Start Your Mornings Right

August mornings in Arvada couldn’t be better - cool and comfortable, a nice breeze flowing through the parks, a bit of dew on the grass.  There’s no better way to ensure you have a great day than to take a walk, jog, or ride your bike over to one of the gorgeous parks in Candelas for some yoga.

Promoting relaxation, flexibility, posture & strength, yoga can bring you true peace, and if done in one of the many Candelas community parks, peace is sure to come.  Whether you choose Maverick Mesa Park or Foxtail Pond Park, you’ll be able to enjoy the Colorado wildlife & weather while you prepare your body and mind for the day ahead - whether that be preparing your children for their first day of school, or going to the office to make a presentation.

At Maverick Mesa you can enjoy the views of mountains & the amazing Colorado skyline.  With the ability to view the foothills & nearby waterfalls, it’s difficult to find a better place to leave the hustle and bustle behind and just concentrate on yourself.

Foxtail Pond Park was created for the exact reason you’re visiting – serenity.  Whether you want to focus on the pond, your breathing during yoga, the birds chirping, or the smell of the mountain air - serenity will be achieved.  Foxtail also offers picnic tables for your family to truly spend time together, as well as views of the local deer and elk, so you can be sure you have the space to clear your mind as well as create memories with your family that will last forever.

Studies have shown that connecting with nature can lower your stress levels and blood pressure, and yoga can help you to focus, even increasing your memory and IQ scores. 

We suggest spending just 25 minutes 5 mornings a week practicing yoga in one of our parks - and if yoga isn’t your style, Candelas Villages also offers bouldering for the strong-spirited!  Call or message us to find the best spot to match your skill level - as Bouldering allows you to connect with the outdoors & get great exercise, while avoiding the heights that rock climbing requires.

To learn more about our parks or places to go bouldering nearby, call us at (720)-625-8080 or visit our Arvada Community Website.

May You Have an Active May

With the last month of spring upon us it may just be the best time to get out and enjoy the beautiful sunny mild weather before some of that blistering summer weather comes into full effect.  Here are just three excellent Arvada outdoor activities that you should consider for your May schedule.

Community Bike Ride:

Most cyclists in Arvada are likely well aware of these community bike rides that are sponsored by Arvada Bike Advisory Committee. However, if you aren't familiar with these rides but have an interest in getting some exercise on your bike, while taking in the beautiful Arvada surroundings you should consider attending a ride. The rides start at 10:00 a.m. every Saturday at one of a dozen or so Elementary or K-9 elementary schools across the city.

You may choose to partake in the family rides that typically ride 5 to 8 miles or you can challenge yourself a bit and take part in the recreational ride that lasts 10 to 12 miles. All riders are required to sign a waiver, wear a helmet and follow all bike/traffic laws. You should also consider bringing water, a helmet, sunscreen, sunglasses and weather appropriate clothing. All rides are led by experienced ride leaders. The first May ride will start and end at Weber ES 8725 W. 81^st Pl. Arvada CO.

Spring Morning Hikes:

If you aren’t much of a cyclists or simply don’t own a bike, you might consider the Spring Morning Hikes. This event is a great opportunity to get some good cardiovascular exercise while taking in the beautiful Arvada natural surroundings. This free event on May 30^th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. takes place within the stunning Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge on 9210 West 80^th Avenue Arvada, CO. The hike takes participants through the interior trails of the fenced refuge, as well as through the open-area trails. The event begins with an introduction and orientation to the Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge by former manager Dave Jamiel.

Yoga in the Garden:

Yoga in the Garden is another excellent opportunity to get some exercise among some of the most stunning natural beauty that Arvada has to offer. This workshop/yoga lesson helps attendees to bring the harmony of yoga practice to their experience working in their garden. They will learn easy warm-up routines and poses to incorporate in their world of gardening, thus ending their day of garden work with fewer aches and pains, as well as with a more substantial connection to the garden. The course is suited to beginner students, as well as to more experienced students of yoga. Make sure and bring a knee par or yoga mar, wear loose clothes and $10 for the sign-up fee. This will be held on May 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Timberline Gardens on 11700 W. 58^th Ave Arvada CO 80002. If you would like to attend this course please call (303)420-4060 to register in advance.

