more once the month's over (I don't know why anyone would throw an Oktoberfest in October instead of September…): Lone Tree's own Oktoberfest at Schweiger Ranch on Saturday 10/3, 2:30 to 6:30pm. This is the one exception to the free rule, sort of: walking in costs nothing and you can attend at any age, but the beer only comes in packages. It's $36 for unlimited sampling and a commemorative taster glass, or $26 for a 20 ounce mug and two pours, with extra tokens at $10. The 2026 packages aren't on sale yet. There's mobile axe throwing, giant pong, cornhole and a kids' stein hoisting contest, parking is at the RTD RidgeGate Park and Ride across the street with a golf cart shuttle, and a portion of the proceeds goes to Tall Tales Ranch.
The animals are doing a lot of work this month. Mini Highland cows and donkeys at both Lone Tree Brewing dates, brought over by KB Ranch, the same ranch that hosts the Supper Clubs (the last one with tickets left is 9/29). Mini horses in Highlands Ranch on the 19th. And on the 26th there are two separate dachshund competitions running in two different towns on the same afternoon, so somebody out there is going to have to choose.
Mod Mountain Boutique
Seven years, we can hardly believe it! ❤️
We're busy behind the scenes getting Mod Mountain ready to celebrate how far we've come, and we're pulling out all the stops for a very special anniversary weekend. We're prepping a wide selection of fall styles, planning some fun surprises, and getting the store ready for three days of celebrating with the people who have made these seven years possible. Mark your calendar for September 11 to 13. We can't wait to celebrate with you!
Be sure to follow us on Instagram for more details (and a giveaway) leading up to the event.
Mod Mountain Boutique is also giving away a $50 gift card to one DougCo Drop subscriber. Just enter via the poll below.
And the anniversary giveaway is live on Instagram right now. Watch the reel and enter here. Entries close Wednesday, September 9 at 5pm.
Winners announced in next week's newsletter.
Wednesday, September 9. Two dinners, one night, both in Castle Rock.
Dinner Club is the one where you show up at 6:30pm and sit down with five neighbors you've never met. We do the matching and make the reservation, and the restaurant gets revealed the day of. You order off the menu and pay for your own food and drinks. Afterward we all spill over to Wild Blue Yonder for the after-party.
Couples Dinner (55+) runs the same night if you'd rather bring your person. Same idea, different room, and this one we can tell you up front: it's at Courtyard Social on Perry Street.
Use code COUPLES10 for $10 off. Grab a table here.
Signups close Monday, September 7 at 6:30pm.
Help Wanted
Local jobs and opportunities across Douglas County.
If you're hiring, reach out at [email protected] for a free posting.
Saddle Up
Music & Concerts
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Kingpin Posse at Tailgate Tavern Patio - Thu 9/3, 6pm–10pm
Courtyard Social - Jewel & the Rough at Courtyard Social - Thu 9/3, 6pm–9pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Eric Golden Band at Tailgate Tavern - Thu 9/3, 7:30pm–11:30pm
The Groove at Lyric - Friday Night Live: Nic Clark at The Groove - Fri 9/4, 5pm–8pm
Prost Brewing Company - Live Music with Hard 45 Band at Prost Highlands Ranch - Fri 9/4, 5pm–9pm
Wide Awake Eatery - Dinner and Dueling Pianos at Wide Awake Eatery - Fri 9/4, 6pm–9pm - $28.52
Honnibrook Craft Meadery - Josh Blackburn: Live In Castle Rock - Fri 9/4, 6pm–9pm
Wide Open Saloon - The Petty Nicks Experience & Disco Revue, Firefighters Benefit - Fri 9/4, 6pm–11pm - $33.85-$108.55
Lone Tree Brewing Company - Parker - The One and Only Jon Ham at Lone Tree Brewing Parker - Fri 9/4, 6pm–9pm
Studio@Mainstreet - 90% Nineties at The Studio - Fri 9/4, 7pm–11pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Hyndesight at Tailgate Tavern - Fri 9/4, 7pm–9pm
