Had the pleasure of seeing some elk this past week — unfortunately not within iPhone capturing distance…saw about 20 cow elk surrounding a bull elk and thought to myself, “whatever he's doing, I'll do it, because if I even do 5% of what he's doing, I might be able to attract one woman…” I then heard what sounded more like a scream than a bugle and was disappointed because I don't think I could even make that sound if I wanted to…if you haven't heard them yet this season and need a reminder, or have never heard them, RMEF.org has facts as well as some vocalization about 2/3rds down the page. Meanwhile, I'll go back to grunting at the gym…

Sunday, September 27, 2-5pm at Max Taps in Highlands Ranch (don't worry, the Broncos play at 6:20pm that night). We're teaming up with Emma Paints for an afternoon of guided brick painting. You'll paint Halloween characters on a 12x5 inch scalloped brick, step by step, with Emma walking you through it. No experience necessary.

The brick, all the painting materials, and an apron are included. Beer from the 54 taps is on you.

Grab your spot →

Douglas County's own Fall Festival is this Saturday out at Sandstone Ranch, and it's free. Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Franktown, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Parker, Sedalia and Sterling Ranch are joining in on the fun too. And the good news — a lot of them are free. Or, if you're looking for stuff other than fall fests, we've got some Oktoberfests still rolling in, like Highlands Ranch's this Saturday. Check out the top events further below. Here are the fall fests around DougCo.

Douglas County Fall Festival — Sandstone Ranch Open Space, 8309 S Perry Park Rd, Larkspur · Sat Sept 26 · 10am to 3pm · free, no registration

Lone Creek Farms Fall Festival — 3879 N State Hwy 83, Franktown · opens Fri Sept 25, then Thursdays through Sundays to Nov 1 · Thu 10am-5pm, Fri-Sun 10am-9pm · $27.95, $25.95 military and senior, $23.95 Thursdays

Then every town has its own. Here's the big one in each:

And the rest, in the order they happen:

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Charge Nurse, Neonatal ICU Nights — UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital — $41-$63/hr

Preconstruction Manager, Building Group — Kiewit, Lone Tree — $142K-$149K/yr

Kitchen Assistant, Nutrition Services — Douglas County School District, Parker — $18-$23/hr

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We've been running these at KB Ranch all summer and the last one of the season is Tuesday, September 29, 6 to 8pm. Four courses, out on the ranch with the sun going down behind it. It's the last one scheduled for now.

Learn More →

Top Events This Week
Fri 9/25 - Parker Wine Walk, Downtown Parker - 4:30 to 7:30pm - $25 advance, $30 door
Fri 9/25 - The Groove at Lyric: Emily Barnes, Lone Tree - 5 to 8pm - free
Fri 9/25 - Fête des Fables Gala: Snow White, Highlands Ranch Mansion - 6pm - $175
Sat 9/26 + Sun 9/27 - Colorado Highland Games, Denver Polo Club, Sedalia - Sat 9am-8pm, Sun 9am-5pm - $20-$45
Sat 9/26 - Oktoberfest, Highlands Ranch Town Center - 1pm to 9pm - free
Sat 9/26 - Sterling Ranch Oktoberfest, Providence Park - 11am to 7pm - free
Sat 9/26 - Public Lands Day at Lost Canyon Ranch, Castle Rock - 9am to noon - free

