Hope you’ve been taking advantage of this cold front and getting outside. Maybe to check out Lost Canyon Ranch if you haven’t already? Unfortunately the heat looks to be coming back in full force. Bummer since my morning walks have been so much more refreshing than they have been as of late. We press on…summer will sadly be over here before we know it.

Like plenty of you (hopefully you’re not as bad as me), I’m constantly behind on literally everything. What I consider planning is thinking about something for like 2 seconds and saying oh yeah, I’ll look at it later and get it done…weeks, months, and in this case, a year goes by. I had “planned” to go to the Renaissance Festival last year, which didn’t happen, and then I planned on going this year, which almost didn’t happen. At the beginning of summer I said oh yeah I’ll get to it one of the days this summer and I looked it up on a whim, realized this past weekend was the final weekend, and thought, oh no, I did it again. So I cleared the schedule and made the final day happen. It runs for eight weekends and then it's gone, and I almost missed it yet again.

First impression, after walking through the castle gate and getting heckled by the actors: this is way bigger than I pictured. It's a whole permanent village tucked into the pines in Larkspur, and on the last Sunday of the year it was packed. Way more people than I expected, a good chunk of them in full costume, plenty of them clearly regulars who take this very seriously.

I spent most of the afternoon just wandering, but I made sure to get two out of the three jousting events, which are the main events, run three times a day in a big arena, with a whole hillside of people watching under umbrellas (at least those who actually had planned ahead). There were some ring competitions, jousting, sword-play, trash-talking, awards given, the royal court providing input, the crowd getting involved, the works. It seemed like there were clearly some allegiances that the crowd had built for different knights, which involved people moving around the arena to get in the respective supporting sections. It was a scorcher, so the shade filled up early.

Outside of that, there's a lot going on. Axe and knife throwing, a fire breather, a sword swallower, a harpist, comedy shows, and shops selling every medieval thing you can dream up: swords, shields, furs, crystals, leather boots. There are plenty of things for both adults and kids. I saw plenty of kids being called up to the stages to help out with the performances, should they be so lucky. But they can do some archery, slides, mazes, hair braiding, face painting, petting zoos, and on and on. The funniest thing I saw all day, though, was a game called Vegetable Justice, where a guy locks himself in the stocks, heckles everyone who walks by, and you pay for the privilege of throwing tomatoes at his head. I could've watched that for an hour. Beware though, you will be made fun of by them if you decide to take some throws, and they do not hold back.

Food-wise, they’ve got plenty of options, including an International Food Court that has tons of stuff from drumsticks to pizza. And it seems like they’ve perfected the art of putting food on a stick. I swear they’ve put everything imaginable on a stick there. I grabbed a steak on a stick for $9.75, which was good if a little chewy, and a cappuccino, and I only passed on the cheesecake on a stick because it was still lunchtime. Drink-wise, it’s going to be beer or mead (the menu also lists wine, cider, and frozen margaritas and piña coladas), or non-alcoholic drinks like lemonade, coffee, teas, or soda. Our own Castle Rock meadery, Honnibrook, was pouring, among other well-known beer and mead brands, and they also had Athletic NA beer if that's more your speed. As Ashley, the drummer in Damh and Dove, a husband-and-wife drum and bagpipe duo, so eloquently put it, here’s your survival guide for getting through the Festival on your own two feet: beer, water, beer, water, beer, water, snack, repeat.

Here's the catch. You can't go this year. The season wrapped on August 2. So take this as your early heads-up, because next summer is the festival's 50th anniversary, and I don't want it sneaking up on you the way it did on me.

A few things I wish I'd done. Plan your weekend before the season even starts so it doesn't pass you by (sounds obvious, right?). Round up a fun group, actually dress up, and get into it, maybe even build the trip around one of the themed weekends (Pirate Invasion is allegedly the wildest of the bunch, and it sold out for the first time ever last year). Look at the schedule ahead of time and map out what you want to see, because the stages and areas are spread out and you'll want to get to the good ones early for a seat and some shade.

And the practical stuff: grab your tickets at the King Soopers customer service desk to save a few bucks, bring cash so you're not stuck in an ATM line (at least the food and drink is cash-only), and take Highway 105 if you'd rather skip I-25. Pack sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, an umbrella, and a blanket to sit on. Wear comfortable shoes, and bring a refillable water bottle.

I put together a full guide with everything you need to know for next year.

Read it here.

