Jeffco Crew #036 - Evergreen Strong, Oktoberfests & Moar Goats

Fall is here. I like fall quite a bit.

I do want to send some warm and healing energy to our Evergreen neighbors. I very much hope your children are all okay and your wonderful community heals and becomes stronger from here. #evergreenstrong

If you'd like to support the Evergreen community, the EHS PTSA set up a donation drive - check it out.

One reason I started this newsletter was to try and open up our eyes to all the interesting things that happen just down the road from us - to get us out of our little bubbles and into different nooks and crannies of Jeffco.

I hope it serves that purpose for some of you.

And feel free to let me know if you think there's a way to improve the few minutes I borrow from your day each week.

In any case, together we head into a time filled with pumpkin lattes, seasonal events and a gradual ramp into lots of fun holidays. Take care of each other.

Let's get into it.

🗓️ Featured Events

Interested in a featured event? 🔥 Drop me a line, let's talk.

🍺 Evergreen Oktoberfest

Evergreen's take on Oktoberfest kicks off Saturday to bring all the Bavarian fun to the mountains with live polka music, stein-hoisting competitions, and giant beer pong. The family-friendly event includes bratwurst, axe throwing, costume contests, and a kids' corner alongside the expected beer tent. One unique touch: the Long-Dog Derby for your four-legged friends. Pre-registration gets you a guaranteed stein and spots in competitions, though walk-ups are welcome. It's smaller and more community-focused than Denver's big Oktoberfest celebrations, which makes it feel more like a neighborhood party where everyone knows each other. The mountain setting at Buchanan Park doesn't hurt either.

🌿 Denver Botanic Gardens Hop Festival

Also Saturday, this isn't just another beer festival - it's a fascinating look at the connection between plants and pints. Chatfield Farms grows their own hops, and you'll learn about the cultivation process directly from the farmers before sampling beers from over 20 Colorado breweries, including one made with the farms' own hops. The setting among the gardens and farmland makes it feel more educational and relaxed than your typical beer fest. Live acoustic music, food trucks, and access to the corn maze (with add-on ticket) round out the experience. You must purchase advanced tickets. It's particularly appealing if you've ever wondered how beer ingredients actually grow or want to support a local institution that's doing interesting agricultural work.

🗓️ Upcoming Things to Do

Send me feedback, events or ideas.

Wednesday 09/17

5pm / New Terrain Brewing (Golden) - 🐐 Baby Goat Nights (4 of 4), final goat visit

5:30pm / Colorado Tap House (Arvada) - 🎸 Live music w/ Chris Koltak, acoustic rock & roll

6pm / Marmalade Lounge (Arvada) - 🎵 Live music w/ Unfettered Joy, soulful feel-good vibes

6pm / The Bluegrass Olde Town (Arvada) - 🎵 Will Whalen live music, enjoy multi-instrument artistry

6:30pm / The Bluegrass Candelas (Arvada) - 🥃 Planteray Rum Wednesday, join the tasting experience

7pm / Freedom Street Social (Arvada) - 📚 Book Club: Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen, join the monthly book discussion

Thursday 09/18

11am / Lariat Lodge Brewing (Evergreen & Littleton) - 🍺 Oktoberfest celebration begins, feast on Bavarian favorites (both locations)

5pm / Mountain Home (Evergreen) - 👗 Annual Ladies Night Fall Fashion Show, join for fashion and cocktails

5pm / The Golden Mill (Golden) - 🎵 Live music by Taylor Scott Duo, enjoy roots-rock and Americana

5:30pm / Foothills Art Center (Golden) - ✨ Modern Kintsugi workshop, repair with beauty

6pm / New Terrain Brewing (Golden) - 🎵 Chain Station live music, Front Range band

6:30pm / Goosetown Station (Golden) - 🎸 Human Kind w/ Cottonwood Drifters, catch live music

