Fair weather, friends
Friday-Sunday. Mid-summer is the perfect time to air our domestic obsessions, as evidenced by this weekend’s Denver County Fair. Since 2011, the three-day event has brought its quirky spin on traditional fair fare to the National Western Complex, just north of downtown at 4655 N. Humboldt St. If it’s proudly weird and hand-made, you can find it here: bug-eating, mustache, tattoo and spelling contests; blue ribbon competitions for arts, crafts and animals; and activities and entertainment ranging from goat yoga to carnival rides, food and drink. July 19-20. $5 for kids, $10 for adults. 3 and under free. denvercountyfair.org
The Great Northern Frontier (Days)
Friday-July 28. One of the world’s biggest, oldest rodeo celebrations kicks off in southern Wyoming with Cheyenne Frontier Days, offering a mix of public western spectacle, livestock-rooted competitions, arts and crafts, food, drink and entertainment that could fill a stadium several times over. In addition to acts such as Lady Antebellum (July 19), Rascal Flatts (July 20), Miranda Lambert (July 24), Keith Urban (July 26) and Tim McGraw (July 27), the event’s July 19 opening day celebration features a Wild West Show and carnival, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. $15-$30. Prices vary for other events, which run through July 28 at Carey and West 8th avenues in Cheyenne. cfdrodeo.com
One last moonshot
Through Sunday. The flurry of events celebrating the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 moon landing will be but a memory next week. But since we’ve still got time — July 20 is the date in 1969 that humans first stepped on another celestial body — you’ve got no excuse to feel guilty for missing it. Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum (which, full disclosure, I moderated a panel at this week) brings its Apollopalooza festival to a close with presentations and screenings (wingsmuseum.org/events/apollo), while Aurora History Museum’s free “One Small Step” exhibit is open until July 21 (auroramuseum.org). Finally, the Holland & Hart Gallery at History Colorado Center will host artifacts that actually visited the moon, including a miniature silk Colorado state flag that traveled with Neil Armstrong’s personal gear on the mission, and rare examples of lunar rock. The display is included with general admission, and kids get in free through Sept. 2. historycolorado.org
Puzzling strength
Saturday. It was bound to happen: a puzzle room pairing up with a fitness center — particularly in a city like Denver, where we like to challenge both our brains and brawn. Colorado Athletic Club and Puzzah! are offering a new fitness challenge as part of their bi-weekly summer programming, with teams exploring the city collecting clues, solving puzzles and working out in a race to reveal the treasure’s secret location. It’s free and open to the public, and participants can enjoy a free cocktail at Public School 303 afterward. 9:30-10:30 a.m. July 20. Meet at the plaza in front of 1601 Wewatta St. puzzah.com
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