Music & Concerts
PACE Center - The Sixties Show - Thu 9/24, 7:30pm–9:30pm - $59–$64
Tailgate Tavern (Parker) - Jason Wulf Band - Thu 9/24, 6pm
The Groove at Lyric - Friday Night Live: Emily Barnes - Fri 9/25, 5pm–8pm
Wide Open Saloon - Giovannie and The Hired Guns - Fri 9/25, 7pm–10:30pm - $28.52–$65.87
Studio@Mainstreet - Dueling Piano Road Show - Fri 9/25, 7:30pm
Tailgate Tavern (Parker) - New Wave Tributes 7:30pm and Pop Trash 8:30pm - Fri 9/25
Takoda Tavern (Parker) - These Guys - Fri 9/25, 7:30pm
The Stagecoach Saloon (Franktown) - Atomic Xperience - Fri 9/25, 6:30pm–10:30pm
Sinners & Saints - Jordan Yewey, Live at the Altar - Fri 9/25, 8pm–10pm
Pines Bar and Grill (Castle Pines) - Live Band - Fri 9/25, 6pm–9pm
105 West Brewing - Mike Maurer Band, the Oktoberfest nightcap - Sat 9/26, 6:30pm–9:30pm
Studio@Mainstreet - Kingpin Cowboys - Sat 9/26, 7:30pm
Takoda Tavern (Parker) - Unleashed - Sat 9/26, 7:30pm
Tailgate Tavern (Parker) - Creedence Colorado Revival 8pm and Steve Thomas Band 8:30pm - Sat 9/26
Sinners & Saints - Tanya & Skye, Live at the Altar - Sat 9/26, 7pm–8:30pm
The Stagecoach Saloon (Franktown) - Wags and the Boys - Sat 9/26, 6:30pm–10:30pm
Wide Open Saloon - Rock Candy - Sat 9/26, evening

Food & Drink
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Afternoon Tea at the Castle - Thu 9/24, 1pm–3pm - $74.95
Downtown Parker - Parker Wine Walk, the last one of the season - Fri 9/25, 4:30pm–7:30pm - $25–$30
KB Ranch - Sunset Supper Club, the last of the season - Tue 9/29, 6pm–8pm - $120

Arts & Culture
Downhill Brewing (Parker) - Magnificent Mushrooms Paint & Sip with Emma Paints - Thu 9/24, 6pm–9pm - $49.87
PACE Center - HALWA by Amit Tandon, standup comedy performed in Hindi - Fri 9/25, 7:30pm - $40–$85
The Schoolhouse (Parker) - Lutheran High School presents 110 Stories - Fri 9/25, 7:30pm - $12
Meadows Banquet & Event Center (Lone Tree) - Hello Girls Round 2 Girls Night Out - Fri 9/25, 7pm - $28.52
Highlands Ranch Mansion - Fête des Fables Gala 2026: Snow White, the DCL Foundation benefit - Fri 9/25, 6pm–10pm - $175
PACE Center - Brad Upton Live - Sat 9/26, 7:30pm - $39–$49
Monk & Mongoose at RidgeGate (Lone Tree) - Bookish Bedazzling & Bookmarks - Sun 9/27, 11am–2pm - $20–$40
Douglas County Libraries, Highlands Ranch - DCL Author Event: Debra Hunt - Sun 9/27, 5pm–6:30pm - Free
The Schoolhouse (Parker) - Moms Unhinged Standup Comedy - Tue 9/29, 7pm - $28
Olive Juice Beauty Bar (Highlands Ranch) - Mahjong 2.0 with Trista Sutter at the O Mahj Spa - Wed 9/30, 5pm–7:30pm - $60
Highlands Ranch Mansion - Spirits with the Spirits Mansion Tours - Wed 9/30, 6:30pm–9pm - $44.52
Wild Blue Yonder Brewing (Castle Rock) - Sea Turtles OR Ladybugs Paint & Sip with Emma Paints - Wed 9/30, 6pm–9pm - $60.54

Family
Gilly's (Castle Rock) - Gilly's Pumpkin Patch opening weekend - Fri 9/25 and Sat 9/26, 10am to dark - $5, $20 per family
Lone Creek Farms (Franktown) - Fall Festival opens - Fri 9/25, then Thursdays through Sundays to Nov 1 - $23.95–$27.95
Outlets at Castle Rock - Big Jack Arrival 11am–2pm, and the Gives Back Coat Drive opens and runs through Oct 24 - Sat 9/26 - Free
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Princess Party at the Castle - Sun 9/27, 1:30pm–3:30pm - $56.95
Max Taps Highlands Ranch - Halloween Characters Brick Painting - Sun 9/27, 2pm - $50

