DougCo Drop – June 18 – Sugar Ray, J.K. Dobbins & Chicken Fried Chicken

We’ve got a lot brewing behind the scenes. But in the meantime, here’s your curated lineup of can’t-miss events, headline news, and review of Castle Rock’s latest restaurant opening.

Saddle Up

Music & Concerts

🎤  Face Vocal Band Summer Concert
📅 Date: Friday, June 20
⏰ Time: 7:30 PM
📍 Location: Lone Tree Arts Center
🎵 Detail: Vocal-only rock concert—no instruments! 

🎸 PACE Center Concert – “TEN” (Pearl Jam Tribute)
📅 Date: Thursday, June 19
⏰ Time: 6:30 PM–8:00 PM
📍 Location: Discovery Park by PACE Center, Parker
🎶 Detail: Free outdoor concert featuring tribute band TEN.

🎶 Summer Concert Series: “The Long Run”
📅 Date: Sunday, June 22
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM–8:00 PM
📍 Location: Coyote Ridge Park, Castle Pines
🦅 Detail: Free outdoor concert featuring an Eagles tribute band.

🎷 Jazz in the Park
📅 Date: Wednesday,  June 18
⏰ Time: 6:30 PM–8:00 PM
📍 Location: Festival Park, Castle Rock
🎶 Detail: Free outdoor jazz concert featuring Dotsero. Food trucks available; bring lawn chairs and blankets.

🎸 Tunes for Trails: Heavy Diamond Ring
📅 Date: Thursday, June 19
⏰ Time: 6:30 PM–9:00 PM
📍 Location: Amphitheater at Philip S. Miller Park, Castle Rock
🎤 Detail: Part of Castle Rock’s free summer concert series. Food trucks and a beer garden on-site. Donations benefit trails and open space.

🎸 Lyric Rock + Stroll
📅 Date: Saturday, June 21
⏰ Time: 11:00 AM–3:00 PM
📍 Location: Lyric at RidgeGate (between I-25 & Yosemite, Lone Tree)
🎤 Detail: Stroll, eat, and explore 13 beautifully decorated model homes while enjoying musical performances from local artists. Food trucks and hands-on craft projects from the Crafty Chassis mobile art studio!

🤘 Phat Daddy @ Tailgate Tavern
📅 Date: Friday & Saturday, June 20/21
⏰ Time: 8:30 PM–12:00 AM
📍 Location: Tailgate Tavern, Parker
🎸 Detail: high-energy band consisting of some of Denver’s top nightclub and showroom performers.

🛍️ Free Friday Night Market
📅 Date: Friday, June 20
⏰ Time: 5:00 PM–9:00 PM
📍 Location: Running Creek Park, Elizabeth
🎨 Detail: Free community market featuring live music (Dear Marsha performing June 20), food trucks, local vendors, face painting & balloon artists—family-friendly fun!

🌟Summer Concert Series: Sugar Ray
📅 Date: Saturday, June 21
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM–10:00 PM
📍 Location: Amphitheater at Philip S. Miller Park, Castle Rock
🎵 Detail: Sugar Ray headlines this ticketed event with local openers and food trucks. Gates open at 5:00 PM.

Food & Drink

☕ Sip & Shop Pop‑Up (Devil Dog Coffee Cart)
📅 Date: Saturday, June 21
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
📍 Location: Curate Mercantile (Centennial/Highlands Ranch)
☕ Detail: Enjoy fresh Devil Dog coffee while browsing local vendors.

🥃 RD One Bourbon Dinner: Barrel Buddies Event
📅 Date: Wednesday, June 18
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM
📍 Location: Ecclesia / Sinners & Saints, Castle Rock
🍽️ Detail: Four-course chef-driven dinner paired with bold Kentucky bourbon. Hosted by Barrel Buddies and Spirit Hound Distillers.

Families

🐥 Castle Rock Ducky Derby
📅 Date: Sunday, June 22
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
📍 Location: Festival Park, Castle Rock
🎉 Detail: Rubber duck races, family games, vendors, food trucks, and community booths all day long. Hosted by Rotary Club of Castle Rock!

