Eight St. Vrain Valley high school bands perform at the Longmont High School football field from 6:15 to 7:25pm, followed by a combined bands finale. Then the SVVSD Student Performance Drone Team puts on a drone show. For the drone show, everyone leaves the stands, so plan on watching from the soccer field or the south walkway. Gates open at 5:15pm, and tickets are available through GoFan: $6 for adults and $5 for students. Kids 6 and under, seniors 65 and over, and 8th graders with a student ID get in free.

With Restaurant Week in full swing, this has been the week of sampling new flavors and dishes. This dinner with Chef Cheney Francis of Matriarch is a separate, ticketed evening, and I rearranged this issue for it because it was too good not to share. Matriarch, a seasonal concept built around local agriculture, is cooking four courses at the Dry Land Distillers Tasting Room, with spirits paired along the way. The menu runs from chicken liver mousse to rye spaetzle with braised beef cheek, finishing with apple and goat cheddar ice cream. Tickets are $135 per person.

This is one of my favorite weeks of the year, it's the nudge we need to finally try the restaurants we've been meaning to get to. We sneak out for an extra date night or a girls' night out more than once during Restaurant Week, and the prix fixe menus always seem to showcase exactly what a place wants you to remember them for. Menus just went live, and I'll admit I lost a solid chunk of time scrolling through what everyone's showcasing this week.

The same volunteer quilters behind the big spring sale are back at First Lutheran Church (803 3rd Ave) with table runners, placemats, and seasonal items for their fall boutique. Proceeds benefit Safe Shelter of St. Vrain Valley and the OUR Center, and it's a lovely, low-key place to get a head start on holiday shopping.

Longmont Arts Week opens with ArtWalk on Main, galleries and studios throughout downtown Longmont's Creative District throwing their doors open. One stop worth building your evening around: the historic Callahan House (312 Terry St, built in 1892) opens for a free self-guided tour from 4 to 8pm, with local artists selling their work throughout the house and gardens. Arts Week itself runs through September 19, with more of the full program still coming together.

A close friend of ours has a studio at Tumbleweed Art Collective, and I've had the pleasure of experiencing that coworking-style space for artists firsthand. The space and the culture there are really something, and so is the shopping (if you're ever after a unique, handcrafted, well-curated gift, their store is a great place to look!). So I'm excited to highlight their first art fair, closing out Arts Week downtown. This is the inaugural year for Wanderlust, held at Tumbleweed's Coffman Street space (1333 Coffman St) and put on by Tumbleweed, Mara Luna Jewelry, and Obra Arts. Thirteen resident studio artists and a dozen guest creators fill an artist alley, on top of more than 80 artists already represented inside Tumbleweed's boutique. Food vendors and 300 Suns Brewing round it out.

This is one of our favorite downtown events, and part of the fun is you never quite know what you'll stumble into. Last year our kids got pulled into a hands-on demo on the science of electricity, our daughter's best friend held on for dear life at the Longmont Climbing Collective's booth (they're back again this year), and between the food trucks we lost count of the neighbors and friends we ran into. More than 100 local businesses and nonprofits fill downtown's streets for this one, free and family-friendly, with live music from Last Men on Earth from 6:30 to 8pm.

Closing out the summer with a picnic and listening to a woodwind quintet, flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, and bassoon, feels like exactly the right way to send off the season. Flanders Park sits right on the north shore of McIntosh Lake, and this free concert series from Melodic Light wraps its run with the Five Seasons Wind Quintet. Bring a blanket, bring the picnic basket, and get there in time to watch the sun start dropping behind the Front Range as the music warms up. The evenings still hold onto their warmth this time of year, even as the light turns gold a little earlier each night.

This week we're bringing our newest furry family member to swim at Kanemoto. Every year, once the swim season is done, the city opens the pools to the pups. Sunset Pool is still in full swing (they even pushed back their closing date), but Kanemoto and Roosevelt have wrapped up for the season. There are two windows to bring your pup: 10am to noon and 4 to 7pm. It's $5 per dog. This probably goes without saying, but socialized, friendly dogs are invited.

I've caught a few Westernaires shows, and they're exceptional. Picture synchronized swimming, but on horseback: around 350 young riders running precision drill formations, trick riding, and roping… most of it at speed. The skill and the connection between rider and horse is something to watch. The production was set for Evergreen, but storm damage made the arena unavailable, so rather than cancel, Westernaires moved the whole thing to the fairgrounds. The show is at 2pm. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for kids 5 to 14 (under 4 free).

Bring a blanket, a lawn chair, or just yourself. The Museum's free Thursday concert series wraps its summer season with Road Pony, a country band known for their tight harmonies. Grab dinner from the food trucks, watch the sun drop behind the Front Range, and call it a Thursday well spent.

This dog-friendly 3.5-mile race loops Lake McIntosh past farmland, mountain views, and (if your pup has any say in it) plenty of good sniffing along the way. Race proceeds and an optional Wag Wave donation benefit the Longmont Humane Society, so every mile does double duty. Registration prices go up August 5th, so lock in the early rate before then.

A morning at the library gets a little louder this month. Visit the library patio on Friday morning for a percussion concert from the Longmont Symphony Orchestra, geared toward kids and the kids at heart. It's free, family-friendly, and no registration required.

Neon lights, music, games, and a pool full of glow sticks after dark. Buy your tickets early. Last year our kids were crushed to learn Glow Swim sold out before we got ours, while our friends who made it called it the highlight of their summer. Worth the hype. Advance tickets are $10, $15 at the door.

Now in its fifth year, this free downtown celebration brings together the rich traditions of Nepal alongside Longmont's broader multicultural community. Expect authentic Nepali food, live folk music, traditional dance performances, and cultural booths from community organizations. 4th Avenue and Kimbark, 5-8pm.

Firehouse Art Center brings live music, local art, cider, and spirits to 4th Avenue from 3 to 9pm. The Colorado Djembe Orchestra kicks things off, followed by Tim and Jenny Ostdiek, then Rob Shea to close the night. The returning U-Haul Mobile Art Galleries are back this year, where moving trucks become immersive solo artist experiences parked right on the street. St. Vrain Cidery and Abbott and Wallace pour all evening.