Good morning, Golden! I hope you all had a lovely couple of weeks while this goose took a little break to road trip to the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. The coast was lovely. Driving through too many miles of wildfire smoke was…less so.
Was I in Idaho? Oregon? Montana? Impossible to say. The mountains had disappeared, the scenery was various shades of haze, and my only remaining connection to geography was the tiny blue dot on Google Maps. Jokes aside, it was sobering to see just how much smoke covered the West, and my heart goes out to the communities impacted by the fires.
Plenty has happened while I was away, but summer isn’t done with us yet! This Wednesday brings Golden’s first-ever Golden Hour MashUp, with local businesses staying open later, music, a photobooth, and plenty of surprises along the way. Don’t forget to pop by the Golden Hotel that night for some Music on the Creek as well.
And this weekend, the Fine Arts Festival is back and sporting some ✨ new digs ✨ in Parfet Park. Let’s jump right in!
In today’s issue:
💛 Golden Hour MashUp
🌻 The 4th Annual Big Hooray
🍻 Weekly Trivia
📌 Bulletin Board
📆 Events This Week & Upcoming
💛 Golden Hour MashUp
This week begins the City of Golden’s new pilot series, Golden Hour MashUp. It takes place on three separate days from 6 to 9 p.m., “with businesses across Golden staying open late for one-night-only experiences like live music, pop-ups, family activities, special menus, and locals-only deals.”
There will be a photo booth & info table by The Golden Hotel along Washington Ave.
Save the dates & note the themes:
August 12 | 6 to 9 p.m. | Show Us How You're Golden
Show off your Golden spirit. Whether it's hometown pride, your favorite Golden gear, or a little extra sparkle, have fun and make it your own.
September 16 | 6 to 9 p.m. | Where the West Lives
Boots on, hats on, small town charm turned all the way up. A western themed evening full of local flavor.
October 14 | 6 to 9 p.m. | Ghouls' Night Out
Grab your favorite costume for a spooky, family friendly evening of treats and festive surprises around town.
And local businesses…you can apply for a grant to help support your event activation. Grants remain open until funds are fully allocated. Apply ➡ here!
🌻 The 4th Annual Big Hooray
TLDR: A magical little fundraiser in the Community Garden on Thurs, August 27 @ 6–10pm that you don’t want to miss!
I used to live by the community gardens, and one evening from my balcony I watched this event unfold and thought, “I wish I had a greener thumb to justify a garden plot so I could be part of whatever magical thing is happening down there.”
Picture blooming gardens 🌸, twinkling lights ✨, people tucked throughout the garden sipping beverages 🍷, and spectacular live bluegrass music 🎵 playing under a tent amongst the flowers. Basically, a scene designed specifically to give me FOMO.
But guess what…you don’t need a garden plot to go! The Big Hooray is a community jamboree and fundraiser supporting Golden Pantry & Thrift, while bringing neighbors together and supporting local musicians. Win, win, win.
So mark your calendars for Thursday, August 27, donate what you can, and go experience the garden magic for yourself. Don’t make my balcony-FOMO mistake.
The Big Hooray in full bloom. Photo via the fundraiser page.
Low quality proof that I really did stand on my balcony wishing I’d been invited 😂
🍻 Weekly Trivia
In keeping with semi-regular updates on Trivia, here’s what’s goin’ on around town!
Mon - Mad Macks Brewing @ 7pm
Tues - Buffalo Rose Sky Bar @ 6:30pm
Tues - Bivy Beer Bar @ 6:30pm
Tues - Atomic Cowboy @ 7:00pm
Wed - The Golden Mill @ 6:30pm
Sun - Launch Espresso Food Spirits @ 1:30pm
📌 Bulletin Board
Want a bike rack outside your business? - Bike Walk Golden has secured grant funding to cover “all costs, site planning, equipment and installation” of bike racks outside of local businesses (on non-city property). Email [email protected] to learn more and claim a spot.
Voluntary Afternoon Fishing Closure in Effect in Golden - ”Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is requesting anglers avoid fishing certain sections of rivers and streams, including the section of Clear Creek between the Tunnel 1 Trailhead and Vanover Park in Golden, due to low stream flows and high water temperatures. The voluntary closure is in effect between noon and midnight. The voluntary closure will remain in effect until conditions improve.”
Clear Creek Trail Downtown Golden Alternatives Public Meeting - Next meeting is Thurs, August 13 from 5:30-7pm in the Golden Community Center. “The project was originally focused on developing a preferred alternative for a trail bypass through downtown Golden. Based on public feedback, the project scope expanded to include both near-term and long-term options with design work focused on the near-term option utilizing unused grant funds.”
📆 Events This Week & Upcoming
Highlighted in green = Kid Friendly
MONDAY (8/10)
🗑 Clear Creek Corridor Cleanup @ Golden History Museum (8/10 @ 7am) - “Volunteers can check-in anytime beginning at 7:00 a.m., and volunteers may help for as long as their schedule allows, but we finish by 9:00 a.m.”
TUESDAY (8/11)
🍷 Wine on Washington: Italy vs Argentina at Buffalo Rose (8/12 @ 6-8:30pm) - “Featuring dueling wine pairings from Argentina and Italy. Perfectly matched with 5 chef-inspired food pairings.”
🎭 Life Stages Theatre (Staged Reading) at Miner’s Alley (8/12 @ 6pm) - “Please join us for these short play readings! …In our Life Stages Theatre program, younger and older adults come together to create theatre and break down generational barriers!”