✨ Colorado Fairy Hair Pop‑Up
📅 Date: Sunday, June 22
⏰ Time: 12:00 PM–4:00 PM
📍 Location: Curate Mercantile, Aspen Grove - Littleton
🧚 Detail: Get sparkly “Fairy Hair” strands (thin, iridescent hair extensions); book via Colorado Fairy Hair site (appointments recommended, walk‑ins welcome)

🧜‍♀️ Disney’s Moana Jr.
📅 Date: Thursday, Saturday & Sunday, June 19/21/22
⏰ Time: 6:00pm, 7:00pm and 1:00pm, respectively
📍 Location: PACE Center, Parker
🎭 Detail: Youth theatre adaptation of Moana.

☀️ Outdoor Summer Fest at the Outlets
📅 Date: Saturday, June 21
⏰ Time: 12:00 PM–3:00 PM
📍 Location: Outlets at Castle Rock
🛍️ Detail: Enjoy a summer celebration with music, giveaways, activities for kids, and exclusive shopping deals.

🛹 Skate & Deploy
📅 Date: Saturday, June 21
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM
📍 Location: Metzler Ranch Community Park, Castle Rock
🎖️ Detail: Skate event hosted by Castle Rock Police to support youth engagement and National Guard deployment readiness.

Fitness

🧘 Free Yoga in the Park
📅 Date: Saturday, June 21
⏰ Time: 8:00 AM–9:00 AM
📍 Location: Civic Green Park, Highlands Ranch
🧘‍♀️ Detail: Free all-levels adult yoga by HRCA & Metro District (ages 13+), bring your mat!

🌄 Guided Nature Hike – Solstice Celebration
📅 Date: Friday, June 20
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM–8:30 PM
📍 Location: Willow Creek Trail: meet in the parking lot just south of the baseball field at Prairie Sky Park
🚶‍♂️ Detail: Celebrate the Summer Solstice with a free sunset nature hike led by naturalists. Learn about local wildlife, plants, and RidgeGate’s open space system.

🏃‍♀️ Colorado 3/5K Walk/Run for Kidney Cancer
📅 Date: Saturday, June 21
⏰ Time: 8:30 AM
📍 Location: Tallman Meadow Park, Parker
💜 Detail: Fundraising run/walk supporting kidney cancer research; includes burritos & T-shirts.

🧘 Cardio & Stretch with Sally
📅 Date: Friday, June 20
⏰ Time: 8:00 AM–9:00 AM
📍 Location: Amphitheater at Philip S. Miller Park, Castle Rock
💪 Detail: Start your Friday with a free full-body stretch and cardio session led by Sally. Bring a mat, water, and good vibes.

 🪨 Petrified Wood Hike at Cherokee Ranch
📅 Date: Saturday, June 21
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM
📍 Location: Cherokee Ranch & Castle, Sedalia
🌲 Detail: Explore ancient petrified trees with a guided hike through Cherokee Ranch’s protected backcountry. Learn about the geology, fossils, and natural history of Douglas County.

Nightlife & Entertainment

😂 Moms Unhinged Stand‑up Comedy
📅 Date: Sunday, June 22
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM
📍 Location: Lone Tree Arts Center
🎙️ Detail: Humorous stand-up by mom-comedians on parenting and more.

🧠 Crowfoot Valley Coffee Trivia Night
📅 Date: Thursday, June 19
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Crowfoot Valley Coffee, Castle Rock
🎙️ Detail: Join the locals at this cozy café for an evening of trivia, caffeine, and community. Prizes for the top teams!

Arts & Culture

🎻 Arts in the Afternoon: Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra
📅 Date: Wednesday, June 18
⏰ Time: 1:30 PM
📍 Location: Lone Tree Arts Center
🎬 Detail: Live orchestral score accompaniment to Sherlock Jr.

Land & Lore

Anyone else spend too much time looking at houses they can’t afford — or wishing you lived in simpler times?

This Sedalia castle didn’t disappoint. I came for the turret, stayed for the greenhouse courtyard, and am now looking at something I might be able to afford — a suit of armor.

