Saturday. Shine up those belt buckles: The National Western Stock Show stampedes into town on Saturday for a two-week stand. There’s plenty of serious business to be done, like livestock judging and sales, but new activities are still popping up after 103 years. The all-new Ames Activity Pavilion is full of family-friendly fun like stick-horse rodeos, pedal-tractor races, dummy roping and other games. Also new this year is “Western Heritage Week,” Jan. 19-25, featuring a celebrity chuckwagon cook-off, bull sale and more.
Special events are scattered throughout the schedule, too, including the Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza Saturday and Sunday, The Super Dogs show Jan. 18-19 and “An Evening of Dancing Horses” Jan. 20-21. Don’t forget three nights of Professional Bull Riders competition (Jan.11-13) and more than 20 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeos taking place throughout the Stock Show.

Early birds get a special deal this weekend: Childrens’ ground admission is free Saturday and Sunday with a voucher from Guaranty Bank and Trust Company. Pick up vouchers at any Guaranty location.
The Stock Show runs daily through Jan. 24. Hours vary, but days start at approximately 8 a.m. National Western Stock Show Complex, 4655 Humboldt St.; 303-297-1166. Admission to the grounds is $7-$12 for adults and $2-$3 for children ages 3 to 11. Prices vary by day. Ticket prices for special events vary. Advance tickets are available by calling 888-551-5004 and at Front Range King Soopers stores. For more details, including a full schedule of events, visit nationalwestern.com.

Friday-Sunday. The Harlem Globetrotters show no signs of stopping, even after more than eight decades on the road. Now on their 2010 “Magical Memories” world tour, the Globetrotters make a three-day swing through Colorado starting today in Colorado Springs. Basketball fans of all ages will love the team’s sweet skills and crazy stunts. The players have cool nicknames, too: “Big Easy” Lofton, “Moo Moo” Evans and “Flight Time” Lang, for example. 7 p.m. tonight. World Arena, 3185 Venetucci Blvd., Colorado Springs; 719-477-2121. Tickets are $22-$82, available at ticketswest.com. 2 p.m. Saturday. Pepsi Center, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver; 303-405-1100. Tickets are $26-$157, available at tickethorse.com. 2 p.m. Sunday. Budweiser Events Center, 5290 Arena Circle, Loveland; 970-619-4100. Tickets are $18-$85, available at comcasttix.com.

Ongoing. Have a winter mountain adventure just west of Denver at the Evergreen Lake ice rink — no lift tickets required. Open daily, the frozen, 40-acre lake is great for impromptu hockey practice, broomball or just freestyle skating around. Bring your own skates, or rent a pair at the lake. Be sure to call the skating hotline before heading up — hours may vary depending on the weather and the ice. 3-7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 3-8 p.m. Fridays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays. Evergreen Lake, 29614 Upper Bear Creek Road, Evergreen. Hotline: 720-880-1391. Admission is $5 for adults age 19-59, $4.75 for youth ages 4 to 18, $4.50 for military and seniors age 60 and older. Skate rental is $6 for up to two hours.

-Kathleen St. John