Englewood Arts Presents continues its “Chamber Music of the Masters Series” at 2 p.m. Oct. 9 with Beethoven’s “Septet in E-flat Major.” Colorado Symphony Orchestra hornist Fritz Foss will host this concert at Hampden Hall, Englewood Civic Center, 1000 Englewood Parkway. This work was written just before Beethoven’s awareness of his encroaching deafness and includes youthful solos for instrumentalists, especially for the clarinet, which was innovative at the time. CSO musicians include: Dorian Kincaid, violin; Mary Cowell, viola; Thomas Heinrich, cello; Jeremy Kincaid, bass; Abby Raymond, clarinet; Michael Sundell, bassoon; Fritz Foss, horn. Tickets: $15/$12/$5 under 18.303-806-8196, www.englewoodarts.org.

Tickets are on sale at Douglas County Libraries for the Oct. 13 presentation by star chef Rick Bayless at 7:30 p.m. at the Wildlife Experience. The event is a fundraiser for the Douglas County Libraries Foundation to fund literacy programs. Bayless, known for his public television series “Mexico — One Plate at a Time,” has published several cookbooks, including new “Fiesta at Ricks: Fabulous Foods for Great Times With Friends.” Tickets: $60 includes a 6 p.m. reception with Bayless, advance book sales, preferred seating; $30 for Chef Bayless’ presentation. (Doors open at 7 p.m.) See your library or douglascountylibraries.org. (See related story).

The Opus 5 Wind Quintet will open the Littleton United Methodist Church Fine Art Series at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at LUMC, 5894 S. Datura St., Littleton. Flutist Elizabeth Hicks-Kinmey, oboist Jean Loucks, Clarinetist Greg Dufford, bassoonist Deborah Torp and horn player Ronald Torp will perform Barber’s “Summer Music;” Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess;” Latin music and selections by French composer Claude Arrieu, Mozart and Agay. Admission is free. 303-794-6379.

“A Mixed Bag,” an invitational show organized by Arapahoe Community College’s Art Coordinators, runs Oct. 12 to Nov. 12 in the Colorado Gallery of the Arts at ACC. A reception will be 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 15. Included: photography by John Bonath, Lincoln Phillips; jewelry and metals by Harold O’Connor; ceramic sculpture by Vicky Smith; wall constructions, drawings, small sculptures by Charles Parsons; linocut, watercolor and found paper by Robert St. John; raku-fired ceramics by Bob Smith; mixed media, painting and shoes by Deborah Howard. Previous experience with ACC’s invitational shows leads us to expect a really interesting experience. Hours: 12 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays Oct. 16 and Nov. 6.

Colorado Ballot Issues 2010: a hot topic throughout Colorado will be discussed by Active Minds from 7 to 8 p.m. Oct. 12 at Bemis Library, 6014 S. Datura St., Littleton. 303-795-3961.

The September “A Most Unlikely Trio Concert” was so popular, it will repeat at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 and 16 at Columbine United Church, 6375 S. Platte Canyon Road, Littleton, according to church music director Mitch Samu. Performers: Barry Brown; Erik Bryan, Robert Johnson. Bryan is a versatile singer/actor, who performs musical theater, opera and jazz; Brown is a director, choreographer, arranger, educator and member of the a capella group 17th Avenue All Stars. Johnson has also appeared in musicals, with national and regional figures such as Stevie Wonder and Stan Getz and won local awards as best jazz vocalist and more. Tickets: $10 students/ $20 advance/$30 at the door. 720-670-6732.

Pianist Christina Lan, 17, of Littleton and violinist Isabelle Wong, 16, of Centennial will perform Oct 10 in the third and final ”2010 Showcase Series” concert presented by Young Musicians Foundation of Colorado. Also performing: Ian Buckspan and Henry Zhang at 2 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Newman Center, 2344 E. Iliff Ave., Denver. Admission via suggested donation: $10/$8/$5. www.youngmusiciansfoundation.org.

“Proof” by David Auburn, a Pulitzer and Tony award-winning play, will be presented by Colorado Stage Company Oct. 15 to Nov. 13 at Lone Tree Golf Club and Hotel, 9808 Sunningdale Blvd., Lone Tree. Directed by Constance Cawlfield. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 24 and 31. Tickets: $15/$12, 303-471-8171, www.coloradostage.com.

The 2010 Lone Tree Art Exhibition and Sale opened Oct. 2 at the Lone Tree Golf Club and Hotel. The exhibit will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Oct. 24. Purchases can be made at the concierge desk.

The Parker Chorale’s inaugural concert, “Choral Americana! A celebration of American Composers,” will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 8 and 9 at Parker Mainstreet Center, 19650 E. Mainstreet, Parker. The new choral group, with 50 singers, is led by John J. Polinski. It is establishing a tradition of support for music education, inviting the Legend High School Cantores to participate in this concert. Tickets: $7 advance, $10 door, parkerchorale.org or 303-805-7757.

Littleton Museum’s Annual Harvest Festival will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 9 at the Museum, 6028 S. Gallup St., Littleton. Pumpkins and refreshments for sale. Music by Liz Masterson 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and by Willson and McKee from 1 to 3:15 p.m. Admission free. 303-795-3950.

