Looking for a few Spring Break staycation ideas? Check out this month’s events and activities courtesy of our partner, Visit Aurora. Celebrate Women’s History Month, Easter, and embrace the luck of St. Patrick’s Day, and discover the exciting events and activities unfolding in Aurora for March.
Here’s a sample of what’s happening this month in Aurora:
Commemorate Women’s History Month with an enriching event hosted by the Aurora History Museum: “Libraries and Women’s Work.” Delve into an interactive discussion spotlighting the pivotal role women have played within libraries from the 1920s to the present day. Explore the fascinating origins of public libraries, including the remarkable journey of the Aurora Public Libraries, which emerged from the efforts of a women’s club. Discover the many contributions of librarians and uncover the stories of remarkable women who have left indelible marks on the history of libraries.
Embark on a profound journey with a unique experience featuring a sage blessing and captivating traditional stories shared by Doug Good Feather. As a member of the Standing Rock Lakota Nation and descendant of Grandpa Chief Sitting Bull, Doug shares not only traditional tales but also showcases indigenous artifacts, offering a glimpse into the heritage of his people. Moreover, gain a deeper understanding of his impactful endeavors at the nonprofit organization Spirit Horse Nation and Lakota Way Healing Center, where his dedication to indigenous culture and community shines brightly.
Get ready to shamrock and roll at the Town Center at Aurora this St. Patrick’s Day! Join this fun-filled celebration packed with Irish flair, featuring captivating Irish step performances by the Celtic Steps and toe-tapping tunes from the Queen City Rovers. Quench your thirst with green beer served by Helga’s Haus Bier Garden because what’s St. Patrick’s Day without a little green-flavored fun? But that’s not all – there’s face painting and a host of other exciting activities to enjoy! Make sure to mark your calendar for this jampacked event, and don’t forget to wear your best shade of green!
Get ready to groove all day long at Dancetopia 2024! Prepare to lace up your dance shoes and immerse yourself in a full day of electrifying performances and live music. This isn’t your average dance class – Dancetopia 2024 offers an eclectic array of dance forms spanning salsa, Indian classical dance, traditional folk interpretations, Brazilian drumming, Samba Pagode music, belly dance, and more. It’s a cultural extravaganza that invites the entire community to join in the celebration. Dancetopia 2024 welcomes everyone for an engaging and active cultural experience right here in Aurora.
For a full list of Spring Fun, visit the Visit Aurora blog for details about these events, and more amazing things to see and do in Aurora.
**Photos and information courtesy of Visit Aurora
There’s something unique about the people who make up the community at Painted Prairie. Whether it’s delivering food to the city’s refugee population, raising money for Children’s Hospital, or inviting neighbors over for book club and a BBQ—the residents here are always working toward extending kindness throughout the community.
Over the past few months, the Painted Prairie Owners Association’s (PPOA) Social Committee has worked to provide structure to the community’s new Culture of Kindness program. We’re proud to say that in honor of Random Acts of Kindness Day on February 17, we’re kicking off our monthly Painted Prairie Kindness Challenge. Every month, residents will be reminded to do something nice for their neighbors and community.
Here’s a sneak peek into what’s in store:
February: Spread the Love – Similar to a Boo at Halloween, that’s been a staple of some neighborhoods for years, neighbors drop off anonymous treats with a special sign and instructions to spread the love to two other neighbors. The goal is to see how far the love spreads throughout the community.
March: The Painted Prairie Wave – We encourage everyone to wave to their neighbors or passersby. Who doesn’t love a quick hello from a friend or stranger to brighten your day?
Residents watch the Painted Prairie app, your email inbox, and the PPOA Facebook page for each month’s challenge. We can’t wait to see how far we can spread kindness at Painted Prairie and the rest of the community.
Join us as we celebrate 2023, a remarkable year of growth and abundance at Painted Prairie, and get ready as we raise the bar even higher for 2024 with ‘More to Love’ for everyone!
More Homes.
More People.
More Events.
More Builders.
More Parks.
More Fun.
