This free event features a kids’ zone, food vendors, a beer garden, live entertainment and local organizations. Enjoy live music all day, including That Arena Rock Show at 3 p.m., plus performances by Reminisce and Message in a Bottle: The Police Tribute.

Meeting at: Brighton Recreation Center, Room 102

FREE TO THE PUBLIC!

Eye for Art Winter Showcase 5:30 – 7:30pm at Brighton City Hall
An open-theme show featuring 32 Colorado artists working in watercolor, oil, wood carving and more!

Colorado Art Jam 6 – 8 pm at The Armoy
Abstract art by Karen Borthick, Gina de Gorna, Denise N. Johnson Naomi, Morrow, and Breahan Shogren.

2025 was an extraordinary year for Platte Valley Theatre Arts and Platte Valley Youth Theatre—one filled with vibrant storytelling, community connection, and artistic growth.

Our year began with two joyful PVYT productions, Finding Nemo Kids and Seussical Jr., featuring 60 youth performers and many more working behind the scenes. These visually stunning shows showcased the talent, hard work, and tremendous growth of our young artists, who dazzled audiences with their confidence and skill.

In the spring, we brought laughter to The Armory with Sandy Rustin’s The Cottage—a brand-new comedy and only the second production of the play in Colorado. With an exceptional set designed by award-winning Arvada Center designer Brian Mallgrave, the show was a standout highlight of our season.

Summer brought a major milestone: our first summertime musical in nearly a decade, The Bridges of Madison County. With a cast of 16 deeply committed adult performers and 8 outstanding musicians, the production was breathtaking—musically rich, emotionally resonant, and beautifully executed.

This fall, PVTA stepped boldly into a new genre with Nick Dear’s Frankenstein. Featuring a cast of 18 employing a range of dialects, movement styles, and intense character work, the production delivered a gripping audio-visual experience that thrilled audiences and expanded our creative boundaries.

We closed our mainstage season with our free Theatre for Young Audiences production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Performed by two incredible actors, this intimate retelling captivated young audiences, many of whom experienced live theatre for the very first time.

In December, we continued the journey of one of our most beloved TYA pieces, The Tomato Plant Girl. First premiered by PVTA at The Armory in 2023 and later performed in Evergreen in 2024, this charming production reached its largest audience yet in 2025 when we brought it to Parker. Presented at The Schoolhouse Theatre in collaboration with Parker Arts and supported by SCFD funding, the show was seen by hundreds of Douglas County schoolchildren—whose excitement and delight reaffirmed the power of accessible youth theatre.

Alongside our shows, we offered youth theatre classes throughout the year, continued to deepen our engagement with local families, and once again sold out our annual fundraiser, Brighton on Broadway, which was both highly entertaining and a tremendous success. We also launched our Big Read program thanks to a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Arts—an exciting new initiative that will enrich the community for years to come.

This year’s accomplishments were strengthened by key partnerships and community support. We are profoundly grateful to the City of Brighton and their Creative Community Arts Grant, which helped make our 2025 season possible. We extend heartfelt thanks as well to the skilled and generous staff at The Armory Performing Arts Center, to First Presbyterian Church of Brighton for providing essential rehearsal space, and to SCFD for their invaluable financial support. Our all-volunteer Board of Directors truly shined this year, guiding our mission with passion and dedication.

We are immensely proud of the work we accomplished in 2025—and we can’t wait to share an even more inspiring 2026 season with you.

The City of Brighton will be celebrating its annual Tree Lighting sponsored by United Power this December, one week before its annual Festival of Lights Parade. The annual tradition will take place Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 from 1 – 5:30 p.m. at Founders Plaza on Main and Bridge streets.

This event will feature a Winter Market with unique artists, crafters, and artisan food vendors beginning at 1 p.m.

Other activities prior to the tree lighting include free face painting, the Teddy Bear & Friends Tree and pictures with Santa.

Face Vocal Band will perform a free concert at 4-5:30 p.m.

City Council will lead the count down as the Christmas Tree is lit at 5 p.m.

Over the past ten years, this event has recognized outstanding contributors in categories such as Master in Performing Arts, Master of Visual Arts, Master of Literary Arts, Arts in Education, Visionary, Exceptional Volunteer, Beyond Brighton, and Arts in the Community.

Each year, we are reminded just how much talent and dedication thrive within our community, and this year’s honorees were no exception.

Master of Visual Arts: Zachary Reece

Zachary is an amazing pointillism artist. His pieces draw you in with their intricate detail, and as you step back to view them in full, you are met with a sense of peace, thoughtfulness, and wonder. Through his art, Zachary reminds us of the beauty that emerges when patience, passion, and vision come together.

Master of Performing Arts: Kristina Bobrowski

Kristina really stood out in all she has accomplished. She serves on the board of directors for PVTA and brings her talent and heart to the stage as both a stage manager and assistant director. Her commitment goes far beyond titles. She pours her time, love, and energy into every production, ensuring that each performance shines.

Master of Literary Arts: Kerrie Joy

Kerrie was the first Poet Laureate of Adams County. She partnered with Anythink Library during her two-year residency to create and lead poetry programs for all seven branches, bringing creativity, reflection, and joy to countless community members. She has been an amazing contributor to the Brighton community with her acceptance, creativity, and passion.

Outstanding Volunteer: Diane DeVries

If you attended the Excellence in Arts event, you would have seen why she won this amazing award. Even to the committee members, as Diane accepted her award, we were blown away with the number of activities she has been a part of. Though many of us had not seen all that she has done, her contributions have strengthened and enriched the Brighton art scene in countless ways. Diane’s selflessness, reliability, and heart for the arts make her truly remarkable.

Beyond Brighton: Jeffrey Parker

We honored an amazing actor who has delighted so many with his award-winning performances for PVTA. Beyond his on-stage brilliance, Jeff generously gives his time and talent behind the

scenes, supporting PVTA because he believes deeply in the mission of the company and the vibrancy of our community. Jeff is a tenured professor in the Theatre Department at Metropolitan State University and serves as the Director of Text and Speech for the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. He is also a frequent dialect coach for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and the Arvada Center.

Master of Cultural Arts in Education: Elizabeth Castor and Nathan Shaver

These two amazing teachers helped create the 27J Student Art Show. Their efforts go beyond logistics; they have built a wonderful rapport with both students and parents, creating an environment where young artists feel supported, inspired, and proud of their accomplishments. Through their guidance, the art show has become not just an event, but a true celebration of creativity and community.

Visionary: Tim and Claudia at Berry Patch Farms

Tim and Claudia are two visionaries whose work reminds us that farming is not only a science–it is an art. Since 1991, Tim and Claudia have poured their hearts into Berry Patch Farms, creating a space where cultivation and creativity thrive side by side. Since 1994, families and friends of all ages have experienced the joy of picking their own strawberries, raspberries, currants, pie cherries, plums, pickling cucumbers, and flowers–turning every visit into a culinary adventure and a memory in the making. Through their dedication to organic farming and their commitment to community, Tim and Claudia have transformed the simple act of growing food into a lasting art form that nourishes both body and spirit.

As we reflect on ten years of celebrating creativity, collaboration, and community spirit, BCAC extends heartfelt congratulations to all the 2025 honorees. Their vision and passion continue to shape Brighton into a thriving home for the arts.