BEFORE ATTENDING ANY ACTIVITIES, please make sure they are still happening by checking their website or giving them a call. Some may be cancelled or postponed. Others may have changed COVID entry checks, mandated face mask or social distancing requirements. When purchasing tickets it may be advisable to know about their refund policies, too.

September – Beat the Rush to Vote! Starting early October ballots will be mailed out and so if you’d like to  avoid problems at last minute with either registering to vote or to change your address etc. go online to: sos.state.co.us/voter/ or call El Paso County Elections Dept (719) 575-8683. Their offices are located in the Citizen’s Center, 1675 W. Garden of the Gods Rd. on the 2^nd floor, suite 2202.

Pikes Peak Libraries: Hours Vary by location and the first hour is reserved for higher risk people. Masks are required. Capacity limits will be enforced – when reached, patrons must wait outside until others leave. Please keep your visits as brief as possible in order to minimize risk for everyone. For more info: ppld.org.

El Paso County Parks. There are new rules at Bear Creek Park, Black Forest Park, Falcon Reg. Park, Fountain Creek Park, Fox Run Park, Homestead Ranch Park and County Fairgrounds, Calhan. Please refrain from using parks if you have symptoms, use personal hygiene before entering park, be prepared that public restrooms are closed, no gatherings are allowed, and maintain a 6 ft distance from others.

El Paso County Dog Parks. There are many beautiful parks where you can hike with your dog! They are Bear Creek Dog Park – 21^st St. & W. Rio Grande; Fox Run Dog Park – 210 Stella Dr.; Palmer Park Dog Park – 3650 Maizeland; Rampart Dog Park – 8270 Lexington Dr.; Falcon Dog Park – Eastonville Rd.; and Fountain Creek Dog Park – 2010 Duckwood. For more info: elpasoco.com – click Dog Parks.

Kimball’s Peak Three Theatre will virtual stream movies into the comfort (and safety) of your own home – go to kimballspeakthree.com to start watching some awesome movies! Now playing are “Out Stealing Horses,” “Love Express,” “Around the Sun,” and “The Fight.” And coming soon: “The Personal History of David Copperfield” and “The Secrets We Keep.”

Mueller State Park & Campground. Enjoy over 5,000 park acres of meadows and observe abundant wildlife. Park hours: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and daily vehicle pass is $9 at self-service stations or at entry gate, 21045 Hwy 67 South, Divide. Restrooms are open and cleaned regularly. For info on hiking trails, fishing, picnicking or camping, go to: cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/Mueller or call 719-687-2366.

Sept. 1-29: Colorado Springs Philharmonic Radio Performances are on KCME 88.7 FM, hosted by Robert Bruce, Monday through Friday nights from 7 to 8 p.m. Almost a decade of fine musical Philharmonic performance recordings will be re-broadcast.

Until Sept. 28: Flying W Chuckwagon Suppers & Western Show. The ranch is located off Flying W Ranch Rd. at 3330 Chuckwagon Rd. For reservations go to: flyingw.com or 719-598-4000.

Sept. 1-30: PPLD Pen Pals. Rockrimmon Library will start an adult pen pal program in Sept. You may register online (ppld.org) or with the library staff at 832 Village Center Dr. Pen pals are randomly assigned and you can drop off letters at the library. All pen pals must assume responsibility for contents of their own correspondence. It will be a fun way during this pandemic to connect with others in our community!

Sept. 4-25: Woodland Park Farmer’s Market. Every Friday in Sept. from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. you can shop over 100 vendors of farm-fresh produce, breads, cheeses, pasta, meats, eggs, jams, teas, coffees, and more! There will also be food trucks on site and live music playing at Memorial Park and Henrietta Ave.

Sept. 4-26: Living Landscape Tour in Alamo State Park. Fridays and Saturdays in Sept the Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum will give tours of the 1903 Courthouse exterior, its architecture and history, and the surrounding Alamo Square Park, 215 S. Tejon St. Tours are free of charge and start at 10 a.m. Wear comfortable walking shoes and please maintain social distancing.

Sept. 5 – Oct. 3: Yoga at Rainbow Falls. Enjoy a relaxing yoga class for all ability levels at this historic site, 1360 Serpentine Dr. Instruction is provided by Manitou Springs Fitness Center and is for adults only. The cost is $10 a class, per person and please pre-register by calling (719) 520-6977. Participants are asked to provide their own mat and to wear a mask.

Sept. 5-6: Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off. This 44-year traditional hot air balloon event will continue! This year spectators are encouraged to look to the sky and from the comfort of their own homes (7:30-8:30 a.m. Sat & Sun) watch a spectacular array of 35+ balloons lifting off from 10-12 locations across the city. While balloons soar, listen to radio commentary at: 106.3FM, Y96.9, May 99.9, Cat Country 95.1, 96.1 The Beat, 92.9 Peak FM, or AM 740 KVOR. (No events will occur at Memorial Park)

Sept. 6-27: Sunday Bingo! Sundays at 6:30 p.m. (doors open 4:30) the Colorado Springs Chapter of Disabled American Veterans hosts Bingo as a fundraiser to help aid local veterans. Wear masks to enter, seating is limited. 6 Knob Hill, 6880 Palmer Park Blvd. Each Bingo packet is $7. 719-591-8787.