There’s so much more to come as we kick off 2024 with MORE to Love. We’re excitedly looking forward to welcoming additional builders, new parks, and the highly anticipated first phase of Town Center. You’re going to be amazed by what we have planned for 2024.
Check out our recap video for 2023 and share it with your friends. There’s always room for more at Painted Prairie!
As part of its first-ever neighborhood giving campaign – and the launch of the community’s Culture of Kindness program, neighbors raised $1,525 for Children’s Hospital in support of the families in care at the hospital. Britta Reza, PPOA Community Manager presented a check to Deannah Baesel, the Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Senior Coordinator for Annual Giving, on December 13 at the hospital’s Denver campus.
At Painted Prairie, we strive to create a Culture of Kindness in our community by extending our hospitality to our neighbors and to the city of Aurora and beyond. We’re proud to support our neighbors and community partners and look forward to the work our Social Committee is doing to launch new service projects and tokens of kindness throughout the year.
If you know, you know we love our parks. We’re excited to share that our park systems will expand in 2024!
The Park at Town Center, Ruby Park, and Violet Park are set to become the next best spaces in our neighborhood. Coming in 2024, those parks are meticulously designed to offer unique experiences, fostering connections and providing spaces for fun, food, and relaxation.
The Park at Town Center will be the heart of an urban landscape – a town square surrounded by retail, office, and residential. Indulge in tasty fresh fare, get your caffeine fix at the local coffee shop, enjoy live music and movies in the open space, or bring a picnic – the Park at Town Center will have everything you need to enjoy the Urban Prairie. Watch the website, our emails, and our social channels for opening dates.
Surrounded by the future Prairie Retreat Park, Ruby and Violet Parks will anchor two new neighborhoods in the next phases of construction at Painted Prairie. The parks will become an integral entrance point for Prairie Retreat Park and its gateway to regional trails and access to the final headgate of the 71-mile historic High Line Canal.
At Painted Prairie, we understand the importance of spaces that not only enrich our lives but also foster a sense of togetherness. These new parks symbolize our ongoing commitment to creating environments where families can flourish, friends can connect, and the community can thrive.
The PPOA Social Committee has been working behind the scenes to plan an amazing lineup of events and programming for Painted Prairie neighbors. In 2024, the Social Committee will spearhead several initiatives ranging from monthly kindness tips to organizing healthy activities for neighbors of all ages. The committee is passionate about crafting events that prioritize wellness, philanthropy, and fostering a community of kindness.
Here’s a high level view of what’s on horizon for Painted Prairie residents in 2024:
Let’s not forget the Movies and Music in the Park, market days, and more. All events are subject to change and subject to cancellation due to weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstantces. Watch your email, the app, and our social channels for updates.
Want to help plan events or just be a part of creating change in your community? We encourage you to reach out via the mobile app. Once logged in, head to the menu in the top left corner, select Clubs & Activities, and tap the first card “Have an idea for a new club or activity?” Then, tap “Share More Info” and respond to the prompts.
At Painted Prairie, we’re pretty big on traditions. Every year since 2020, we’ve had a special tradition here that has continued to shift and evolve as the neighborhood grows — Prairie Holidays. This year, the tradition carried on, as we welcomed a new holiday season at Painted Prairie.
Prairie Holidays has always been our way of celebrating the season, honoring the diversity of our neighbors, and bringing people together in the spirit of the holidays. Besides, what better way to celebrate the season than with your neighbors and friends?
It was a special time where we gathered with friends for holiday cookies, s’mores by the fire pits, hot cocoa, coffee, and a special visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. A special thank you to our sponsors – Jolynn Crownover of Compass Realty, Amanda Barry of Insured by Legacy Insurance Partners for supplying our coffee and hot cocoa — and Ori Kouahi of US Bank Mortgage and Painted Prairie for the cookies from Gateaux Bakery.
Didn’t make it to this year’s Prairie Holidays event, don’t pout or cry, you have another chance to catch Santa before he gets ready for a night of preparing for gift drops!
