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Welcome to Springs and Things, the podcast where two close friends spill the tea on all things Colorado Springs! From culture and community to hidden gems and neighborhood lore, we’ve got it covered. Join us as we sip our coffee (or maybe something stronger) and dive into the stories and secrets that make this city so unique. Whether you're a local or just passing through, our fun, light-hearted, and always entertaining take on the quirks, hot topics, and insider tips will keep you coming back for more. Discover what’s really happening in the Springs—beyond the mountains and parks!
Not every kid is a team sport kid, and that is totally okay. There is so much to do for kids in Colorado Springs that fits a wide range of interests and tastes, and we're sharing our favorite activities for kids, some of which you may have never heard of. Whether your kid is artsy, athletic, or somewhere in between, or if they're still figuring it out, there's something here for everyone, and there's still time to sign up. And this episode is brought to you by Vanguard Aesthetics. If summer took a toll on your skin, this is your sign to give them a call today.
Carly Ries:Hey, everyone. I'm Carly.
Lauren Ferrara:And I'm Lauren.
Carly Ries:We're two Colorado Springs locals who love uncovering everything that makes the city special.
Lauren Ferrara:If you're the kind of person who wants to know where to go, what's happening, and the stories behind it all, then you're in the right place. Welcome to Springs of Things, your insider's path to hidden gems, local flavor, and unexpected moments that make The Springs one of a kind. From secret spots and campus events to arts, eats, and those you've gotta hear about at Local Stories.
Carly Ries:We've got you covered.
Lauren Ferrara:So grab your coffee, settle in, and get ready to fall a little more in love with Colorado Springs.
Carly Ries:Let's dive in to Springs and Things. Lauren? Yes, ma'am. I'm still
Lauren Ferrara:full. Pasta, I assume. Right? So much pasta. Pasta.
Lauren Ferrara:It was so good, wasn't it? It was so good.
Carly Ries:So for people that we I think we talked about it on a recent episode where I was doing oh, yeah. Yeah. We did.
Lauren Ferrara:We did.
Carly Ries:So pasta in the park was on Saturday for Tessa. You were on the committee. It I was, I guess, judge.
Lauren Ferrara:You were a celebrity judge, Carly.
Carly Ries:See, I'm trying not to let it go straight to
Lauren Ferrara:my head. Kind of a big deal.
Carly Ries:Kind of a big deal. Many leather bound books. Sophie's leather bound books. But I was telling you, I brought a friend of mine as my date. We were both like, this will be an annual thing.
Carly Ries:We have to go to this every year. It was such an incredible fundraising event. It was beautiful. Oh my gosh. The clouds parted ways at the perfect time.
Lauren Ferrara:It was just like the heaven it was insane because it was that I was in Portland for work, and then I was delayed an entire day. There were so many. And I got there, like, just in time to go to the event. And, yeah, like, the clouds went away, and it turned out to be amazing. And I had an excuse to wear my fancy Crocs rather than actual wedges, so that's always nice.
Lauren Ferrara:So for people that don't know what we're talking about, give the elevator pitch of what Tessa is. So Tessa helps survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking in El Paso and Teller Counties. They are incredible at what they do. And at Pasta in the Park, it's a big their big annual fundraiser at Myron Stratton campus, and it's under the big white tent, and it's this like, it's really it's fun and powerful at the same time. So all of these different community organizations from the Gazette to different TV stations to Fountain Valley School, they have a pasta team.
Lauren Ferrara:So they all make a sauce, and sometimes it's like a special recipe of somebody that they love. And everybody gets to go around and try them, and then there's a couple celebrity judges like yourself, and then also everybody gets to vote. And so you vote on your favorite sauce, whoever has the most team spirit, and then you hear stories of survivors. So there was four survivors that took the stage and told their stories. And, I mean, people you would never expect, and that's what I thought was so interesting was there was some women there who like, one was a cop.