7pm / Etta Jeanne (Golden) - 🎵 Maya Ogea Live on the Patio, enjoy local talent

7pm / Buffalo Rose (Golden) - 🤠 Country Line Dancing Night, with Jeff Goodwin and the Front Range Cowboys

Friday 09/19

5:30pm / Green Center - Friedhoff Hall (Golden) - 📚 George Saunders '81 NYT Bestselling Author & Booker Prize Winner, personalized book signing available

6pm / Cactus Jack's Saloon & Grill (Evergreen) - 🎸 Drew Dvorchak Band, blues-rock live music

7pm / Etta Jeanne (Golden) - 🎶 Matt Leigh Live, upbeat crowd-pleasers and sing-alongs

8pm / Landlocked Ales (Lakewood) - 😂 Rotating Tap Comedy Show, enjoy free laughs

8pm / The Woodcellar (Evergreen) - 🎵 The 2025 "Fall FUNK-Quinox" w/ The Funk-Quinox All-Stars, get funked up

Saturday 09/20

9am / Prospect Park (Wheat Ridge) - 🌿 Invasive Species Plant Walk, become an invasive plant detective

10am / Landlocked Ales (Lakewood) - 🍺 LandLockedtoberfest, celebrate Oktoberfest style

12pm - 2pm / Coal Mine Ave Brewing (Littleton) - 🐕 Charity Dog Wash, bring your dirty pup for a donation

12pm / Mountain Toad Brewing (Golden) - 🍺 OkTOADerfest, 11th annual celebration with Gyros King food and Crisco Disco band

2pm / Evergreen Library (Evergreen) - 🌱 Autumn Plant Swap, bring plants to swap or adopt new favorites

4pm (also Sunday) / Colorado Tap House (Arvada) - 🍻 Oktoberfest!, music, games, beer & food

5:30pm / Golden Outpost (Golden) - 🎵 Live music w/ Joe Wren, enjoy free music and dog-friendly patio

7pm / SomePlace Else Brewery (Arvada) - 🎭 Rotating Tap Comedy Show, free event with five comedians

7:30pm / Silver Vines Winery (Arvada) - 🎸 Tyler Glasgow, live music and charcuterie

8pm / Little Bear Live (Evergreen) - 🎵 The Living Room Band, genre-defying instrumental improvisation

8pm / Etta Jeanne (Golden) - 🎧 DJ Tyler Smith (Captain Insano), beats on the patio

Sunday 09/21

10am / Freedom Street Social (Arvada) - 🐐 Baby Goat Yoga with Coffee & Crumble on the Patio, stretch with adorable goats

11am - 2pm / Golden Outpost (Golden) - 🎵 Live music w/ Gabriel Coda, enjoy music during the Country Market

12pm / Wild Sky Brewery (Littleton) - 🐐 Goatoberfest with baby goats, steinholding competition and Broncos watch party

Monday 09/22

6pm / The Bluegrass Olde Town (Arvada) - 🎵 Rusty Gears live music, bluegrass jams

6:30pm / Snowpack Taproom (Conifer) - 🧩 Speed Jigsaw Puzzling, team race for prizes

7pm / Morrison Holiday Bar (Morrison) - 🎵 Scott Hackler, live acoustic performance

Tuesday 09/23

2pm / Marmalade Lounge (Arvada) - 🍸 Negroni Week begins, special variations for charity

5pm / Colorado Tap House (Arvada) - 🧖 Nomadic Fire Mobile Sauna, first day of the season

5:30pm / Colorado Tap House (Arvada) - 🧩 Jigsaw Puzzles On Tap: 2025 Fall Mini Season, compete for prizes

6pm / Wheat Ridge City Hall (Wheat Ridge) - 🗳️ 2026 Wheat Ridge Candidate Forum, hear from mayoral and city council candidates

7pm / Morrison Holiday Bar (Morrison) - 🎸 The E Train, live band performance

7pm / Method + Muse Cocktail Lounge (Arvada) - 🥃 Tasting Tuesday: Guided Amaro Tasting, join founder for spirits tasting