Local finds like this are more than just for daydreaming — sometimes they hint at bigger changes, sometimes they’re just fun to explore. I’ll drop what I find: permits, plans, YouTube tours, or whatever rabbit hole this place sends me down. Yes, be afraid — I am the king of wild rabbit holes…

Hometown Headlines

✅ Appeals Court Greenlights Home-Rule Vote
TLDR: A Colorado Appeals Court has denied the third legal attempt to block Douglas County’s special election on Home Rule, set for June 24. The lawsuit, filed by former commissioner Lora Thomas and others, has now been rejected by district and appellate courts alike — clearing the way for voters to decide on whether to pursue greater local control.

🗳️ Home Rule Vote: What You Need to Know
TLDR: Douglas County voters will decide on Tuesday, June 24 whether to create a local Home Rule Charter Commission — a move that could give the county more control over its own laws and governance.
📬 Ballots were mailed the week of June 2. If you didn’t get one, you can vote in person or request a replacement.
📍 Vote by dropbox (21 locations) or in person at a Voter Service & Polling Center (Castle Rock, Parker, Highlands Ranch). All locations close 7 PM on June 24.

🏈 Broncos Land J.K. Dobbins on 1-Year Deal
TLDR: After months of talks, the Broncos signed former Chargers RB J.K. Dobbins to a 1-year, $2.75M contract with up to $2.5M in incentives. Despite missing four games with an MCL strain last season, Dobbins still racked up 905 yards and 9 TDs on a 4.6 YPC average — making him a promising piece in Denver’s overhauled backfield.

⚽ NWSL Team Building HQ & Training Center in Centennial
TLDR: Denver’s new pro women’s soccer team is setting up its headquarters and training campus in Centennial, with construction kicking off this fall. The facility will feature multiple fields, top-tier amenities, and space for community engagement — aiming to open by 2026 as the team ramps up toward its debut season.

🏘️ Affordable Senior Living Coming to RidgeGate
TLDR: A new 101-unit affordable senior apartment complex called Forte is breaking ground in Lone Tree’s RidgeGate. With rents well below market rate and amenities like a rooftop lounge and fitness room, the project is set to open in May 2026.

🚧 US 85 project continues finishing operations
TLDR: C‑470 Express Lanes closures overnight for two weekends to remove temporary median barriers and wrap up key parts of the US 85 widening. Expect eastbound closures June 21–22 and westbound June 28–29. Final work includes permanent striping, trail connections, signage, and landscaping.

🌄 Castle Rock Greenlights Pine Canyon Ranch
TLDR: Castle Rock has approved a 1,800-unit development called Pine Canyon Ranch on over 500 acres on both sides of I‑25. It’ll bring a mix of single-family and multifamily homes, trails, and open space — but not without some local traffic and water use concerns.

🏞️ Sterling Ranch Unveils 110-Acre Regional Park
TLDR: Burns Regional Park is launching in phases near Highlands Ranch and Roxborough, with 8 pickleball courts, a basketball court, trails, a pool, playground, and more. Some features, like the courts, are expected to open by mid‑July.

🛣️ Douglas County Street Resurfacing Begins
TLDR: The county’s annual roadwork campaign is underway, with chip-sealing and repaving happening throughout summer. Key spots include Charter Oaks, Chambers Road, and East Parker Road.

Tried & True

☕ Wide Awake Eatery Now Open in Downtown Castle Rock

Castle Rock just got a solid new breakfast-and-beyond spot: Wide Awake Eatery is officially open downtown in the former Tribe location as of June 1 — and it’s already drawing a steady crowd.

I swung by recently to kick off my week, and honestly, what better way to do that than with a cinnamon roll and the chicken fried chicken? Both were excellent. The food’s high-quality, the space feels fresh but comfortable, and the prices are surprisingly reasonable — especially for being right in the heart of downtown. They’ve got separate menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner — and I’m definitely heading back for more.

It’s also incredibly family-friendly. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The kids' meals are just $5, which is practically unheard of for anything that’s not frozen and deep-fried.

📍 Location: 115 Wilcox St, Castle Rock
🌐 wideawakeeatery.com | 📸 @wideawakeeatery on Instagram

🕰️ Hours:
Mon–Tue: 7:00 AM–2:00 PM
Wed–Thu: 7:00 AM–10:00 PM
Fri–Sat: 7:00 AM–11:00 PM
Sun: 7:00 AM–8:00 PM

✅ This one’s got our stamp of approval — go check it out.