Lauren Ferrara:She was like, I you know, like, nobody would think that a cop was a victim of domestic violence. And there was another it was a guy and, like, this big dude, and he had such a powerful story. So I have gone to this event for years. I've been in the committee for years. So I'm so glad you got to come.
Lauren Ferrara:I'm so glad your friend Jess got to come, and just it's it's I mean, put it on your calendar. Next year will be the fifty year anniversary of Tessa, which is wild to like, they're so incredibly they help so many people that I actually think it's surprising they've only been around for fifty year. I mean, everybody if I feel like everybody knows. Like, call Tessa. Like and that's why it was named Tessa because it was, like, instead of called the domestic violence center, it's called somebody that sounds like a friend.
Lauren Ferrara:You need to talk to Tessa. So that's how it began, and a good friend is the CEO, and she just does an amazing job. The board is amazing. I just have the best things to say about them.
Carly Ries:It was such a great night. One of so aside from hearing the stories and everything, a trivial highlight of the night was the parlor. They made custom Manhattans and old fashioneds, and, you know, that that's my drink of choice when I drink. I was very excited about that. So well done.
Carly Ries:Whoever on your committee got them.
Lauren Ferrara:That was not me. I was not in charge of the drinks, but they were they were strong.
Carly Ries:They're strong. It was great. But it was also fun. So Lauren was saying there's a bunch of different organizations that had had tables. Fountain Valley was one of them.
Carly Ries:National Charity League was one of them. And I was like, what a fun activity for kids to get involved in. And you and I were talking about maybe we should do an an episode on activities for kids. It hit close to home for me. I was a soccer player growing up, basketball, like, four sport athlete all year.
Carly Ries:My kids aren't into the team sport thing, and it's like a new realm for me where I'm like, should I be signing up for pride soccer? Should I be doing this? And I I it's like a weird thing, and I was like, oh my gosh. But there's so many other things you could be doing if soccer isn't your kid's thing, if lacrosse isn't your kid's thing. There's so much.
Carly Ries:And then Lauren, you sent me a text that I have been just in awe of since, which kicked off this entire episode. Tell people what that text is.
Lauren Ferrara:Was it the picture of my daughter fencing? Yeah. Okay. So I have never seen fencing in real life. I also yeah.
Lauren Ferrara:I feel like I my kids are not I was never really I played basketball. I was never a team sport kind of kid either, but I ran track, and it's very much like an individual sport. And I put my kids in Landsharks, which is an awesome organization. Most kids love it. My kids hated it.
Lauren Ferrara:Like, crying before run. They think running is the worst thing ever. So I was quite devastated because I thought I was gonna have, like, little track stars. Maybe. I don't wanna, like, rule it out, but right now, it does not seem likely.
Lauren Ferrara:So fencing. I had never seen it in real life until Tuesday, and my daughter mentioned I don't know if she saw it in a movie or something, but she was like, I wanna be a yeah. I said, you have to do something athletic, and I don't care what it is. Athletic and something artsy. So for the athletic thing, she picked fencing.
Lauren Ferrara:So we just went to our first fencing.
Carly Ries:She was all lit up about it too when I walked in tonight. Like, she's talking about the the buttons and the beepers or whatever. It's on
Lauren Ferrara:they're wild. They're, like, tethered to and that's how hopefully, nobody that knows about fencing is listening to this right now because, yeah, I guess you're, like, tethered to these things. So if you hit somebody in the chest, it, like, you get points. I will learn more as we go on. But the coach I mean, this is the cool thing about Colorado Springs.
Lauren Ferrara:There's, like, Olympians all over the place. So I'm not gonna try to pronounce his name, but he said, call me Magic. Coach Magic. So coach Magic is a three time Olympian, gold medalist. I mean, insane.
Lauren Ferrara:And he coaches coaches at the Vanguard school. So his the it's called Rocky Mountain fencing, and what's really neat is, like, it was the most inclusive group of kids. They were so and everybody fences everybody. So, like, my daughter, who's almost 11, was fencing, like, a high schooler and also a six year old. So everybody so you can learn different styles and stuff.