🐶 Paint Your Pet at Holidaily Brewing (8/11 @ 6-9pm) - “Let your inner artist shine as you paint your beloved furry friend, with a hand-drawn sketch and step by step guidance from our talented instructor, Emma. No experience necessary”
WENESDAY (8/12)
☕ Golden Startup Coffee (8/12 @ 9-11am) - “This monthly event helps Founders accelerate their paths to success and is built on the mindset that entrepreneurs are better together and have engagement from the surrounding community.”
🚲 Bike Demo Days: Revel Bikes at New Terrain (8/12 @ 3-7pm) - Free bike demo rides at the brewery with Revel Bikes — test out a new rig on North Table, then grab a pint.
🎵 Music on the Creek at The Golden Hotel (8/12 @ 6-9pm) - “Join us on our scenic Creekside Patio Stage select Wednesdays this summer from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Enjoy live music, delicious food, refreshing drinks, and great community vibes, all set against the beautiful backdrop of Clear Creek.”
💛 Golden Hour MashUp (8/12 @ 6-9pm) - Businesses across Golden will be open late with live music, pop-ups, family activities, special menus, and locals-only deals. Theme: Show Us How You're Golden. More details above.
🍷 Wine, Women, & Wealth (8/12 @ 6:30pm) - “Relax, enjoy a glass of wine and light appetizers, meet other amazing women, and learn about money! It's FREE, now that's smart money.”
THURSDAY (8/13)
📋 Clear Creek Trail Alternatives Analysis Public Meeting (8/13 @ 5:30-7pm) - Join in the Golden Community Center to learn more.
🎭 Taco Town at Miners Alley Performing Arts Center (8/13 @ 7:30pm) - "In TACO TOWN, a group of fed-up fast-food workers stages a sit-in—but when their boss calls the cops, their protest spirals into a hilarious hostage situation." World-premiere comedy by Luke Sorge; final performances run through 08/30.
FRIDAY (8/14)
🚵 Mountain Bike Film Festival Hosted by Colorado Mountain Club (8/14 @ 7-10pm) - “Freehub PRESENTS is an annual mountain bike film festival and community-driven event series that showcases unreleased short films from some of the best filmmakers and riders.”
🎭 Taco Town at Miners Alley Performing Arts Center (8/14 @ 7:30pm) - "In TACO TOWN, a group of fed-up fast-food workers stages a sit-in—but when their boss calls the cops, their protest spirals into a hilarious hostage situation." World-premiere comedy by Luke Sorge; final performances run through 08/30.
🍺 Boogie on the Mesa Live Music Festival at New Terrain (8/14 @ 4pm) - “Come out for the 5th Annual Boogie on the Hill Live Music Festival this August 14 & 15, 2026. This event has been moved from Lyons over to New Terrain Brewing Co just this year due to fire dangers, so enjoy the temporary rebrand of Boogie on the Mesa and note that there will not be any camping. There WILL be seven amazing live bands & scenic views across two boogie-filled days, though!”
SATURDAY (8/15)
🎨 Golden Fine Arts Festival @ Parfet Park (8/15-8/16 @ 10am-5pm) - "A Golden icon for more than three decades, the Golden Fine Arts Festival is a prestigious juried art show located in the heart of historic downtown Golden, Colorado." 36th annual, free admission, with 100+ juried artists, live entertainment, beer and wine gardens, and food vendors.
🎒 Back to School Party at The Eddy (8/15 @ 11am-3pm) - “Join us as we celebrate the end of summer and get ready for a new school year with a day full of family fun! Bring the kids for an afternoon of exciting activities, including a balloon artist, decorate-your-own pencil case & bookmark station, cotton candy, and a coloring contest with prizes. While the little ones create and play, parents can enjoy a tequila tasting—because surviving summer deserves a celebration!”
🍺 Boogie on the Mesa Live Music Festival at New Terrain (8/15 @ 2pm) - “Come out for the 5th Annual Boogie on the Hill Live Music Festival this August 14 & 15, 2026. This event has been moved from Lyons over to New Terrain Brewing Co just this year due to fire dangers, so enjoy the temporary rebrand of Boogie on the Mesa and note that there will not be any camping. There WILL be seven amazing live bands & scenic views across two boogie-filled days, though!”
🎭 Taco Town at Miners Alley Performing Arts Center (8/15 @ 7:30pm) - "In TACO TOWN, a group of fed-up fast-food workers stages a sit-in—but when their boss calls the cops, their protest spirals into a hilarious hostage situation." World-premiere comedy by Luke Sorge; final performances run through 08/30.
SUNDAY (8/16)
🎨 Golden Fine Arts Festival @ Parfet Park (8/15-8/16 @ 10am-5pm) - "A Golden icon for more than three decades, the Golden Fine Arts Festival is a prestigious juried art show located in the heart of historic downtown Golden, Colorado." 36th annual, free admission, with 100+ juried artists, live entertainment, beer and wine gardens, and food vendors.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
🚲 Golden Bike Cruise: Under the Sea (8/25 @ 5:30pm) - “From the dark side of the moon to the deepest depths of the ocean! Ariel, Neptune and Aquaman unite! Suds from New Terrain will wash down your Bob's Atomic burger. Band is Atlas Radio.” Also Bike / Walk Golden’s Release Party of their new map!
🎵 The 4th Annual Big Hooray in the Golden Community Garden (8/27) - “Mark your calendars! A bluegrass, potluck, fundraising community jamboree.”
THANKS!
If you found something worth showing up for, I’d love it if you shared this Goose with someone whose thumb is decidedly not green, a fine art fan who knows their Monet from their Manet, or someone who could use a little more live music in their life. 🪿