Don’t be lazy during the beautiful time of the year. Take part in at least one of these activities, you won’t regret it!

To learn more about the wildlife you will see in the area, visit the Candelas Rocky Flats blog. 

Spring into Action in Arvada

With spring upon us it is now the perfect time to come out of that winter hibernation to enjoy some physical activities during one of the loveliest times of the year. Whether you are looking for a more laid back outdoor activity or you want to get some serious exercise in, Arvada has a number of excellent activities coming up in the next few weeks. Here are just three options you should consider for the month of April:

 

Source : http://bikefriendlyarvada.org/

Community Bike Ride: Starting on April 11^th through October, the Arvada Bike Advisory Committee will lead a free Family Ride and a Rec Ride each weekend expect for Memorial Day, the 4^th of July and Labor Day weekends. The Family Ride ranges from 5-8 miles, while the Rec Ride ranges from 10-12 miles. All of the rides start and end at one of ten or so elementary schools across the city and will be led by experienced ride leaders. All riders are required to sign a waiver, follow bike/traffic laws and wear a helmet. Participants are also advised to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, weather appropriated clothing and water.

Arvada Kite Festival 

If you don’t own a bike or you are simply looking for a more laid back outdoor activity you should consider the Arvada Kite Festival on April 12^th at the Stenger Soccer Complex on 58^th Ave and Quail Street. The festival lasts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is sponsored by the Arvada Festivals Commission. This all ages event is the perfect outing for kite enthusiasts or families looking to relax for a few hours in the wind and sun. The festival will also include live music and some excellent food vendors. The actual kite competition is broken into two age groups of 10 and younger and 11 and up with the four categories of highest kite, smallest kite, largest kite and most visually appealing kite. The competition is free and the top four in each category are awarded with a trophy.

Arvada Tennis Center Open House: On April 18^th from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and April 19^th from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. the Arvada Tennis Center at 6430 Miller Street will host an open house. At the open house you can meet the Arvada Tennis Center staff, participate in a number of exciting activities, register for programs and develop your love of tennis. The open house will feature demo racquets courtesy of Rocky Mountain Racquet Specialists, music by the Pomona High School band and members of the Arvada Fire Department, a radar gun and ball machine, a bounce house, free BBQ and cake, as well as a presentation at 1 p.m. on April 18^th by the Apex Park and Recreation District.

Arvada Late Winter Fun Activities

 With the winter season winding down there are a number of excellent outdoor activities for Candelas residents to get out and enjoy before the chilly weather finally comes to an end. Here are just a few options coming up in the next month:

Getting Ready to Grow

This multi-part series offered by the Pioneer Farmsteaders will help you plan your vegetable garden to get a great start for successful summer growth. The first session on March 7 will cover garden planning like plant selection, planting density options, crop rotation and garden design tools. The second session on March 21 will cover how to tend the soil delving into techniques for preparing and enhancing the soil for the optimal growth results. The final session on March 28 covers wise watering methods from irrigation design methods to prevent wasting water and effort in your garden. This session also delves into how to minimize disease issues like powdery mildew.

Getting Ready to Grow takes place at Majestic View Nature Center on 7030 Garrison St. from 1-2:30 p.m. and cost $10 per session or $24 for all three.

SaintPatrick’s Day Festival 2015

This annual festival continues this year on March 14 from 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. in the Historic Olde Town Arvada on Grandview Avenue. This year’s festival will feature arts and crafts, live music, food stands, kid’s entertainment, as well as wine and beer sales. This is a free event so make sure and get there fairly early so that you aren’t too swamped by the crowds.

The entertainment schedule goes as follows:

Noon - 12:45 p.m. - Soho Band

1:00 - 1:30 p.m. – Bennett School of Irish Dance

1:50 – 2:45 p.m. – Calder’s Revolvers

2:45 – 3:15 – Centennial State Pipes and Drums

3:15 – 4:15 – The Morph Tones

4:45 – 6:00 – Angus Mohr

Arvada Winter Morning Hikes

All outdoors men, women and children should consider attending the Arvada Winter Morning Hikes on March 21 from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at the Standley Lake Open Space trailhead on 86^th Avenue at Simms Street. This is a great opportunity to join Mayor Pro Tem Mark McGoff for a beautifully scenic hike right here in Arvada. Meet and converse with other fellow Arvada outdoor enthusiast, take in the wonderful scenery and deepen your appreciation of Arvada’s natural features. Make sure and wear suitable hiking shoes or boots , plenty of water, as well as sunscreen for this three plus mile hike. You can find more infomation on the Candelas Rocky Flats Tumblr

Arvada Christmastime Outings

Looking for some last minute Christmas celebrations? There’s perhaps no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than attending some of the local seasonal events in Arvada. So, grab a coat and the kids and make your way out to join in the merriment with your fellow Arvadans. Here are just a few great options for you and your family this holiday season.

