Get lost! The 2010 Corn Maze at Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield boasts paths in the shape of a giant marmot (a large ground squirrel native to the Rocky Mountains, which is also the symbol for the new Children’s Garden at the DBG York Street site). Two 15-foot-tall illuminated bridges overlook the cornstalks. A free mini-maze will be available for little ones. Hayrides, horse and pony rides and an assortment of foods await visitors. DBG at Chatfield is located at 8500 Deer Creek Canyon Road in Littleton, just south of C-470 and Wadsworth. Hours: 4 to 9 p.m. Fridays; noon to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Admission: $10 adults; $8 member, seniors, students with ID; $6, 3 to 12 years; $4 child members. www.botanicgardens.org. (Check on combo tickets for the maze and pumpkin festival).

“Chalk It Up For Education” is the first annual chalk art festival, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 11 on the west lawn and sidewalks at Arapahoe Community College, 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton. Sponsored as a fundraiser for the ACC Foundation, the first-year event will include art by professional and student artists, booths with food, business and handmade art vendors and live entertainment. Danyl Cook, Mythica Von Gryffin, Mark Cline and Stephanie Adams are featured artists, to be joined by about 16 others. A variety of bands will play and judging will begin at 4:30, with chalk art awards announced at 6 p.m, including one in the 11 to 17 age group. For information, visit www.chalkituptoeducation.com.

The Colorado Artfest at Castle Rock with 285 juried artists will be held Sept. 11 (9 a.m. to 6 p.m) and Sept. 12 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m) in downtown Castle Rock. Admission: $5 Adults; $3 Seniors and students; under 12 free. Information on artists, entertainment, food, childrens activities: www.coloradoartfest.com. No pets please.

“Snapdragon” by Colorado artist John King, South Suburban’s newest public art installation will be unveiled at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11 at Cornerstone Park, 5150 S. Windermere St., Englewood. South Suburban’s Public Art Committee commissioned the 20 foot tall kinetic work. The public is invited to meet King and hear about his creative process.

“Griffin and Sabine …and Beyond,” a retrospective of art by Nick Bantock, opens at the Museum of Outdoor Art’s indoor gallery with a 5 to 9 p.m. reception on Sept. 18, . Bantock created the best-selling “Griffin and Sabine Trilogy” and more than 20 other books, and quantities of fine art. The British-born artist, who now lives in British Columbia, will exhibit about 250 pieces, “large and small, old and new” in the 4,000-square-foot space. “It could well be the only time all my works appear together,” he says. The gallery is on the second floor, Englewood Civic Center, 1000 Englewood Parkway. 303-806-0444, www.moaonline.

Englewood Arts Presents announces its 2010-11 season, beginning with a Colorado Symphony Orchestra String Ensemble performing Mendelssohn’ “Octet in E- flat major for Strings, Op. 20 at 2 p.m. Sept. 25 in Hampden Hall, Englewood Civic Center, 1000 Englewood Parkway. Tickets: $15 adults, $12 seniors, $5 under 18. www.englewoodarts.org or at the box office 45 minutes before performance. Most concerts will be on Saturdays or Sunday afternoons.

Lisa Calzavera, winner of Best of Show in the Littleton Fine Arts Committee’s 2009 Own an Original Exhibit, will have a one-woman show Sept 17 to Oct. 31 at the Littleton Museum, 6028 S. Gallup St., Littleton. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays; 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. 303-795-3950.

Auditions: “The Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” at 6:15 to 11 p.m. Sept. 27 at Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St., Littleton. Need nine actors 18 to 45. (Six play adolescents, three adults). One-minute comic monologue, 32-bar musical selection. Bring sheet music, current headshot and resume. Callbacks 7 to 11 p.m. Sept. 29. Bob Wells directs. Donna Debreceni is music director. Production dates: Jan 7 to 30, 2011. All positions paid. By appointment only, e-mail clambert@townhallartscenter.com.

Stage C will start Englewood’s season of entertainment at 7 p.m. Sept. 11 in Hampden Hall, second floor of the Englewood Civic Center, 1000 Englewood Parkway. The organization brings together individual entertainers into a varied program. Singer/songwriter Trinity Damask will be followed by two storytellers: Joe Fleenor and May Shaw. Poet Paula Barlow will appear and probably several other acts. Tickets cost $5, at the door (opens at 6:30). www.stagec.com

The steering committee for the proposed Englewood Art Fest invites participants (artists, musicians, local businesses, corporate sponsors and Englewood residents) to a Public Forum from 6 to 7 p.m. Sept. 20 in Hampden Hall, Englewood Civic Center, 1000 Englewood Parkway. 303-353-1712.

The Douglas County Libraries (Rocky Mountain) Storytelling Festival will be Sept. 17 and 18 at Philip S. Miller Library, 100 S. Wilcox St., Castle Rock. Performances at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; workshops Saturday afternoon. Features storytellers Eldrena Douma, Liz Masterson and Cinnamon Sue, Angel Vigil. Free, no registration required. DouglasCountyLibraries.org.

The South Suburban Pottery Guild will host a sale of works by more than a dozen artists from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 20 and 21 at Goodson Recreation Center, 6315 S. University Blvd., Centennial. Free. 303-483-7072.

