September is here! In the time of COVID, most events are cancelled, but some of our most creative minds in the Boulder area have found ways to get the community together safely, either virtually or with strict precautions. Enjoy the beginning of fall in Boulder with Art events, outdoor concerts, a Pridefest Motorcade and more! Here are some fun things to do in Boulder in September 2020.
NoBo First Friday
When: Friday, September 4, 2020 from 6 PM – 9 PM
First Friday is a FREE self-guided tour of artists’ studios and creative businesses in the NoBo Art District. Meet painters, sculptors, photographers, designers and other artists along your stroll through the area. Featuring live music, demos and special activities in many locations. Located along Broadway from Pine Street to Highway 36. Follow the colorful flags to find surprises around every corner. First Friday runs from 6:00 to 9:00 pm on the first Friday of the month. Please be respectful of COVID precautions, wear a mask and keep your distance. Please note that many locations have other opening and closing times, see the map or list to check exact times. Details at NoBoArtDistrict.org
The Virtual 2020 Great Boulder Duck Race
When: Sunday, September 6, 2020 from 2 PM – 4 PM
It’s time to Quack for a Cause once again and this year’s motto is “Just Keep Swimming!” This year, with the Hometown Festival cancelled, the duck race will be happening virtually. PLAY is the official nonprofit partner of Boulder Parks and Recreation. All proceeds for to these core community programs: EXPAND, PLAYpass, Tree Trust, and YSI. This family fun event helps to raise critical funds which we use to directly impact our community. Enter the race by adopting a duck today!They need your support now more than ever! The Great Boulder Duck Race was founded in 1988 and has since become a Boulder tradition. More info here: www.playboulder.org/duckrace.
Street Wise Boulder Mural Festival
When: September 7th – 13th, full schedule & map here.
Street Wise Boulder is an ARTivism mural festival happening September 7th – 13th 2020 in the streets of Boulder, Colorado. Street Wise Boulder is a non profit ARTivism mural festival designed to amplify artist voices and use the power of art as a means to connect, spark change, and build empathy within the community. Check out the 2020 Artist Roster at https://www.streetwiseboulder.com/2020-artists! 30+ incredible artists will be working all week long to give Boulder new visions for a rad future! As the murals go up, you are invited to (respectfully) watch the artists do their work, and tour to the various locations around the city to see all the murals in their complexities and beauty. As you embark upon a self-guided, and self-paced walking or biking tour of the murals, you will be able to use QR codes to learn more about the artists and stories behind the art. Mural tour maps will be sent to you virtually once you register, and you will also be able to pick up physical maps at our Street Wise Boulder HQ (1909 9th Street)or at the locations of any of the event’s sponsors!
YWCA Virtual Dash & Bash 2020
When: September 7 – 27, 2020, details here.
Mark your calendars for the Boulder County YWCA Dash & Bash 2020 (September 7 – September 27, 2020)! This year’s Dash & Bash will be a virtual celebration of YWCA Boulder County’s mission to eliminate racism and empower women. Individuals, businesses, and teams of friends, family, coworkers & civic groups can make a statement and create real change by fundraising to fuel YWCA’s programs and services. As a virtual event, you can march, walk or run anytime & anywhere (across the state, country or world!) between Sept. 7 and Sept. 27 and fund raise to reach your personal or team goal. Use the easy-to-use online platform to create your own individual and team fundraising page to invite others to join you in standing against racism and sexism. For more info, click here.
Outdoor Concerts at BDT Stage
When: Throughout September, full schedule here.
BDT Stage is offering a handful of concerts on their outdoor stage, featuring Leonard Barrett Jr, Jalyn Webb & Take to the Highway. BDT is taking special COVID precautions and is offering each party their own 10×10 foot area, with 6 feet between each party. Attendees must where masks unless seated. For more information, click here.
Virtual Conference on World Affairs
When: September 10 – 11, 2020, full schedule here.
The University of Colorado Boulder Conference on World Affairs (CWA) will host a virtual event September 10-11, featuring 8 sessions over 2 days. Event Themes are Leadership and Human Connection, with topics including: Racial Impacts on Education Equality, Reconnecting with the Natural World, From FDR to AOC: Lessons in Leadership Across Generations, and Targeting the Long Game: Athletes & Activism. This public event is FREE.
“So You Want to Talk About Race” with Council Members Junie Joseph and Mary Young
When: Friday, September 11, 2020 from 6 PM – 7 PM
Join Boulder council members Junie Joseph and Mary Young for an online community book discussion on “So You Want to Talk about Race” by Ijeoma Oluo, the first book selected for the One Book, One Boulder program. For more information and to register, click here.
Virtual Bee Boulder Festival
When: Saturday, September 12, 2020 from 10 AM – 2 PM
The Bee Boulder Festival is going virtual this year with entertainment, talks, workshops, and garden tours. “Visit” booths to join activities, gather information, and ask questions of the experts. Like other years, there will be entertainment, educational and fun activities for kids, including performances by Jeff & Paige and Boulder Public Library storytimes. In addition, top experts will be providing information, workshops, and answering your questions about pollinators, gardening, native plants, growing local food – everything you could possibly want to learn about improving landscaping for people and for pollinators. Learn how to choose plants, design a garden, remove lawn, collect native plant seed, grow plants from seeds, manage pests without pesticides, organize your neighborhood into a pollinator pathway, create and maintain landscapes that support biodiversity and transform our city to address the challenges ahead. For more info, click here.
Boulder Pridefest Motorcade
When: Sunday, September 13, 2020 from 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Boulder Pridefest is getting stepping up to the 2020 challenge: instead of cancelling Pridefest, they are turning it into the Boulder Pridefest 2020 Motorcade! Deck your car out in fabulous Pride gear and head on down to the designated meeting spot on Sunday, September 13th to help us show LGBTQ visibility in the City of Boulder. Spots will be limited so register your vehicle today via the link below and Juan Moreno (he/him) will send you more details! RSVP here: https://bit.ly/bouldermotorcadersvp. We’re sorry, but no bicycles are allowed to participate in this event. If you would like to watch the motorcade virtually, Out Boulder County’s facebook page will be hosting a livestream featuring Denver Drag Queen, Miss Jessica!
Boulder Walks Monthly Walkabout
When: Saturday, September 19, 2020 from 10 AM – 12 PM
Walk with and connect with neighbors, share ideas and learn about local city projects. Please contact darcy@walk2connect.com for more information. Let them know you’ll join us by selecting “going” for the date(s) you plan to attend here. There are specific locations and starting times for each monthly walkabout, for September 19: Walk With Council, Spanish First (with English interpretation) – West Age Well Center, 909 Arapahoe Avenue.
Bike to Wherever Week
When: The week of September 21, 2020
Bike to Work Day is one of Boulder’s favorite events in September. Unfortunately, the event’s usual festivities are cancelled due to COVID, but in its place you can join in Bike to Wherever Week! Pledge to ride wherever for the week, for fun and for you.
Boulder County Farmers Markets
When: In Boulder on 13th, every Saturday from 8 AM – 2 PM & every Wednesday from 4 PM – 8 PM; In Longmont every Saturday at the Boulder County Fairgrounds from 8 AM – 1 PM.
Boulder County Farmers Markets are running a little differently, but they are still a great place to source local foods. Read through BCFM’s safety precautions to help you plan your market experience during these times, or to make a shopping reservation. You can find that information here.
