First Friday in the Salida Creative District

Friday January 2nd | 5:00 - 7:00pm

Downtown Salida

Thank you for joining us January 2nd for a New Year, a New Friday! Presented by Salida Arts & Culture Salida Creative District and local businesses!

Enjoy an evening with neighbors and friends every first Friday of the month as galleries and businesses downtown stay open later. Explore local businesses, talk with an artist, enjoy refreshments, live music, and find that perfect piece for a loved one! Participate in the Palette Card tradition! Get a stamp at each participating business and redeem your completed card for an art mini!

CMC Back Country Films

January 15th | 6:00PM - 9:00PM

SteamPlant Theater

Get ready for an evening of epic adventure! Backcountry Film Festival is coming to Salida, hosted by Colorado Mountain Club! Join us at the Salida SteamPlant for a curated selection of film's celebrating the human-powered experience in the snowy mountains. It's an 

inspiring night you won't want to miss. A ticket to Backcountry Film Festival is more than a ticket to see great movies.

Your purchase directly supports Winter Wildlands Alliance and Colorado Mountain Club in their conservation efforts. Come enjoy stunning cinematography and know you're helping 

protect the wild places we love to explore. Every view supports the backcountry! Get tickets at cmc.org.

 Come for the incredible films, stay for a chance to win sweet backcountry essentials.

Doors Open: 6:00 pm

Happy Hour/ Community Partners Spotlight: 6:00 – 6:45pm

Films Reel One: 6:45 – 8:00 pm

Films Reel Two: 8:15pm – 9:00pm

Cash bar available and limited concessions available.

SteamPlant Films: Breakfast Club

Saturday January 24th |

7pm; Doors 6:30pm

SteamPlant Theater

It's 80's night at the SteamPlant as Salida Arts & Culture presents The Breakfast Club. The Breakfast Club (1985) is a coming-of-age film about five very different high school students—a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a criminal—who spend a Saturday in detention together. As they talk, argue, and open up, they discover they have more in common than they expected. The movie explores identity, stereotypes, and the pressure teens face to fit in.

Cash bar and limited concessions

available.

Tix $8 on Humanitix

CCEDC Ascent Launch

Thursday January 22nd | 4:30PM

SteamPlant Theater 


An evening celebrating innovation in motion and the power of connected futures - as we introduce the 2026 Ascent Accelerator Cohort. Join us for an inspiring evening at the 2026 Ascent Launch Event, where big ideas take root and bold visions begin to move.

This year’s theme, Innovation in Motion: Building Connected Futures, highlights entrepreneurship as active problem-solving, grounded in collaboration, partnerships, and long-term thinking. Together, we’ll explore how entrepreneurs, legacy businesses, and community leaders can work side by side to build stronger, more connected futures for Chaffee County - with an eye toward the generations to come.

Presented by Collegiate Peaks Bank, this special gathering marks the official launch of the EDC’s Ascent Accelerator and introduces the Winter 2026 cohort - a group of visionary entrepreneurs shaping the future of rural innovation.

Moderated by: Frannie Mathews of Rocky Mountain PBS

Startup Story Spotlight: Greg Kenny, CoFounder of True North 3DP, Jake Rishavy COO for Vero Touch and, Brent Wall, Founder of Peak Precast. 

Date & Time:

Thursday, January 22nd

Doors - 4:30 PM

Welcome Reception - 4:30-5:30 (Powered by Collegiate Peaks Bank)

Keynote Interviews & Ascent Launch - 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM

Mix & Mingle Networking ~ 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM (Powered by Collegiate Peaks Bank, with beverages compliments of Elevation Beer Company and DRAM)

Rok Skool's 14th Annual Winter Showcase

Friday January 23rd |

2:00pm & 6:00pm Showtimes

SteamPlant Theater

14th annual Rok Skool Showcase, SnowFest featuring Seven seriously, impressive youth rock bands with kids ranging from grade 6 through 12.

MC’d by Mayor Critelli’s alter ego Sir Reggie Sledge Hammers.

Kids only $5 adults $20. 2 shows, 2pm-5pm and 6pm-9pm. Sponsored by Su, Casa furniture and sleep shop, First, and Colorado land office.

Cash bar available and limited concessions available.

Common Waters Film

January Thursday 29th | 6pm

SteamPlant Theater

The Colorado Stream Access Coalition is proud to bring our film Common Waters to Salida.

Our film sheds light on the escalating conflict over stream access in Colorado, where the state constitution proclaims water as public property, yet wealthy landowners restrict access, sparking ongoing tension. The film follows the efforts of Colorado fisherman Roger Hill's multi-year legal battle to establish public access to the Arkansas River's bed that powerfully illustrates the contentious and uniquely restrictive nature of stream access rights in Colorado, making his efforts a pivotal example in the ongoing fight to unlock waterways for all. This powerful film explores the fight to preserve Colorado’s outdoor heritage and the right of all residents and visitors to enjoy its rivers and streams.

This is more than a film, it's a movement to bring positive change to Colorado. An expert panel will be present to expand on the issue and why it matters to everyday Coloradans. We'll also have a variety of sweepstakes items you can win. The event is free, so come on out!

Cash bar available and limited concessions available.

Colorado Springsteen: The Premier Springsteen Tribute Experience

Saturday January 31st | 7:00PM

SteamPlant Theater

Get ready for an evening of rock and nostalgia as Colorado's premier Springsteen band performs everyone's favorite songs by the Boss! With special guests Fembot - including three members of local favorites Blue Recluse - paying tribute to the women of rock including Heart, Pat Benatar, and Joan Jett in their opening set."

6pm Doors

7pm Fembot

8pm Colorado Springsteen

Cash bar available and limited concessions available.

Happy Holidays from our crew to yours!

The SteamPlant extends our warmest wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. As we look ahead, we are sincerely grateful for the dedication and teamwork that make our success possible.

With appreciation for her leadership and support, Kathryn Wadsworth continues to keep our staff on track. We are thankful for our Venue Coordinator’s—Caitlin, Lisa, Cindy, and Toni—whose ongoing contributions are invaluable, and we sincerely recognize Tina Gramann for her awesome programming.

We also extend our gratitude to our Tech and Audio Crew—Andrew Callaway, Tim Ball, Ben Rush, and John Michael—for their skill and reliability, as well as to our Facilities team, James, Kevin, and Julia for their dependable support.

Thank you all for an exceptional year and best wishes for a joyful holiday season and a wonderful New Year.

February 6 | First Friday: heARTs & Chocolate

February 6 | Valentines Crafts & Cards Workshop for kids at the Scout Hut

February 6 | Sands opening | Headliner: Roundhouse Assembly 
February 7 | Roundhouse Assembly opening | Headliner: Santa Rios

February 11 | Piano & Jazz Open Mic in the Paquette

February 12 | Salida Library Movie Night: The Librarians

February 12 | Artist Reception & Creative Mixer: Photography
February 14 | The NYC Metropolitan Opera Live in HD series presents Cinderella

February 14 | Country & Western Line Dancing Valentines Party ft The Sad Hands
February 20 | Paint & Sip: Botanicals at the Scout Hut

February 20 - 22 | Sventastik presents Dare to Dream Jr & Winnie the Pooh Kids

February 27-28 | Sventastik presents Dare to Dream Jr & Winnie the Pooh Kids