Things to Do in Colorado Springs This Weekend: Oct. 26-28, 2012

Happy weekend–well, almost!  Get a jump on your planning by checking out the Colorado Springs events and activities we’ve hand-picked for you below.  If you’re a Member of Garden of the Gods Club or will be staying overnight in our Lodge, remember also that we have a great Happy Hour in the Lounge from 4-6:30 pm on Fridays, fresh seafood menu additions in our dining room from 6-9 pm on Fridays, and a prime rib special in our dining room from 6-9 pm on Saturdays.  For reservations, call 719.329.6901.

Image courtesy of Miramont Castle

• Emma Crawford’s Wake — Friday, 6-7:45 pm, Miramont Castle.  From Miramont’s website:  “… In 1889 Emma came to Manitou in search of her health. She was accompanied by her mother and her fiancé, Mr. William Hildebrand. It was the young couples greatest desire that Emma, who suffered from consumption, would benefit from Manitou’s healing waters and crisp mountain air. She partook of them both abundantly and freely on her many walks in the area.  Emma rallied and was busily preparing for her wedding. Life was a blessing indeed. But fate held a different card and the Reaper was not to leave with empty hands. Emma succumbed… Father Jean Baptist Francolon and his mother Marie have graciously offered to open their magnificent home, Miramont, for Emma´s wake. Many of her friends that she had met on her travels seeking better health are making plans to attend. Some of the more notable are Dr. and Mrs. William Bell, Dr. and Mrs. Isaac Davis, and, of course, Father Francolon and his mother, Madam Marie Francolon. The cost of admission [$40 adult, $30 child 12 or under] will grant you entrance into Miramont, viewing of Emma laid out in the parlour in pure Victorian splendor, and a Victorian Wake, resplendent with a generous Victorian buffet dinner and beverages in the Great Hall. Since this is sure to be one of the year’s most talked about events, make your credit card reservations early. Space is limited.”
• The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity — Friday, 7:30 pm, Saturday, 2 pm & 7:30 pm, Sunday, 4 pm, Theatreworks’ Dusty Loo Bon Vivant Theater.  From Theatreworks’ website:  “Showboating, powerbombs, and drop kicks light up this media spectacle, both a pro wrestling match and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Really! This main event is unprecedented in theatre history, thrilling from first slam to final fall! Production sponsored by Nosh and Anheuser-Busch.”  Tickets $35.
• Haunted Mines — Friday and Saturday, 7:30 pm, Western Museum of Mining & Industry.  This thrilling and exciting annual event is unlike any other and is designed for adults of all ages and their older children (ages 13 & up). The all-volunteer charitable organization, which raises money for the Western Museum of Mining & Industry, uses historical-based scenes and situations from the American West and America’s mining legacy as the backdrop but with a new twist every year to keep visitors screaming! Tickets start at $20 each.
• Parts of a Coin — Saturday, 10:30 am to 12 pm (ages 4-7), 1:30 pm to 3 pm (ages 8-12), American Numismatic Association Money Museum (downtown Colorado Springs).  Sign your children (ages 4-12) up for a free class in which they’ll learn about the anatomy and why each part of a coin is important.  To learn more, visit www.money.org.

Emma Crawford Coffin Race in historic Manitou Springs (photo courtesy of colorado.com)

• Emma Crawford Coffin Race & Parade — Saturday, 12 pm to 3 pm, downtown historic Manitou Springs.  Arguably one of the most quirky and unusual events of the year in the Colorado Springs area, the Emma Crawford Coffin Race & Parade offers spooky  fun for the whole family.  Watch the Parade of Coffins, followed by the coffins and Emmas racing up Manitou Avenue in historic downtown Manitou Springs.  Immediately following the coffin races, stay in town for the Emma Crawford Estate Sidewalk Sale with participating businesses in the Manitou Springs Historic District.
• Philharmonic Pops:  Sleepy Hollow and Other Tales — Saturday, 8 pm, Pikes Peak Center.  Enjoy music from Tim Burton’s greatest films (and other creepy fun), including Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, Planet of the Apes, and Batman.  Tickets $19-$59.