Happy Tuesday, Colorado Springs. In today’s edition: Holiday luncheon with opera, Festival of Lights family fun day, donuts with Santa, and more.

Let’s get to it — Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Colorado labor pulse check: Colorado job vacancies fell less than 1% in Q3, signaling stability, with increases in Colorado Springs, Breckenridge, and Boulder and steep drops in Grand Junction and Rifle — see regional shifts and salaries.

One warm night matters: Following below-freezing temperatures, Hope COS opened an emergency warming shelter in Colorado Springs with meals and cots. The nonprofit will open on nights below 19 degrees and is seeking volunteers — see how to volunteer.

Community dollars at work: Small Business Saturday drew crowds to downtown Colorado Springs, giving locally owned shops a boost amid rising costs. Free parking and a shop-local push underscored how spending stays local — read the full story.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Scams are rampant: My step-dad recently got a call from someone pretending to be his grandson, all beat up and asking for bail money. They knew his grandson’s name, how old he is, and what city he lives in. How? Data brokers. They sell your info to anyone willing to pay for it (yup… anyone). Incogni removes your info from all of those sites so scammers can’t use it against you. Cyber Monday discounts are available all week — check ’em out here.

Highlights this week

• David Arkenstone reimagines holiday classics
• Register for Cycling Santa toy drive
• Enjoy free crafts, performances, and cocoa
• Discover artisan gifts and gourmet treats
• Rock out to benefit St. Jude
• Need new windows? Check out RBA’s latest deals

🫶 We got your back

Improved start for riders: After 20 years on 8th Street, Ramblin Express has moved its Colorado Springs Casino Shuttle stop to 21st Street at the Fraternal Order of Eagles #143 lot due to planned development at the old site. Expect better lighting and parking. Service to Cripple Creek still runs Thursday through Sunday, holidays included. See the new location details.

Old World holiday cheer: Inaugural Christkindlmarket debuts at Bancroft Park in Old Colorado City, Dec. 11-14 and Dec. 18-23, noon to 8 p.m. Expect 10 wooden huts, German eats and Glühwein, brass bands, and free entry. Highlights include a tree lighting Dec. 12, Krampus Nacht Dec. 19, and drink discounts for dirndls, lederhosen, and ugly sweaters. Get all the details.

Burrito craving solved: Downtown Azada Mexican Grill keeps weeknights easy with hearty burritos, breakfast burritos, tacos, and carne asada fries. This counter-serve spot offers dine-in, delivery, or takeout, so dinner happens fast and satisfying, no overthinking, just flavor.

An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.

Wellness on easy mode: Most probiotics don’t work because they dissolve too early. Seed’s double capsule design means all the right stuff gets delivered to all the right places… at the right time. After decades of gut issues, it’s one of the few things that’s actually helped. Their Daily Essentials Duo covers nutrient gaps and supports everyday health + it’s 40% off right now so it’s a great time to give it a try.

📆 Around town this week

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

This week

🍽️ Holiday Luncheon PPOL @ Cheyenne Mountain Country Club | Wednesday (12/3) at 11:00am – Holiday luncheon at the historic Cheyenne Mountain Country Club, with Opera Colorado artists serenading while you savor poached pear salad, chicken pot pie, and citrus panna cotta. Festive without the office gift swap, civilized without being stuffy. Register by Nov 28.

🕵️ Most Wonderful Crime of the Year @ Vine and Wheel | Thursday (12/4) at 5:45pm – This holiday whodunit pairs a four-course dinner with a side of friendly interrogation at Vine & Wheel downtown. Bring your A-game, your alibi, and your appetite. Tickets are $100, and you can snag seats on OpenTable under Experiences.

🧸 Annette Conlon for Toys For Tots @ Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort | Thursday (12/4) at 6:00pm – Swing by Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort on the west side for a Toys for Tots drive as Black Rose Acoustic Society hosts Annette and Doug Conlon, Mark Gillick, and more. Bring an unwrapped $10-ish toy, or cash, and feel good doing good between songs.

🍾 Yule Log Champagne @ The French Kitchen Culinary Center | Friday (12/5) at 9:00am – Whether you’ve been rolling Bûches since dial-up or just eat frosting with a spoon, this December-only class teaches a modern Champagne-Strawberry Yule Log. Learn gelatin sheets, delicate mousse, and fancy finishes, then leave with your own boxed beauty. Eat first, impress later.

🎁 Holiday Food and Gift Festival @ Norris Penrose Event Center | Friday (12/5) at 10:00am – Think you can actually finish your holiday shopping before the first snow melts? Hit the 27th annual Holiday Food and Gift Festival at Norris Penrose for 150-plus small-biz vendors, one-of-a-kind finds, gourmet goodies, and zero mall madness. Buy local, snack often.

This weekend

🚴 Cycling Santa 2025| Saturday (12/6) at 9:00am – Registration’s open for Cycling Santa and the Chasing Santa walk/run, where you dress like Santa and join the herd. Choose 6, 10, or 21 miles, bring a new, unwrapped toy for Give It Forward, score a Santa suit, and toddlers under 4 are free.

✨ Festival of Lights Family Fun Day @ Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum | Saturday (12/6) at 10:00am – Pre-game the downtown parade at the Pioneers Museum’s free Festival of Lights Family Fun Day, where the kids get crafts, face paint, and music, and you get nostalgia and a breather. Swing back later for cocoa and cookies, because this 40-year tradition, not calories, counts.

🐺 Why Wolves in Colorado? @ Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center | Saturday (12/6) at 1:00pm – Wolves are back in the state, and the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center is swinging by Garden of the Gods to explain why that is good news. Think ecosystem wisdom, surprising wolf manners, and meet-and-greets with wolfdog ambassadors. Space is limited, register, nature cred included.

🎼 Holiday Pops Concert @ Pikes Peak Center | Saturday (12/6) at 7:30pm – Trade the mall playlist for the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony’s Holiday Pops at the Pikes Peak Center, where talented kids make the classics sparkle. It’s festive, family-friendly, and blissfully drama-free. Grab seats online at AXS, or at the box office.

🍩 Donuts with Santa! @ Happy Hour Donuts | Sunday (12/7) at 8:00am – Skip the mall chaos and meet the big guy at a low-stress Donuts with Santa, complete with photos, donuts, cookies, and festive drinks. The kids get their sugar rush, you get caffeine, and nobody fights a parking garage. Second annual, so they’ve got it down.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/2 Taylor Hollingsworth @ Vultures – 8 pm
• 12/4 John Wise @ Rico’s Cafe – 5 pm
• 12/4 Eric Golden @ Whiskey Rose – 8 pm
• 12/5 Anastasia @ Kathryn Mohrman Theatre – 7 pm
• 12/5 Ugly Sweater Party @ Whistle Pig Brewing – 7 pm
• 12/5 Mike Maurer @ Cleats West – 8 pm
• 12/6 Elektric Animals @ Oskar Blues – 8 pm
• 12/6 Mark Masters Comedy @ Ivywild School – 8 pm