After more than a year of canceled events, limited-capacity markets and very little socializing, this summer is shaping up to be more open in Boulder County.
And if you’re looking for a new way to support small businesses and celebrate the nice weather, consider attending the brand new Boulder Creek Summary Sundays Market series, which starts May 16 and runs every Sunday through June 27.
Organized by the City of Boulder and produced by Team Player Productions, the weekly market is being hosted in the Civic Area near the Bandshell from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
It’s a free, fun community even featuring hand-made goods and items from artisan vendors (including some familiar faces you might remember at Boulder Creek Festival!). Each Sunday, some 30 vendors — including artists and Boulder-based businesses — will set up shop in the park.
“We missed the Boulder community so much last year that we decided to showcase our many local partners for seven weeks leading up to this year’s Boulder Creek Festival,” says Ryan Slater of Team Player Productions. “The goal has always been to amplify our community impact, and this weekly series gives us the opportunity to do just that.”
While you’re there, you can also support Boulder High School Athletics through fundraising opportunities. There will also be two different local musicians performing on a small acoustic stage at the markets.
You’ll also be able to watch two live artist demonstrations each Sunday, organized by Open Studios. As you watch, these artists will create one-of-a-kind works of art right before your eyes. Then, at the end of the market series in June, you’ll be able to vote on your favorite piece of art created at the market. The winning artist will get a free booth at Boulder Creek Festival.
Boulder Creek Festival is Back
And speaking of the Boulder Creek Festival, it’s back this year and being held July 16-18 in the Civic Area. Though this free event is typically held Memorial Day weekend to kick off the start of summer, this year the organizers have moved it to later in the summer to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The festival will feature live music and performances, plus a curated marketplace of local makers and artisan. There will also be a business bazaar and plenty of al fresco dining spaces, a beer festival, a kids area and tons of family-friendly activities.
Team Player Productions, which is producing the festival, is also hosting an array of other COVID-safe events around the state, including the Vail Wine Class Aug. 12-15 and the Breckenridge Wine Classic Sept. 16-18. They’re also putting on the Vail Craft Beer Classic June 25-26 featuring more than 40 craft breweries.
New Arts in the Park Program
Also new for this summer: The City of Boulder is launching Arts in the Park, which will bring arts and cultural performances to the Civic Area Bandshell this summer from May to September.
The program’s goal? To help revitalize the Boulder arts and culture community after a devastating year-and-a-half under COVID-19. Though arts organizations were able to impressively pivot to online platforms and outdoor venues, they still suffered greatly because of the pandemic, with an estimated $823 million in revenue lost for creative industries across the state.
“Arts in the Park will provide a venue for a variety of performing arts groups to put on outdoor performances safely,” says Justin Greenstein, events manager for the city. “It will also help create a welcoming area within the downtown park so that our community can dance, listen to music and enjoy live theater again.”
You can expect energetic performances from artists and organizations like: Boulder Arts Outdoors, Boulder Ballet, Boulder Opera, Boulder Symphony, Creative Catalyzers, Dairy Arts Center, eTown, Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance, Local Theater Company, Mountain Contemporary Dance Arts, Street Wise Boulder, T2 Dance Company and more.
The city of Boulder, in partnership with the Boulder Library Foundation and PLAY Boulder Foundation, is offering 25 free tickets for each performance for community members who are experiencing financial hardship.
Colorado-based artist Jerod Barker was chosen to design the program’s logo and poster after the city put out a call for submissions.
If you want to learn more or you’re interested in performing as part of the program, you can check out the city’s website for the program: https://boulderartsinthepark.squarespace.com/