Sinners & Saints - Bunny Blake, Live at the Altar - Fri 9/4, 8pm–10pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - 90's Night at Tailgate Tavern - Fri 9/4, 8:30pm–11:30pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Hey, Lady! at Tailgate Tavern - Fri 9/4, 9pm–11pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Josh Blackburn at Tailgate Tavern - Sat 9/5, 12pm–4pm
Prost Brewing Company - Live Music with Brother John at Prost Highlands Ranch - Sat 9/5, 5pm–8pm
105 West Brewing Company - Live Music: Six Bucks & A Flight at 105 West - Sat 9/5, 6:30pm–9:30pm
The Stagecoach Saloon - Country Music Project at The Stagecoach Saloon - Sat 9/5, 6:30pm–10:30pm
Wide Open Saloon - Whiskey Road at Wide Open Saloon - Sat 9/5, 7pm–10:30pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - The Long Run at Tailgate Tavern - Sat 9/5, 7pm–11pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - 90's Til Dawn at Tailgate Tavern - Sat 9/5, 8:30pm–12:30am
Sinners & Saints - Live DJ in the Lounge with “DJ Max” - Sat 9/5, 9pm–12am
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Nick Valdez at Tailgate Tavern - Sun 9/6, 12pm–4pm
Studio@Mainstreet - Twos Company at The Studio - Sun 9/6, 1pm–4pm
Prost Brewing Company - Live Music with King's Highway 285 at Prost Highlands Ranch - Sun 9/6, 2pm–5pm
105 West Brewing Company - Live Music: Giant Zero at 105 West - Sun 9/6, 2:30pm–5:30pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Sarah P and the Haypullers at Tailgate Tavern - Sun 9/6, 5:30pm–9:30pm
The Stagecoach Saloon - The Band These Guys Live at The Stagecoach Saloon (Labor Day) - Mon 9/7, 12:30pm–4:30pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Margarita Brothers at Tailgate Tavern - Mon 9/7, 4pm–8pm
Lone Tree Arts Center - Arts in the Afternoon: Beatles Piano Showcase with Chappell Kingsland - Wed 9/9, 1:30pm–3pm - $30-$60
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Tribal Dantz at Tailgate Tavern - Wed 9/9, 5:30pm–9:30pm
Food & Drink
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Afternoon Tea at the Castle - Fri 9/4, 1pm–3pm - $74.95
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Afternoon Tea at the Castle - Sat 9/5, 1pm–3pm - $74.95
Arts & Culture
PACE Center - Member Event: From Penny to Profession - Thu 9/3, 6pm–7:30pm - $5
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Castle Tour at Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Fri 9/4, 10am–11:30am - $21-$24
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Castle Tour at Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Sat 9/5, 10am–11:30am - $21-$24
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Castle Tour at Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Tue 9/8, 10am–11:30am - $21-$24
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Castle Tour at Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Wed 9/9, 10am–11:30am - $21-$24
Nightlife & Entertainment
Alidade Brewing - Learn to Play Mah Jongg at Alidade - Thu 9/3, 5pm–8pm - $65
Studio@Mainstreet - Bike Night at The Studio - Thu 9/3, 6pm–9pm
Takoda Tavern - Thursday Bike Night at Takoda - Thu 9/3, 6pm–7pm
Sinners & Saints - Western Line Dancing Night at Sinners & Saints - Thu 9/3, 7pm–9pm
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Murder & Mystery: Till Death Do Us Part - Fri 9/4, 6pm–9:15pm - $85.95
Studio@Mainstreet - Rion Evans Presents: Game Show Night at The Studio - Sat 9/5, 5pm–7pm - $15.18
Pines Bar and Grill - Live Band Saturdays at Pines Bar and Grill - Sat 9/5, 6pm–9pm
105 West Brewing Company - Plant Bingo by Fun With Ferns - Wed 9/9, 6pm–8pm - $35
Family
Backcountry Base Camp - Backcountry Outdoor Movie Series: The Sandlot - Sat 9/5, 7:30pm–10pm - $30
The Millhouse at Miller Park - Batty About Castle Rock - Tue 9/8, 6pm–7pm
Fitness & Wellness
RNK Running and Walking - Chog (Chill Jog) with RNK Running - Thu 9/3, 6pm–7pm
RNK Running and Walking - Saturday Long Run with RNK Running - Sat 9/5, 7am–9am
