Good morning, Colorado Springs.

Citadel Mall hosts its first Spring Fling event this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to offer free games, live activities, and a photo opportunity with the Easter Bunny for families, highlighting its new role as a community hub for local small businesses.

Colorado Springs residents will vote over the next few weeks in the Gazette’s annual pizza bracket, which features four contenders—Leon Gessi, Louie’s Pizza, Fargo’s Pizza and Joey’s NY Pizza.

Voting is available on Gazette.com and Instagram (spam-voted entries will not count).

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo offers memberships that give families and grandparents unlimited visits and ticket upgrades, supporting global conservation efforts (membership fees fund $100,000 annually).

The grandparent tier costs $219 a year and lets two adults and grandchildren enjoy special access.

Swire Coca-Cola broke ground on a 620,000 sqft manufacturing facility at Peak Innovation Park near the airport.

The $475 million project is expected to create 170 jobs + pursue LEED Gold certification, continuing the company’s local expansion.

Monse and Tim Hines opened Monse’s Sweet Kitchen, a new bakery and smoothie shop at 15 S.

25th St. in the same building as their flagship restaurant, offering organic, gluten-free treats and Latin-influenced smoothies + sister spots will open later this spring and summer.

The Best of the Springs feature named Coal Mine Dragon as gold for Chinese cuisine, with Shangri-La and Wok In Wok Out earning silver and bronze.

Overseas 101 is recommended for its crispy chicken and flavorful veg lo mein, making these spots popular choices for local diners.

Colorado Springs Airport showed steady demand in February with Allegiant Air’s load factor rising by 17.8 points on its St. Petersburg route while overall load increased 3.7 points from last year.

The airport will celebrate new amenities and expanded air service at the 'Flights and Bites' event on April 7.

Colorado officials warned that dry, breezy weather could make this wildfire season worse than past historic events (such as Waldo Canyon and Black Forest fires), prompting the governor to activate the state’s drought task force while local fire departments increase preparedness.

Residents are urged to follow fire safety guidelines.

Colorado has been accepted into WHO’s GOARN network to link local health experts with over 360 institutions for a quick response to disease threats after the U.S. left the WHO.

Gov. Polis said the move will help the state prepare for future outbreaks by sharing global expertise+resources.

USA Hockey returns to Colorado Springs following its triple gold medal wins at the Olympics and Paralympics in Italy—a feat that has spurred record interest in hockey and helped the sport recruit 100,000 female players.

Bunny's Breakfast Bash

9 a.m. — Dave & Buster's Colorado Springs — $10+ — Celebrate Easter with breakfast, games, and an exciting egg hunt with the Bunny.

Bad Self Portraits Live

8-11 p.m. — Lulu's Downtown — $19.90 — Experience a captivating indie-rock performance that blends raw emotion and musical depth.

Big Band Jazz & Dance

6:00 – 8:30 p.m. — Louie Louie's Piano Bar — $10 cover at the door — Enjoy big band jazz and learn how to dance during the set break.

Baby & Toddler Story Time

10:30-11:30 a.m. — Peterson Library — Free entry — Enjoy fun stories, songs, and crafts for little ones.

Unplugged at the Lodge

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. — Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort — Happy Hour pricing available — Enjoy acoustic performances from local musicians every Thursday evening.

The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show

6-9 p.m. — Great Wolf Lodge — Ticket required — Enjoy an interactive evening of comedy and mystery in a unique dinner setting.

LIVE at the Lodge - Craig Walter

6-8 p.m. — Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort — Free entry — Enjoy a delightful evening by the fireplace with live music and craft beverages.

Kid’s Closet Clothing Swap

12-1 p.m. — Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience at UCCS — Free entry — Bring gently used kids' clothes to swap and support local families.

Big Band Jazz & Dance Night

6-8:30 p.m. — Louie Louie's Piano Bar — $10 cover — Experience an unforgettable big band jazz show with dance lessons during intermission.

Faculty Artists Concert at Packard Hall

3-4 p.m. — Sperry S. And Ella Graber Packard Hall of Music and Art — Free entry — Experience the diverse talents of CC Music Faculty featuring piano, strings, and gamelan.