We're firing these back up with a dinner in Parker on Thursday, 8/20. There's a general Dinner Club that welcomes singles, married solo, couples, anyone and everyone. If you're interested in learning more, click here.

If you're part of a couple and want to socialize with other couples, and are 55+, click here. We'll have the tickets dropped here shortly.

Local jobs and opportunities across Douglas County.

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

Music & Concerts
The Parker Hotel - G Martenis Live at The Upper Deck - Thu 8/6, 6:00pm–8:00pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Walker Williams Band at Tailgate Tavern - Thu 8/6, 6:00pm–10:00pm
Mercantile Park - Music in the Meadows: John Saunders Band - Thu 8/6, 6:30pm–8:30pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Kingpin Posse at Tailgate Tavern - Thu 8/6, 7:30pm–11:30pm
Festival Park - First Fridays Family 5K and Concert: Six Million Dollar Band - Fri 8/7, 5:30pm–9:00pm
Lone Tree Golf Club & Hotel - Music on the Patio: Bunny Blake at Lone Tree Golf Club - Fri 8/7, 6:00pm–9:00pm
Pines Bar and Grill - Live Band at Pines Bar and Grill - Fri 8/7, 6:00pm–9:00pm
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Groove 'N Motion at Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Fri 8/7, 6:00pm–9:15pm - $86.45
The Parker Hotel - Voices Kerry Live at The Upper Deck - Fri 8/7, 6:00pm–8:00pm
Takoda Tavern - 90's Jukebox - Fri 8/7, 6:30pm–10:30pm
Wide Open Saloon - Wags and The Boys - Fri 8/7, 7:00pm–10:00pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Take it on the Run at Tailgate Tavern - Fri 8/7, 7:00pm–9:00pm
Sinners & Saints - Scott Uhl — Live at the Altar - Fri 8/7, 8:00pm–10:00pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Mid Life Crisis at Tailgate Tavern - Fri 8/7, 8:30pm–12:30am
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - JC Jonathan Cernan at Tailgate Tavern - Sat 8/8, 12:00pm–4:00pm
Wide Open Saloon - Saturday Acoustic Show at Wide Open Saloon - Sat 8/8, 2:00pm–5:00pm
Honnibrook Craft Meadery - Gamer's Choice RPG: Top Secret - Sat 8/8, 5:00pm–10:00pm
The Stagecoach Saloon - The Band These Guys Live at The Stagecoach Saloon - Sat 8/8, 6:30pm–10:30pm
105 West Brewing Company - Live Music: The Jack Hadley Band - Sat 8/8, 6:30pm–9:30pm
The Whiskey Lodge - Live Music at The Whiskey Lodge - Sat 8/8, 7:00pm–10:00pm
Wide Open Saloon - 9's A Pair at Wide Open Saloon - Sat 8/8, 7:00pm–10:30pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Groove 'N Motion at Tailgate Tavern - Sat 8/8, 7:00pm–11:00pm
Takoda Tavern - Burns Twice - Sat 8/8, 7:30pm–11:30pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Brass Attack Band at Tailgate Tavern - Sat 8/8, 8:30pm–12:30am
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Andre LaMotte on the Patio at Tailgate Tavern - Sun 8/9, 9:00am–12:00pm
Takoda Tavern - Brett Hendrix Solo on the Upper Patio - Sun 8/9, 12:00pm–4:00pm
105 West Brewing Company - Live Music: Giant Zero - Sun 8/9, 2:30pm–5:30pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Eric Golden Band at Tailgate Tavern - Sun 8/9, 5:00pm–9:00pm
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Peter Kater Live at Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Sun 8/9, 6:00pm–9:15pm - $105
Magic Manor - Music on the Patio with Gary Conder - Wed 8/12, 4:00pm–6:00pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Dave Mensch at Tailgate Tavern - Wed 8/12, 5:30pm–9:30pm
Savina's Mexican Kitchen - Savina's Summer Concert Series: Ken Earl Band - Wed 8/12, 6:00pm–9:00pm
Festival Park - Jazz in the Park - Wed 8/12, 6:30pm–8:00pm

Food & Drink
Max Taps Co. - Poker - Free to Play - Thu 8/6, 7:00pm–9:00pm
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Afternoon Tea at the Castle - Fri 8/7 1:00pm, Sat 8/8 1:00pm - $74.95

