Mountain men and women, dressed in buckskin, will bring western history to life Sept. 25 and 26 at Tesoro Cultural Center’s 9th Annual 1830s Rendezvous and Spanish Colonial Market at the Fort Restaurant, 19192 Hwy 8, Morrison (just off Hwy 285). In addition to an encampment with teepees, storytellers and hands-on activities, a Spanish Colonial Market will bring in santos, tin crafts, encrusted straw and more. The San Isidro Farmers Market will offer fresh local produce, including roasted chilis. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Admission: $6/$3, free under 12. 303-839-1671, www.tesoroculturalcenter.org.

Jill Tietjen will present “Her Story: A Timeline of Women Who Changed America” for the 7 p.m. Sept. 20 meeting of the Highlands Ranch Historical Society at Southridge Recreation Center, 4800 McArthur Ranch Road, Highlands Ranch. Tietjen is an author, national speaker and electrical engineer, with a particular interest in women in science. Her book will be available. Light refreshments at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free and visitors are welcome. Please call to reserve a seat: Caroline Smith, 303-471-5611.

“Mark Sink Photographs 1975-2010: Encounters With the Past” is exhibited through Oct. 31 in the Byers-Evans House Gallery, 1310 Bannock Street, Denver. He has recently worked with 1860s technology, but over the years, has created prints in many ways. Sink will give an informal gallery talk on “Photography Today” at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 2. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays plus First Friday Arts Walks. Admission to gallery is free. (There is a fee for guided house tours). 303-620-4933, www.coloradohistory.org/be.

Lisa Calzavera, winner of Best of Show in the Littleton Fine Arts Committee’s 2009 Own an Original Exhibit, will have a one-woman show Sept 17 to Oct. 31 at the Littleton Museum, 6028 S. Gallup St., Littleton. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays; 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. 303-795-3950.

Littleton Fine Arts Guild members are exhibiting work Sept. 14 through Nov. 2 at Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St., downtown Littleton. Littleton painter rita derjue is juror. A reception is planned 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 18. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and during performances. (“Rent” opens Sept. 17). 303-794-2787.

“Griffin and Sabine …and Beyond,” a retrospective of art by Nick Bantock, opens at the Museum of Outdoor Art’s indoor gallery with a 5 to 9 p.m. public reception on Sept. 18, . Bantock created the best-selling “Griffin and Sabine Trilogy” and more than 20 other books, and quantities of fine art. The British-born artist, who now lives in British Columbia, will exhibit about 250 pieces, “large and small, old and new” in the 4,000-square-foot space. “It could well be the only time all my works appear together,” he says. The gallery is on the second floor, Englewood Civic Center, 1000 Englewood Parkway. 303-806-0444, www.moaonline.

Pam Clifton is director for “Happy Days — a New Family Musical,” sponsored by the Aurora Fox and Stapleton MCA at the Theatre on the Green at Stapleton, 29th and Quebec at 6 p.m. Sept. 18 and 25; 4 p.m. Sept. 19 and 26. Juke box, hula hops, Fonzie… Free. Bring a blanket and a picnic.

Works by Thomas Hart Benton and Anthony Benton Gude are exhibited through Dec. 31 at the Madden Museum of Art at Palazzo Verde, 6363 S. Fiddler’s Green Circle, Greenwood Village. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and by appointment. Admission is free. Hillary Reed is museum director. 303-763-1970.

“Rituals” opens Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble’s 40th season Sept. 17 to 26 at the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theater, 119 Park Ave. West, Denver. Includes Katherine Dunham’s “Rites de Passage,” not seen in the US for 30 years. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets; black-tiecolorado.com.

