Concerts, cute critters and comedy among top things to see and do in Pueblo this weekend
Friday, July 14
Festival Fridays at Sangre de Cristo Arts Center
210 N. Santa Fe | 6 p.m. | The Martini Shot, a local six-piece, horn-powered band, will perform pop and rock covers as well as originals. Tickets are $8 in advance at sdc-arts.org or $10 at the door. A $24 ticket covers all three Festival Fridays, which continue July 21 and 28. Seating is limited, so the audience is encouraged to bring a chair or blanket to sit on.
Saturday, July 15
Dollar Day at the Pueblo Zoo
3455 Nuckolls Ave. | 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Bridges Child Placement Agency has partnered with Pueblo Zoo to present Dollar Day at the Zoo. Families can visit the zoo for $1. Full-price admission applies after 1 p.m. Bridges Child Placement Agency recruits and trains foster parents to provide foster care to children in Colorado. Bridges seeks to partner with others in the Pueblo community to make a difference serving families throughout Colorado. There may be wait times at entry due to the popularity of this event. Overflow parking is available throughout City Park, at the tennis courts and at the City Park pool. Plan 30 minutes for parking, as volume will be high. Due to the large numbers of expected guests and to reduce the stress on the animals, the rainforest area will be closed.
Comedy Night at the Blue Cactus Room
1435 E. Evans Ave. | Dinner 5-7 p.m., show at 7:30 | Jonathan Flanagan, Matt Gabriel and Garrett Waller will present their stand-up comedy shows with host Julia Foodman. Cost is $12 and tickets are available at eventbrite.com.
Concert at Blo Back Gallery
131 Spring St. | 5:30-9 p.m. with show starting at 6:30 p.m. | Mineral Palace, SPELLS and Audio Visceral will perform. The event is open to all ages. Cost is $10 and tickets are available at blobackgallery.com.
Fight Night at Pueblo Convention Center
320 Central Main St. | Doors open at 4:45 p.m., fights start at 6 p.m. | The Battle Mixed Martial Arts Championships will feature several cage fight competitions. Cost is $40 for general admission or $80 for VIP seating. Tickets are available online at etix.com.
Dancing with the Pueblo Starz at Pueblo Convention Center
320 Central Main St. | Doors open at 5 p.m., event starts at 6 p.m. | Local celebrity dance couples will give dazzling performances in support of Pueblo Diversified Industries and Fresh Greens Colorado. Tickets are available online at secure.qgiv.com starting at $100 per person.
Sunday, July 16
Breakfast fundraiser at Our Lady of the Meadows Church
23 Starling Drive | 8:30-10:30 a.m. | The Knights of Columbus will serve pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, green chile, coffee and orange juice in the church basement. Cost is $7.
Pueblo Municipal Band concert at Pueblo Community College Amphitheater
900 W. Orman Ave. | 6:30 p.m. | Concerts also are set for 6:30 p.m. July 23 and July 30. The band will perform a free concert featuring marches, show tunes, pop tunes and more.
Wednesday, July 19
Free Swim Day at City Park and Ray Aguilera Park Pools
221 S. Parkside Lane and 715 McCulley Ave. | noon-5:30 p.m. at City Park and noon-5 p.m. at Aguilera Park | Both pools are open free of charge.
Thursday, July 20
Music, Malt & Mead at Abriendo Inn
300 W. Abriendo Ave. | 6-9 p.m. | Gypsy-Solo will perform classic rock tunes for the summer concert series in the garden. Tickets are $15 and available at abriendoinn.com/events. Walk-ins are welcome.
Open Mic Night at Blo Back Gallery
131 Spring St. | 6-9 p.m. | Sign up at 6 p.m. and show starts at 6:30 p.m. The event is free, but refreshments and food will be available for purchase.
Friday, July 21
Pueblo County Fair Family Fun Day
Colorado State Fairgrounds, 1001 Beulah Ave. | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Festivities will include a 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. petting zoo, 10 a.m. archery event, a noon stick horse event and 4 p.m. goat yoga with 3 Sisters Farm & Dairy. The event is free.
Princess Night at The Rides at City Park
3425 Nuckolls Ave. | 5-9 p.m. | Come dressed as your favorite princess or prince and take selfies with the ride staff in their costumes. Rides cost 25 cents each.
Festival Fridays at Sangre de Cristo Arts Center
210 N. Santa Fe | 6 p.m. | Journey to the Heart, a Denver-based 1970s and '80s tribute band, will perform the rock tunes of Journey and Heart. Tickets are $8 in advance at sdc-arts.org or $10 at the door. Seating is limited, so the audience is encouraged to bring a chair or blanket to sit on.
Saturday, July 22
Hip Hop Fest at Mineral Palace Park
1600 N. Santa Fe Ave. | 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Mad Fresh Productions is hosting a DJ battle, DJ showcase, B-boy battle, graffiti wars, and live performances by Bullhead*ded, Hiatus, Vigilant, Affliction Music, KenDog, Kuya, Stoney Bertz and D Mane. Kids workshops will focus on fashion, breakdancing, the art of graffiti and DJing. Food trucks will include Papa Mario's, Double D's, Puff Puffette Pass, Nana's BBQ, Smith Grubs, Wings On Wheels, Grounder Pounder, Rio Grande Cafe and Nutty Bees. The event is free.
Hip Hop Fest After Party at Blo Back Gallery
131 Spring St. | 8-12 p.m. | Felix Fast4ward, Smiley Gatmouth, Wayzout, D Select and Mixtech will perform. Cost is $10 at the door or online at blobackgallery.com. The event is open to all ages.
Tuesday, July 25
Matinee Punk Show at Blo Back Gallery
131 Spring St. | 5:30 p.m. | Innocent Sinners, Chef Danny Boy and Boss's Daughter will perform. Cost is $10 at the door and the event is open to all ages.
Wednesday, July 26
Free Swim Day at Mitchell Park Pool
1040 N La Crosse Ave. | noon-5 p.m. | The pool will be open free of charge.
Thursday, July 27
Free Carousel rides at The Rides at City Park
3425 Nuckolls Ave. | 5-9 p.m. | The George R. Williams' Memorial Carousel Day will feature free rides on the carousel in honor of a passionate Pueblo historian and longtime assistant director of Pueblo Parks and Recreation. Tickets for all other rides are 25 cents each.
Music, Malt & Mead at Abriendo Inn
300 W. Abriendo Ave. | 6-9 p.m. | The Cari Dell Trio will perform classic rock tunes for the summer concert series in the garden. Tickets are $15 and available at abriendoinn.com/events. Walk-ins are welcome.
Want us to include your event in this calendar? Send details by email, with "Things to Do" in the subject line, to tharmon@chieftain.com. The calendar is available online and in print every Friday.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Concerts, comedy and free pool days among top things to do in Pueblo