Arts & Culture
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Castle Tour at Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Thu 8/6 10:00am, Fri 8/7 10:00am, Sat 8/8 10:00am, Wed 8/12 10:00am - $21-$24
DCSD Legacy Campus - Author Event: Devour Me — Emily Rath and SJ Tilly - Thu 8/6, 5:30pm–8:00pm - $35
Rising Star Performing Arts - Mary Poppins - Fri 8/7 7:00pm, Sat 8/8 2:00pm, Sun 8/9 2:00pm - $18
Magic Manor - David Deeble - TV Comedian - Fri 8/7, 7:30pm–9:00pm - $40-$45
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Arts Afield 2026 at Cherokee Ranch - Wed 8/12, 8:30am–1:00pm - $39

Nightlife & Entertainment
Wide Awake Eatery - Dueling Pianos at Wide Awake Eatery - Thu 8/6, 6:00pm–9:00pm - $23.18-$28.52
Sinners & Saints - Western Night at Sinners & Saints - Thu 8/6, 7:00pm–10:00pm
Wide Awake Eatery - Sip & Spin Sundays at Wide Awake Eatery - Sun 8/9, 2:00pm–5:00pm
Purgatory Cellars Winery - Mahjong 101 with Evergreen Mahjong Collective - Sun 8/9, 2:00pm–4:30pm - $35
Purgatory Cellars Winery - August Mini-League with Evergreen Mahjong Collective - Tue 8/11, 5:00pm–7:15pm - $55
Olive Juice Beauty Bar - Mahjong 2.0: Beyond the Basics with Trista Sutter - Tue 8/11, 5:00pm–7:30pm - $55.20

Family
Backcountry Base Camp - Backcountry Outdoor Movie: School of Rock - Sat 8/8, 8:00pm–10:00pm - $30
Cook Creek Park - FREE Pool Day at Cook Creek (Lone Tree Residents) - Sun 8/9, 10:00am–6:00pm

Fitness & Wellness
RNK Running and Walking - Chog (Chill Jog) with RNK Running - Thu 8/6, 6:00pm–7:00pm
RNK Running and Walking - Saturday Long Run with RNK Running - Sat 8/8, 7:00am–9:00am
Philip S. Miller Park - 21st Annual Reece's Roundup 5K & 1 Mile Walk - Sat 8/8, 7:00am–11:00am - $40-$45
Civic Green Park - Free Yoga in the Park at Civic Green - Sat 8/8, 8:00am–9:00am
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Backcountry Hike - Sat 8/8, 8:30am - $39.50
Lost Coffee - Lost Runners Run Club with RNK Running - Sun 8/9, 8:00am–9:30am
Philip S. Miller Park Amphitheater - Sunday morning Yoga in the Park - Sun 8/9, 8:30am–9:30am
Douglas County Libraries - Highlands Ranch - Mat Pilates with BODYBAR at the Highlands Ranch Library - Mon 8/10, 10:00am–11:00am
Metzler Ranch Community Park - RNK Monday Trail Run: Metzler Ranch - Mon 8/10, 5:30pm–6:30pm
Festival Park - Monday evening Yoga in the Park - Mon 8/10, 6:30pm–7:30pm
RNK Running and Walking - Weekly Reset Walking Club with RNK Running - Tue 8/11, 5:30pm–6:30pm

Markets & Shopping
Sterling Ranch CAB - Farmer's Market - Wed 8/12, 3:00pm–7:00pm

Festivals & Fairs
Sterling Ranch CAB - Sterling Ranch Days - Sat 8/8, 9:00am–7:00pm
O'Brien Park - Parker Brewfest 2026 - Sat 8/8, 1:00pm–5:00pm - $50-$80

Outdoor & Adventure
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Hike: Walk Through Time at Cherokee Ranch - Sat 8/8, 8:00am–10:30am - $39.50

Community
Sterling Ranch CAB - Sterling Ranch Days - Fri 8/7, 4:00pm–7:00pm
Vehicle Vault - Espresso & Exhaust at Vehicle Vault - Sat 8/8, 9:00am–12:00pm
Larkspur Community Park - Hot Rods in the Park Car Show — Larkspur - Sat 8/8, 10:00am–2:00pm
Sterling Ranch CAB - Saddles and Spurs Horse Parade & Pancake Breakfast - Sun 8/9, 8:00am–11:00am
Rueter-Hess Reservoir - Castle Pines Day at Rueter-Hess Reservoir - Sun 8/9, 10:00am–4:00pm
Sinners & Saints - Back-to-School Backpack Bar at Ecclesia Market - Sun 8/9, 2:00pm–4:00pm
Alidade Brewing - Mah Jongg Monday - Mon 8/10, 5:00pm–8:00pm
Sterling Ranch CAB - Active Minds - Tue 8/11, 10:00am–11:00am
Parker Town Hall - Parker Town Hall Grand Opening Celebration - Wed 8/12, 4:30pm–6:00pm

