THURSDAY New Year’s Day is all about heading outdoors, running and walking. This year add celebrations about 2026 being the country’s 250th anniversary and Colorado’s 150th. Norris Penrose Event Center lower parking lot by Bear Creek trail is headquarters for the 48th El Paso County Search Rescue Rescue Run. A 5K and 10K start at 10 a.m. sharp and benefit the Search Rescue. runsignup.com/Race/CO/ColoradoSprings/RescueRun5K10K. Other hikes in Mueller State Park, day pass $10 per vehicle. 719-687-2366. More than 1,000 events in state parks across the country. THURSDAY A special treat to kick off the new year, also the year of the 100th anniversary of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo on the side of Cheyenne Mountain. Jan. 1 is a one-day free daytime admission to the zoo. Also 25% off at restaurants and the gift shop. Free rides on the carousel and Sky Ride (schedules and tickets at cmzoo.org/visit. Tickets for the free day, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. are timed and available only at cmzoo.org FRIDAY-FEB. 1 The annual Commonwheel Gallery Show: Pots by the Pound kicks off the new year at 102 Cañon Ave., Manitou Springs, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, starting Friday through Feb. 1. Shop the sales in pottery, art, photography, prints, textiles and jewelry, and inventory is added all during the sale. commonwheel.com SATURDAY-FEB. 21 Check the Ice Castles site regularly for the latest information about Colorado’s Ice Castles and the others around the country. Silverthorne had a holiday opening but Cripple Creek was delayed because of warm weather and defrosting icicles. The ice mazes and sculptures are always weather dependent when it comes to dates and times open. Timed tickets $16-$29. icecastles.com THURSDAY-FRIDAY New year, new Adult Reading Program for those 18+ in Pikes Peak Library District’s (PPLD) annual Winter Adult Reading Program. Enjoy new books during the cold weather. Complete 30 days of reading and activities and you could be in the drawings for grand prizes. Register online Thursday and, when the library reopens Friday, register in person. The reading focus is history, the 250th and 150th anniversaries of the country and the state. Readers will have a party, a book swap, story time and crafts. ppld.org JAN. 8 Denver lives up to its Western heritage with the iconic National Western Stock Show Parade at noon next Thursday, Jan. 8, through downtown. An iconic Colorado event, it has a longhorn cattle drive, lots of horses, bands, cowboys and cowgirls, floats and a plethora of hats, boots and jeans. With Pete Coors as grand marshal, it leads the way to the Stock Show action Jan. 10-25. nationalwestern.com SATURDAY Ever wonder about that partridge in a pear tree? And what about all those other birds? Learn the inside story about everything in that familiar Christmas carol during “12 Days of Christmas is for the Birds” at Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center, 2 p.m. Saturday and next Tuesday. Free registration: gardenofgods.com. ...read more read less