Holiday shopping feeling extra challenging this year? You can give the gift of experience, thanks to a full menu of Holiday Adventure Packages from downtown small business. If you value quality time and making memories with your special someone, group of friends or whole family, then these are your kind of gifts. Plus you can give some much-needed support to small local businesses. “A lot of downtown businesses offer classes and workshops, but people don’t know about them,” says Laurel Prud’homme, vice president of communication for the Downtown Partnership, which spearheaded the project. “We specifically curated them into really unique combinations.”
There’s food, craft making, drink, fashion, outdoor adventure and overnight stays, to name a few. Most packages combine multiple products or services.Many can be booked for groups as large as 10 people, and most can be scheduled deep into 2021. In the meantime, you can line up your next adventure experience without leaving home. “You can actually support small businesses by shopping online,” Prud’homme says.
Here’s the list of gift experiences. Find all the details, prices and purchase links at downtowncs.com.
Let’s Go on a Picnic
The experts at Mountain Chalet pack all the gear you need, from dishes to tent and camp light set, and Ute & Yeti provides the deliciousness.
The Craft of Charcuterie
Get a DIY foodie’s master class. Start with making the board itself with workworking experts from Crafted Colorado Handmade Market. Then style the perfect meat and cheese arrangement, plus cocktail pairing, with guidance from Sweet Addict Bakery and Rooster’s House of Ramen.
A Honey of a Portrait
Enjoy a private styling session with the Local Honey Collective, plus a $50 gift card to construct the perfect outfit for your urban portrait session with Brenna Skaebbo Photo.
Brewer for a Day
Put on your rubber boots and help brew a batch of beer at Pikes Peak Lager House. Uh, yeah you get to take some home.
Flowers & Chocolate, But Make It Millennial
This curated excursion to Eclectic Co. includes flower and wreath arranging with Gather Mountain Blooms, plus confection and wine pairing by Bonbon Bombardier and Evergood Elixirs.
First Friday Art Hop
Raise a glass of wine at Mood Tapas Bar, then get an insider’s tour of First Friday Downtown art walk with Downtown Creative District Director Claire Swinford.
Law & Disorder & Speakeasies
Take a private tour with historians from the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, starting in the museum’s iconic 1903 courtroom and ending with a cocktail tutorial at Brooklyn’s on Boulder speakeasy
Bless the Child Who Makes Her Own
Book a private class or host a DIY jewelry party at the globally inspired Corulun Handmade Jewelry.
Yes You Can!
Go behind the scenes at Pikes Peak Brewing Company and help them can a batch of a flagship brew. Of course you take home a case of the beer you canned and a couple of T-shirts.
Snowcation for Two
Your one-day Nordic ski or snowshoe tour includes gear rental from Mountain Chalet and a Pikes Peak Alpine School-certified guide. Then head to the new Kinship Landing boutique hotel for apres-ski beers and overnight lodging.
Better Than a Pie in the Face
Get handcrafted Gold Star Pies delivered to four lucky people of your choice.
Ethical Entotaxidermy 101
You’ll learn a lot about butterflies and finish this class at Novis Mortem Collective with your very own hand-mounted framed butterfly.
A Personal Toast — Here’s to You!
Celebrate a loved one with a cocktail named after them — birthday or anniversary, anyone? The beverage by 1350 Distilling will be featured as their 1350 Spirit of the Week.
Suited for Success
Level up your dapper game with a styling session with James Proby of the Men’s Exchange, followed by a guided in-store whiskey tasting courtesy of Distillery 291.
Murals & Mimosas
Tour the public art murals of the Downtown Creative District with its director, Claire Swinford. Finish with bottomless mimosas at Odyssey Gastropub.
Whiskey School
Aficionados will love this private whiskey class at Distillery 291 with founder Michael Myers and head distiller Eric Jett. You’ll cover history, tasting and craft cocktails, and leave with everything you need to recreate your favorite recipes at home.
Eat, Sleep, Shop: The Downtown Experience
Design your dream outfit with Terra Verde’s styling experts. You’ll look your best for dinner at The Famous. Then stay overnight at The Mining Exchange.
Find all of these gift package details, prices and purchase links at downtowncs.com.
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