Art is in bloom, beer fests are going to the dogs and the world is celebrating jazz

By the Thirst Team

Get Out of Town is our weekly roundup of recommended events across Colorado. For more happenings, check out our events calendar.

Spring art festival in Greenwood Village

The Museum of Outdoor Arts hosts the second annual La Primavera Festival on Saturday in Marjorie Park. The event includes a pancake brunch, live music by Tin Brother Quartet, maypole folk dancing, craft stations, games and drinks. It also will be the public premiere of a new art installation by artist Jayne Harnett-Hargrove.

Frankie and Sunny | Photo by Sandy Birkey

Brews for Rescues in Pagosa

The Brews for Rescues festival comes to the Archuleta County Fairgrounds in Pagosa Springs from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. This year’s edition includes armored medieval combat, as well as live music by A-Mac & The Height, vendors and food trucks.

Tickets cost $25, including unlimited craft beer, cider and tequila tastings. Proceeds support Rugby's Rescue House, a local animal rescue, which also will have dogs available for adoption.

International Jazz Day shows

March 30 is International Jazz Day, and at least four Colorado venues are hosting shows.

Dazzle Denver presents two sets by Kneebody, a Grammy-nominated classical-jazz crossover band. Basalt has two events. John Paul Riger will play solo piano at Heather’s Savory Pies and Tapas, and The Art Campus at Willits hosts a free JAS Student Showcase. In Lafayette, the Muse Performance Space hosts Venezuelan multi-instrumentalist Victor Mestas and friends.

Books and poems around Colorado Springs

The Springs Book Bash is an event for authors and readers on Saturday and Sunday at the Creekside Terrace in Colorado Springs. Tickets are required for entry, a limited number of free tickets are available, and children under 16 can attend without a ticket. VIP tickets include tote bags full of bookish goodies, plus raffle tickets and access to author signings.

Up the hill in Manitou Springs, the fourth annual Pikes Peak Region Poetry Summit on Saturday is a full day of workshops and performances in celebration of National Poetry Month

Cats and Bikes in Golden

New Terrain Brewing in Golden draws plenty of cyclists, hikers and their dogs on their way to or from hikes on North Table Mountain. This week, they are inspiring those cyclists and celebrating another kind of pet.

On Tuesday night, the brewery hosts Cat Takeover IV: A Mew Hope, a travel cat meetup with limited-edition, cat-themed glassware. Proceeds benefit the Cat Care Society, which will bring a pamphlet of adoptable cats.

On Wednesday, Arvada resident Ted Eliason will talk about his adventures riding a Surly bike for 50,000 miles around the world. A $12 entry fee includes your first drink and a $5 donation to the Golden Optimist bike recycling program.

Save the date: Edgewater Music Festival

The Edgewater Music Festival returns to Citizens’ Park in Edgewater on Saturday, June 21. The event includes a full day of live music, BBQ food trucks, beer and vendors. VIP tickets also are available, including unlimited food and beverages, a special covered seating area and meet and greet opportunities with the musicians.

As always, please send us your events and announcements. We’re happy to share them. If they don’t fit in the Get Out of Town column, we will add them to our events calendar.