DEATH BY BAKED GOOD | entcenterforthearts.org
Thursday, July 10 through Sunday, July 27, Dusty Loo Bon Vivant Theatre at Ent Center for the Arts, 5225 N. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs. Times vary. 
The final show of Theatreworks’ 49th season, “Flyin’ West” brings Pearl Cleage’s heartfelt script to stage. Set in the 1890s in the all-Black town of Nicodemus, Kansas — which was established by Black Americans following the Civil War — Cleage’s play follows the fictional Dove sisters as they fight against outsiders trying to buy up their town. The Theatreworks audience advisory states, “This production contains melodrama, domestic abuse, revenge, racialized language and death by baked good.” I don’t know about you, but I’m particularly sold by that last warning.
FAIR’S FAIR | elpasocountyfair.com 
Saturday, July 12 through Saturday, July 19, El Paso County Fair and Events Complex, 355 10th St., Calhan. Times vary.
The El Paso County Fair began in 1905 (back when Theodore Roosevelt was president) as a humble potato festival. The fair has only become more chaotic and ambitious over time. The carnival offers everything from majestic views from the Ferris Wheel to a competitive corn hole tournament. Throughout the week will be auto races and a demolition derby, in addition to rodeo events (for those of us who never really got the automobile hype). The more extreme attractions include Mad Chad Taylor, a dude who pays his rent by juggling chainsaws. There’ll be animal shows, a ventriloquist and food contests that are just as nauseating to watch as they are to participate in. Certain events are ticketed, and some days offer discounts (on July 15, admission will be free), so be sure to peruse the website while planning your visit.
ARTSY AURA | auricgallery.com
Wednesday, July 16, Auric Gallery, 125 E. Boulder St., Colorado Springs, 5:30 p.m. 
Auric Gallery’s lineup is stacked this July. Every minute detail is reproduced in Hannah Moghbel’s intimate depictions of blooming cacti, which were painted in the midst of a grieving period and surgery recovery. “Painting through those dark hours was a long, lonely crawl through the desert,” Moghbel said. “As I paint, I meditate on the cacti’s resilience and their ability to bloom in the harshest of landscapes.” Sophia Rose’s “Walk Beside Me” is similarly inspired by grief, rendered in passionate reds and depressive blues. In response to Vice President JD Vance’s comments about childless cat ladies, Felicia Kelly champions the childfree-by-choice in cozy collage. Meet the artists yourself at the artist talks on July 16, and if you can’t make it, the exhibits will be on display through July 25.
SPRINGS CUISINE | tasteofpikespeak.com
Thursday, July 17, Downtown Colorado Springs, 200 S. Sierra Madre St., 6 p.m. 
Anyone knows that the all-you-can-eat experience comes with caveats and a lot of preparation. Some people fast beforehand; others pace themselves by eating only a bite of every dish. For foodies in Colorado Springs, Taste of Pikes Peak will be the ultimate test of strength and endurance. Over 80 restaurants, breweries and distilleries will be participating, along with a lineup of local bands to provide live music to enjoy while you wine and dine. Ticketing options range from $65 (general admission) to $125 (VIP + Early Entry), but every penny is worth it, as Taste of Pikes Peak is the primary fundraiser for the Pikes Peak Chapter of the Colorado Restaurant Association.
COLYMPICS | coloradospringssports.org
Friday, July 18 through Sunday, July 20, Various locations, Colorado Springs. Times vary. 
The State Games are like the Olympics and Paralympics, but instead of vetting athletes from the nations of the world, competitors hail from across the state. The Rocky Mountain State Games, held annually in the Springs, are Colorado’s version of the event, featuring over 40 sports, from the obvious (boxing, cycling, soccer, tennis) to the obscure (roundnet, ninja challenge). “Mutton’ Bustin” is my favorite of the head-scratchers — a sheep-riding sport designed for four- to nine-year-olds. Oh, to be a kid again. Some of the sports are more selective and competitive. If you’re interested in participating, visit the website to check out the array of sports on offer, as well as any requirements they might have.
COLORADO RAPIDS | royalgorgewhitewaterfestival.com
Friday, July 18 and Saturday, July 19, Centennial Park, 221 Griffin Ave., Cañon City. Times vary. 
At the Royal Gorge Whitewater Festival, competitors will brave the rapids of the Arkansas River. Novices and pros alike are invited to the competitions, which include raft rodeo (with waves as a replacement for a bucking bull), a surf competition, an inflatable duckie dash and a “Build Your Own Boat” race, where competitors will show off their nautical prowess and eye for design. I definitely won’t compete (the last time I went rafting, I nearly drowned), but it’ll be fun to spectate, and there are plenty of land events, from live music to a Weenie Dog Race.
MAD FRESH | madfreshproductions.com
Saturday, July 19, Mineral Palace Park, 1600 N. Santa Fe Ave., Pueblo, 11 a.m. 
Now in its third year, the Mad Fresh Production’s Hip-Hop Festival features a jam-packed lineup. DJs provide the soundtrack to a revolving door of MCs, who’ll bring life to the mic with storytelling and flow. You’ll be able to watch street artists in their elementing, turning the venue into an outdoor gallery. The festival also features breakdancing competitions (including one for kids), workshops and youth engagement opportunities.
