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Boulder This Weekend: Derby Hats, Jedi Builders & a 5K for a Cause
Kentucky Derby parties, Star Wars crafts, a feel-good 5K, and your new go-to pasta spot. Oh—and how high is Boulder, really?
What's Happenin' Team
May 02, 2025
🎉 Your First Weekend of May in Boulder Starts Here
Hey Boulder! 🌞
Derby hats? Check. LEGO X-wings? Check. Running shoes? You bet. From Kentucky Derby cocktails to Star Wars STEM sessions to a 5K that supports youth mental health, Boulder is showing up strong this weekend. We’ve also got a pasta place with serious nonna vibes and a trail with summit views worth every step. Let’s kick off May the Boulder way — festive, outdoorsy, and just the right kind of nerdy. 🌷🐎🎉
— The What’s Happenin’ Boulder Team 😉
🧠 Trivia Time: How High Is Boulder, Colorado?
Boulder sits at the base of the Rocky Mountains, but do you know its elevation above sea level? |
👉 Scroll to the bottom of the newsletter for the answer and a little Rocky Mountain bonus fact! ⛰️
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Hike of the Day: 🥾 Green Mountain West Ridge TrailViews for days! This Flagstaff Road trail dishes out wildflowers, forest vibes, and a summit that shows off Bear Peak and Boulder below. Bring water, bring your pup (on leash), and maybe your quads. | What’s Happenin’ Spotlight: 🍝 Pasta PressFresh pasta, straight from the source (okay, Boulder—but ingredients come from Italy 🇮🇹). Swing by for house-made noodles, classic sauces, and serious nonna vibes. Dine in, take out, or cook it at home. |
🎉 What’s Happenin’ This Weekend in Boulder
From running for a cause to racing in costume, this weekend’s got something for everyone — whether you’re lacing up sneakers, donning a Derby hat, or building a LEGO X-Wing. Here are three fun ways to spend your first weekend of May:
📍 Boulder Reservoir, 5565 North 51st Street | 📅 Sunday, May 5 | 8:00 AM–11:00 AM |🎟️ Free!
More than a race — this powerful fundraiser supports youth mental health care through Rise Against Suicide. Expect a morning of running, live music from Kutandara, a silent auction, food trucks, face painting, and all-around community vibes.
📍 Boulder Social, 1600 38th St. | 📅 Saturday, May 4 | 11:00 AM–10:00 PM | 🎟️ General admission is free
The 151st Kentucky Derby is here — celebrate with mint juleps, big hats, and festive cocktails at Boulder Social’s Derby Day bash. Bonus points if you cheer like you’re actually at Churchill Downs. 🐎🍹
📍 NoBo Library, 1st Floor Meeting Room | 📅 Sunday, May 5 | 2:30 PM–4:00 PM | 🎟️ Free – Waitlist only
May the Fourth be with your little Jedi builders (ages 6–11)! Join Play-Well TEKnologies for a LEGO® engineering mission to recreate a galaxy far, far away. The Force is strong with this STEAM session — but registration is already full, so jump on the waitlist if your padawan missed it!
🎶 What’s Happenin’ Boulder Buzz 🎭
Looking for something fun to do? Whether it’s live music, trivia, or a laid-back DJ set, here’s what’s happening in Boulder this weekend!
📅Friday, May 2🆓 Free Events 🎺 Jazz Supper Club📍 Full Cycle Cafe & Bar | ⏰ 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM | 💵 $20 online / $25 door (recurring weekly on Friday & Saturday) 🎶 College Night – Cheap drinks + great vibes = perfect Friday night. Just bring your student ID! 9–11 PM @ Avanti F&B (Recurring Fridays) 💵 Ticketed Events 🎪 Beethoven Blues: Frequent Flyers® Soars to the Music of Jon Batiste📍 Dairy Arts Center | ⏰ 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM | 🎟️ $29–$33 🎶 Last Mile Country Club and Half Dead Band📍 Roots Music Project | ⏰ 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM | 🎟️ $17–$22 🎶 Luttrell: ‘Life at Full Speed’ Tour📍 Fox Theatre | ⏰ 8:00 PM – 11:59 PM | 📅Saturday, May 3🆓 Free Events 🎺 Jazz Supper Club📍 Full Cycle Cafe & Bar | ⏰ 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM | 💵 $20 online / $25 door (recurring weekly on Friday & Saturday) 🎶 Young and Dead📍 Fox Theatre | ⏰ 8:00 PM – 11:59 PM | 🆓 Free before 9PM; $12 after 💵 Ticketed Events 🎶 Daft Phish Tribute Show📍 Velvet Elk Lounge | ⏰ 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM | 🎟️ $14 🎨 One Day Beginning Stained Glass Class📍 Colorado Glassworks | ⏰ 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM | 🎟️ $310 🎶 Resonance Women’s Chorus: Everyone Belongs📍 1421 Spruce St. | ⏰ 4:00 PM – 5:15 PM | 🎟️ $20–$30 🎶 The Sound of Hope & Resilience📍 eTown Hall | ⏰ 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM | 🎟️ $150 🎸 Victor Wooten & The Wooten Brothers📍 Boulder Theater | ⏰ 8:00 PM – 11:59 PM | 🎟️ $29.50 | 📅Sunday, May 4🆓 Free Events 🎉 Buddha’s Birthday Celebration Ceremony & Lunch📍 Great Dharma Chan Monastery | ⏰ 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM | 🆓 Free 💵 Ticketed Events 🎪 Beethoven Blues: Frequent Flyers® Soars to the Music of Jon Batiste📍 Dairy Arts Center | ⏰ 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM | 🎟️ $29–$33 🎶 BEETHOVEN’S MAGNUM OPUS: Missa Solemnis with Boulder Philharmonic📍 CU Macky Auditorium | ⏰ 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | 🎟️ $10–$95 |
🏔️ That’s All for Now, Boulder!
Thanks for spending part of your week with us — now go enjoy the sunshine, sip something minty, and say hi to May. 🌷 See you out there, Boulder! — The What’s Happenin’ Boulder Team 🏔️🐝 A: 5,430 feet above sea level!Boulder sits one mile closer to the stars — literally. That elevation means crisper air, stronger sun, and views that make you feel on top of the world. (Also: water boils faster, and your cocktails might hit quicker. Stay hydrated out there! 😉) |
Thinking about your next Boulder adventure? Check out our guides to Boulder’s craft breweries, Pearl Street eats, neighborhood highlights, and more Boulder travel inspo.
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