She Loves Me

Photo Credit P. Switzer Photography 2014

For those with a love of the theater, this year’s musical production of She Loves Me might just be that holiday gem you’ve been looking forward to. Based on the play by Miklos Laszlo, She Loves Me centers around two feuding clerks in a European perfumery during the 1930’s that find consolation from their anonymous romantic pen pals. Unbeknownst to them, their pen pals are actually each other! Uproarious, smart and sentimental, this romantic comedy is perfect for those looking to laugh while also getting a nice touch of holiday nostalgia. Featuring music and lyrics by the creative team of Fiddler on the Roof and directed by the acclaimed Gavin Mayer, She Loves Me is sure to please. Tickets range from $36 to $73 and performances go through to December 21^st.

Saturdays with Santa in Olde Town Square

Families with young ones that want to meet Santa should attend Saturdays with Santa in Olde Town Square this coming Saturday from noon till three. Enjoy the seasonal music while taking pictures of the munchkins with Saint Nick! Parents, remember to bring your own camera because there isn’t an onsite photographer. La Dolce Vida will sell hot chocolate and hot cider. The event is sponsored by the merchants in Historic Olde Town Arvada and the Arvada’s Visitors Center. This is a free event but you may want to bring a few bucks to buy some of the warm drinks by La Dolce Vida. 

Fine Art Market 2014

Support your local artists at this year’s annual Fine Arts Market at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities in the Main Gallery started on December 11th and is going till December 21^st. 

The Gallery Divisions fundraiser gives Arvada residents the special opportunity to support their local artists in a convenient shopping experience. The sale and show features a number of acclaimed Arvada artists and artisans that work in wide variety of fields like ceramics, jewelry, print making, painting, metal work, drawing, photography, fibers, woodwork and even mixed media. The event also features a silent auction held in the area adjacent to the Main Gallery. You may place a bid in person or via phone at 720-898-7251. This is a free event, unless of course you choose to buy of piece of art.

Upcoming Arvada Outdoor Winter Activities

Upcoming Arvada Outdoor Winter Activities

Don’t let the cold keep you inside all winter long! With so many interesting and engaging activities and events available in Arvada this season, you really have no excuse for living like a winter hermit. Here are just a few upcoming attractions that you should definitely consider. So grab a coat and bring your friends or family along to any of these winter outing options.

Majestic View Nature Center:

When you’ve been stuck inside for days on end you may find yourself longing to reconnect with nature. If this feeling resonates with you consider a visit to the Majestic View Nature Center and Community Park located at 7030 Garrison Street. Majestic View is wonderful place to appreciate and learn about the areas cultural history and natural features.

At just over 80 acres, the park features some truly stunning demonstrations gardens, wetland areas, as well as a lake. On your walk through the park you will find a variety of wildlife species and native prairie grasses. You may want to bring a camera or some binoculars for your walk through these parts.

After a walk through the park you can also engage in hands on nature and environmental exhibits in the 3,000 square foot Nature Center. The center also features a kid’s area and classrooms for the young ones. The Majestic View Nature Center is open Monday through Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Girlfriends Night Out:

On November 20^th you won’t want to miss Girlfriends Night Out at the lovely Echter’s Garden Center for an evening of food, music and locally made products. You can keep warm by sampling some delicious local restaurants and caterers while checking out some of the local crafts like handbags, jewelry, scarves, as well as cooking supplies and body care products.

If you’re feeling a bit physical you can grab your date and take to the dance floor in front of the live band to keep warm and add to the festive atmosphere. Tickets to Girlfriends Night Out are $20 with half of the ticket cost going to benefit the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer. You will also be glad to know that you save 20% off regularly priced Echter’s products when you shop during this event.