Central Park - BODYBAR Community Bash - Sat 9/5, 9am–10:30am
Living The Dream Brewing - Yoga On Tap with Jacqui at Living The Dream - Sat 9/5, 11am–12pm - $17.85
Salisbury Regional Park - Labor Day Half Marathon, 10K & 5K - Mon 9/7, 7am–11am - $30-$85
RNK Running and Walking - Weekly Reset Walking Club with RNK Running - Tue 9/8, 5:30pm–6:30pm
Outdoors
Louviers - DLC Hops Hike with 105 West Brewing - Fri 9/4, 5pm–7:30pm
Backcountry Wilderness Area - Grigs Road Pavilion - Elk Bugling Hike - Tue 9/8, 5pm–7:30pm - $12-$15
Markets
Douglas County Fairgrounds and Event Center - Castle Rock Farmers Market - Sat 9/5, 8am–12:30pm
Downtown Parker - Parker Farmers Market - Sun 9/6, 8am–1pm
Festival Park - Festival Park Farmers Market - Sun 9/6, 9am–2pm
HRCA Gym - Highlands Ranch Farmers' Market - Sun 9/6, 10am–2pm
Sterling Ranch CAB - Sterling Ranch Farmers Market - Wed 9/9, 3pm–7pm
Festivals & Fairs
Lone Tree Brewing Company - Parker - Oktoberfest at Lone Tree Brewing Parker - Sat 9/5, 12pm–8pm
Community
Douglas County Fairgrounds and Event Center - Rocky Mountain Koi Show & Aquatic Expo - Fri 9/4, 1pm–5pm
Sterling Ranch CAB - First Friday at Sterling Ranch - Fri 9/4, 5:30pm–7:30pm
Teaology Tea Cafe - All Things Spiritual at Teaology - Sun 9/6, 10am–12pm
Denver Polo Club - Closing Weekend Polo Tailgate at Denver Polo Club - Sun 9/6, 10am–3pm - $28.52+
Sterling Ranch CAB - Landscape Class at Sterling Ranch - Mon 9/7, 4pm–5pm
Sterling Ranch CAB - Active Minds at Sterling Ranch - Tue 9/8, 10am–11am
Parker Fieldhouse - Annual Community Resource Fair - Wed 9/9, 8:30am–1pm
There's live music somewhere in the county most nights of the week. The standing lineup, by venue, is at dougcosocial.com/live-music.
Trivia, bingo and game nights, sorted by day: dougcosocial.com/trivia.
Looking for more? Every Douglas County event we track lives on our events calendar: dougcosocial.com/events.
Heads up on events that are further out:
Iron Mule Public House - Hike Doggie Front Range South Grand Opening - Thu 9/10, 4pm–6pm
O'Brien Park - 911 Remembrance Event, 25th Anniversary - Fri 9/11, 10am
Westridge Rec Center - Doggie Splash 2026 - Sat 9/12, 8am–12pm - $15 per dog
Festival Park - Castle Rock Artfest 2026 - Sat 9/12, 9am–6pm and Sun 9/13, 10am–5pm
Highlands Ranch Mansion - Highlands Ranch Western Fest at the Mansion - Sat 9/12, 10am–2pm
O'Brien Park - Parker Proud Showcase - Sat 9/12, 1pm–3pm
Douglas County Fairgrounds - Douglas County Supercross - Sat 9/12, 3pm–10pm - $17.85+
Miller Park Amphitheater - Castle Rock Beer Fest Under the Stars - Sat 9/12, 4pm–9pm - $60-$90
Lost Canyon Ranch - Twilight on the Trails 2026 - Sat 9/12, 5:30pm–9pm - $75+
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Cherokee Ranch & Castle Community Day - Sun 9/13, 10am–3pm, free but you have to reserve
Sterling Ranch - Puppy Plunge at Sterling Ranch - Sun 9/13, 12pm–4pm
Parker Station - Yelp's Taste of Parker Food Festival - Tue 9/15, 6pm–8pm
Max Taps Co. - Highlands Ranch 45th Anniversary Celebration - Thu 9/17, 5pm–7:30pm
Larkspur Community Park - Autumn Arts & Crafts Fest - Sat 9/19, 10am–5pm and Sun 9/20, 10am–4pm
Future Soaring Hawk Park - Castle Pines Drive-In Movie Night - Sat 9/19, 7pm–9:30pm - $10 per vehicle
Lone Creek Farms - Lone Creek Farms Fall Festival - opens Fri 9/25, then Thursdays through Sundays to Nov 1
Highlands Ranch Mansion - Fête des Fables Gala 2026: Snow White - Fri 9/25, 6pm–10pm - $175
Sandstone Ranch Open Space - Douglas County Fall Festival at Sandstone Ranch - Sat 9/26, 10am–3pm
O'Brien Park - Parker Fall Fest 2026 - Sat 9/26, 4pm–7:30pm, with a drone show around 7:30
Denver Polo Club - Colorado Highland Games - Sat 9/26, 9am–8pm and Sun 9/27, 9am–5pm - $20-$45
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Best of Douglas County
Don't forget to get your vote in. You can always change it 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. No wrong answers.