Outdoors
Sandstone Ranch Open Space (Larkspur) - September Plein Air Gathering - Thu 9/24, 9am–11am - Free
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Elk Bugling Sightings & Sounds - Thu 9/24 and Tue 9/29, 5pm–7:30pm - $44
Salisbury Regional Park (Parker) - So Long to Summer 5K/10K - Sat 9/26, 8am - $40–$50
Backcountry Base Camp (Highlands Ranch) - Nature Night Out - Sat 9/26, 4:30pm–6:30pm - $15 per car
Prairie Sky Park (Lone Tree) - Guided Nature Hike: Harvest Moon - Sat 9/26, 6:30pm - Free
Greenland Open Space (Larkspur) - Pack Burro Race, 8 mile and 3 mile - Sun 9/27 - $60
Schweiger Ranch (Lone Tree) - Nature Walk: Full Moon with Bats - Sun 9/27, 6:30pm - Free

Markets
Douglas County Fairgrounds - Castle Rock Farmers Market - Sat 9/26, 8am–12:30pm
MorningStar Senior Living of Parker - Mini Craft Fair - Sat 9/26, 10am - Free
Downtown Parker - Parker Farmers Market - Sun 9/27, 8am–1pm
Festival Park - Festival Park Farmers Market - Sun 9/27, 9am–2pm
Highlands Ranch Town Center - Highlands Ranch Farmers' Market - Sun 9/27, 10am–2pm
Providence Park - Sterling Ranch Farmers Market - Wed 9/30, 3pm–7pm

Festivals & Fairs
Every fall festival in the county is up in the main piece. Here's what it doesn't cover.
Three Oktoberfests land on Saturday 9/26:
105 West Brewing, Castle Rock - Oktoberfest - 11am–10pm, stein hoisting 3pm, best dressed 5pm, Mike Maurer Band 6:30pm
Providence Park, Sterling Ranch - Sterling Ranch Oktoberfest - 11am–7pm
Highlands Ranch Town Center - Oktoberfest Highlands Ranch - 1pm–9pm, with the HRCA Oktoberfest 5K that morning at 9am, $30–$55
Denver Polo Club (Sedalia) - Colorado Highland Games - Sat 9/26, 9am–8pm and Sun 9/27, 9am–5pm - $20–$45, under 7 free
Douglas County Fairgrounds - LANFest Colorado, 20th anniversary - Thu 9/24 noon through Sun 9/27 6pm - Free for spectators, $60 to play

Community
Castle Pines Market Place lot - Slash Collection Day - Sat 9/26, 9am–2pm - Free
Lost Canyon Ranch (Castle Rock) - Public Lands Day Volunteer Project - Sat 9/26, 9am–12pm - Free, registration required
Wide Open Saloon (Sedalia) - Final Bike Night of the Season with Aces and Eights - Sat 9/26, 2pm–5pm, season's final drawing at 4pm - Free
100 Third St, Castle Rock - Courageous Conversations: Well-being of Our Youth - Wed 9/30, 6pm–7:30pm - Free

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.

Wednesday, September 30. Two dinners, one night, both in Lone Tree.

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.

Grab a seat here and use code LT5 for $5 off.

Couples Dinner (55+) runs the same night if you'd rather bring your person. Same idea, different room. This one is at Cranelli's Italian Restaurant.

Grab a table here and use code TABLE10 for $10 off, good through September 30.

It happened twice
TLDR: We told you last week that a squirrel blew up the CORE substation off Ridge Road and took out power for more than 4,000 people. Well, a second squirrel got into the distribution equipment at the same substation on Wednesday, knocking out about 1,300 customers for 40 minutes. CORE says wildlife causes 5 to 10 percent of its outages every year, and that it can't realistically cover every piece of equipment at a substation. Are the squirrels trying to send a message? Data centers beware…

A bear got scooped up by a garbage truck in Castle Rock
TLDR: A black bear climbed into a trash container here last Wednesday, and the Waste Management truck picked the container up and emptied it, bear and all, into the back. Castle Rock resident Evan Elmore caught the rest on video: the bear climbing down the side of the truck while employees from a nearby business scared it off. Nobody got hurt, bear included. The clip travelled, and got picked up by stations as far away as Dallas and Philadelphia.

