Steamboat Springs outdoor adventures
04/01/2011 01:00AM ● By AnonymousFirst Friday Artwalk
See what’s neon the Steamboat art scene while you socialize with resident artists. Art venues throughout downtown and the mountain stay open from 5-8 p.m. on the first Friday of each month. A map of Artwalk participants is available in the Yampa Valley Arts & Gallery Guide, in brochure racks throughout Steamboat.
www.steamboatspringsartwalk.com.
Local History Talks
Learn about Steamboat’s history from the locals who lived it during the Tread of Pioneers Museum’s Brown Bag Lecture Series. Casual talks reveal life stories from the long-gone mining towns to the personal histories of resident outlaws, ranchers and founding families. Noon on Fridays (July 1-Sept. 2) at Tread of Pioneers Museum. 970-879-2214
Music on the Green
Yampa River Botanic Park comes alive with music during Strings Music Festival’s Music on the Green free lunchtime concert series. Bring your picnic for a selection of classical and contemporary concerts at 12:15 p.m., Thursdays. 970-879-5056Fourth of July Fireworks & Cowboy Roundup Days
Partake in an ode to the local cowboy. Enjoy the fun at an Independence Day parade and cattle drive down Lincoln Avenue, a Pioneer Day Block Party with live music on Oak Street, a ranch rodeo and the Pro Rodeo at Romick Arena, plus a ski jumping competition on Howelsen Hill. Festivities culminate in an epic fireworks display over Howelsen Hill – known as the biggest and best shoon the Western Slope. Walk or ride the free bus – and for safety’s sake, please stay off the trails on Howelsen Hill during the fireworks. Friday-Sunday, July 1-4.
Free Summer Concert Series
Big-name bands perform in the natural amphitheater at Howelsen Hill and the base of the Steamboat Ski Area during a free summer-long concert series. Bring the lawn chairs, dance and enjoy hot food, cold beer and activities for kids.
Bird Watch
The Yampa Valley’s bird watching delights novice and veteran birders alike. The season starts in May with the International Migratory Bird Day at the Carpenter Ranch, followed by the return of the sandhill cranes in June and the rise of raptors come fall. Go on a weekly bird walk with Yampatika or do it yourself with the Yampa Valley Birding Club’s trail map of the best places to bird watch in Routt County. (Download it at http://yampavalley.info/centers/visitor_services/pages/routt_county_birding_trail)
The Nature Conservancy’s Carpenter Ranch 970-276-4626 www.nature.org Yampatika 970-871-9151
Storytime for Grownups
Story is why the library exists and storytime isn’t just for kids. Spend an hour in Library Hall at the Bud Werner Memorial Library listening to contemporary and classic short stories read aloud by some of the Yampa Valley’s finest voices portraying suspense and humor, big characters and intriguing twists of plot. Check Datebook (VG34-VG42) for Storytime dates and times.
MainStreet Farmers’ Market
On Saturdays, more than 40 vendors sell their edible goods and artistic wares at Steamboat’s weekly downtown farmers’
market on Sixth Street (June 11-Sept. 10). From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., shop for fresh local and regional produce, baked goods, special sauces, grass-fed beef, locally-raised bison, handcrafted body products, handmade crafts and other Yampa Valley specialties.