Happy New Year! Hope it was a great one for you and you were able to do something fun here locally. I think I made it until about 11:00pm that night…

Anyways, fortunately for you, I am not doing 75 Hard like I did last year, so you won’t have to hear about the program from me. If you’re wondering if someone you know is doing 75 Hard, do nothing/ask nothing because they will surely tell you…unsolicited. All jokes aside, I did enjoy doing it last year and I felt it was nice to have something more time-constrained than a resolution over the entire year. I digress.

We’ve got some really cool new events down in the events section — Blanchard Family Wines is going to be hosting some pop-ups at COFF33 so be sure to check those out.

Quick heads up: a new auto clinic just opened here in Castle Rock. It’s from a local family that’s been running a shop up in Aurora for years. You’ll see them below.

If you’re looking for a winter outing that actually feels like a Colorado tradition, the National Western Stock Show is one of those rare events that lives up to the hype.

This is not just a rodeo. It’s cattle drives through downtown Denver, massive horse and livestock shows, Western art, kid-friendly chaos, live music, and even familiar local spots setting up shop on the grounds. You can wander galleries, watch mutton bustin’, grab BBQ and a beer, catch live music, and somehow still feel like you’ve stepped back in time.

It runs January 10–25, and yes, it’s worth the drive at least once. I’ll be dusting off my cowboy hat and boots after they’ve been in the closet for six months…poser mode is fully on.

A quick refresher on what this actually is

Founded in 1906, the National Western Stock Show has been serving the agriculture industry for more than a century. It’s a nonprofit event that celebrates Western heritage while supporting agricultural education and scholarships, including veterinary and rural practice programs.

For 16 days each January, the Stock Show turns Denver into a full-on Western destination, drawing 700,000+ visitors from across the country.
Learn more here

It all kicks off with a cattle drive through downtown

The official start is the Stock Show Kick-off Parade, and it’s exactly what you want it to be.

Thursday, January 8 | Noon
Start: Union Station at 17th
End: 17th & Glenarm Place

More than 30 Longhorn cattle walk through downtown Denver alongside cowboys, cowgirls, horses, marching bands, tractors, and floats. Kids love it. Adults love it. It’s one of those “only in Colorado” moments.

What general grounds admission gets you

A lot, honestly.

With grounds admission, you can:

It’s the kind of ticket where you don’t need a strict plan. You just follow whatever looks interesting next.

Coors Western Art Exhibit (even if rodeo isn’t your thing)

The Coors Western Art Exhibit is one of the largest Western art shows in the country and an easy highlight.

Think paintings, sculpture, photography, and Western-inspired works you can casually browse at your own pace. It’s included with grounds admission and is a great option if you want something quieter and indoors between events.

You can explore it here

Live music + local flavor

If you’re more “hang out” than “schedule,” the Stock Show has you covered.

Cowboy Courtyard brings live music and a social, wander-in vibe most days, no advance planning required.

There’s also a special Rodeo + Concert Night on Thursday, January 15, combining a Pro Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum with a country concert by Braxton Keith at Mission Ballroom later that night.
Info and tickets here

And in very CRC fashion, you can even stumble into something familiar. Wide Open Saloon is taking up a residency in The Stockyards to serve up drinks while you enjoy FREE live music daily.

Yes, you can find just about everything there. Even our own local establishments.

Pro Rodeo: the main event

If you’re picking specific dates, the Pro Rodeo runs Friday, January 16 through Sunday, January 25, with semifinals starting Saturday, January 24.

The whole thing wraps with the Pro Rodeo Finals on Sunday, January 25, featuring world-class bulls, broncs, cowboys, and cowgirls in one of the first major pro rodeo competitions of the season. From barrel racing to bronc riding to steer wrestling and mutton bustin’, it’s fast, loud, and genuinely impressive even if you’ve never watched rodeo before.

Finals tickets here

Helpful links before you go

Bottom line: if you’re craving a winter outing that feels uniquely Colorado and gives you plenty of ways to make a day (or night) out of it, the National Western Stock Show is one of those rare traditions that still delivers.

From the team behind Smoky Hill Auto Service, Legacy Auto Clinic brings trusted, family-run auto repair home to Castle Rock. Servicing all makes and models, including diesel, European, and hybrid vehicles, with a focus on honesty, quality, and neighbor-first service.