The Pumpkin Festival at Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield, 85 — Deer Creek Canyon Road, Littleton, will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 9 and 10. Pick pumpkins in a 10-acre patch (average cost $5), enjoy amusement rides, pony rides, entertainment stages, hands on arts and crafts, cider press demonstrations and more. Ghost tours of the 1860s homestead, tractor rides… Admission: $6/$4: members $5/$3, children in costume admitted free. Combo tickets for festival and corn maze available. www.botanicgardens.org.

Colorado Ballet resurrects its popular production of “Dracula,” choreographed by Michael Pink, Oct. 15-24 at the Ellis Caulkins Opera House, Denver Performing Arts Complex. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15, 16, 22, 23; 2 p.m. Oct. 17, 23, 24; 6:30 p.m. Oct. 20. Tickets: $19 to $135, www.coloradoballet.org, 303-837-8888 ext. 2.

Afficianados of Southwestern art will want to visit “From the Earth” at Museo de las Americas, 861 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, opening Oct. 15 and featuring a group of nationally recognized artists. A series of afternoon lectures includes weaver Eppie Archuleta; santera Gloria Lopez Cordova, Mata Ortiz potter Juan Quezada and many more, beginning on Oct. 15. We will report more about this exciting show after it opens, but the lectures are scheduled just following the opening, so please check the website for dates. See: www.museo.org. 303-571-4401.

Publicist Barb Stover of Littleton advises that Alpha Xi Delta’s Denver Alumnae Association will host its 6th annual fundraising Sweet Charity Brunch, Boutique and Auction from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 16 at Colorado Community Church, 3651 S. Colorado Blvd., Englewood. Proceeds support philanthropic projects including Autism Speaks, Boys and Girls Clubs of Denver, FACES, Family Crisis Center. Tickets: $20 at the door/$15 by Oct. 8, Barbara Vietti, 303-979-7561, bvietti@comcast.net. Jubilee Hot 7 jazz band will perform a free concert at 2 p.m. Oct. 17 at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, 8545 E. Dry Creek Road, Centennial. Members, who have played together for five years: Mike Evans, trumpet; Molly Kauffman, keyboard, vocals; Dick Kloehn, drums; John Mumford, banjo; Joe Roller, trombone; Joe Walsh, tuba; Jeremy Wendelin, sax and clarinet. Information: 303-740-2688.Cherokee Ranch and Castle has moved events into its Great Hall after a summer of tent performances. October listings follow, with times and ticket prices. (Castle tour, supper buffet, concert, dessert and visit with musicians, cash bar). The castle is at 6113 N. Daniels Park Road, Sedalia. Reservations: 303-688-4600. And, see www.cherokeeranch.org/2010 for a schedule of holiday teas and brunches. Oct. 16, 6 p.m. Preludes to Bach’s Four Lute Suites and Others by guitarist Ricardo Iznaola, University of Denver Lamont School of Music. $75. Edgar Allan Poe: Dark Whispers of Genius by David Skipper: $60, Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m. Halloween Castle Speakeasy Grand Opening 7 to 11 p.m., Horrors d’ouevres, Booverages, meet the Gambino family and flappers, gangsters, mobsters, murderers. Costume contest at 10 p.m. Music by Mid-life Crisis. $55. Several local venues list no-cover charge live music, produced by Alpine Music Connection, on October weekends: Contact venue or website to confirm: Pat’s on Littleton, 1500 W. Littleton Blvd., 303-730-2943; Platte River Bar and Grill, 5995 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, 303-798-9356; The Slam Bar, 9660 E. Arapahoe Road, Greenwood Village, 303-799-1300.Learn to sing barbershop harmony: Sound of the Rockies Barbershop Harmony Society, headquartered in Centennial, offers free singing lessons, “Ready! Set! Sing! 7 to 10 p.m. on Thursday evenings, Oct. 14 through Nov. 18 at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 7691 S. University Blvd., Centennial. Chorus director is Darin Drown of Grandview High School. Prospective members and guests welcome. Information: www.soundoftherockies.com.The Parker Writers Group meets from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 10 in Meeting Room A at Parker Library, 10851 S. Crossroads Drive, Parker. the speaker, Ron Heimbacher will present “Playing Spider: Enticing Your Web Audience.” Social media and emerging media will be discussed. Free and open to all. Information: parkerwritersgroup@gmail.com. Roxborough Arts Council’s Roxborough Gallery at the Marketplace, 8357 Rampart Range Rd. #106 (corner of Waterton Canyon Road) holds its monthly Second Friday Reception from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday Oct. 8. Refreshments and original artwork by members. The Lone Tree Symphony Orchestra’s Oct. 8 concert is called “A Walk on the Wild Side.” The orchestra performs at 7:30 p.m. at Cornerstone Baptist Church, 9941 Lone Tree Parkway, Lone Tree. The program includes Bennett’s “Murder on the Orient Express,” J. S. Bach’s “Fantasia and Fugue,” Gounod’s “Funeral March of a Marionette” and Borodin’s “Symphony No. 2 in B Minor.” A $5 donation is appreciated.“Aesop-A-Rebop” will be presented by Town Hall Children’s Theatre at 10 a.m. Saturdays through Oct. 16: “Tortoise and the Hare,” the Ants and the Grasshopper,” “The Fox and the Grapes,” “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.” Weekday shows run Mondays through Fridays, particularly for school field trips, but individuals can attend then too. Tickets: $7. Town Hall is at 2450 W. Main St. in Downtown Littleton. 303-797-2787 ext 5. www.townhallartscenter.com/childrenstheatre.