Pueblo's weekend activities: Campapalooza, Oktoberfest, art walk and a multicultural fest
Friday, Oct. 6
Campapalooza at City Park
Horseshoe Lake, 800 Goodnight Ave. | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | The Boys & Girls Club of Pueblo County will introduce young people to the joys of camping and outdoor activities. The free event is open to the public and features hands-on introductions to outdoor activities including setting up a tent, fire safety, wildlife ID and animal tracking, water safety and fishing. There will be an outdoor craft station and a hot dog lunch. Event partners are the Pueblo Fire Department, Lamb Branch Library, Trout Unlimited, Lake Pueblo Rangers, Fountain Creek Watershed District, Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center and the Girl Scouts. The event is funded by a $150,000 grant from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Great Outdoors Colorado and the Outdoor Equity Grant Board to improve access, representation, meaningful participation and quality experiences for youth and their families.
"Families come to Colorado from all over the country to be outdoors. However, in Pueblo, we have kids who have never been outside of their neighborhood," said Cheryl Califano, special events and stewardship manager for the Boys and Girls Club.
"Youth in high poverty areas and communities of color in Pueblo express interest in exploring nature but confront barriers such as lack of transportation or cost. We work to give our members, 79% who live at or below the poverty level and 77% of who are people of color, access to opportunities to create healthy, successful lives," Califano said.
Chrome Rendezvous across from Black Hills Energy office
105 S. Victoria Ave. | 2 p.m. car registration, show 3-7 p.m. | This First Friday Art Walk event will feature a striking fusion of restored vintage classic cars and artistic energy sponsored by Damon Runyon Days and Black Hills. Free for car owners and the viewing public. Call Carla Hendrickson, 719-583-1633.
Oktoberfest at The Walter Brewing Company
126 S. Oneida St. | 3-11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6 and Saturday, Oct. 7 | Food trucks will be serving German-inspired food, plus there will be beer stations, vendors, live polka bands and music, hair braiding and accessories, a costume contest, stein racing, games, prizes, face painting, and more. Stoke Pizza will be serving its Governor's Plate award-winning pizza starting at 4 p.m. on Oct. 7. Members of the Walter family will fly in from Wisconsin to celebrate.
"Fall into Art" at Steel City Art Works
216 S. Union Ave. | 5-8 p.m. | The gallery will celebrate the First Friday Art Walk with six featured artists who will be on hand to talk to the public. The artists are offering everything from watercolor and acrylic paintings to beaded jewelry and T-shirts. Complimentary refreshments will be offered during the opening reception. The show will run throughout October and hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.
First Friday Retrospective at Pueblo Heritage Museum
201 W. B St. | 5-8 p.m. | A retrospective exhibit of the work of Christy Furman, whose art encapsulates the spirit of animals such as the graceful flight of cranes and the magic of unforgettable moments like a mesmerizing sunset. Meet the artist and learn about her inspiration. All Van Gogh Van riders can take advantage of a 5% gift shop discount. The exhibit runs through Oct. 28.
First Friday at Blo Back Gallery
131 Spring St. | 6-9 p.m. | Opening reception for three featured artists who will showcase paintings, quilts and more through Oct. 28. The event is an opportunity to meet and mingle with the artists. It is free and open to the public.
Saturday, Oct. 7
Free and low cost pet vaccination clinic at Paws for Life
800 N. Pueblo Blvd. | 8 a.m.-noon | Drive-through pet vaccination clinic. Participants should keep animals in their vehicles and on leash until it is their turn. Distemper/Parvo shots are free, while rabies and Bordetella/kennel cough are $15 and microchips are $20. Only cash will be accepted and owners should bring any previous vaccine records.
River Clean Up at Moffat Street Trailhead
Just off Santa Fe | 9 a.m.-noon | Creek Week and Pueblo Friends of the Arkansas River are teaming up to clean a section of the Arkansas River. Organizers will supply trash bags, grabbers, buckets and will have a limited supply of gloves. Bring water and your own gloves if you have them. Wear comfortable walking/hiking shoes. Contact Carla Hendrickson, 719-583-1633 to RSVP or with questions.
Multicultural Festival at Mineral Palace Park
1600 N. Santa Fe | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Come celebrate many cultures from around the world featuring: Grupo Xochitl (Aztec), Russian Folk Dance, Egyptian/Arabian, Las Estrellas (Chicano), Native American Drum/Dance, The New Potatoes (Irish), It's a Trade Thing(Soul/Funk), Hula/Tahitian Dance, Gypsy Dance, and Creole. Food trucks and more than 70 vendors will be on hand. Bring lawn chairs for seating. The event is free.
Oktoberfest at Tabor Lutheran Church
102 E. Orman Ave. | 4-10 p.m. | The event will feature beers from local breweries, food truck fare, Mustache Mikes Frozen Ice, kids activities and live music. Proceeds will benefit church programs.