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

On the Horizon
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Castle Tour at Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Thu 8/13 10:00am, Sat 8/15 10:00am - $21-$24
Douglas County Fairgrounds and Event Center - Castle Rock Summer Home Show - Fri 8/14 12:00pm, Sat 8/15 10:00am, Sun 8/16 10:00am
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Afternoon Tea at the Castle - Fri 8/14 1:00pm, Sat 8/15 1:00pm - $74.95
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Sinatra Tribute Show LIVE at Cherokee Ranch - Fri 8/14, 6:00pm–9:30pm - $86.80
Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space - Stargazing with the Denver Astronomical Society at Lost Canyon Ranch - Fri 8/14, 8:00pm–10:00pm
Downtown Parker (Mainstreet & Pikes Peak Ave) - Parker Car Fest 2026 - Sat 8/15, 9:00am–2:00pm
Olive Juice Beauty Bar - Mahjong 101: Will You Accept This Tile? (Beginner) - Sat 8/15 5:00pm, Wed 8/19 5:00pm - $81.88
Philip S. Miller Park Amphitheater - Summer Concert Series — Cheap Trick - Sat 8/15, 6:00pm–10:00pm
Rueter-Hess Reservoir - Castle Rock Day at Rueter-Hess Reservoir - Sun 8/16, 8:00am–6:00pm
Lone Tree Golf Club & Hotel - City of Lone Tree Annual Golf Tournament - Sun 8/16, 8:00am–2:00pm - $150
Elk Ridge Park - Castle Pines Summer Concert Series — The Long Run (Eagles Tribute) - Sun 8/16, 5:00pm–7:00pm
McMurdo Gulch Trail Head - RNK Monday Trail Run: McMurdo Gulch - Mon 8/17, 5:30pm–6:30pm
Purgatory Cellars Winery - August Mini-League with Evergreen Mahjong Collective - Tue 8/18, 5:00pm–7:15pm - $55
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Arts Afield 2026 at Cherokee Ranch - Wed 8/19 8:30am, Wed 8/26 8:30am - $39
Purgatory Cellars Winery - Mahjong 101 with Evergreen Mahjong Collective - Thu 8/20, 5:00pm–7:30pm - $35
Highlands Ranch Senior Center - Sunflower Swing Dance at the Highlands Ranch Senior Center - Thu 8/20, 5:00pm–8:00pm - $24-$27
Douglas County Fairgrounds and Event Center - Taste of Douglas County 2026 - Thu 8/20, 5:00pm–8:00pm - $10-$20
Max Taps Co. - 9th Anniversary Weekend - Fri 8/21, 12:00pm–11:00pm
The Village Shops at Castle Pines - Vino in the Village 2026 — Castle Pines Chamber - Fri 8/21, 5:30pm–8:00pm - $30-$150
Max Taps Co. - Live Music: One Way to Rock - Fri 8/21, 7:00pm–10:00pm
Magic Manor - The Chipper Lowell Experience - Fri 8/21 7:30pm, Sat 8/22 7:30pm - $45-$50
Douglas County Fairgrounds and Event Center - Touch-A-Truck 2026 - Sat 8/22, 9:00am–2:00pm
Parker Station North Parking Lot - Fiesta Parker - Sat 8/22, 1:00pm–7:00pm - $35-$60
Elk Ridge Park - Castle Pines Party in the Park - Sat 8/22, 5:00pm–9:00pm
Philip S. Miller Park Amphitheater - Popcorn in the Park: The Goonies - Sat 8/22, 5:00pm–8:00pm
Denver Polo Club - Denver Polo Club x Tiny Table Summer Dinner (August) - Sat 8/22, 6:00pm - $225
Pikes Peak Event Center - A Dance With Death: A 1950s Murder Mystery Dinner Theater - Sat 8/22, 6:00pm–9:30pm - $71.21
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - John Denver: The Tribute at Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Sat 8/22, 6:30pm–9:30pm - $89
Civic Green Park - Summer Sunset Concert + America 250 / Colorado 150 Drone Show at Civic Green Park - Sat 8/22, 7:00pm–8:30pm
Max Taps Co. - Vinyl Nation at Max Taps: 9th Anniversary Weekend - Sat 8/22, 7:00pm–10:00pm
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - John Denver "The Tribute" Matinee at Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Sun 8/23, 1:30pm–4:30pm - $80.75-$86
Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space - RNK Monday Trail Run: Lost Canyon Ranch - Mon 8/24, 5:30pm–6:30pm
Olive Juice Beauty Bar - Mahjong 2.0: Beyond the Basics with Trista Sutter - Wed 8/26, 5:00pm–7:30pm - $65.87
Downtown Parker (check in at Parker Chamber Office, 19751 E. Mainstreet) - Parker Wine Walk — August 2026 - 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, 8:00am
The Historic Maytag Ranch - Under a Wild Sky 2026 — Douglas Land Conservancy Fundraiser - Sat 8/29, 4:00pm–8:00pm - $175-$350
Park Meadows Aesthetics - Park Meadows 30th Anniversary - Sat 8/29, 4:00pm–7:00pm
McAwesome Ranch - The 2026 Colorado Bluegrass Festival - Sat 8/29, 5:00pm–12:00pm - $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
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