Lauren Ferrara:And okay. Another little perk. I mean, it's not about me. It's about the kids. But as you know very well, I am I'm a headphones on.
Lauren Ferrara:Don't make eye contact. Get your work done, like and just, like, put the computer on and do work during kids' activities. And I had so much to do, and the other moms there were so friendly, so interesting. And I was just like, I mean, this class was almost two hours, and I just talked to them the entire time.
Carly Ries:What? Right? Wow. I am so impressed. That is so cool.
Carly Ries:And, also, I just wanna let everybody know. So, obviously, this is gonna be an episode about kids activities you may not have heard of in Colorado Springs. Maybe you have. Maybe you haven't. Anything we talk about, the links are just gonna be in our show notes.
Carly Ries:We're not gonna do the whole w w w dot find this here. But so just look at our show notes if you want all the details.
Lauren Ferrara:And okay. So, that, I am just super excited about it. And so this was just a trial class, and it was super low pressure. And he was like, talk to talk to talk to your daughter and see if she's wants to do it. And she is not yeah.
Lauren Ferrara:She's not the kid that loves to get sweaty, and she was like, it's giving me eyes, and she looked like and she even came up, and she was whispering. She was like, oh, this is really this is a lot harder than I thought. And I was like, alright. And then in the car, she just goes, I wanna do it. And so we're we are we are fencing.
Carly Ries:That is so cool. So I'm gonna pivot because I think maybe our kids may have been switched at birth or something because I am not a runner. Ironically, I'm gonna start training for another triathlon, which is funny. But, on that note, my daughter loves running. Like, she loves triathlon.
Carly Ries:You
Lauren Ferrara:are okay. You are breaking my heart right now. It's like stabbing me at the chest and twisting the knife. I that's
Carly Ries:why I tried it lightly, but she does she she's done a few triathlon two triathlons on these things called splash and dashes done at CC, which is like swim and a run. But she's also done triathlon with CC. Anyway, USA Triathlon, I don't have enough good things to say about them and how they treat kids with the youth races. And the the kids like, Colorado Springs Kids Triathlon is actually coming up on September 13, and they're so welcoming. If your kid is slightly interested in running, swimming, cycling, just do it.
Carly Ries:They're so supportive. Their volunteers are so supportive. Parents are supportive. Like, I've never seen, like, a crazy, like, get on the pool or anything like that. I just encourage them to try.
Carly Ries:You know, triathlon? Try. Thank you for explaining that. Just in case. You never know.
Carly Ries:So that is something your kids can also do. Again, if they're not in the, like, like, team sport or whatever, acting, anything, it's just a really unique experience. And I I love being a triathlon mom, which I never thought I'd say, but she she really enjoys it. And there are some early mornings these aren't that early, and they're on weekends, and it's just great. So I don't have another good enough good things to say about USA Triathlon and what they do for the youth program here in The Springs.
Lauren Ferrara:And you I know, again, not about us, but you are signed up for triathlon, aren't you?
Carly Ries:So I'm training for right now in Wisconsin. I've done the Wisconsin.
Lauren Ferrara:What did you just say?
Carly Ries:Wisconsin. Recommended to me by a friend of mine, you know, Melissa. She said that Wisconsin has great triathlons, and I was like, I wanna go to a destination one.
Lauren Ferrara:So Is she gonna do it with you?
Carly Ries:I actually, maybe. Melissa, if you're listening, do you wanna do it with me?
Lauren Ferrara:So this is Melissa Stockwell, the Melissa Stockwell, who's kind of a big deal, Paralympian, and badass.
Carly Ries:Really big badass. I I don't know if my ego can take her doing it next to me, but we'll see.
Lauren Ferrara:I would not want that to happen for you.
