his week’s Pikes Peak Parent’s BEST BET:

Colorado Springs Veteran’s Day Parade

Downtown Colorado Springs
The whole family can enjoy this free, patriotic parade, which runs along Tejon Street from St. Vrain Street to Vermijo Avenue. For more information, call 282-3862 or visit www.csvetsparade.org.

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Through the weekend

CC Hockey Action
Saturday and Sunday at the World Arena
The Colorado College Tigers take on the perennial NCAA powerhouse University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux. Tickets start at just $13 and can be purchased by calling 520-SHOW or visiting www.ticketswest.com. For more information on Tiger hockey, call 576-2626 or click www.cctigers.com.

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Saturday

Remember Our Veterans Walk
Aquatic and Fitness Center in Memorial Park
Take a stroll with the Falcon Wanderers during this non-competitive, free walk of 5k or 10k. For details, email the Wanderers at walking@falconwanderers.com.

Diwali: Festival of Lights
Colorado College - Armstrong Theater
The Indian community of Colorado Springs joins together to celebrate Diwali with songs and dances highlighting the rich cultural heritage of India. The performance features Indian classical, folk and modern dances along with beautifully performed live music covering many, many years of Indian history. Tickets are $20-$25 for reserved seating and $15 for general admission. Call 440-0675 or click www.cosindia.com for details.

St. Baldrick’s: Help find a cure for childhood cancers
Discovery Canyon Campus
Shave your head in solidarity of children with cancer, while requesting donations of support from friends and family. For more information, call Michael at 494-8454 or Debbie at 487-7496.

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Sunday

Pacific Pride and Island Heart’s Dancers
East Library
Watch and learn a special dance for Hawaii, Samoa or Tahiti with this talented group of young dancers and take home an island-themed craft. Visit www.ppld.org for additional dates, times and locations.

Halloween edition!

This week’s Pikes Peak Parent’s BEST BET:

Grimm Pajamas

Nov. 1-2, Manitou Art Theater
Enjoy a great belly laugh with perennial MAT favorites Creede Repertory Company as they take us on an outrageous fairytale romp. Music, puppetry and silliness abound in this high energy telling of some familiar and some unfamiliar classic tales! There’ll be nothing grim about it! Tickets are $9 each or $80 for a Ten Pack Pass. Call 685-4729 or visit www.themat.org/kidsfirst.html for tickets or details.

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Tonight (Friday)

Safe Night Halloween
Stratmoor Hills Elementary School
Harrison High School’s Senior SGA is hosting this free community event full of trick-or-treating and fun activities for children 12 and younger. Children should be escorted by a parent or guardian and be dressed up in their favorite costume. Free child safety kits will also be available by a local organization.

Masquerade Ball
East Teen Center
Dance the evening away in your very best or scariest outfit, vying for the prize in the annual costume contest at this free event for teens. Call: 531-6333 or visit www.ppld.org for details.

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All weekend

Arthur Live!
Friday and Saturday at the Pikes Peak Center
See this beloved character of children’s books and the Emmy Award-winning PBS show on stage at this musical adventure with a dozen original songs. Tickets are $15-$15 and can be purchased by calling 520-SHOW or clicking www.ticketswest.com.

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Saturday

Chemical Magic Show
Bear Creek Nature Center
Be amazed and surprised as experts from Cool Science play with chemicals, blow things up and more. Admission is $4 and reservations are required: 520-6387.

The RiP’s Brand New Show
Manitou Art Theater
Local improv group the RiP is unveiling a brand new show featuring short-form improv, long-form improv and a dash of sketch comedy. Tickets are $10. For more informaiton, call 685-4729 or visit www.theriponline.com.

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Sunday

Free Admission Day
Denver Zoo
Enjoy the colors and crisp air of fall at the zoo for free! Call 303-376-4800 or visit www.denverzoo.org for more information.