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Douglas County commits $7.5M to a new Gold Crown youth field house
TLDR: At its Aug. 4 business meeting, the Board of Douglas County Commissioners approved a $7.5 million funding agreement with the Gold Crown Foundation for a new 65,000-square-foot indoor field house in Castle Rock's Dawson Trails development, near Crystal Valley Parkway and Dawson Trails Boulevard by the planned Costco. It's paid for out of the voter-approved Parks, Trails, Historic Resources and Open Space Fund, and the roughly $35 million project (Castle Rock is providing the 22-acre site plus $1 million in fee waivers) is planned to hold six basketball courts, 12 overlapping volleyball courts, and flexible space for youth tournaments and STEM programs.

Free Link On Demand rideshare is now live in Castle Rock
TLDR: Riders are already using the county-backed Link On Demand service, which as of July 31 covers Castle Rock and now links up with Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch and Parker. Book a free, app-based trip anywhere in Castle Rock and directly to and from Lone Tree, with in-app transfer hubs connecting to Highlands Ranch and select Parker areas. It runs Monday through Saturday (no Sunday service) with typical waits of 10 to 25 minutes, or book by phone at 719-212-2430.

Castle Rock breaks ground on a 7-mile pipeline to move renewable water to Rueter-Hess Reservoir
TLDR: Castle Rock Water is building a roughly $48.4 million, 7-mile pipeline to carry renewable water from Plum Creek to the Rueter-Hess Reservoir, part of the town's long-term push to lean less on the non-renewable Denver Basin aquifer and reach 100% renewable supply. Parker Water and Sanitation District, which owns and operates Rueter-Hess, already treats Castle Rock's stored water there when it has excess capacity; the south phase is due to finish in February 2027.

Unbridled Rodeo brings a sensory-friendly, inclusive rodeo to the Douglas County Fairgrounds
TLDR: The second annual Unbridled Rodeo, a free event co-hosted by the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo and Developmental Pathways for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, more than doubled its turnout to over 300 this year, with adaptive activities like stick-horse racing, roping, square dancing and miniature therapy horses inside the fairgrounds arena.

Parker wants your input on the future of its parks, recreation and open space
TLDR: The Town of Parker is updating its Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan and is collecting resident feedback online through Oct. 31 to help shape future facilities and programs.

Parker invites K-6 kids to design a drone for the Fall Fest light show
TLDR: Students in grades K through 6 who live in ZIP codes 80134 or 80138 can submit an autumn-themed design by Aug. 19, and the winning entry gets recreated as part of the drone light show that closes out Parker Fall Fest on Saturday, Sept. 26 at O'Brien Park.

Lone Tree Mobility Hub work extends the I-25 ramp closure at Lincoln Avenue
TLDR: CDOT extended the closure of the eastbound Lincoln Avenue to southbound I-25 on-ramp through the evening of Sunday, Aug. 9, detouring drivers via South Peoria Street and RidgeGate Parkway, so crews can replace concrete panels and begin assembling the Lone Tree Mobility Hub's steel pedestrian bridge, which is set to be erected over I-25 this fall.

Douglas County opens year-round household hazardous waste drop-off through GreenWorks
TLDR: Residents now have a local, year-round option to safely dispose of household hazardous waste like paint, pesticides, and other common household chemicals through GreenWorks, the county's one-stop waste-diversion site in Sedalia. The new service drops the old annual participation cap; you book an appointment online to drop off.

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