2nd Annual Back to School Culture Fest

We will celebrate the beautiful culture and heritage representing of all of our community members through stories, storytelling, and a variety of art forms.

We will bring the heart of Knob Hill Urban Arts District to life for one magical day with live art, workshops, speakers, vendors, food trucks, a silent art auction, giveaways, and more.

In particular, this event aims to welcome our children back to school with a Lil Miss Story Hour kids corner, that will include a chalk festival with local artist, Kai Gaynor; an anti-bullying workshop with Dr. Juliana Deans; story times with Lil’ Miss Story Hour; puppet theatre shows with Katy Williams Design and Theatre Across Border; Rock Climbing with Fort Collins-based outdoor recreation organization AIRBOUND; a petting zoo courtesy of the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s ZOOMobile Program; a 3D printing demo and workshop with Elevation Wheel Company; and face painting with Irishimo Graves.

A backpack full of school supplies will be given to every child in grades PreK-3 through 5th attending this event! 

Registration via Brown Paper Tickets is required for free backpacks. Additionally, free haircuts will be available courtesy of Sunday Barber Co. for kiddos aged 4 and up between 1pm and 3:30pm. Haircuts will be first come first served, so get to the event early!

Among some of our entertainers will be Philadephia and New Jersey-based hiphop, soul & New Age sensations, Kuf Knotz & Christine Elise; Jackson, Mississippi-based Djembe drum instructors from the Alkebulan Arts Institute of Mississippi, Shawn Lawrence & Eddie Dorman; Colorado Springs-Based Indian Classical Dance instructor and performer, Tejas Hemsell; Denver-based singer and entertainer, Jeanne Robbins; and Colorado Springs-based DJ, MC, singer, performer, and owner of Vinyl & Patties, ChloeBeeBlessed.

Among some of our workshop facilitators and guest speakers will be Mayor Mobolade along with a surprise guest speaker that will be revealed closer to the event date; Zumba Class with Fitness with Natilia; Yoga Class with Restorative Healing owner, Christina Wilson; and Beats workshop with Tarikh Brown.

Some of our amazing Colorado Springs-based vendors and nonprofits this year will include Blackpackers, Inside Out Youth Services, , Soluna Mind & Body, , The Rebel Project, Groundwork Atelier, Momoxoart, CC Mobile Arts, Ent Center for the Arts, The Hause Collective, Eco Village, Black Girl Salsa, Vinyl & Patties, Art by Lauren, Madi B. Prints & Paints, and Three Sticks Mafia. Play Haus Bakery and Caraluna, will be some of our Denver-based vendors.

Among our food trucks this year, we will have Creole Roots Catering and Food Truck; Big Max’s Snowballs; The Meltdown; and Conrad’s Flava Fusion.

Mark your calendars and bring the whole family to celebrate Colorado Springs art in the heart of Knob Hill and welcome our kiddos back to school! Our headlining performers, Philly-based hiphop, soul, & new age sensations Kuf Knotz & Christine Elise will perform from 5:15pm to 6:30pm!

Special thanks to the 2nd Annual Back to School Culture Fest’s Official Sponsor, Underline: Intelligent Community Infrastructure!

This event would not be possible without the support of the following sponsors and donors: Kapow Comics & Coffee, Blackpackers, Momoxoart, Recover Simply, Miss Vanessa’s Piano Studio, Eclectic Co., Creations at the Edge, Photography by Krisleen, Bonbon Bombardier, Cerberus Brewing Company, Lee’s Spirits, Black Hat Distillery, Bread & Butter Neighborhood Market, Theatreworks, Play Haus Bakery, Nancy Habecker, Joe & Arun Sambataro, Iara Palacios, Jason Little, Danielle Little, The Ramsey Family, Lisa Pence, Jennifer Johnson, Meredith Elrod, Jackson Hindman, Daya Stanley, Katherine Kelley, Nicole Frazier, Sarah McCreary, Michelle Burke, The Branford Family, AGraves Art & Fashion, Belinda Ball-Delfin, Erin Bergquist, Nithin Coca, Brianne Smith, Charles Vanlandingham, Tim Davis, The Maroney Family, Catherine Shelton, Molly July, Sandrine Ostrow, Lisa Simmons, Marcella MacIntrye, Aubrie Walker, Julie Deans, Dawn Helman, Robrecht Berg, The Shameless Crafter, and Susan Garsoe.