This week’s Pikes Peak Parent BEST BET:

Boo at the Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Oct. 24-26, trick or treat in a safe and festive environment with nightly magic shows, a not-too-scary haunted fun house, a ghostly graveyard and, of course, many of the zoo’s resident animals. Admission is $15 for ages 3-65, $9 for zoo members, and free those younger than 3 or older than 65. Call 633-9925 or visit www.cmzoo.org for more information. Also, check out the CM Zoo’s great new blog, In Between the Spots.

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Saturday

Halloween at FCNC
Fountain Creek Nature Center
The day kicks off with the Pumpkin Carving Party from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. ($3, reservations required) and continues from 5:30-8 p.m. with the Jack-o-Lantern Trail Walk ($4), a walk through paths lined with lit pumpkins with awards for best designs. Costumes are encouraged. Call 520-6745 for details.

Halloween events at the YMCA

– Fall Family Festival. 1–4 p.m. at the Garden Ranch Family Center YMCA. Carnival games, crafts, snacks and giveaways for kids of all ages. Call 593-9622 for details.

– Spooky Town. 4–7 p.m. at the Downtown Family Center YMCA. Kids 7 and older will get to experience a haunted mansion full of ghoulish goblins and happy howlers. For the younger kids, Spooky Town Village will help them get into the Halloween spirit without scaring them. Every child will receive a bag of goodies. Call 473-9622 for details.

– Spooktacular. 6–9 p.m. at the Fountain Valley YMCA. An evening of games, costume parade and contest, fall crafts and wonderful witches. It’s all treats and no tricks! $3 per child, parents free with a non-perishable food item. Call 382-1561 for details.

– Fall Family Festival. 6:30–8 p.m. at the Briargate Family Center YMCA. Trick o’ Trunk, carnival games and a cake walk. Call 282-9622 for details.

Emma Crawford Festival Memorial Coffin Parade & Races
Downtown Manitou Springs
At this free event, watch as many as 40 coffins and “Emmas” race up the town’s main street in honor of this historic Manitou Springs resident. Each coffin is pulled by a team of 4 mourners and each will also have an “Emma” riding in it. For more information, call 685-5089 or visit www.manitousprings.org.

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Ongoing events

Haunted Mines
Western Museum of Mining and Industry
The Museum’s mine shafts and elevators create a spooky, terrifying backdrop for this haunted house, recommended for kids 12 and older. Admission is $13. Call 488-0880 or visit www.hauntedmines.org for more information.

This week’s Pikes Peak Parent BEST BET:

Fall Festival

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
This festival is full to the brim of pleasing activities, including handmade gifts, food and crafts from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and Saturday, and a continental breakfast and lunch on Saturday. For details, call 597-3155.

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Tonight/Friday

Music under the Stars
Bear Creek Nature Center
Enjoy an evening of music, snacks, a campfire and stargazing with the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society during this free event. Reservations required: 520-6387.

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Saturday

Family Adventure Days
Fine Arts Center Main
Bemis School of Art instructors lead tours of current FAC exhibitions, lead hands-on art projects, host artist demonstrations and more. Participation is free for FAC members and $3 for non-members. For more information, call 475.2444 or visit www.csfineartscenter.org.

The Amazing Fossil Record of Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum

During this free program, Dr. Kirk Johnson reveals clues about the dinosaurs, giant fish, palm forest and huge clams that lived in this area millions of years ago. Call 385-5990 or visit www.cspm.org for details.

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Sunday

Family Concert: Classic Fairy Tales
Pikes Peak Center
The Colorado Springs Philharmonic brings life to castles, princes and princesses during this fun and interactive show. Tickets are $15 for adults and $9 for kids, and can be purchased by calling 520-SHOW or visiting www.ticketswest.com.

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And remember: Throughout the month…

Corn Maze
Botanical Gardens at Chatfield, Littleton

Navigate this 8.5-acre corn maze, whose winding pathways are shaped like a globe and runs Friday-Sunday through Oct. 26. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, $5for kids 3-12, and free for kids 3 and younger. Click www.botanicgardens.org for more information.