Learn more

Use code CASTLEROCKCREW for $50 off any service or repair of $200 or more

Legacy Auto Clinic
501 South St, Castle Rock, CO 80104
303-483-8825

New year, new friends. Buddy is ready to rock 2026 with you!

Broncos — #1 seed in the AFC and we’ll get a much-needed week off to dial things in. The offense looked atrocious again, but I’m chalking it up to doing what we had to do against a Chargers team that had already clinched their Wildcard spot and rested key players…the Steelers-Ravens game was about 100x more entertaining to watch — back-and-forth action that came down to a heartbreaking missed PAT and then the Ravens' rookie kicker missing a chip-shot field goal that would've won it…check out both the AFC and NFC playoff picture here.

Nuggets — Nugs are 24-12, bringing us down to 4th in the Western Conference — Lakers took our spot in 3rd. We beat the Raptors (106-103), lost to the Cavs (113-108), lost to the Nets (127-115), and beat the 76ers in OT (125-124) - Pickett, Pwat, and Nnaji basically took down Paul George and Embiid (let’s go!). We play the Celtics Wed, Jan 7, the Hawks on Fri, Jan 9, and the Bucks on Sun, Jan 11.

Jokić’s injury ended up being a hyperextension of the knee. I think we’ll all take this news versus a worse alternative, but his run for MVP will likely be over due to the amount of games he’ll miss. Assuming SGA of the Thunder will add to last year’s MVP with another with Jokić likely out of the running.

We’ll try and hold since he joined a long list of injured players, and even more have been added following his injury. Let’s see how real some of these are or if they’re just looking to rest a few players during this stretch of games.

Air Gordon looked good in his return against the Nets, but rested against the 76ers.

Avalanche — we’re 31-3-7 with 69 points (most in the NHL), and extended our lead to 11 over the Stars, even with a rare loss. We beat the Blues (6-1), beat the Hurricanes (5-3), but lost to the Panthers (2-1). We face the Lightning on Tue, Jan 6, the Senators on Thu, Jan 8, the Blue Jackets on Sat, Jan 10, and the Maple Leafs on Mon, Jan 12.

MacKinnon and Nichushkin became the second set of teammates in NHL history to each score multiple goals in the opening five minutes of a game. They scored the four goals in the opening 4:39 in the game against the Blues.

Landy left the game against the Panthers in the second period with an injury. He will miss some time, but we’re waiting to see what exactly is the issue — thought it looked like the left knee buckled on the play in which he was injured.

MacKinnon scored his 400th career goal. He’s already adding to it…

Brock Nelson gets the call to play on team USA.

Mammoth — we’re 2-2 to start the season after we beat the Rochester Knighthawks 18-13 which puts us at 6th overall. Game recap can be found here. We visit the Georgia Swarm on Saturday, Jan 10 at 5:30pm.

Reach out if you’re interested in sponsoring the newsletter. [email protected]

Blanchard Family Wines will be hosting pop-ups at COFF33 on Fridays and Saturdays starting this week (1/9 & 1/10). The pop-ups will run from 5:00pm-9:00pm with classes taking place from 6:00pm-7:00pm.

Friday, Jan 9 - COFF33 - Guided 4-Wine Tasting - 6:00pm–7:00pm - tickets

Saturday, Jan 10 - COFF33 - Wine and Chocolate Tasting - 6:00pm–7:00pm - tickets

Friday, Jan 9 - Happy Crew Coffee House, Lone Tree - Financial Planning with Purpose - 2:00pm–5:00pm

Tuesday, 1/6:

The Office Co. | Bar & Kitchen (every day) - Happy Hour - 2:00pm–7:00pm

Courtyard Social (every weekday) - Happy Hour - 2:30pm–5:00pm

Bien y Tu (every weekday) - Happy Hour - 2:30pm–5:00pm

The Whiskey Lodge - 85¢ Wings - 3:00pm–10:00pm

Hideaway Bar & Grill (every day) - Happy Hour - 3:00pm–6:00pm

Trifecta - Happy Hour - 3:00pm–7:00pm

Wild Blue Yonder Brewing Co. - Geeks Who Drink Trivia - 7:00pm–9:00pm

Elizabeth Brews - Trivia Night - 7:00pm–9:30pm

Wednesday, 1/7:

