ASK THE LADY ON A SWING

Your new guide to enjoying downtown Boulder!

You may have seen this beloved sculpture on the 1200 block of the Pearl Street Mall entitled "Hearts on a Swing" by artist George Lundeen. Over time she has become a recurring face in our downtown Boulder social media feeds. In this new segment of our newsletter, Lady on the Swing will provide you with insider tips & tricks to downtown - ask her for recommendations, favorite selfie spots and more (using the button below).

Tune in to our next bi-weekly newsletter to see if your question/suggestion/advice was featured!

This week's question is from Jamie: I know Halloween hasn’t happened yet, but I’m already making holiday plans! What events should I put on my calendar?

Lady on the Swing: There’s a lot to look forward to, Jamie! Light Up the Holidays begins Sunday, November 22, with our Switch on the Holidays celebration. Join us as we flip the switch and illuminate the Pearl Street Mall and Boulder County Courthouse with thousands of twinkling holiday lights!

On November 22, come downtown early for the Cookie Crawl from 11 AM-2 PM, when participating businesses will offer free cookies while supplies last. Browse a few shops along the way, then head to the 1300 block of Pearl Street for TUBACHRISTMAS at 3:30 PM, featuring holiday favorites played by an ensemble of tubas and euphoniums. We’ll Switch on the Holidays at 5 PM, so stay to watch the lights come on! Afterward, stop by the Visitor Information Center for a free visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus until 7 PM.

Thanksgiving weekend brings Small Business Saturday Weekend, November 27-29, a good time to tackle your gift list while supporting downtown businesses. Stop for lunch between shops, and take part in Downtown Dash, which runs November 22-December 31.

Santa will be back for St. Nick on the Bricks on November 27, November 28, December 5 and December 12, from 11 AM-2 PM at the Visitor Information Center on the 1300 Block of the Pearl Street Mall. Visits are free, with a suggested donation of $10 per group, and you’re welcome to take your own photos. Tebo Train’s Snowflake Express also returns beginning Sunday, November 29, from 11 AM-2 PM, offering rides along the Mall for children ages 10 and under with accompanying adults. It runs again on Sunday, December 6 and Sunday, December 13.

Finally, mark Saturday, December 12, from 6-7:30 PM for the Lights of December Parade. Local groups put so much work into their floats, and it’s a treat to see everyone come out to cheer them on. Santa will make an appearance at the end, too!

You can find details and additional dates on our holiday events page. We hope a few of these become part of your family’s plans!

News You Can Use

Munchkin Masquerade

Saturday, October 31 | 3-6 PM

Your little one has probably changed their costume plans five times. Luckily, the Halloween plans are settled. Munchkin Masquerade is this Saturday, October 31, from 3-6 PM! Children ages 12 and under are invited to dress up and trick-or-treat at participating businesses downtown. Expect plenty of tiny caped crusaders and some very convincing monsters making the rounds.

Look for designated Treat Stops, where downtown businesses will be handing out goodies at no charge to families. Give them a big thank-you as you go, and leave a little room in the treat bag. There’s always one more stop!

Don't forget that every Saturday and Sunday year-round, parking in one of the five City of Boulder parking garages is FREE!

The Story Behind the Pearl Street Mall

See how our favorite gathering place began

Before you could stroll down the middle of Pearl Street, you had to watch for traffic! Pearl Street made Boulder history long before the bricks arrived. In 1917, the stretch between 11th and 17th streets became the city’s first paved street. Nearly 60 years later, part of that same road would close to cars altogether! The future Mall between 11th and 15th streets closed to traffic in June 1976, with businesses staying open as Boulder got accustomed to a new way of getting around downtown.

Some familiar downtown names were already building their own stories. Before Pedestrian Shops had its Pearl Street storefront, founder Richard Polk was selling Earth Shoes out of the back of his pickup truck (read the story). And Hurdle’s Jewelry had already settled into its current home at 1402 Pearl Street in 1957, two decades before the Mall’s dedication (read the story). These businesses helped shape downtown long before we started counting anniversaries on the bricks.

