Photo Credit: colorado.com

August in Boulder means hot summer temperatures, students coming back to school, and summer events beginning to wind down. In order to make the most of these last few weeks of August, here are a couple things to keep in mind:

1. School is starting up again. All month, the Hill has been a hotbed of college students moving out of their old places and into their new ones. Mattresses and couches and toaster ovens are left on the side of the roads like some kind of post-apocalyptic disaster has struck. Classes start up again at CU Boulder on Monday, August 22nd, so be warned. The week of August 22nd will be “syllabus week” which, by many students, is affectionately known as “silly-week.” Parties will be thrown, freshmen will be trolling, and the new upperclassmen are about to mob to the bars. Best just to stay at home and protect your children.
2. Red Rocks Amphitheatre is popping with shows. Summer concerts at Red Rocks are arguably one of the coolest, rowdiest ways you could spend your time. You have Flogging Molly, Trampled by Turtles, Pretty Lights, Flume, Old Crow Medicine Show, and STYX – yes STYX – performing with none other than the Colorado Symphony. August is definitely the time to hop on that Red Rocks train.
3. Check out the Chautauqua Amphitheatre events. There are endless shows, live music performances, lectures, and kids’ programs that take place at Chautauqua, especially during the summer. The area and lodging around Chautauqua Park is worth exploring too. When you’re all hiked out, check out some of the events that go on at this little slice of hippie camp-turned-recreational area. Very Boulder.
4. The Boulder Fringe Festival is going on and has some incredible artists. An off-beat, quirky, and engaging string of independent performances come to Boulder every year. The Boulder Fringe Festival draws artists from all over the US and the world who perform pieces that range from dance to improv to musicals. The performances are usually in the evening hours at venues all over downtown Boulder and tickets are very reasonable. Look it up, check it out, and get hooked. The festival runs from August 17th through the 28th.
5. Spend time down at Boulder Creek. It’s August now, so the water in Boulder Creek has had a couple months to warm up. If you haven’t already, try tubing down the Creek on a nice day. Reward yourself with a nice picnic or just a couple cold beers. It gets real hot in August, so the Creek is a great way to cool off and experience some neat-ure while you’re at it.
6. Check out World of Beer. It’s a new place down on Pearl Street and it’s righteous. The environment is hip and the menu is huge. They offer 500 bottled beers and 50 rotating beers on tap, many from local Colorado Breweries. Us Boulderites are very protective of our turf, so any time a new business opens up, we have to check it out. So really you’ll be drinking beer out of a civic responsibility. Boulder thanks you.

Jennifer Cage