Hometown Headlines
Castle Rock Council didn't vote on the 402 homes and told staff to look at buying the land instead
TLDR: Mayor Gray moved to continue the Chateau Valley plan to the first meeting in January, saying the buffering isn't enough and it should go back to the drawing board. Separately, Council voted unanimously to have staff explore buying land next to and inside the project, in Brooks' words “up to and including possible condemnation.” Those trees sit on private Memmen family land, and the owner could cut them down tomorrow. Minutes are still in draft, so there's no recorded vote on the continuance yet.
A second Dollar Tree is coming to Highlands Ranch
TLDR: It's going into an existing 7,400-square-foot suite at 1970 E. County Line Road, in The Plaza. A new store, not a remodel of the Quebec Street one. Hiring is already underway at $16.00 to $16.50 an hour, which usually means an opening isn't far off, though no date has been announced.
Castle Rock is getting its first Dunkin', and it's been almost three years in the making
TLDR: Opening this fall at 1185 Aloha Street in Founders Marketplace, in Dunkin's Next Generation format: cold drinks on tap including a nitro cold brew, a mobile-order pickup area, a bakery case and a drive-thru, open 4am to 8pm daily. The part the press release skips is that the Town first reviewed this site in December 2023, and the drive-thru faces south on purpose to keep headlights off the apartments behind it.
A third King Soopers is coming to Castle Rock, and it isn't replacing either of the other two
TLDR: Town Council approved the site plan for Dawson Trails, at Dawson Trails and Gambel Ridge: 100,054 square feet, a pharmacy with a drive-up window, and a seven-pump fuel station. The obvious question got answered on the record, with a Kroger rep telling Council it's in addition to the other two and there are “no signs of closure anytime soon.” Opens 2027.
Castle Rock is back to Stage 1 drought, and every-third-day watering is on again
TLDR: Castle Rock Water dropped back on September 1 after customers cut daily use by 10 to 20 percent. Conservation is voluntary again, the every-third-day schedule is back, hand watering is allowed any day, and the power washing and car washing limits are lifted. Still nothing between 8am and 8pm. The Town would rather you stay on two days a week anyway.
Two new fields just opened at Highland Heritage Regional Park
TLDR: Both are rebuilt off crumb rubber, the infill made from ground-up tires. The replacement runs about 35 degrees cooler on a hot day, and keeping them synthetic instead of grass saves an estimated 1 to 1.5 million gallons a year per field. Open for play now.
204 workforce apartments break ground in Parker this fall
TLDR: Ponderosa Pines goes in at Scott Avenue and Parker Road, aimed at households at or below 60 percent of area median income. Commissioners cleared up to $50 million in private activity bonds on August 25. The developer plans to give leasing preference to people who work in Douglas County. Finished late summer 2028.
Two things worth knowing about the roads and the power lines this month
TLDR: CORE Electric starts rebuilding 11 miles of the Roxborough to Timber Mill line this month, running through June 2027, all inside the existing right of way. In Castle Pines, traffic control comes off Castle Pines Parkway at Monarch this week, then crews move west toward the Buffalo Trail roundabout. The annual paving program is in the western neighborhoods.
US 85 is getting widened all the way to Titan Road
TLDR: The county has design underway on the Titan Road interchange, a contract worth up to $4.5 million that also covers widening US 85 from Highlands Ranch Parkway north to Titan Road. The reason is growth in the Chatfield Basin, including Sterling Ranch and the future Zebulon sports complex. This is design, not construction, so there's nothing to drive through yet.
There will be two commissioner questions on your November ballot, not one
TLDR: The first is whether to expand the board from three seats to five. On August 31 commissioners unanimously added a second: if that passes, should all of them still be elected countywide rather than by district. Petition representatives are protesting the ballot title, and that hearing is 3pm Thursday on the county's YouTube channel.
The school district is asking for $54 million a year, and here's what it would add to your tax bill
TLDR: The school board voted unanimously on August 25 to put a mill levy override on that same November 3 ballot. If it passes, homeowners pay an extra $33.70 a year for every $100,000 of home value, so about $169 on a $500,000 house. It would go to salaries, school security, career and technical waitlists and elementary music. We wrote up what it funds and what both sides argue, without telling you how to vote.
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