BMX Race, Henry Hack Community Center, 128 E. Bennett Ave., Cripple Creek. $3-$5 registration. Competition categories for ages 5-7; 8-10; 11-13; 14-16; 17-20. Sat., Aug. 27, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call 689-3514 for more.

Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site, at the east entrance to Garden of the Gods on 30th Street, 578-6777, rockledgeranch.com. Featuring Fiddles, Vittles and Vino: A Bluegrass and Culinary Arts Festival, Sat., Aug. 27, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. An Old-Fashioned Labor Day, Mon., Sept. 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Annual Folk Art Festival, Sept. 16-18. Blacksmith Demonstration, Sat., Sept. 24, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Harvest Festival, Sat., Oct. 1, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Trails and Open Space Coalition 2005 Hike Schedule: Pancake Rocks, Sept. 24, 9:30 a.m.; Skelton Ranch, Oct. 22, 9:30 a.m.; Monument Fire Center, Nov. 19, 9:30 a.m.; Crews Gulch and Fountain Creek Regional Park, Dec. 10, 9:30 a.m. Call 633-6884 for more.

Bear Creek Nature Center, 245 Bear Creek Road, 520-6387. Open Tues.-Sat., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission, programs vary in cost. Offers interactive exhibits, nature trails, guided and self-guided programs, Junior Ranger program, special events and more. Visit elpasoco.com/parks for more. Bug Mania, Sat., Aug. 27, 10-11:30 a.m. Homemade with Herbs, Sat., Sept. 10, 10-11:30 a.m. Discover the Paint Mines Hike, Sat., Sept. 10, 10 a.m. to noon. Nature Explorers: Busy Bees, Thurs., Sept. 15, 1:30-2:45; 3:15-4:30. Fall Colors Hike, Sat., Sept. 17, 10-11:30 a.m. Honey Harvest, Sat., Sept. 24, 10 a.m. to noon. Nature Explorers: Animals Underground, Thurs., Sept. 29, 1:30-2:45 p.m.; 3:15-4:30 p.m. Bear Creek Art Show Public Reception, Fri., Sept. 30, 7-9 p.m. Reservations required for all programs.

Fountain Creek Nature Center, 320 Pepper Grass Lane, Fountain, 520-6745. Free admission, programs vary in cost. Offers interactive exhibits, nature trails, guided and self-guided programs, Junior Ranger program, special events and more. New youth volunteer programs for ages 12 and up available. Visit elpasoco.com/parks for more. Stewardship Saturdays, volunteer workdays on Saturdays, 8:30-11:30 a.m. Cool Clouds, Wed., Aug. 31. Birding for Beginners runs through Sept. and starts Sept. 1. Nature Adventures: What Neat Feet!, Wed., Sept. 7, 1:30-3 p.m. Moose & Wolves of Isle Royale National Park, Fri., Sept. 16, 7:30-8:30 p.m. The Fall Color Palette, Sat., Sept. 17, 10-11:30 a.m. Nature Adventures: Learn About Leaves, Wed., Sept. 21, 1:30-3 p.m. Two & Threes Outdoors: The Hungry Caterpillar, Thurs., Sept. 22, 9-10 a.m. What's in the Water?, Sat., Sept. 24, 10 a.m. to noon. Reservations required for all programs.

Starsmore Discovery Center, 2120 S. Cheyenne Cañon Road, 578-6146. Tipi Building and Ute Heritage Workshops, Sat., Aug. 27, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reservations required. Call 633-5701 for more.

Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center, 1805 N. 30th St., 219-0108. Free; some programs $1-$2. Nature Walks, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily; Nature Presentations and Multi-media Movie, various times daily; Become a Junior Ranger, available daily. Bat Walk, Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. Prairie Falcon Walk, Wed., 5 p.m. Colorful Characters of the Pikes Peak Region, Thurs., 4:45 p.m.

dance parties and workshops Ballroom Dance Classes, YMCA, 207 N. Nevada Ave. Fees include 6 hours of classes and Y membership is not required. Learn swing, salsa, tango, cha-cha, fox trot, waltz and more. Wednesdays, 7:30, start anytime. Call Arthur at 634-3029 for more.

Country-Western Dance Party, The Carriage Stop, 2700 W. Robinson St. $4. Learn as you dance easy lines, cotton-eyed Joes, mixers, country waltz and more. Sat., Aug. 27, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Call 598-8624 for more.

Summer Swings Dinner-Dance, The Shrine Club, 6 S. 33rd St. $25/person. Bill Emery and the New Century Big Band play featuring Michelle and Randy Rodriguez. Sun., Aug. 28, cocktails from 5-6 p.m., dinner from the Melting Pot from 6-8 p.m., dancing from 6-10 p.m. Call 536-3240 for more.