This week’s Pikes Peak Parent BEST BET:

First Nations Day

Rock Ledge Ranch explores the rich American Indian heritage of the Pikes Peak region — which includes the Ute, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Comanche, Kiowa and Apache tribes — on a daily basis. But during this special event, the Ranch celebrates America’s indigenous nations with dancing, storytelling, presentations,
traditional Indian handicrafts, and traditional foods like fry bread and Indian tacos. Admission is$6 for adults, $4 for seniors and students 13-18, $2 for ages 6-12, and free for kids 6 and younger. For more information, call 578-6777 or visit www.rockledgeranch.com.

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Tonight/Friday

Fall Star Gazing for Beginners
Fountain Creek Nature Center
Make a star chart, learn the locations of different night-sky objects and take a constellation-finding hike. Bring a small flashlight. Participation is $4 per person and reservations are required: 520-6745.

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Saturday

Family Exploration Day: Art Rocks
Western Museum of Mining and Industry
Learn how art and geology are related and see the new exhibit “Lure of the West” and a new 30-foot mural. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for military, $6 for seniors/students, $4 for kids 3-12 and free for kids younger than 3 and members. Call 488-0880 or visit www.wmmi.org for details.

A Sentimental Journey
Pikes Peak Center
The Colorado Springs Philharmonic presents the tunes of the Depression to the Big Band era as a part of the All Pikes Peak Reads program. Tickets are $10-$50 and can be purchased by calling 520-SHOW or clicking www.ticketswest.com.

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Sunday

Riding the Rails: Play like a Hobo!
East Library
As part of the All Pikes Peak Reads program, kids can learn about the Depression by learning hobo language, creating a hobo bag and more at this free event. Dress like a hobo and bring canned food to donate to Care and Share. Visit www.ppld.org for additional information.

This week’s Pikes Peak Parent BEST BET:

No Child Left Inside Weekend

This weekend devoted to reuniting kids with the great outdoors begins tonight, with special guest Richard Louv, author of “No Child Left Inside” at the Pikes Peak Center. Tickets are $10 for general admission, $7 for educators and $5 students, and can be purchased by calling 520-SHOW or visiting www.ticketswest.com.

But the fun continues all weekend long, when adult fees at any of Colorado’s 13 National Park Service areas will be waived when an adult is accompanied by a child.Special events are also being held at Florissant Fossil Beds, the Pikes Peak Historical Society in Florissant, Sanborn Western Camps, Mueller State Park, Cheyenne Mountain State Park, Starsmore Discovery Center, the Pikes Peak Sierra Club, Bear Creek and Fountain Creek nature centers, Golden Bell Camp and Conference Center, Boulder Meadows Ranch, Cripple Creek Parks and Recreation, and more. A full schedule of events is online at www.nps.gov/flfo/parknews/no-child-left-inside-weekend.htm, or CLICK HERE for a PDF schedule.

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All weekend

A Bowl of Dust
Oct. 4-5, Manitou Art Theater
The MAT presents their first show of the season at their new location at 1367 Pecan St. In conjunction with the All Pikes Peak Reads program, Birgitta De Pree performs a story of a lost diary, a hobo’s secret and a miner’s dreams in this 1930s-based tale. Tickets are $9 per person. For details, call 685-4729 or visit www.themat.org.

In Their Honor Colorado Springs Air Show
Oct 4-5, Old Colorado Springs Airport Terminal
See the nation’s best pilots, aerobatic performers, military flybys, experimental aircraft and more. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors/military and $5 for kids 6-12. For more information, call 635-8803 or visit www.cosairshow.com.

Haunted Mines
Fridays through Sundays beginning Oct. 3, Western Museum of Mining and Industry
Now through the end of October, the Museum’s mine shafts and elevators create a spooky, terrifying backdrop for this haunted house, recommended for kids 12 and older. Admission is $13. Call 488-0880 or visit www.hauntedmines.org for more information.

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Saturday

Harvest Festival
Oct. 4, Rock Ledge Ranch Historical Site
In honor of the fall harvest, admission fees are waived for this festival, which offers old-time music, horse-drawn wagon rides, a pumpkin patch and a folk art silent auction. Fees apply to most activities. For details, call 578-6777 or visit www.rockledgeranch.com.

This week’s Pikes Peak Parent’s BEST BET:

Coming soon: OLIVER!