At that very first Prairie Holidays celebration, Santa and Mrs. Claus recorded a special message just for the neighbors at Painted Prairie. We may be guessing here, but ever since the Claus’ recorded that video, Painted Prairie has been Santa’s first Colorado stop on Christmas Eve night! Coincidence? We don’t think so.
Relive that first Prairie Holidays as the jolly couple share a special moment with the Painted Prairie community by reading the holiday classic “Twas the Night before Christmas,” suitable for all kids aged 1 to 100 (or older)! Share your traditions and favorite family holiday stories on Instagram or Facebook by snapping a photo, posting, and tagging Painted Prairie (@paintedprairieco on Instagram)!
The holidays are officially here and we’ve pulled together a list of the top activities to get you and yours into the holiday spirit. There’s no doubt that Aurora is just the right blend of urban amenities and natural wonders, and as the third-largest city in Colorado, it’s brimming with attractions and activities for all ages.
Here at Painted Prairie, we’ve curated our top three must-do holiday activities to celebrate the season in Aurora – trust us, you won’t be disappointed!
The Gaylord Resort is always up to something during the holidays, and this year is no different. Located just steps away from Painted Prairie, the Gaylord’s holiday offerings are always a hit with family and friends of all ages.
ICE!, the annual holiday tradition at Gaylord Hotels, runs through Jan. 1, 2024. Using more than two million pounds – or 1,000 tons – of ice, the Warner Bros. holiday classic, ‘A Christmas Story™’ is brought to life in ice sculpture form by a team of 40 world-class ice artisans from Harbin, China. The holiday celebration continues with performances from “Cirque: Spirit of Christmas,” ice slides, Christmas activities and a visit from Santa Claus.
In addition to the amazing ice sculptures, guests can also take rides down the two-story-tall ice slides and traverse through ice tunnels and arches. The ICE! experience concludes in a separate area dedicated to the Nativity scene, meticulously carved, and shaped in a dramatic display of crystal-clear ice.
“Cirque: Spirit of Christmas” returns for another year with dazzling costumes, breathtaking aerial performances, and feats that defy gravity. The original Gaylord Hotels production will feature high-flying stunts, acrobatic feats, elaborate staging, and a dramatic musical score directed by renowned Broadway Director Neil Goldberg.
For tickets, more information, or to book an overnight stay, guests may visit ChristmasatGaylordRockies.com. Painted Prairie residents with access to the Painted Prairie app can get 20% off admission to ICE! A Christmas Story, and Cirque: Spirit of Christmas by logging in and clicking the Steals & Deals button for more information.
It’s quite possibly the quirkiest holiday tradition in Colorado. Camp Christmas is back at The Hangar at Stanley Marketplace. Brought to you by Hanzon Studios and Denver Center of Performing Arts (DCPA) Off-Center, Camp Christmas is open through December 24.
Immerse yourself in a 15,000-square-foot, 360-degree kaleidoscope of yuletide cheer with just the right amount of camp; it’s everything you love about the holidays wrapped into one sparkling experience.
At Camp Christmas, you can leave your worries behind, discover your holiday superpower, visit Santa, and sample craft cocktails from the Base Camp and Fairy Bars. You can wander through a surreal mashup of nostalgic scenes, scratch your head at playful pun trees, and, most importantly, reconnect with the joy of the season.
For more information and to buy tickets, click here. All ages are welcome. Children 2 and under are free. Everyone must have a ticket.
There’s something about a wintertime open-air skate sesh that just gives us all the holiday feels (and chills). The Pond at Southlands is one of Aurora’s holiday and winter traditions perfect for any age and ability. Open through February 25, you can ice skate all the way through Valentine’s Day. Advance session tickets are available for $14. To make a reservation, click here.
After your skate, head over to one of the fire pits located along S. Main Street and warm up with family and friends, or stop in to grab a bite or sip at one of the many amazing restaurants throughout Southlands Mall. Don’t forget the shops! Snag those last minute gifts for your holiday gift lists. Southlands Mall is located at 6155 S. Main St., Suite 260 Aurora, Colorado 80016.
Looking for a bit more choices for holiday activities? Check out this list from Visit Aurora for more holiday fun.