Concert cancellation: Pianist Scott Kirby will not be able to perform on Sept. 25 for the Ragtime Society of Colorado concert scheduled at Onofrio Piano Company, according to president Colleen Vander Hoek. No rescheduled date is planned at press time. 303-979-4353. Participate in a Banned Books Readout 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 25 at Bemis Library, to celebrate the nationally observed week Sept. 25 through Oct. 2. Sign up for a 5-10 minute slot to read a passage from a banned book at an open microphone in Sophies Place. You may select a title from a display provided by the library. Each participants name will be entered in a drawing for two $25 gift certificates from Amazon.com. Open to children age 8 and up, teens and adults. Sign up for a time slot in advance at the reference desk. Listeners are invited! Bemis is at 6014 S. Datura St., Littleton. 303-795-3961.Tickets are now on sale at Douglas County Libraries for the Oct. 13 star chef Rick Bayless presentation at 7:30 p.m. at the Wildlife Experience. The event is a fundraiser for the Douglas County Libraries Foundation to fund literacy programs. Bayless, known for his public television series “Mexico — One Plate at a Time,” has published several cookbooks, including July 2010 “Fiesta at Ricks: Fabulous Foods for Great Times With Friends.” Tickets: $60 includes a 6 p.m. reception with Bayless, advance book sales, preferred seating; $30 for Chef Bayless’ presentation. (Doors open at 7 p.m.) See your library or douglascountylibraries.org.Piranahs, electric eels, stingrays and more will be featured in “Amazon Voyage: Vicious Fishes and Other Riches,” a new family-oriented exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, from Sept. 24 through Jan. 2. Interactive, bi-lingual (English, Spanish), with science and humor for pre-K and up. Information on museum hours and admission: www.dmns.org., 303-370-6000.Englewood Arts Presents announces its 2010-11 season, beginning with a Colorado Symphony Orchestra String Ensemble performing Mendelssohn’ “Octet in E- flat major for Strings, Op. 20 at 2 p.m. Sept. 25 in Hampden Hall, Englewood Civic Center, 1000 Englewood Parkway. Tickets: $15 adults, $12 seniors, $5 under 18. www.englewoodarts.org or at the box office 45 minutes before performance. Most concerts will be on Saturdays or Sunday afternoons.Singer/songwriter Carrie Newcomer will present a vocal and acoustic guitar concert at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at First Plymouth Congregational Church, South Colorado Boulevard at East Hampden Avenue. Proceeds benefit Centus Counseling, Consulting, Education. Tickets $24/ $12, w/discount for advance purchase. centus.org/tickets.“The Exile: an Outlander Graphic Novel” will be introduced by series author Donna Gabaldon, her first Outlander novel in graphic novel form, illustrated by Hoang Nguyen. Readers will be familiar with the 18th century Scottish scene and characters, but will be interested to see what they look like. The author will appear at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22 at Highlands Ranch Tattered Cover, 9315 Dorchester St. 303-470-7050.Pam O’Mara is offering Improv Workshops at Arapahoe Community College: Sept. 21-Oct. 12, 6 to 8:30 p.m., Introduction to Improv Theatre: The Method in the Madness. Oct. 19 to Nov. 9. 6 to 8:30 p.m., Intermediate Improv Theatre. ($79 each). ACC is at 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton. www.arapahoeedu/community-education/registration-easy.The always worth-seeing Rocky Mountain National Watermedia 2010 exhibit is open through Oct. 31 at Foothills Art Center, 809 15th St., Golden. Judy Morris was juror. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays; 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Admission. 303-279-3922. Auditions: “The Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” at 6:15 to 11 p.m. Sept. 27 at Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St., Littleton. need 9 actors 18 to 45. (Six play adolescents, three adults). One-minute comic monologue, 32 bar musical selection. Bring sheet music, current headshot and resume. Callbacks 7 to 11 p.m. Sept. 29. Bob Wells directs. Donna Debreceni is music director. Production dates: Jan 7 to 30, 2011. All positions paid. By appointment only, e-mail clambert@townhallartscenter.com. The steering committee for the proposed Englewood Art Fest invites participants (artists, musicians, local businesses, corporate sponsors and Englewood residents) to a Public Forum from 6 to 7 p.m. Sept. 20 in Hampden Hall, Englewood Civic Center, 1000 Englewood Parkway. 303-353-1712.The Douglas County Libraries (Rocky Mountain) Storytelling Festival will be Sept. 17 and 18 at Philip S. Miller Library, 100 S. Wilcox St., Castle Rock. Performances at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; workshops Saturday afternoon. Features storytellers Eldrena Douma, Liz Masterson and Cinnamon Sue, Angel Vigil. Free, no registration required. DouglasCountyLibraries.org.The South Suburban Pottery Guild will host a sale of works by more than a dozen artists from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 20 and 21 at Goodson Recreation Center, 6315 S. University Blvd., Centennial. Free. 303-483-7072.“Santemu AAkkhu” will take families to an African village and more at 3 p.m. Sept. 19: Tales of Anansi the Spider to Uncle Remus, Egyptian Queens to African Kings at Lone Tree Recreation Center, 10249 Ridgegate Circle. 303-708-3513.. All ages. $1 at the door. A Passport to Culture event presented with the Lone Tree Arts Commission. (See www.sspr for the many available art classes for kids and adults).Bemis Library, 6014 S. Datura St., Littleton, will hold a free Antiques Appraisal Fair from noon to 7 p.m. Sept. 17. Bring toys, lamps, dishes, art, jewelry, coins, clocks, etc. (photos of large furniture) to be evaluated by local appraisers. (Limit is two pieces). Call for a time slot: 303-795-3961.Cherokee Ranch and Castle September programs have ticket prices which vary. Included: castle tour, supper buffet, performance, cash bar and dessert and coffee with the entertainers. 303-688-4600 for reservations. Location: 6113 N. Daniels Park Road, Sedalia. Sept. 18— “All That Jazz” with Denver Brass. Veranda tent. $60/$10 child. Sept. 19— “Love to Hear Percussion: CSO master percussionists. Audience involvement. Veranda tent. $45/$10. “Castle Cabaret” with pianist Kevin Kennedy and mezzo soprano Marcia Ragonetti. Great Hall. $70. Sept. 25— Henry Butler: Solo.” Jazz and blues piano. Great Hall. $90. Sept. 26— The Spirituals Project: Sankofa. 30 member vocal ensemble. Great Hall. $65.