Roamin' the Range, August 2013

Summer is flying by, so quickly that’s it’s time to take stock, see what all is happening along the Front Range, and the find time to enjoy!

Great Colorado Outdoors Show

Meet R. J. and Jay Paul Molinere, of History Channel’s “Swamp People,” experience outdoor fun, food and an adventure school for novices at the Great Colorado Outdoors Show at B. W. Pickett Equine Center, 735 S. Overland Trail in Fort Collins. Advance tickets $8; $10 at gate, $5 for kids 5-17. Info: k99.com,tri1025.com, 999thepoint.com or 943Loudwire.com.

A Road to Telluride Blues and Brews event

Otis Taylor and friends will headline a special “pre” Telluride Blues and Brews concert at the Park House, 1515 Madison St. in Denver, Aug. 3. Taylor will offer up his signature Trance Blues,” roadhouse style, in an intimate setting to celebrate the 20th annual Telluride Blues and Brews Festival Sept. 13-16 in Telluride. Taylor was a teenager in the Five Points neighborhood in Denver and played his banjo on the way to school at Manual High School. As one of the best known representatives of the blues from Colorado, Taylor will be playing at the Telluride Festival in September. Robby Peoples will open for him on Aug. 3. Show time 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $10. Purchase on line at [email protected] or stop by Park House. More info at:303-578-0542.

Rocky Mountain Quilt Festival

Quilt lovers will be in their element Aug. 9-11 at the Ranch Event Complex in Loveland, where exhibits, demonstrations, classes, stage presentations and more than 75 vendors will celebrate every aspect of quilting.

The festival gets underway at 10 a.m. on Friday and Saturday morning and continues until 5 p.m. each day. Sunday’s activities run from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Workshops and classes begin at 9 a.m. each day. Cost is $10 per day or $25 for a multi-day pass. Bring a non-perishable food item to donate and receive a $2 discount.

“It’s our goal to create the best and most welcoming atmosphere for sewing, quilting and fiber arts education, entertainment and inspiration,” said Judy Patterson, of event organizer, CDM shows. “Whether you’re a seasoned amateur or experienced professional, you will find something to excite and inspire you at the festival.”

Celebrity teachers include award-winning longarm quilters and instructors, Linda V. Taylor and Irena Bluhm. Taylor will present six lectures and create samplers to be given away as door prizes. Bluhm will offer six workshops for varying skill levels and students will have an opportunity to try out Gammill quilting machines. Sign up for lectures and workshops at rockymountainquiltfestival.com or register at show site.

Traveling quilt exhibits and displays of more than 600 quilts include the 2013 Hoffman Challenge Traveling Collection, Children: Hope for Tomorrow Quilt Exhibit, Irena Bluhm Quilts and the Pilgrim/Roy Challenge provided by the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Ky.

A shopping hall will have more than 75 vendors offering name brand sewing machines, longarm quilting machines and equipment, sewing, quilting and knitting supplies, beads, notions, fashion items and more.

For more information go to rockymountainquiltfestival.com, Nancy Twining, [email protected] or 515-829-6003.

Opera Fort Collins to present The Ballad of Baby Doe

Opera Fort Collins will open its season with the historic rags-to-riches and back again tale of Baby Doe and Horace Tabor at the Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia in Fort Collins on Aug. 23. Info. and tickets at Lincoln Center box office, by phone, 970-221-6730 or at lctix.com

August Winds

August Winds Woodwind Quartet will perform works by Ravel, Haydn, Coleman and more on Saturday Aug. 24, 2 p.m. at the Abbey of St. Walburga in Virginia Dale. The quintet is part of Astraios, a network of chamber musicians committed to developing interaction between musicians and their audience in order to enhance the musical experience. They answer questions, demonstrate how to listen to a new piece of music and even allow the audience to try out an instrument. The Abbey of St. Walburga is off U.S. 287 near mile marker 381. A green DOT sign points to the monastery which is about a mile off the road. The concert is free but seating is limited and reservations recommended. Email [email protected] or call 469-744-4825. The quintet will also play at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 25 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Upper Poudre Canyon Association Craft Fair and Quilt Show

Mark your calendar for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday Aug. 10 for an event that has something for everyone. The Upper Poudre Canyon Craft Fair and Quilt Show at Upper Poudre Canyon Community Building and Fire Station #2, 33689 Highway 14, west of mile marker 89 will feature music, food, crafts, and a raffle for a beautiful quilt made by local quilters. Tickets sold at the show and at Bighorn Cabins and Archer’s Resort in Poudre Canyon. This year’s show will have a variety of handcrafted items including wood turned pens, carved bears, sterling silver, wire wrapped, fused glass, vintage and American Indian jewelry, leather crafts, antiques, wreaths, hand-sewn and crocheted hats and scarves, water color paintings, photos on textured glass. Mountain Man snacks, rock and folk acoustic music. All-day bake sale, grilled lunch served by the fire department. Historic Eggers School House Museum open for touring. If you are interested in selling your crafts call Buzz at 970-881-3585.

Bohemian Nights at NewWestFest

Now in its ninth year, the Bohemian Nights at NewWestFest in Downtown Fort Collins is one of the biggest and best music festivals in Colorado. This year the line-up includes more than 70 new, emerging and established Colorado bands on six stages throughout the weekend of Aug. 16-18. The music starts at 5 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Each evening a national headliner will be featured at the Mountain main stage location. They are Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite, The Samples and Leon Russell.

Wellington town-wide garage sale

Here’s an opportunity to pick up all sorts of items you didn’t know you needed until you saw them at a town-wide garage sale in Wellington between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Aug. 24. Out of town participants will peddle their wares at Centennial Park and town residents will offer items at their homes, located on a map describing locations. Deadline for registering to participate in the garage is July 31. $5 for residents, $10 for out-of-town participants. Info at 568-3381.