Friday, January 16

Trivia Night at Very Nice Gilpin: What will hosts Susan and Jeff come up with this time? Come and find out; it’s always a great time! Prizes will be awarded for top scores. 7 to 9 p.m., 180 Jankowski Drive, Black Hawk.

VNTRBirds Snow Safety Workshop: Whether you are backcountry curious, a seasoned traveler, or somewhere in between, come out to Eldora Resort and get stoked for the upcoming season. This is great for novice backcountry explorers or a refresher before you dust off your backcountry gear and head out for your first tour of the season. No need to bring in your equipment; we have you covered. Please register ahead of time: eventcreate.com/e/vntrbirds-snow-safety-works-eldora. 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the upstairs Indian Peaks Lodge located at Eldora Ski Resort, 2861 Eldora Ski Road, Nederland. 

Friday, January 16 to Saturday, January 17

Stuffed Toy Sleepover: Sorry kids, only stuffies stay over. Decorate a pillowcase to make your stuffy a special sleeping bag. Drink hot chocolate. Help Miss Jessie tuck in your stuffy and listen to her read them a bedtime story at 5 p.m. All ages are welcome to wear their pajamas! On Saturday, enjoy breakfast nibbles and a slideshow to see the adventures your stuffy had. Kids will get to take home a photo of their stuffy at the sleepover, and their special sleeping bag. Friday between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. and Saturday between 10 and 11 a.m., Nederland Community Library, 200 Highway 72, Nederland. 

Friday, January 16 through Sunday, January 18

The First Peoples Festival: Come to a three-day gathering celebrating Indigenous culture, creativity, and community. Experience Indigenous art, music, film, fashion, foodways, and storytelling. Highlights include an Indigenous art market featuring artists from more than 30 tribal affiliations, Friendship Powwow gatherings, film screenings, cultural demonstrations, live performances, and an Indigenous-produced First People’s Fashion Show. For more information, contact Becky Gruhl at bgruhl@estes.org or 970-577-3902. Located at the Estes Valley Community Center, 660 Community Drive, Estes Park.

Saturday, January 17

New Year Recovery Potluck: Bring a dish to share if you can—but most importantly, bring yourself! All pathways of recovery are welcome. Because of the power outages we had to cancel our Christmas potluck, so we are trying again with a January New Year Recovery Potluck. Join us for a potluck in Idaho Springs. This is a welcoming, substance-free space to connect, share a meal, and celebrate recovery together. More info at advocatesforrecovery.org. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Clear Creek Recreation Center,  98 12th Avenue, Idaho Springs. 

Tuesday, January 20

AI 101: Learn about artificial intelligence in an approachable, no-experience-necessary format. Local resident Kristina Colson will provide an introduction to AI—what it is, how it works, and how you can use it safely and responsibly in everyday life. The session will include live demonstrations of popular AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT, with plenty of time for questions and discussion. 6:30 p.m., Gilpin County Library, 15131 Highway 119, Black Hawk.

Friday, January 23

Backcountry Workshop: Join Mammut and The American Avalanche Institute for an afternoon of activities, education, giveaways and free food (while supplies last). Avalanche beacon time trials and Avalanche rescue fundamentals. Food and space are limited. Free event. RSVP at store.eldora.com/l/public/p/aai-workshop, 1:30 to 4 p.m., Eldora Ski Resort, Upstairs in the Indian Peaks Lodge, 2861 Eldora Ski Road #140, Nederland.

Saturday, January 24  

27th Annual Chilifest: Join us to eat and judge the best chili sampling across the Front Range from roughly 20 chefs. Categories include red, green, vegetarian/vegan, and the notorious Texas-style chili—no beans allowed. Prizes and awards for the top three winners in each category. 5 to 7 p.m., Coal Creek Canyon Improvement Association, 31528 Highway 72, Golden.

Sunday, January 25

Teens Speak Up! Speech and Advocacy Workshop: Must be able to attend all sessions. Sessions run on Sundays from 5 to 6 p.m. on January 25, February 1, February 8, and February 15. Open to all high school-aged students in the Nederland area. Pizza dinner included. Opportunity to speak on the Capitol Floor! Have your voice heard! $200 participation award. Email nederlandlibrary@nedlib.org for more information.

Did we miss you? Would you like your event listed in the Cracker Barrel? Please submit your event online at themtnear.com/events-submission/ to be included in the next edition. Check us out online at themtnear.com/events for more upcoming events.