Turning a busy street into a pedestrian gathering place took years of planning, with plenty of debate over parking and the impact on businesses. As we approach the Mall’s 50th anniversary on August 6, 2027, Peter Pollock’s narrated presentation, How the Pearl Street Mall Came to Be, offers a closer look at how it all happened. Settle in for the story behind a place that’s become part of so many of ours.

TEDxBoulder: Roots & Wings

November 14 | 5:30-7:30 PM @ eTown Hall

Boulder has never been short on big ideas or people willing to pursue them. That local curiosity is at the heart of TEDxBoulder: Roots & Wings, coming to eTown Hall on Saturday, November 14, from 5:30-7:30 PM. With a theme centered on ideas grounded in Boulder and designed for impact beyond it, the evening invites us to consider how the conversations happening here can reach well beyond our downtown.

Gathering places like eTown Hall give those conversations a home, bringing neighbors together to hear a different perspective and make a new connection. If you’re spending the day downtown, consider continuing your evening with a friend over dinner before the talks. It’s an opportunity to get to know another side of the community we share. General admission is $75, with Full Access tickets available for $150.

Firefly Handmade Holiday Market

November 14-15 | 10 AM - 4 PM Daily

Some gifts come with a story worth sharing. At Firefly Handmade Holiday Market, you can hear it straight from the person who made them. On November 14-15, from 10 AM-4 PM each day, more than 80 artists and makers will fill the Pearl Street Mall with handmade goods, giving you plenty of reasons to get a head start on your holiday shopping. Take your time browsing and ask about the work that catches your eye. You might find the perfect gift for someone you love, plus something you’re tempted to keep.

With free admission and live music from Colorado artists, the market makes a lovely excuse to spend a fall afternoon downtown. Bring the family or meet a friend for a leisurely lap through the booths, then warm up over lunch at a downtown restaurant. Leave time to pop into your favorite neighborhood shops along the way. There’s a whole season of gift giving ahead, and this is a pretty delightful place to begin.

Pearl Street SLAMpede Recap

And three more opportunities to cheer this month and next

A basketball court on the bricks? That’s one way to get downtown cheering! CU’s women’s and men’s basketball teams brought the first-ever Pearl Street SLAMpede downtown on October 16, giving fans a chance to welcome the teams ahead of the season. With a dunk contest right on the 1300 Block of the Mall, this was a little different from your usual evening stroll.

Thanks to everyone who came out to cheer on the Buffs! Our SLAMpede photo gallery is now available on our website. Take a look back at the evening and see if you spot yourself in the crowd.

There are just THREE Pearl Street Stampedes left this season:

• Friday, October 30
• Thursday, November 12
• Friday, November 27

Each begins at 7 PM on the 1300 block of the Pearl Street Mall, then heads west along the Mall with members of the Golden Buffalo Marching Band and a CU athletic team led by Stephen Tebo's vintage fire truck. Note that November 12 is a Thursday! Come downtown early for dinner, then grab a spot along the bricks and help send the Buffs into their next home game.

Remember: Monday-Friday, enjoy a $3 flat parking rate (plus a $0.99 service fee) at any of the City of Boulder’s five downtown parking garages when you enter and exit between 3 PM and 3 AM!

You Brought the Chorus at World Singing Day

A look back at the voices that filled the Mall with photos to match

Turns out, downtown Boulder makes a pretty great place for a sing-along! Thank you to everyone who joined us on October 17 for the 11th Annual World Singing Day Boulder! Hearing our community sing together was a reminder of how much joy there is in sharing a favorite song. We’re glad you lent your voices to the afternoon.

A special thank-you to our sponsors, Eldorado Natural Spring Water, Daily Camera, City of Boulder and Lifetime Home Remodeling for helping make it possible. The 2026 Photo Gallery is now available on our website. Take a look and see if you can spot yourself mid-chorus!

Shopping Specials

Fall is here and it's time to go shopping for fresh styles. Explore monthly shopping specials to discover deals at your favorite downtown stores.