“Santemu AAkkhu” will take families to an African village and more at 3 p.m. Sept. 19: Tales of Anasi the Spider to Uncle Remus, Egyptian Queens to African Kings at Lone Tree Recreation Center, 10249 Ridgegate Circle. 303-708-3513.. All ages. $1 at the door. A Passport to Culture event presented with the Lone Tree Arts Commission. (See www.sspr for the many available art classes for kids and adults).

The Parker Writers Group will meet from 2 to 4 p.m. Sept. 12, in Meeting Room A of the Parker Library, 10851 S. Crossroads Dr., Parker. Award-winning author Pam McCutcheon will discuss “Writing the Fiction Synopsis.” Open to all. No registration required.

“Nicholas Winton, The Power of Good: One Man’s Experience,” at 7 p.m. Sept. 14 at Bemis Library, 6014 S. Datura St., Littleton, will include a one hour film about Winton who saved 600 Czechoslovakian Jewish children from the Nazis, transported them to Britain and kept it a secret for 50 years. hear the story of Littleton resident Tom Grauman, who was 8 years old when he went to Scotland to live. He and his wife Carol have spoken about Winton throughout the Czech Republic. Winton was knighted in 2002 and celebrated his 100th birthday in May 2009. Admission free. 303-795-3961.

Bemis Library, 6014 S. Datura St., Littleton, will hold a free Antiques Appraisal Fair from noon to 7 p.m. Sept. 17. Bring toys, lamps, dishes, art, jewelry, coins, clocks, etc. (photos of large furniture) to be evaluated by local appraisers. (Limit is two pieces). Call for a time slot: 303-795-3961.

The free 21st Annual Friendship Powwow and American Indian Cultural Celebration will fill Acoma Plaza at the Denver Art Museum with color and sound — and the aroma of fry bread on Sept. 11, beginning with the Gourd Dance at 10 a.m. Hands on experiences, Native American artists and vendors. General museum admission is free (King Tut not included). www.denverartmuseum.org. The fascinating King Tut exhibit will be open until 10 p.m. on Fridays through Nov. 12.

A Writers Studio Showcase, a free afternoon of readings by ACC Instructors and Staff, will be at 4 p.m. Sept. 16 in the ACC Library on the second floor of the Main Campus at 5900 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton. writerstudio@arapahoe.edu.

Greenwood Village’s Fourth Annual Art Festival will be held at Cherry Hills Marketplace (University and Orchard) on Sept. 10, noon to 6 p.m; Sept. 11, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m; Sept. 12, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Stories on Stage “Words and Music” with Leonard E. Barrett Jr., Robert Gossett and live jazz, will be presented at 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. Sept. 11 at Su Teatro@ the Denver Civic Theatre, 721 Santa Fe Drive, Denver. Tickets: $25, 303-494-0523, www.storiesonstage.org. Find $6 parking in lots on either side of the theater.

Twelve-year-old Shewli Gosh of Highlands Ranch plans to repeat her frigid one and one quarter mile swim from Alcatraz to the South End Rowing Clubhouse in San Francisco on Sept. 18 and hopes to raise pledge money to offer help to cancer victims in the form of small, white sculptured boy and girl figures called “My Angels,” which the patients can paint as they wish. Tax-deductible donations can be made to www.donnabellasangels.org, a 501 (c) (30 organization. Follow her swim at http://shewliblogspot.com.

“A Most Unlikely Trio:” singers/performers Erik Bryan and Robert Johnson and Barry Brown (of the 17th Avenue All-Stars) will be featured at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13 at Columbine United Church, 6375 S. Platte Canyon Road, Littleton, according to music director Mitch Samu. Tickets cost $5 and will benefit Littleton Meals on Wheels. 303-798-1845.

Cherokee Ranch and Castle September programs have ticket prices which vary. Included: castle tour, supper buffet, performance, cash bar and dessert and coffee with the entertainers. 303-688-4600 for reservations. Location: 6113 N. Daniels Park Road, Sedalia. Sept. 17— Irish single malt tasting and bagpipes. Great Hall. $65. Sept. 18— “All That Jazz” with Denver Brass. Veranda tent. $60/$10 child. Sept. 19— “Love to Hear Percussion: CSO master percussionists. Audience involvement. Veranda tent. $45/$10. “Castle Cabaret” with pianist Kevin Kennedy and mezzo soprano Marcia Ragonetti. Great Hall. $70. Sept. 25— Henry Butler: Solo.” Jazz and blues piano. Great Hall. $90. Sept. 26— The Spirituals Project: Sankofa. 30 member vocal ensemble. Great Hall. $65.

The Women’s Connection plans an After 5 dinner event, open to all, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Peak Community Center, 6612 S. Ward St., Littleton (Foothills Park and Recreation). Ticket: $5. Program: Iron Chef’s cooking contest; inspirational speaker Lois Ann Groves, Pillsbury Bake-off Grand Prize Winner. Reservations and info: Michelle, 303-791-3890 or email Denverafterfive@yahoo.com.

Call for entries for the 2011 Littleton Calendar. The deadline is Sept. 17 for images which must be shot within Littleton’s city limits. Photographers may enter up to five digital images in horizontal format, on a CD, but only one can be chosen by the Littleton Fine Arts Committee. A release, to be signed and submitted for each image, can be found at www.littletongov.org. Submit at the Littleton City Manager’s office, 2255 W. Berry Ave. Information: 303-795-3720.