If you have ever stood in your kitchen on a Saturday morning wondering what to do in Colorado Springs this weekend, this episode is your new best friend. Carly sits down with Jonathan Toman of Peak Radar and the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region, to break down the annual events guide that tracks over 3,000 events across El Paso, Teller, and Fremont Counties every single year.

From heritage festivals to bizarre-but-beloved quirky traditions, Jonathan reveals the anchor events that define life in the Pikes Peak region, plus a few once-in-a-decade celebrations happening in 2026 that you absolutely cannot miss.

In This Episode:

Jonathan and Carly cover the events that best capture the personality of Colorado Springs (including one that feeds the whole family for $5), the festivals that make longtime locals say "how did I not know about this," and the quirky traditions that are uniquely, wonderfully ours. They also dig into the hidden gems worth pairing with bigger events on the same weekend, the newest annual events that have earned their place on the calendar, and why Labor Day weekend in Colorado Springs is so much more than balloons.

Events and Resources Mentioned:

Colorado Springs Western Street Breakfast
Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon
Green Box Arts Festival
Cripple Creek Ice Festival
Emma Crawford Coffin Races
Donkey Derby Days
Common Wheel Arts Festival
Victor Celebrates the Arts
Pikes Peak Air Show
United We Rock Festival
Fiestas Patrias
Rocky Mountain Flower Fest
Gold Rush Days
Meadowgrass Music Festival
Rocky Mountain Women's Film Festival
Vintage Baseball Game
Bronc Day

Picks of the Week:

Money Museum in Colorado Springs

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Springs and Things is your weekly guide to living, exploring, and thriving in Colorado Springs. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave us a five-star review if this episode helped you fill up that calendar.