Dorothy’s Dictionary and Amelia’s Big Idea at Butterfly Effect Theatre Company

Leave it to Boulder’s own Butterfly Effect Theatre Company to deliver a truly unique and creative way to bring live theater directly to you. With dates all summer long, the BETC Theatre Truck is hitting the streets with free outdoor shows for families to enjoy. Grab a picnic basket, a blanket or chair and join your friends as the Theatre Truck brings you one of two family-friendly productions. Check out Dorothy’s Dictionary by E.M. Lewis about a high school student who meets a book-lover who’s losing her eyesight. Or catch Amelia’s Big Idea, a new musical created by Heather Beasley, Richie Cannaday and Edie Carey. It is the story of 10-year-old Amelia who wants to build a dog park in her town. With performances through Aug. 7, the truck is touring all over Boulder, Longmont, Louisville, Erie and more. Visit www.betc.org for locations and details on these free productions.

Hair at Miners Alley Playhouse

Have you checked out Miners Alley Playhouse lately? Make the drive to Golden to catch their current production of the classic American tribal love rock musical Hair. This ever-popular musical celebrates the music of the 1960s – with all the long-hair, bell-bottomed, beaded, fringed details to go along with it. All your favorite hits are included, from Age of Aquarius to Good Morning, Starshine, and Let the Sun Shine. Hair remains a powerful story exploring the ideas of identity, community, global responsibility, and peace. Aug. 5–Oct. 2. Tickets range from $42 to $51 at 1224 Washington Ave, Golden. 303.935.3044. MinersAlley.com.

Lafayette Peach Festival

There are a few things Colorado delivers better than any other state in the union. Green Chile is one of those things. Skiing. Number of Subarus per capita. And yes, peaches. Take a back seat, Georgia, you’ve got nothing on the magic that comes out of Palisade on the good crop years — which, given the weirdness in climate change, is admittedly a crap shoot lately. This year’s crop looks good and that means the 23rd Annual Lafayette Peach Festival will be in top form as the truckloads make their way into this annual celebration of Colorado’s most precious fruit. Pies, cobblers, performers, vendors, and more line the streets of Old Town Lafayette on Aug. 20 from 9 to 4 p.m. Bring the family and a bib. More info at www.lafayettecolorado.com. 

Floyd D. Tunson: Ascent at Arvada Center for the Arts

If you’re a fan of visual arts, then you must take the time to check out the galleries at the Arvada Center for the Arts. Currently, you can catch the exhibit titled Floyd D. Tunson: Ascent through Aug. 28. This expansive exhibition features work from five decades by local artist Floyd D. Tunson – one of this area’s most popular contemporary artists. Tunson has created his work exploring his perspectives on race, identity and history – all through his lens as an educator for more than 30 years in the public school system. While there is no charge to visit the exhibition, a free reservation is required. 6901 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada. arvadacenter.org.

Face Vocal Band at Nissi’s

True a capella fans are in unanimity when it comes to FACE — Colorado’s enduring, most endearing all-vocal rock band. The group has headlined Red Rocks, performed all over the globe, and delivered a rich, harmonically complex sound at any time they’ve taken the stage, without the trappings of silly things like instruments. And now that Nissi’s has reopened in its new location after the COVID-shuttering it suffered in 2020, there’s more than ample reason to celebrate. Catch them live at the (new) storied venue Aug. 30, 6:30 p.m., tickets are $30+, nissis.com for more information. 

Grossly Affectionate at Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art

For something totally different, be sure to check out Grossly Affectionate, now on display through September 5 at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. This abstract artistic exhibition features seven artists all exploring the idea that the body can be a host of different things – from an architectural structure to a landscape, a virtual space or even a humorous costume. Explore the different sculptures and works of art in this fascinating new exhibit at the always compelling Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. Admission to the museum is only $2. 1750 13th Street, Boulder. 303.443.2122 or bmoca.org.