There's a mahjong parlor inside a Highlands Ranch nail salon now
TLDR: Olive Juice Beauty Bar on Highlands Ranch Parkway turned its party room into a mahjong parlor called the O Mahj Spa, and it opened for social play on Sept 15. The in house instructor is Trista Sutter, television's first Bachelorette, who moved to Highlands Ranch in 2023 and has been playing American mahjong for about three years. Beginner classes run three hours and cost $75, and there's a shorter strategy class for $60. The next one is Wednesday Sept 30.

Crowfoot Valley Road is finally wider
TLDR: The Town announced on Sept 21 that the Crowfoot Valley Road widening between Knobcone Drive and Macanta Boulevard is complete, a little over a year after work began in summer 2025. You get two through lanes each way, on street bike lanes, a new traffic signal at Sapphire Pointe Boulevard, and sidewalk along the whole stretch. The lanes are narrower and the medians taller on purpose, because narrower lanes slow people down. It ran about $8.7 million, with Douglas County putting in $1.5 million. The landscaping is the one piece still outstanding, held back until the dry spell breaks.

The fire ban is off, everywhere
TLDR: Stage 1 fire restrictions came off across unincorporated Douglas County on Sept 17, and Castle Rock and Parker both lifted theirs the same day. The county's order covers Castle Pines and Larkspur, and Lone Tree had already rescinded its own back on Sept 14, so there are no fire restrictions anywhere in the county right now. Sheriff Darren Weekly made the county call after looking at fuel conditions, weather and the forecast. It's still dry out there, so keep an eye on campfires and outdoor equipment.

Three teachers were laid off two weeks into a brand new school's first year
TLDR: John Adams Academy, the classical charter school that opened in Sterling Ranch on Aug 21, laid off three middle school teachers on Sept 11, the 14th day of instruction. The layoff letters cite "operational and staffing needs" and run their pay through Sept 30. Headmaster Sarah Kiesewetter says the school opened at roughly 90% of its budgeted enrollment and that those were full time salaries against part time teaching loads. The teachers say they each taught three to four classes in a six period day plus a homeroom. First reported by Colorado Community Media.

A youth crisis unit is coming to Children's Hospital in Highlands Ranch
TLDR: The county says new youth crisis stabilization services are planned next to the emergency department at Children's Hospital Colorado's South Campus in Highlands Ranch. It's built for roughly 48 to 72 hours of short term stabilization, with staff helping families connect to continuing care afterward. Commissioners will walk through it at a town hall on youth mental health on Wednesday Sept 30, 6 to 7:30pm, which you can join in person at 100 Third Street in Castle Rock, online, or by phone.

A Lone Tree trail just closed for six months
TLDR: The Willow Creek Trail closed Monday Sept 21 for a stream restoration project the city is running with the Mile High Flood District, and it's expected to stay closed about six months. It's the entire stretch between Parkway Drive and Park Meadows Drive, shut to walkers and bikes alike, so plan another route. The work includes bank erosion control, creek restoration, a new concrete trail and new pedestrian bridges. Questions go to Public Works at 303-662-8112.

Castle Pines is about to rebuild the Happy Canyon interchange
TLDR: City Council signed the last agreements on Sept 22, so the I-25 and Happy Canyon Road rebuild starts this fall. It's a roughly $42 million job between the city, Douglas County and CDOT, with $11 million from CDOT going toward the bridge. Crews build a second bridge north of the existing one first, then tear the old one down, so expect narrowed I-25 lanes, intermittent ramp closures and some overnight I-25 closures for girder work. Finish date is mid 2028.

Half of Pine Lane in Parker is one way now
TLDR: Pine Lane between Pine and Dixon drives is down to westbound traffic only while crews put in storm drainage underneath the south side, and the county says it stays that way for a couple of months. Eastbound traffic detours at Parker Road to either Lincoln Avenue or Ponderosa Drive. Access to Sierra Middle School and AdventHealth Parker stays open, and the speed limit through the whole corridor has dropped to 30. It's part of a $13.2 million widening that runs through July 2027.

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