Be enchanted by Oliver, playing Sept. 30-Oct. 1 at the Pikes Peak Center. Hailed the world over as one of the best-loved family musicals of all time, Oliver brings to the stage some of Charles Dicken’s most unforgettable characters. Save your seat now: With the discount code FAMILY, you can receive a special Family 4-Pack for only $99. Family 4-Packs are available now! Visit the Pikes Peak Center online for tickets or more information.

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Starting Friday

The Grapes of Wrath
Sept. 26-Oct. 19, Dusty Loo Bon Vivant Theater
THEATREWORKS performs the tale of the Joad family, a classic story of ordinary people struggling to keep their humanity in the face of massive economic desperation produced in collaboration with the All Pikes Peak Reads project. Tickets are $25-$50 for adults, $15 for children under 16 and free for UCCS students with ID. For more information, call 262-3232 or visit www.theatreworkscs.org.

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Saturday

Woodland Indian Summer
Sept. 27, Ute Pass Cultural Center
There’s something for the whole family at this free kickoff event for the 2009 Woodland Indian Arts Market and Exhibition Pow Wow, and offers Native American dancers, tipis, drum circles, story tellers, food and art. Plus, the Ute Pass Historical Society will open the historic cabins in history park, the gift shop mini museum in the Cultural Center and show the historic exhibits in the Centennial Trail Head. Call 687-9688 for details.

Venetucci Pumpkin Harvest Run
Sept. 27, Venetucci Farm
Trot through pumpkin and corn fields on a 5k or 10k course, or choose the Little Pumpkin Fun Run for kids 10 and younger. Call 391-8102 or click www.venetuccifarm.org for more information.

Ride For Rescue
Sept. 27, Santa Fe Trail
Bring out your mountain bike, road bike or tricycle for this noncompetitive ride, which ends in an 11:30 a.m. cookout at the Springs Rescue Mission. All proceeds support the mission’s community outreach; $200 fundraising commitment per rider. To register or for details, visit www.ride4rescue.com.

This week’s Pikes Peak Parent BEST BET:

Local Pumpkin Patch and Petting Zoo
open doors for the fall

Beginning Sept. 21, Wishing Star Farm
Visit this local farm to select that perfect pumpkin and give the kids a fun day on the farm. Admission also includes a hay ride, touching and feeding the farm animals, and a pony ride for kids 75 lbs and less. Hay rides, additional pony rides and animal food is available for a small fee. Admission is $7 for adults and kids more than 75 lbs., $10 for kids 75 lbs. and less, and free for kids 1 year or younger. For details, call 495-5888, e-mail info@wishingstarfarm.com or visit www.wishingstarfarm.com.

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All weekend

Military Appreciation Weekend
Sept. 20-21, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
The zoo honors active-duty military and veterans and their families with reduced admission of $4.25 per person. For more information, call 475-9555 or click www.cmzoo.org.

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Saturday

Blacksmith Demonstration
Rock Ledge Ranch
Certified journeyman blacksmith Mark Aspery hosts a fiery exhibition and demonstration of the blacksmith’s art. Admission is $20, and you can call 385-6546 or visit www.rockledgeranch.com for more information.

Outside Machinery Day
Western Museum of Mining and Industry
Tour an operating gold refinery, see a compressed-air locomotive and listen to stories about mining during the industrial revolution. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for military, $6 for seniors/students, $4 for kids 3-12, and free for kids younger than 3. For details, call 488-0880 or visit www.wmmi.org.

American Girls Tea Party
Palmer Lake Town Hall, Palmer Lake
Join us for a tea party with Kitt Kittredge, American Girl of the 1930s, and experience the crafts, food and activities she would have enjoyed. Registration is required for this free event; Call 481-6333 ext. 2403.

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Sunday

Community Kick-Off Event
Sept. 21, America the Beautiful Park
Celebrate the launch of two exciting community projects — Dream City and All Pikes Peak Reads — with music, dancing, refreshments, costumes, games, crafts and tree planting. Call 531-6333 or visit www.ppld.org for more information.