Carly Ries:But I have want I'm wearing my trip on shirt right now, so just proof that I've done one before. So that's the one thing for the kids. What's your next thing?
Lauren Ferrara:So as I said, we've we're doing something athletic and something artsy. So this one is a twofer. So my oldest is doing Academy of Children's Theater. And years ago, we've done their shows in the past, and they were so fun. We did frozen.
Lauren Ferrara:One of them did frozen. The other one did lion king. My big girl got to be Elsa, which she was pretty psyched about. The little one was, like, a squirrel or something.
Carly Ries:That's very love, actually.
Lauren Ferrara:Yes. And she was not not I I, like, got her amped about her part. I'm like, there are no small parts, and and they do such an amazing job. Like, every kid got a little solo and everything. So, so I'm excited to do it again.
Lauren Ferrara:It was really funny because I you know, they have a lot more agency now of, like, what what I signed them up for because they actually get to pick. And my little one was saying was going through the website, and she was like, elves gonna love this one. And she picked action dance saber wars. And then my oldest was, like, going through the website, and she was like, yes. This is it.
Lauren Ferrara:So it's this fast paced class, and it's, like, stage combat kinda choreography, acting, dance technique. So it's artsy and athletic. Whoo.
Carly Ries:Tumor. I like it. And then the
Lauren Ferrara:the little one picked ACT as well. She is doing Willy Wonka.
Carly Ries:That's so cute.
Lauren Ferrara:She she said she does not want to be and I think it's could be Willy Wonka or Wanda Walker. You know? You know? It can be a boy or a girl. And she says she wants to be the old lady, and I don't remember an old lady in Willy Wonka.
Lauren Ferrara:Do you? The old lady.
Carly Ries:You know, I only ever the original. I hate the Johnny Depp one.
Lauren Ferrara:Oh, really? Wait. Not Johnny Depp. There was a more recent one.
Carly Ries:Oh, the one with to me to me to me the Yeah. Shabalala.
Lauren Ferrara:That I haven't I'm okay. This is embarrassing. I've never seen the first two. I have never seen Willy Wonka until Timothy.
Carly Ries:Okay. So Timothy. That's it. That's the origin story. So the other two are, like, just the story.
Carly Ries:Never seen them.
Lauren Ferrara:I do not know the story. I just know it involves a lot of
Carly Ries:Did you ever hear Roald Dahl?
Lauren Ferrara:Yes. But not that one.
Carly Ries:What? The BFG. Okay. Well, what's the The Bold Dahl? Lauren, I'm making you read that book.
Carly Ries:And then okay. So the original classic. So good. Johnny Depp did not like that one at all, but those are supposed to be the same story. The timeless thief shall be one is the origin story of how I became Laiwaka.
Carly Ries:So the other two are not the same as the third. So I don't know if she's talking about which one. Anyway, we digress.
Lauren Ferrara:Assume the original. That's not an assumption.
Carly Ries:Alright. Well, I know what we're doing on our next girls night in is watching the Willy Wonka. I've heard great things about that program. The conservatory also has a great program for from, like, little ones, like, three on up, and they like, the younger ones, they do, like, an intro to all these different areas. Oh, you look like you're gonna
Lauren Ferrara:say something. I am gonna say something. I even have classes where a thirty minute private lesson is included in this. So they're there for a while. They get to, like, learn about all these different instruments and theater and everything, and then they can choose between piano, ukulele, guitar, violin, cello, and drums, and it's just, like, part of it.
Carly Ries:Yeah. It's such a good program. And, again
Lauren Ferrara:Did you see? Okay. I'm on the website now. It is the first month is free. It it's incredible.
Carly Ries:My my oldest did it when she was younger, and she learned she did her performance for Boondiata.
Lauren Ferrara:Mhmm.
Carly Ries:You know, like, I love the mountains, and she still sings Boondiata. And she plays it on her guitar now because it just, like, stayed with her from such a young age.