Sept. 7: Labor Day Vintage Baseball. Come cheer our home team, the Camp Creek Cloud Busters, on to victory – 1 p.m. opening pitch is at Rock Ledge Ranch, 3105 Gateway Rd. Seniors pay only $5 admission. Vintage rules include no spittin’ and no swearin’.  Picnics welcome and old fashioned sodas, popcorn, peanuts and crackerjacks are for sale.

Sept. 9-30: Colorado Farm and Art Market. Wednesdays 3-7 p.m. come to the southeast side of the Pioneer’s Museum, 215 S. Tejon St. To shop online go to openfoodnetwork.net or come in person to shop Wed afternoons.

Daily until Oct. 5: History Escape Rooms. Each day at 5 p.m. teams of 2-6 people must solve puzzles to escape a room within 60 minutes at the Cripple Creek District Museum, 510 Bennett Ave. For reservations ($20) call 719-689-9540.

Sept. 11-25: Puccini Double Bill. Opera Theatre of the Rockies’ gives us a Virtual Season of past performances as they anticipate a face to face reunion with their audiences soon. For details go to operatheatreoftherockies.org. Until Sept 11 you can watch Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville”, and from 11-25 Sept two Puccini operas.

Sept. 12: Family, Food & Craft Festival. Join in the fun for a free outdoor event with live music at the Masonic Center, 1150 Panorama Dr. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be lots of vendors, food trucks, home crafted goodies for sale, in the Hall’s parking lot. Admission is free.

Sept. 13: Pikes Peak Region’s Memorial Wall.  Starting 11 a.m. there will be a wall dedication to honor the sacrifices made for our freedom by members of our Armed Forces who were lost in Iraq and Afghanistan since Sept 11, 2001. The Memorial Wall is in Mt. Pisgah Cemetery on Teller County Rd #1 just outside of Cripple Creek.

Sept. 13: Organ Spectacular VI. First United Methodist Church’s world-class organ at 2:30 will shake the building in performances of Hindemith’s Kammermusik and a Widor Symphony. Senior admission is $25. The church is at 420 N. Nevada Ave downtown.

Sept. 19: Violet Sykora Memorial Walk. Join the Falcon Wanderers Club to get us outdoors and exercising! For details on this hike in Bear Creek Park, 21^st St near W. Rio Grande St. and to sign up, go to: falconwanderers.org/events.

Sept. 19: Introduction to Genealogy. Learn how to begin researching your family tree and discover more ancestral history. This class for beginners 10 a.m. at Penrose Library, 20 N. Cascade Ave., will discuss: Why genealogy? Getting organized, setting goals, common record types and recording information.

Sept. 20: National Back to Church Sunday will be celebrated at the 10 a.m. Sunday service of Peyton Community Church, 13697 Manitou St. Whether you have been away from church for a while or if you are searching for a new home church, all are welcome – please join us. The church follows Colorado health guidelines. Please wear masks and social distance. (719) 215-1333.

Sept. 25: The New Energy Market. Learn about the state of fossil fuels vs. renewable energy use and what’s on the horizon from Jim Riggins of the Southeastern Colorado Renewable Energy Society, noon at Margarita at Pine Creek, 7350 Pine Creek Rd. Free to attend but cost of lunch is your responsibility. RSVP to (719) 231-6265.

Sept. 26: National Drive Electric Week. See and learn about electric cars, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the parking lot by Il Vicino, University Village, 5262 N. Nevada Ave. Free admission. Wear masks, social distance and please be respectful of others.

Sept. 26: Elton ‘Dan’ & The Rocket Band – there will be just one performance 7 p.m. of the full Elton experience at Stargazers Theatre, 10 S. Parkside Dr. Doors open at 6.  Please stay home if feeling ill, give other guests their space (6 ft), and wear your mask while not seated at your table. For tickets ($18+) call (719) 476-2200.

Sept. 30: First Aid, CPR, AED Classes. The American Red Cross will prepare you in first aid, breathing and cardiac emergencies, 6-7:30 p.m. at Fountain Creek Nature Center, 320 Peppergrass Ln. Pre-register ($75) by calling (719) 520-6745.

Colorado Springs 150 Tree Challenge. Our city forestry department is seeking volunteers to plant 18,071 by next July (yes, you read that correctly). You buy a young tree and plant it at home or on approved city property (free permit for the latter) to replace those damaged or lost. Sign up at coloradosprings.gov/tree150.