"New Kids on the Block" Metal Show at Blo Back Gallery
131 Spring St. | Doors open at 5 p.m., show at 6 p.m. | Performers will include Liars, Handshake, Cortez, Hate Season, Rosemount and FatCamp. The Mosh Noshery food truck will be providing food. Cost is $10 and the show is open to all ages.
Alex Zurdo concert at Pueblo Memorial Hall
1 City Hall Place | Doors open at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m. | Zurdo's Conxsion Tour features the Puerto Rican Christian music rapper and songwriter as well as Luis Gonzalez and Generasion Levi. Tickets range from $43-$103 and are available at pueblomemorialhall.com.
Sunday, Oct. 8
Blessing of the Animals at First Congregational Church
228 W. Evans Ave. | 10 a.m. | The church is set to hold its annual Blessing of the Animals. Owners are encouraged to bring their pets in carry cages or on leashes to the service.
Monday, Oct. 9
Online author talk for All Pueblo Reads
Pueblo Library District Facebook and YouTube pages | 1 p.m. | Texas author Lynne Kelly, who penned “Song for a Whale," a book for younger readers in grades 4 through 8, will give a talk. Her book is about a deaf girl named Iris who forms an unlikely bond with the “loneliest whale in the world." It received the 2020 Schneider Family Book Award and was named one of the best books of the year by New York Public Library. Hundreds of copies of the title are available for checkout at Pueblo libraries.
Thursday, Oct. 12
Solar Eclipse presentation at Pueblo West Library
298 S. Joe Martinez Blvd. | 6-7 p.m. | Two solar eclipses will be visible in the United States on Oct. 14 and again April 8, 2024. Learn about these exciting and awe-inspiring events at this presentation given by retired Colorado State University Pueblo Professor William Brown.
Life Drawing at Blo Back Gallery
131 Spring St. | 6-9 p.m. | The drawing session is open to artists 18 and older. Cost is $15. Bring your own supplies.
Friday, Oct. 13
Fall into Christmas Boutique at Oasis Church
347 S. Del Norte, Pueblo West | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday and again from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday | The Pueblo West Women's League will offer creative crafts for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Baked goods will be sold and prize raffles will be held.
Films on the Farm at Musso Farms
35779 Hillside Road | Decorating at 5:30 p.m., movie at dusk | The throwback edition will feature the adult night screening of "Friday the 13th" and the Oct. 20 family night screening of "HalloweenTown." The event includes a pumpkin, decorating materials, popcorn and snacks. Cost is $15 per person.
Comedy for a Cause at Pueblo Memorial Hall
1 City Hall Place | 7 p.m. | Comedian Dan Bublitz Jr. will perform for the Pueblo Cooperative Care Center fundraiser. Care center staff are seeing increased needs never experienced in the 41-year history of Southern Colorado's largest food pantry and emergency crisis center. Tickets are $30 and are available at pueblomemorialhall.com.
Dirty Blonde dance performance at Blo Back Gallery
131 Spring St. | Doors open at 7 p.m., show at 7:30 Friday and Saturday | The dance theater performance focuses on one woman`s genre-bending, darkly comedic reflection on the oldest trick in the book. The event is intended for mature audiences. Cost is $25 in advance at blo-back-gallery@ticketleap.com or $30 at the door.
"The Haunting of Hill House" at Impossible Playhouse
1201 N. Main St. | 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13 and 14 | Director Marlo Angel-Hartman leads the Impossible Players in this PG-13 rated, but very scary play. Showtimes also set for 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20-21, 2 p.m. Oct. 22, 9 p.m. Oct. 27 (with a 7:30 p.m. reception) and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28. Tickets range from $15-$10 and advance tickets are on sale at impossibleplayers.com.
Saturday, Oct. 14
Harvest Fest Run at Pueblo Riverwalk
125 E. Riverwalk | 8 a.m. | Pueblo Diversified Industries is hosting the 5K and 1 mile run event which showcases the talents, skills and creativity of the Pueblo Diversified Industries community. The event combines fitness and community engagement and people of all ages and abilities are welcome. The event will include vendors and entertainment.
All Pueblo Sings at Pueblo Divine Science Church
115 E. Routt Ave. | 3-4:15 p.m. | The community sing-along is free. All ages and talents are welcome. Contact Marcia Beachy at 719-542-0156 or email mefbeachy@hotmail.com.
Sunday, Oct. 15
Rumours of Fleetwood Mac Concert at Pueblo Memorial Hall
1 City Hall Place | Doors open at 6:30 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m. | The Fleetwood Mac tribute band will perform favorite Fleetwood Mac hits such as “Dreams,” “The Chain,” and “Go Your Own Way,” complete with full stage production. Tickets range from $29-$149 and are available at pueblomemorialhall.com.
Thursday, Oct. 19
Open Mic Night at Blo Back Gallery
131 Spring St. | 6-9 p.m. | Sign up at 6 p.m., show starts at 6:30 p.m. and is free and open to all ages.
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: Things to do in Pueblo: Campapalooza, Oktoberfest, live music and more