Lauren Ferrara:Well, may have to bring my girls to come watch because I definitely was, like, pushing this, but I think they were intimidated by the, like, conservatory thing. And my kids are a little funny about and I think because especially with sports, like, my little one wanted to sign up for volleyball. She was like, but only with kids that haven't done it for very long, like people that other people that are new.
Carly Ries:Which in third grade is hard.
Lauren Ferrara:I know, which is crazy, and I'm like and and, also, I, like, remind them of, like, you know, a lot of these kids who've been doing things for a couple, they still suck at it. Like, just because they played soccer for three years doesn't mean they're good, And and I always, like, remind myself when it feels like, oh my gosh. They have a thing by the time they're, like, nine. I don't think so. But I didn't start running till I was in seventh grade, and I ran in college.
Carly Ries:Not only in college, what level in college?
Lauren Ferrara:It was d one. Yes. Exactly. Got, like, the tiniest scholarship you can get.
Carly Ries:D one regardless. Like, that's just a cool claim to fame.
Lauren Ferrara:I'm a d one athlete. You're a celebrity judge. I mean,
Carly Ries:I'm a a celebrity pasta eating judge, and she's a d one athlete. So that's good for my self esteem. Awesome. Okay. Great.
Carly Ries:I'm gonna get first place. Oh my gosh. Speaking of getting first place, I have a friend of mine. So I did do a trial a few months or a few years ago, and a friend of mine was convinced that I got first place in the swim. I didn't get last place in the swim, but I was like, how did you could how did you reframe it to I got first place?
Lauren Ferrara:That's really funny. I was on a call today with a gal who was convinced that I like, I was a journalist before I podcasted with you. I was a reporter and anchor, and she thought I was, like, a war correspondent. And, like, for years, she's been telling people. She's like, oh, yeah.
Lauren Ferrara:You know, like, when you were in Baghdad, I'm like, I've I've never been to Baghdad. And, like, it's funny when you you can create these, like, stories in your head about people, and I was like, nope. I was, like, covering car crashes and via city council meetings.
Carly Ries:Not not the same thing. Alright. Let's take a quick break to talk about our wonderful sponsors, starting with Vanguard Aesthetics because, honestly, they are a game changer. If you've been on the fence about getting a little skin refresh, this is the team you want. They're not pushy.
Carly Ries:They actually listen to your goals, and the whole vibe is just warm and welcoming, not intimidating like some can feel. And, also, we wanna give some love to Core Collective. They have been with us since the beginning. They are a reformer Pilates studio in Downtown Colorado Springs, and my body has not been the same since I started going. And I mean that in the absolute best way.
Carly Ries:It's challenging, and the instructors are so good. Like, they actually cue you through every movement, so you're feeling it all in the right places instead of just guessing. And the community there is just awesome too. It's one of those places where you walk in as a stranger and leave feeling like you found your people and you just wanna keep going back. And the greatest thing is if you get to check out when you are booking a class, type in the code Springs and Things, all caps, no spaces, because that'll unlock three classes for just $30.
Carly Ries:That's $10 a class, which is crazy and awesome. So be sure to visit their website. That link is in our show notes as well. Anyway, we digress. I said I was gonna do a mix of, like, what you just said about what she's doing with the stage combat.
Carly Ries:So I was gonna do the conservatory, but also also consider city rock because rock climbing for kids, it's really cute, and they're they're they're just kinda badasses when they do that.
Lauren Ferrara:So cool. I love City Rock for many reasons, and one of them is you can spend an entire afternoon there evening there. So my kids were doing the Pebbles program for a long time, and I was so devastated when they wanted to, like, switch and try something new. But they have the restaurant, which is really good, So you can sit there, have dinner, have a beer. They have yoga classes at the same time that your kids are in climbing classes, so you can do yoga.
Lauren Ferrara:You can climb yourself. I got belay belay certified. I don't like, trust me. Alright. Please don't I don't don't make me your partner because I haven't I'm a little rusty.
