If you have ever stood in your kitchen on a Saturday morning wondering what to do in Colorado Springs this weekend, this episode is your new best friend. Carly sits down with Jonathan Toman of Peak Radar and the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region, to break down the annual events guide that tracks over 3,000 events across El Paso, Teller, and Fremont Counties every single year.

From heritage festivals to bizarre-but-beloved quirky traditions, Jonathan reveals the anchor events that define life in the Pikes Peak region, plus a few once-in-a-decade celebrations happening in 2026 that you absolutely cannot miss.

In This Episode:

Jonathan and Carly cover the events that best capture the personality of Colorado Springs (including one that feeds the whole family for $5), the festivals that make longtime locals say "how did I not know about this," and the quirky traditions that are uniquely, wonderfully ours. They also dig into the hidden gems worth pairing with bigger events on the same weekend, the newest annual events that have earned their place on the calendar, and why Labor Day weekend in Colorado Springs is so much more than balloons.

Events and Resources Mentioned:

Colorado Springs Western Street Breakfast
Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon
Green Box Arts Festival
Cripple Creek Ice Festival
Emma Crawford Coffin Races
Donkey Derby Days
Common Wheel Arts Festival
Victor Celebrates the Arts
Pikes Peak Air Show
United We Rock Festival
Fiestas Patrias
Rocky Mountain Flower Fest
Gold Rush Days
Meadowgrass Music Festival
Rocky Mountain Women's Film Festival
Vintage Baseball Game
Bronc Day

Picks of the Week:

Money Museum in Colorado Springs

Connect with Peak Radar:

Website
Instagram
Facebook
X

We Love Our Sponsors:

Vanguard Aesthetics
Colorado Springs medical aesthetics focused on natural-looking, personalized results. Book a consultation today!

Modern Interior Co.
Colorado Springs full-service interior design studio handling residential, commercial, and hospitality projects from concept to completion.

Core Collective
Boutique Pilates studio in Colorado Springs offering reformer classes, semi-private sessions, and private training. Use code SPRINGSANDTHINGS for 3 classes for $30 total!

Why Wait Stories
Colorado Springs video storytelling specializing in legacy films, life well lived films, and brand films.

Springs and Things is your weekly guide to living, exploring, and thriving in Colorado Springs. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave us a five-star review if this episode helped you fill up that calendar.

Due to its popularity, we've decided to re-release this episode! Please note, however, some of the events are dated, but that design inspo is still oh so relevant :)

If you’ve ever saved a home photo on Instagram and thought, “Love this…but why doesn’t it work in my house?”...this episode explains exactly why.

On this week’s Springs and Things, we sit down with Elisha Niebuhr, CEO of Modern Interior Company, to unpack what actually works in Colorado Springs homes, and what we should probably stop copying from New York, Austin, and Pinterest altogether.

Elisha shares her unexpected path from professional ballerina to luxury interior designer, then gets very real about the most common design mistakes she sees across the Springs. She explains how our light, landscape, and lifestyle completely change how trends show up here, and why homes should feel lived-in, layered, and personal instead of themed.

We also cover the easiest upgrades with the biggest payoff (paint, lighting, and furniture that actually finishes a space), underrated neighborhoods with serious design potential, and what a true Colorado-inspired color palette looks like heading into 2026.

Fair warning: you may finish this episode looking around your house thinking, “Okay…we need to talk about this wall.”

PICKS OF THE WEEK

• Prime25
• Boonzaaijer's Dutch Bakery
• Modern Interior Co Design Day and Furniture Sale

WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS

Vanguard Aesthetics
Vanguard Aesthetics helps clients discover their most radiant selves by blending expert care with individualized beauty. Since 2013, they’ve offered medical-grade skincare and tailored aesthetic treatments that enhance natural features while prioritizing comfort and safety. Their team takes the time to understand each client’s lifestyle, skin goals, and vision so every visit leaves them feeling refreshed, confident, and authentically themselves.

Modern Interior Co
Modern Interior Co. is a full-service interior design firm based in Colorado Springs that specializes in creating beautiful, elevated homes without the stress. Known for delivering seamless, high-touch design experiences from concept to completion, they help busy professionals and high-end homeowners create spaces that reflect their lifestyle.

Core Collective
Core Collective Pilates is a boutique studio dedicated to helping clients build strength, flexibility, and confidence through expert-led, personalized Pilates sessions. With a welcoming atmosphere and a focus on mindful movement, Core Collective transforms workouts into empowering experiences. Enter code SPRINGSANDTHINGS to get 3 classes for $30!

What if your kids’ next favorite experience wasn’t a screen, but a symphony?

In this episode of Springs & Things, we sit down with Joye Levy, Director of the Center for Future Audiences at the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, to talk about a program that’s changing how families experience the arts in our city.

The Free for Kids program is opening the doors to live orchestral performances for the next generation, making it easier (and more fun) than ever to introduce kids to music, creativity, and community.

But this conversation goes far beyond logistics…

We get into:

• What actually happens in a child’s brain during their first orchestra experience
• Why kids often leave more engaged (and imaginative) than parents expect
• The surprising ways music sparks storytelling, creativity, and emotional expression
• How families can attend dozens of performances (many for free)
• The real etiquette parents should know (hint: it’s more relaxed than you think)
• Why the arts are so important in a city like Colorado Springs
• How programs like this are shaping the future of our local community

Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or just someone who loves seeing Colorado Springs thrive, this episode will give you a whole new perspective on what the arts can do.

Featured Program: Free for Kids – Colorado Springs Philharmonic

Joye’s Picks of the Week

• Philharmonic Signature Series at the Ent Center (featuring world-class young pianists)
• Women’s Playwriting Festival at The Millibo Art Theatre

Why This Episode Matters

Colorado Springs is known for mountains and outdoor adventure, but there’s a growing movement to make the arts just as accessible, collaborative, and impactful. This episode is your inside look at how that’s happening, and how you can be part of it.

Enjoying the show? If you loved this episode:

• Leave a 5-star review
• Share it with a friend (especially one with kids!)
• Follow Springs & Things on Apple & Spotify