Wide Awake Eatery - Happy Hour - 4:00pm–6:00pm (Wed-Sat)

Alidade Brewing - Music Bingo - 6:00pm–8:00pm

Hideaway Bar & Grill - DJ Trivia - 7:00pm–9:00pm

Thursday, 1/8:

Crowfoot Valley Coffee - Trivia Night - 6:00pm

RNK Running - CHOG - 6:00pm

Wide Open Saloon - Country Dance Night with Dance Instructor Marla Gifford - 6:00pm–10:00pm

Philip & Jerry Miller Library - Castle Rock Historical Society & Museum’s Monthly Presentation: DCSO Solves 30 Year Old Murder Case - 7:00pm–8:00pm

Hideaway Bar & Grill - Karaoke with Big E Entertainment - 8:30pm–12:30am

Friday, 1/9:

COFF33 - Blanchard Family Wines Pop-up - 5:00pm–9:00pm

COFF33 - Guided 4-Wine Tasting - 6:00pm–7:00pm - tickets

Wide Awake Eatery - Dueling Pianos - 6:00pm - tickets

The Stagecoach Saloon - These Guys - 6:30pm–10:30pm

Sinners and Saints - Live Music At The Altar: John Wise & Tribe - 8:00pm–10:00pm

Saturday, 1/10:

COFF33 - Blanchard Family Wines Pop-up - 5:00pm–9:00pm

COFF33 - Wine and Chocolate Tasting - 6:00pm–7:00pm - tickets

Sunday, 1/11:

Magpie Art Center - Mixed Media Art Class - 2:00pm–4:00pm - tickets

Persephone Candle Works - Grand Opening - 2:00pm–6:00pm - RSVP

Monday, 1/12:

Sudden Fiction Books - An Evening with Peter Heller - Jan 12, 6:00pm–8:30pm

Heads up on events that are further out:

Save the Date: Winter Ball at the Fairgrounds on Jan 31 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.

Cantril School Building - TAP Talk January: Together We Create - Jan 14, 6:00pm–7:30pm

Sandstone Ranch Guided Open Space - January Star Party at Sandstone Ranch - Jan 16, 3:45pm–12:00am

Honnibrook Craft Meadery - Josh Blackburn: Live In Castle Rock - Jan 16, 6:00pm–9:00pm

The Stagecoach Saloon - Sarah P And The Hay Pullers - Jan 16, 6:30pm–10:30pm

Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Sinatra Tribute Show LIVE! - Jan 16, 6:00pm–9:00pm - tickets

105 West Brewing - Live Music: Rented Tuxedo - Jan 16, 6:30pm

Sinners and Saints - LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALTAR: Michael Reece - Jan 16, 8:00pm–10:00pm

The Stagecoach Saloon - Wags And The Boys - Jan 17, 6:30pm–10:30pm

Honnibrook Craft Meadery - Chilli Competition - Jan 18, 2:00pm–3:30pm

The Stagecoach Saloon - Vetras And Atomic XPerience Split Set - Jan 23, 6:30pm–10:30pm

The Stagecoach Saloon - Blinker Fluid - Jan 24, 6:30pm–10:30pm

Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Whiskey Tasting-Bourbon and Rye - Jan 24, 6:00pm - tickets

105 West Brewing - Live Music: Mike Maurer Band - Jan 24, 6:30pm

Lala's Coffee and Boba - The Sunday Pour: Lima Coffee Roasters - Jan 25, 9:00am–10:30am - tickets

Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Murder & Mystery - Till Death Do Us Part - Jan 30, 6:00pm - tickets

Douglas County Fairgrounds - Winter Ball - Jan 31, 6:00pm–9:00pm

The Stagecoach Saloon - Walker Williams - Jan 31, 6:30pm–10:30pm

Crowfoot Valley Coffee - Castle Rock Comedy Show with Carla Clay – Hosted by Mark Masters - Jan 31, 7:00pm–9:30pm - tickets

Worth the drive: other Douglas County events can be found in our sister newsletter, DougCo Drop — subscribe below

*We are working on an events calendar with a new URL that will provide both advance notice and greater variety for events. Feel free to provide feedback: https://dougcoevents.com/

⚠️ Please verify event details and availability with the respective venues or organizers, as schedules may change.

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