Monday. Young musicians play with the pros at the Littleton Youth Symphony’s “Side by Side” concert. Joined by the Colorado Chamber Orchestra and conducted by Thomas Blomster, the LYS presents an eclectic concert of classic and contemporary music. The program includes Pachelbel’s Canon in D, as well as a minimalist Steve Reich composition and “Kashmir,” by Led Zeppelin — it’ll be that kind of a night. A reception follows the concert. 7 p.m. Monday. St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 8817 S. Broadway, Highlands Ranch. Admission is free. For more information, call 303-800-4597 or visit littletonyouthsymphony.org.

Saturday. Opera buffs of all ages are invited to a performance of “The Worth of a Man,” an original opera written by students of the Central City Opera and Colorado Springs Conservatory. The students attended the CCO/CSC’s Summer Performing Arts Intensive in summer 2009, where they researched and wrote the opera. The high-school-aged students based the opera on Springs historical figure Winfield Scott Stratton, exploring his legacy and those of other Springs settlers. Doors open at noon for family friendly activities before the show. 2 p.m. Saturday. Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, 215 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs; 719-385-5990. Tickets are $10 per person, or $25 for a family of three. For advance tickets, call the museum or visit the museum store. Learn more at cspm.org.

Tuesday. Learn about Colorado wildlife and ecology at the “Nature Kids” event at the Colorado Chautauqua. Presented by the Thorne Ecological Institute, the program features hands-on “exploration stations” where kids can get down and dirty. Touch real animal skulls, make some nature art, do the “Animal Cake Walk” and more. After playing at the stations, jam out to an interactive, nature-themed concert by Thorne instructor Jeff Kagan The program is designed for kids ages 3 to 5, but kids of any age are welcome. 10 a.m. Tuesday. The Community House at Colorado Chautaquua, 900 Baseline Road, Boulder; 303-442-3282. Admission is $5. Infants under age 1 are free. For more information, visit chautauqua.com.

Sunday. Celebrate Buffalo Bill’s birthday at a party at the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave. The western legend would be 164 years old this year, and no doubt still riding the range. Sunday’s party starts with a cake-cutting ceremony attended by a slew of Buffalo Bill lookalikes. After having a slice, explore the museum with costumed volunteers and get warmed up for the next event: A buffalo-chip tossing contest, complete with prizes. Noon to 3 p.m. Sunday. Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave, 987 1/2 Lookout Mountain Road, Golden; 303-526-0744. Admission is free. Learn more at buffalobill.org.

Saturday. LIttle LEGO fans will love the Kids’ Saturday Nickelodeon at the Starz FilmCenter — the feature is “The Adventures of Clutch Powers,” an animated LEGO film. The movie follows Clutch Powers, “the best builder and explorer in the LEGO universe,” as he travels through time and space to defeat the forces of evil. Parents will love it, too: The movie is free. And on March 21, the FilmCenter’s Saturday Nickelodeon series becomes a weekly event. 3 p.m. Saturday. Starz FilmCenter, 900 Auraria Pkwy.; 303-595-3456, ext. 250. Admission is free. For more information, visit denverfilm.org.

-Kathleen St. John