Lauren Ferrara:Haven't done it in a couple years, but it like, there's so much to do. And some days, I would just, like, chill and work in the restaurant, and I'm I'm obsessed. It's so great. Okay.
Carly Ries:What's your next one? Okay. My next one
Lauren Ferrara:is first tee. Golf. So I am not a golfer. Everybody in my family is a golfer. Like, my little niece that lives in Hawaii who golfs, like, every day, she had a hole in one by the time she was, like, eight.
Lauren Ferrara:She was on the local news there. She's had a oh, an albatross. I don't know what that means, but it's apparently more rare than a hole in one.
Carly Ries:What? Yeah.
Lauren Ferrara:I've never heard of that. You're gonna have to Google it because I I cannot explain it, but my sister is a golfer. Her husband's a golfer, and she was explaining this to me. And so I told so my our friend Bonnie, she is on the board of First Tee, and she is a big time golfer, and she was talking about how golf changed her life. And so my little one is doing First Tee, and I would love that it's so affordable.
Lauren Ferrara:It's not a long commitment. We're just doing, like, a month, four classes, just Tuesday afternoons, and yeah, so maybe I'll have a little golfer. Maybe I'll be inspired.
Carly Ries:So I I thought I had a golfer. Mhmm. My dad is usually my dad is always and actually, my mother-in-law also takes her out. Come to find out, it's not the golf she likes, it's the golf cart snacks and the driving the golf cart. I like the outfits.
Carly Ries:Want to do business on a golf course. Like, does that just, like, like, bucket list thing? Like, people are like, I do business on the golf course. I'm like, I wanna do business
Lauren Ferrara:on a golf course. Have you seen Romeo and Michelle's High School Union? They're doing
Carly Ries:a second one. They just announced it at the Disney thing. Yes. And they're both coming back. Yes.
Carly Ries:They're it's like yeah.
Lauren Ferrara:So that sounded like a very Romeo and Michelle thing to say.
Carly Ries:Did I sound like her? I felt like I sounded
Lauren Ferrara:like her. Like, the tone. Yeah. We are international businesswomen.
Carly Ries:Well, can we record an episode on a golf course?
Lauren Ferrara:Let's do it. Okay. Good.
Carly Ries:We'll do business. And I
Lauren Ferrara:just know who we need to do an episode with. Megan Thomas.
Carly Ries:Megan, if you're listening, meeting you at Caddy's, and we're going to play.
Lauren Ferrara:And eating some glizzies as she calls them. It's like golf and glizzies. Glizzies is her word for hot dog, which I had never heard before.
Carly Ries:It's she's a big TikTok person too. I feel like we're not TikTokers. Ers.
Lauren Ferrara:No. We are not. So, yeah, we'll eat some glitzies, play some golf. Yeah. Yeah.
Carly Ries:So that okay. Business level golf course. It's happening. Also, before we move on, I feel like I I said my dad and my mother-in-law my daughter. My mom does too.
Carly Ries:Sorry, mom. I don't wanna did not mean to leave you out, and I feel like I get in trouble if I didn't
Lauren Ferrara:say that. I'm in so much trouble.
Carly Ries:Okay. Do you have any more? I have one more before a pick of the week.
Lauren Ferrara:No.
Carly Ries:So even if you don't have anything to do, you guys go to Pikes Peak Library. Like, they have stuff going on all the freaking time, and they also have homework resources. So they offer they'll they'll connect you with expert tutors. They have online databases that cover topics like math, science, history, literature.
Lauren Ferrara:Kids are like, I need a math tutor. Exactly. Yeah.
Carly Ries:They have quiet study areas. The librarian the librarians are super knowledgeable. There's access to different reference materials, both in print and digital. They just have a lot for homework resources and just big, like, programs. Like, just go to the library.
Lauren Ferrara:Also, since you are a businesswoman On
Carly Ries:the golf course. Golf course.
