Editor’s Picks

Oatmeal—Something To Celebrate
There are a lot of things worth building a festival around. Blues, jazz, barbecue, art, fashion, beer, Greek food. The list of festivals is endless, and while you’ve probably heard of most of them, here’s one that might be under your radar: the Oatmeal Festival. Yes, that ubiquitous winter-friendly breakfast that also happens to be good for your heart not only has its own festival, but Lafayette has been doing it for 14 years. It kicks off with an oatmeal breakfast featuring the world’s largest topping bar, and then expands to include a health fair, 5K walk/run, oatmeal baking contest and more. 7:30 a.m., Jan. 10, Pioneer Elementary School, 101 Baseline Road, Lafayette, 303.926.4352

Countdown…Early
So you’ve got a sitter, had a tux pressed and sparkly dress dry cleaned. Your New Year’s Eve plans are all on track. Why not give a little taste of what it’s all about to the kids? The World of Wonder children’s museum has just the thing: an hour long New Year’s Eve bash scheduled for mid-day. Kids get to craft their own noisemakers, there will be live music and a countdown to the new year (granted, it’s about 12 hours early). 11 a.m., Dec. 31, 110 N. Harrison Ave., Lafayette, 303.604.2424, $7 for kids

Power of Spirit
Terra Nova is Latin for New Land, and has come to be synonymous with the famous Robert Falcon Scott expedition to be the first person to reach the South Pole. Hero or villain, Scott faced plenty of scrutiny in the aftermath of the expedition—all of which was posthumous since the expedition perished en route back from the pole. The play keys in on themes of heroism and the notion that the human spirit triumphs all. Jan. 9-24 (weekends), Longmont Theatre, 513 Main St., Longmont, 303.772.5200, $17

The Jewish Jazz Effect
The contributions of Jewish culture to American music likely run a lot deeper than many think. Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Herbie Mann, Buddy Rich, Stan Getz. Bob Schlesinger (Hazel Miller’s pianist who’s shared bills with the likes of James Brown) and Faye Nepon (teacher at Amici della Musica in Florence and Rocky Mountain Center for the Musical Arts in Lafayette) bring together those influences to paint an especially Semitic picture of song and jazz. 7 p.m., Jan. 16, Louisville Center for the Arts, 801 Grant Ave., 303.666.4361, $12