Arts & Culture in Westcliffe, CO

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Your Guidebook

Small town, vibrant culture
You’d be hard pressed  to find a town of Westcliffe’s size that can match our art, theatre, and cultural offerings–in quantity or quality. At last count, we’re home to nearly ten small galleries. The Westcliffe Center for Performing Arts provides a full schedule of year-round theatrical experiences, while the Sangres Art Guild attracts both artists and art patrons to regulars shows, openings, and classes. And special annual events, like our much-anticipated High Mountain Hay Fever Bluegrass Festival, attract visitors from near and far. Custer County’s strong artistic community makes it easy for residents of all ages to get involved. And whether you’re actively participating, or just observing, it’s sure to enrich your time in Westcliffe.

Westcliffe Center for Performing Arts

Historic Jones Theatre

Westcliffe Center for Performing Arts (WCPA) is housed in the Historic Jones Theatre on Main Street. An active part of the community for nearly 30 years, WCPA puts on an ever-rotating schedule of plays, concerts, workshops, and kids’ camps. View the most up-to-date schedule or buy tickets from the WCPA website.

movies

Yep, you don’t even have to leave the county to catch a new flick. On the weekends, Historic Jones Theatre hosts a first run movie. They also showcase an occasional western or classic. View their updated schedule.

Sangre Art Guild

The Sangre Art Guild’s mission is to create a dynamic, supportive environment for the visual arts to flourish in the Wet Mountain Valley. They host a variety of events and classes, while members can also feature and sell their artwork in the guild’s 3rd Street Gallery. You’ll also see their rotating art exhibits around town thanks to their ‘Art in Public Places’ initiative.

Learn more about their membership and volunteer opportunities.

For youth

Children and youth who want to get involved in the arts will find ample opportunity in Westcliffe. The Westcliffe Center for Performing Arts offers annual summer internships for college drama students. Teens can participate in Acting For Teens classes over summer. And the younger set (ages 7-12) can participate in their annual Creativity Camp.

Sangre Art Guild also features many opportunities for Westcliffe’s younger generation, including Preschool Art, Summer Art Camp (ages 7 to 12), and Teen Art Camp (ages 13 to 17.) They also offer a SAG tuition grant for arts-bound students, and help fund art-related education for Custer County schools.

And children certainly won’t want to miss SAG’s popular, annual 3-day event: Arts Hullabaloo.

Annual events

Art

Art for the sangres

  • A Painted View Ranch
  • September
Art for the Sangres is the annual benefit for the San Isabel Land Protection Trust, a land trust that has protected nearly 41,000 acres of working ranches, agricultural and forest lands, water resource, and wildlife habitat in Colorado. Attendees can enjoy a gala and reception with fine food and drink, plus a silent auction.

arts hullabaloo

  • Throughout town
  • September

The Sangres Art Guild’s annual Arts Hullabaloo features three days of family fun, with a focus on showcasing visual arts, performing arts, culinary arts, fiber arts, and literary arts, to name a few. This free, public event features exhibits around town, with street art, face-painting, chalk art, tie-dying and more. 

Check the Sangres Art Guild website to see what they have planned for the next year’s event.

Music

high mountain hay fever festival

  • Bluff & Summit Park
  • July

This 4-day annual festival is one of America’s premier bluegrass events, attracting nationally-renowned talent and thousands of bluegrass fans from around the country. Yet, at the same time, it lacks the congestion and overwhelming crowds found in most festivals.

Held in the park with panoramic views of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, it makes for one of the best concert venues you could imagine. Don’t miss this favorite event!

For the latest dates and tickets, visit www.highmountainhayfever.org.

rock n'soul jam

  • Feed Store Park & Amphitheater
  • June
A day of music featuring Classic Rock from the 50s, 60s, and 70s, plus Motown and Soul. Held by KLZR 91.7FM, the Wet Mountain Valley’s hometown radio station, you’ll love the excellent regional bands and impossible-to-top atmosphere.

high peaks music festival

  • Feed Store Park & Amphitheater
  • September
The High Peaks Music Festival has been a Custer County tradition for over 10 years. This one-day festival, held every September, showcases the Valley’s amazing musical talent. Mark you calendars for great music, food, and drinks.

summer in the park concert series

  • Feed Store Park & Amphitheater
  • ~May to September
Enjoy a free concert in the park on Sunday afternoons throughout the summer. The lineup features a diverse array of musical talent, including folk, Americana, and bluegrass. With the Sangre De Cristo mountains as the backdrop, it’s hard to beat a summer afternoon spent here.

Theatre

shakespeare in the sangres

  • Outdoor amphitheater behind Jones Theater
  • June / July
Imagine an evening of Shakespeare in an outdoor amphitheater, watching the sun set over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains as you enjoy a family picnic on the lawn. The Westcliffe Center for Performing Arts puts on two plays with performances throughout the summer.