Lauren Ferrara:They have, like, incredible business resources. So I took the small business development center's boot camp, and, like, you can get, like you know, the mailing list that you pay an obscene amount of money for to, you know, do direct mail? You can get all that at the library. Free. It's everything.
Lauren Ferrara:Yeah.
Carly Ries:So go there for the program. Stay for the Hilberg resources. That is the last school or kid thing I have, but I have a pick of the week. Do you a pick of the week?
Lauren Ferrara:I do have a pick of the week, and it's a little bit different to this. So, you know, I had these, like, lofty goals of learning everything about Colorado history over the summer, and I did none of that. Yeah. Summer is over, and I was like, oh, all the field trip I had, like, chat GPT. Sorry.
Lauren Ferrara:I used AI. But I had chat GPT to hold, like, curriculum for myself, books to read, DVDs to watch, like, podcasts to listen to, field trips to take, and nope. So a colleague recommended Newport in the Rockies, the life and good times of Colorado Springs. So I'm gonna read this. Oh, can I read that after?
Lauren Ferrara:Absolutely. Just came today, and I now I'm, like, motivated. I'll finish it so that I can pass it along to you. I'm a big highlighter and writer in books.
Carly Ries:So Yes. You are. Because you gave me that child the parenting book. Oh, yes. And you also gave me the workbook with it, and your doodles are all throughout both books.
Carly Ries:And it's funny because I'm like, now I know what Lauren thinks about this. But that was a good read. I forget which book was it again. Was it the self driven child? Yeah.
Lauren Ferrara:Something like that. Okay. So I've actually read that twice. I read it when my, like, babies and didn't, you know? Like, I was like, oh, I need to come back to these things.
Lauren Ferrara:So then I reread it, and I'm such a believer in all that stuff. Like, I want yeah. Like, they're picking out their activities that they're doing, and I'm not yeah. I like agency. Kids can do
Carly Ries:a lot of stuff. So true. Yep. Okay. Well, I'm reading that book next.
Carly Ries:So my pick of the week is and I so next week, we're doing our September picks, I was gonna save it for that, but I feel like people are starting to already pick their Labor Day plans even though it's later this year. And there's so much to do on Labor Day, which we'll get into our September picks, which will be on the first. But I did want to put the Commonweal Art Festival that celebrates its fifty second year this coming Labor Day weekend, and it's one of the region's most art fairs with nearly a 100 exhibitors, and artists must be present in person with their work, which helps foster direct connections that often lead to the later commissions. It's just the festival really balances, like, roughly 25 to 30% new artists each year and then veterans of, like, twenty five or thirty years. So it's just a really cool mix of people.
Carly Ries:And the festival runs from 10AM to 5PM daily, September fifth through seventh. And it has live music, a children's area, food trucks, just kinda all that stuff. And I just wanted to get on people's radars because next week, we're gonna have a whole slew of September stuff. But I think this is one that people should really take into account.
Lauren Ferrara:Love it. This was a fun episode. This was a really
Carly Ries:fun episode. I feel like we should end it because your fire alarm was going off, and now I smell smoke. I'm pretty sure your husband put it out, but I feel like we should do, like we should probably go check and see what actually just happened in the kitchen.
Lauren Ferrara:I have a feeling they were making pizza. Well, then if the smoke alarm went off, that's no no bueno. No.
Carly Ries:For the record, we're everything's okay.
Lauren Ferrara:Everything seems okay. But, yeah, maybe there's pizza waiting for us upstairs.
Carly Ries:Oh, it's like he read our minds. Perfect. Well, listeners, as always, thank you so much for tuning in. We have so much fun doing the show for you guys. Please like that five star review.
Carly Ries:It really helps us spread the word to other locals in the area. Share this episode with a friend, especially one that is kinda looking for things to do for their kids. There's still time. I know a lot of registrations have started, but there's still time to sign your kids up for things. And don't forget to subscribe to the show anywhere you listen to podcasts, and we'll see you next week on Springs and Things.