COLOR FIGHT! | bristolbrewing.com
Saturday, July 19, Bristol Brewing Company, 1604 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, 2 p.m. 
Drinking beer and throwing colorful powder at a bunch of strangers may not be everyone’s ideal way to spend a Saturday afternoon, but to those of you who are interested in that kind of thing, Bristol Brewing has you covered. With the purchase of a $7 ticket, they’ll provide you with a white t-shirt to stain and colored powder to hurl like you’re in a 2010s EDM music video. There are three separate color wars: one for adults, one for children aged six to 12 and one for kids five and under. If that sounds like a sensory nightmare, it could still be fun to watch the chaos, sipping a beer from the sidelines.
BANJOS AND BRONCOS | broncdayfestival.org
Saturday, July 26, Gazebo Lake Park, 100 Lake St., Green Mountain Falls, 10 a.m. 
Grab your cowboy hat and saddle up for the 87th Bronc Day Festival in Green Mountain Falls. You’ll want to arrive early to be in time for the parade, beginning at 10 a.m. The festivities continue until 3 p.m., including stick-horse races (a sport for true equestrians), a pie contest (any banana cream fans out there?) and musical offerings like the Mountain Banjo Man (which should definitely be the name of Marvel’s next superhero). The evening dance begins at 6 p.m. The Bronc Day Festival is entirely free to attend, but bring some cash if you’re interested in getting grub from food trucks or goods from vendors.
CAT CONVENTION | catfestco.com
Saturday, July 26, Norris Penrose Event Center, 1045 Lower Gold Camp Road, Colorado Springs, 10:30 a.m. 
Some of us know all the words to Andrew Lloyd Weber’s classic musical. Some of us read the Warriors books in elementary school. Some of us liked Grumpy Cat when he was still popular (and alive — R.I.P.). No matter what kind of feline fan you are, Cat Fest Colorado has you covered. It’s the perfect place to adopt; 106 cats found new homes at Cat Fest Colorado 2024. There’ll be an exhibit about kitty history, “cat celebrities” (animals you may know if you spend way too much time on TikTok), cat-related cosplay and even kitten yoga.
CELTIC SCI-FI | greenhorsegallery.com
Through Thursday, July 31, Green Horse Gallery, 729 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs. Times vary.
There’s always something thought-provoking at Green Horse Gallery. In June, they displayed the hauntingly beautiful sculptures of Liz McCombs — human-like beings fitted with modifications from nature (antlers, twigs, you name it). In July, they’ll be featuring the work of Kyle Crutcher and Ken Cowdry. Cowdry creates laser-cut designs resembling stained-glass lanterns. Meanwhile, Crutcher specializes in pottery inspired by everything from 1950s sci-fi to Celtic aesthetics. My favorite of his is a little robot with a gun in its hand and goofy smile on its face; if this space invader knocked on my door, I’d let him right in.
POLKA DOTS AND CURRY | indianfoodfestival.co
Saturday, Aug. 2, Lewis Palmer High School, 1300 Higby Road, Monument, noon. 
After she moved from Punjab to Colorado Springs in 2007, Monika Celly labeled the Indian food scene of her new hometown as “pathetic.” But things have changed a lot in the last 18 years, in no small part thanks to Celly, who opened her cooking business, Polka Dots and Curry, and launched the Indian Food Festival in 2023. A gathering of all the best Indian cooks in the Pikes Peak region, the festival also features music and dance performances, henna artists, competitions and vendors of art and fashion. General admission is free, but it’s worth paying for the VIP admission (which begins at 11 a.m.) so you can come when it’s a little less crowded. I’m still wistfully thinking about the paneer pizza I had at last year’s festival.
LIZARD WIZARDS | fordamphitheater.live
Friday, Aug. 8, Ford Amphitheater, 95 Spectrum Loop, Colorado Springs, 6 p.m. 
The only way to define King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard is through their lack of genre boundaries. Their albums range from psychedelic jazz to thrash metal to spoken-word Spaghetti Western soundtracks. Their latest, “Phantom Island,” fuses the sounds of the orchestra with rock and roll. Naturally, they’ll be joined by the Colorado Symphony when they visit Colorado Springs this August. The Australian band will be ending their tour with a three-day camping festival, “Field of Vision,” in Buena Vista on Aug. 15-17. And if you’re a true Gizzhead, be sure to check out the Weirdo Swarm Artist Meetup (a fan meetup/psychedelic rock concert) at Lulu’s Downtown on Aug. 7 at 4 p.m.
FLOWER FESTIVAL | gathermountainblooms.com
Saturday, Aug. 9, Venetucci Farm, 5210 S. US-85-87, Colorado Springs, 3 p.m. 
A fusion of all things folksy and floral, Rocky Mountain Flower Fest at Venetucci Farm features a lineup of local bluegrass and Americana bands; an array of food trucks, craft beer and artisan goods to spend your money on; and a metric ton of flowers to smell and pick. You can even purchase the materials to make your very own flower crown. Line dancing, boot-stomping and frolicking without a care in a field of flowers — what is this, my mom’s Pinterest aesthetic?