Happy New Year Colorado Springs! Whether you were with family, friends, or your furry family, I hope you’ve been enjoying this winter season. It’s time for me to brush the cookie crumbs off my shirt and get outside.
Do you know of any artists, eateries, or local happenings that deserve a spotlight in The 719 Direct? Send them my way at [email protected].
In today’s 719 Direct:
🗓️ Weekend Highlights
✨ Random Acts of Magic!
🎨 First Friday ArtWalks
💡 Magic of Lights
🎭 Stick Horses Improv Show
🎬 Winter Movie Marathon
🍺 Oskar Blues closes downtown
🍽️ Tava House coming to Woodland Park
🎶 Live Music
🏈 Sports
⛰️ Trail of the Week
Let’s get to it.
-Eric Saul
🗓️ Your Weekend in Colorado Springs
1. Random Acts of Magic!
Fri, January 2, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Cosmo’s Magic Theater, 1045 Garden of the Gods Rd Unit I, Colorado Springs, CO 80907
Price: $40+
Join Cosmo’s Magic Theater for Random Acts of Magic!, a live magic show where the audience influences which tricks and effects are performed. Experience world-class sleight-of-hand, comedy, and interactive illusions in an intimate Victorian-parlor setting. Ideal for date night, friends, or family who love mystery and fun. Snacks and refreshments available; seating limited.
2. First Friday ArtWalks in Old Colorado City
Fri, January 2, 2026, typical evening hours (varies by gallery)
Old Colorado City (W Colorado Avenue), Colorado Springs, CO
Price: Free
We’re back with another First Friday ArtWalk! Stroll through galleries and studios during the ArtWalks in Old Colorado City, a monthly celebration of local art and culture. This year-round event invites visitors to explore exhibitions, meet local artists, enjoy refreshments, and discover new works, a perfect way to kick off January with creativity and community vibes.
3. Magic of Lights – Holiday Light Drive-Through
Runs through Sunday, January 4, 2026, evenings (approx. 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM)
Pikes Peak International Raceway, 16650 Midway Ranch Rd, Fountain, CO
Price: ~$24
Get into the winter spirit with Magic of Lights, a dazzling drive-through holiday lights spectacle at Pikes Peak International Raceway. See miles of glowing displays, animated scenes, and seasonal favorites from the comfort of your car — perfect for families, date nights, or festive cruising before the season ends.
4. Stick Horses Improv Show
Fri, January 2, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Peak Improv Theater, 3440 North Carefree Circle, Colorado Springs, CO 80917
Price: $15
Laugh the night away with Stick Horses Improv Show, featuring Colorado Springs’ long-running improv comedy troupe. This family-friendly performance is full of spontaneous scenes, audience suggestions, quick wit, and fun.
5. Winter Movie Marathon
Sat, January 3, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Fountain Library (Pikes Peak Library District), CO (check local bin for exact address)
Price: Free
Enjoy a full day of indoor film fun at the Winter Movie Marathon, an all-ages event hosted by the Pikes Peak Library District. Bring your friends and family for multiple movie showings, snacks, and cozy winter entertainment — perfect for a laid-back Saturday during the holiday break.
🏔️ What’s New in the 719
🍺 Oskar Blues Grill & Brew, a longtime fixture on Tejon Street known for its craft beer, comfort food, and live music, has permanently closed its downtown Colorado Springs location after more than seven years in business. The restaurant, which opened in late 2017 inside the historic DeGraff Building, quietly shut its doors in late December 2025, leaving staff and regulars heartbroken. Several employees who had been there since the beginning described the closure as devastating, marking the end of a place that had become a second home for many in the downtown community.
🍽️Victor Matthews, a veteran chef and restaurateur best known for Black Bear Distillery and Paragon Culinary School, is leading a new multi-concept dining project called Tava House in Woodland Park, set to open in spring 2026. The development will feature two distinct dining experiences under one roof: an upscale fine-dining restaurant on the upper level with dramatic views of Pikes Peak, and a more casual taphouse with a 20-tap self-serve wall on the lower level. The project also includes a banquet and event space that is already booking weddings and private events, aiming to make the town a regional destination for food, drink, and gatherings.
🎶 Live Music
Thursday 1/1/2026
Silver Moon Riders at Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort | ~ 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (acoustic / local live music)
Friday 1/2/2026
Silver Moon Riders at Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort | ~ 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (acoustic / local live music)
John Spengler and Frienemies at Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort | ~ 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (live music)
Aethraxia with Resile, Burn the Myth & Nvr Endver at Sunshine Studios Live | ~ 7:00 PM
Soapdish at Overtime Bar | ~ 8:30 PM
XOD + Nautiloid + Dillon Hoock at Lulu’s Downtown | ~ 8:00 PM
Saturday 1/3/2026
Manitou Strings (LIVE at the Lodge) at Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort | ~ 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Boy Hits Car with Get the Axe & Cull the Herd at The Black Sheep | ~ 7:00 PM
Moses T.Y.P at Vultures | ~ 8:00 PM
Soapdish at C’mon Inn (Fountain) | ~ 8:00 PM
🏈 Sports
🏀 Basketball
Air Force Falcons (Women) — Saturday, 1/3/2026 — Women’s Basketball vs. UNLV Rebels | Clune Arena, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs | ~ 1:00 PM
🏒 Hockey
Youth Hockey Tournament — Thursday, 1/1/2026 — 16U AA vs. NM Ice Wolves | Cadet Field House, USAF Academy Area | ~ 8:45 AM
🏔️ Trail of the Week
🌲 The Pineries Open Space
📍 Location: The Pineries Open Space, Black Forest (trailhead at 13201 Volmer Road)
🛤 Length: ~8.4 miles (loop)
⛰ Elevation Gain: ~554 ft (gentle rolling terrain)
⭐ Difficulty: Easy (long but mostly flat trail)
⏱ Estimated Time: ~3 – 3.5 hrs
🔄 Trail Type: Loop
🏞 Best For: Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, nature viewing, wildlife and wildflower spotting
A peaceful, mostly flat loop through ponderosa pine forest and open meadows around the Pineries Open Space, this trail offers a gentle but lengthy outdoor adventure. It’s dog‑friendly (leash required), suitable for hikers, bikers, and equestrians, and winds through wildlife habitat with views of trees, ponds, and meadowlands, perfect for a long morning or afternoon in nature.
🙏Thank you!
Thanks for tuning in everyone, hope you have a great time checking out some of these events. I’ll see you back here next week with more of Colorado Springs’ best happenings. Contact me at [email protected] if you have an event that you think would be perfect for this publication.