The event starts at 5:00 p.m. and goes till 8:00 p.m. and the Garden Center is located at 5150 Garrison St. Arvada, Colorado 80002.

Turkey Chase 5k:

Start you Thanksgiving morning off right by participating in this years Turkey Chase 5k at the Van Bibber Creek Trail located at The Apex Center on 13150 West 72^nd Avenue. You can keep warm with a light jacket and your body’s own generated heat while you enjoy the wonderful views of Arvada’s most scenic and sprawling parks set against the majestic Rocky Mountains! To learn more about the wildlife and vegetation you will see on the run, visit the Candelas Rocky Flats Tumblr. 

This is a great opportunity to get outside and burn some calories before the holiday feast, as well as to support a great cause that is the Denver Rescue Mission. All proceeds from this event will benefit this program, which helps men, women and children in the greater Denver Area and Northern Colorado get back on track, heal emotionally, develop spiritually and become productive members of the community. The Turkey Chase starts at 9:00 a.m. on November 27^th. 

Fall Festivities in Arvada, CO

Come October, Arvada is bustling with activities and celebrations. From Fall to Halloween, Arvada has an event for every autumn occasion. No matter if you have kids or pets, or if you’re a young couple looking for a fun date, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Arvada’s Festival of Scarecrows

A decorative scarecrow from the festival. Source: The Arvada Examiner

                Equal parts a celebration of fall and Halloween, Arvada’s Festival of Scarecrows usually occurs around the middle of October. The festivals sprawls across Olde Town Arvada, but a majority of events happen at Olde Town Square. The festival takes its name from the scarecrow contest. For this contest, groups and individuals create and decorate their own scarecrows, and judges pick the best ones. The top scarecrows receive cash prizes or gift cards.

                There are plenty of other contests for your consideration as well. For the decorated pumpkin contest, residents deck out their pumpkins with everything from streamer hair and makeup to hats and boots. Judges award prizes based on originality and creativity. Foodies and kitchen masters can take part in the pumpkin dish contest. Contestants can enter up to three items where pumpkin is a main ingredient. Judges will award prizes for the top three dishes in each of the five categories. Other competitions include a pumpkin pie eating contests and a pumpkin seed spitting contest.

                For the less competitive, there are plenty of other attractions to enjoy at the Festival of Scarecrows. Parents can proudly watch their children march in a kid’s costume parade. There’s also a maze for kids where the course boundaries are made using non-perishable food donations. Add in games, karaoke, hayrides and music, and you’ve got an event that’s a ton of fun for the whole family!

Arvada Harvest Festival

A banner at the beginning of the festival’s parade. Source: City of Arvada website

                At the beginning of September, Arvada commemorates the paving of the first road from Denver to Arvada with the Arvada Harvest Festival. Because of its historic origins-the first celebration dates back to 1925-this festival is the oldest and largest celebration in Arvada.

The main attraction is the Harvest Festival Parade. The parade is composed of several marching bands, plus floats from various school organizations, service clubs, and local businesses. Another unique event is the Teddy Bear Picnic. Perfect for kids and their favorite stuffed friend, the picnic allows children to bring their favorite stuffed animal to dine on a picnic lunch.

The list of other activities for the Harvest Festival is massive: music performances, a carnival complete with games, vendor booths, movies in the park, a garden harvest contest, a beer garden, ice cream social, and bingo, among others.                                

Other Halloween Festivities

                Some other smaller Halloween events can be found below:

               

-“Trick or Treat” Stage Performance is a horror story themed play that runs Fridays and Saturdays in October. It’s great for those who enjoy scary movies.

-The Apex Halloween Carnival is a great family-friendly festival. It has everything from games and bounce houses to hay rides and ghost stories.

-Trick or Treat Street happens in Olde Town Arvada. Here, businesses create a trick or treat environment for kids.

-Pet Howl-oween is a costume contest for dogs. Prizes are available for the most creative and frightening outfits, and all proceeds from the event go to charity. It’s a perfect night to bond with your favorite pooch!

                Additionally, you can find plenty of local haunted houses and other parties, or enjoy the crisp fall weather with other outdoor activities around Candelas.

What are your favorite fall activites?