Denver's spring and summer months are packed with free things to do like strolling through the city's vast park system, checking out rock 'n' roll memorabilia at Rockmount Ranch Wear, looking for vivid street art, going on a Great Divide Brewery tour, hiking at Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre or seeing an outdoor concert. See more free events and activities year-round.
Free Festivals & Events
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Foothills Art Market
WHEN: April 12, 2025
WHERE: Foothills Fieldhouse
The free Foothills Art Market features original artwork, goods and crafts in multiple disciplines created by Colorado artisans. Attendees will find a vast array of work for sale, including unique creations in pottery, sculpture, glass, jewelry, fashion, wood, soaps, home accessories, photography and more.
LCC House Party
WHEN: April 12, 2025
WHERE: Lakewood Cultural Center
The Lakewood Cultural Center is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a community open house featuring a variety of engaging activities. Attendees can pick up a game card at the box office and collect stamps from different stations while enjoying a dance party, behind-the-scenes theater tours, a costume party with a selfie photo booth, and a scavenger hunt through art exhibitions.
RiNo Spring BAZAAR
WHEN: April 19, 2025
WHERE: National Western Complex
Denver BAZAAR is back in the RiNo Art District for Spring BAZAAR, and this year, they're cracking open something special! This Easter Weekend, head to a market hatched for adventure, celebrating 80+ local vendors, springtime sips, live DJs and the launch of Clever Girl’s brand-new dinosaur installation. From Easter eggs to dino eggs, this free market is all about new beginnings, so come sip, shop and discover fresh finds from Denver’s best makers, all while immersing yourself in a prehistoric-meets-springtime eggstravaganza!
Denver Does Tango
WHEN: April 26, 2025
WHERE: 1570 Clarkson Street
Have you ever wanted to dance with a partner? Do you like hugs? Do you want to be part of a community that values connection, friendship and fun? The Argentine Tango community in Colorado is one of the warmest and most fun Tango communities in the U.S. Join us at Denver Does Tango, a free weekend of Argentine classes, dancing, live music and performances. No partner or dance experience required!
Spring Vibe Market
WHEN: April 26 & 27, 2025
WHERE: The Arch (RiNo)
Join Vibe Artisan Markets for the free Spring Vibe Market — the biggest two-day shopping event in Denver! The event will include 130+ artists, creatives and makers each day, local music creators, cocktail bars, art gallery featuring local artists, coffee VW Bus, food trucks with globally inspired cuisine, and RIVIAN demo drives.
Día del Niño Celebration
WHEN: April 27, 2025
WHERE: Clyfford Still Museum
Join the Clyfford Still Museum for a free celebration of children worldwide during Día del Niño (Day of the Child). Stop by the Museum’s outdoor forecourt to participate in an art-making session with artist Kristina Maldonado Bad Hand. Participants will create seed bombs. The Kinážiŋ project is a land-back activation of returning Indigenous plants to urban areas of Colorado through a clay sculpture containing seeds that is quite literally meant to return to the land. Kinážiŋ(Key-Na-Zi) means to return to where you were moved from in Lakota. Plus enjoy child-friendly dance performances by local groups on the forecourt!
Tulip Fairy & Elf Festival
WHEN: April 27, 2025
WHERE: 1300 Pearl St., Boulder
Spring officially arrives in Downtown Boulder when the beautiful, colorful Tulip Fairy — along with pint-sized fairies and elves — parades around the Pearl Street Mall "waking up the tulips." This much-loved springtime tradition features live performances, special activities for children and more than 15,000 tulips that adorn the world-renowned Pearl Street Mall.
Cinco de Mayo Festival
WHEN: May 3–4, 2025
WHERE: Civic Center Park
A weekend filled with food, fun and culture, this annual festival puts the spotlight on the Mile High City’s vibrant Latino population. With more than 300,000 attendees in Civic Center Park, it’s one of Denver's most fun and family-friendly events.
Troutfest Colorado
WHEN: May 31, 2025
WHERE: Coors Field
This one-of-a-kind summer festival will celebrate conservation and offer education and community. It’s for anglers, would-be anglers, outdoor enthusiasts or simply families looking for a fun and engaging day at Coors Field. There will be lots of exhibitors, clinics on fly tying and casting, and live music.
Denver Chalk Art Festival
WHEN: June 7–8, 2025
WHERE: Golden Triangle Creative District
Denver's most colorful event is returning to the Golden Triangle Creative District. See more than 200 artists transform the city streets into a museum, adorned in vivid pastel chalks. The two-day event is free.
Juneteenth Music Festival
WHEN: June 14–15, 2025
WHERE: Five Points neighborhood
One of the nation’s largest Juneteenth celebrations, look for a parade, live performances, art, vendors and fun for the entire family.
Denver Cherry Blossom Festival
WHEN: June 21 & 22, 2025
WHERE: Sakura Square
Fans of taiko drumming, teriyaki chicken, sake and Japanese artwork and wares won't want to miss this year's Cherry Blossom Festival – "Sakura Matsuri" in Japanese. It's now going on 51 years.
Denver PrideFest
WHEN: June 28 & 29, 2025
WHERE: Civic Center Park
Denver PrideFest is a two-day celebration of community and culture that is welcoming, inclusive and fun for all attendees, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. There’s also a parade and 5K (run, walk, roll or sashay).
Free Museum Days
Back to Top of ListDenver Botanic Gardens Free Days: York Street Location
WHEN: See the museum's schedule
Denver Botanic Gardens is a 24-acre oasis in the middle of the city, with 45 different gardens (some 33,000 plants), as well as one of the nation's top 10 conservatories. Relax in the Japanese Garden, climb through the Rock Alpine Garden and explore the Mordecai Children's Garden. Note: Please register online for free tickets in advance. No onsite tickets will be available for sold-out days.
Denver Botanic Gardens Free Days: Chatfield Farms Location
WHEN: See the museum's schedule
Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield Farms is a picturesque nature preserve among the grasslands, ponds and cottonwood banks of Deer Creek. Facilities include nature trails, a wildlife observation area, display gardens, educational exhibits, a historical farm, a 19th-century one-room schoolhouse, working beehives and picnic areas. Note: Please register online for free tickets in advance. No onsite tickets will be available for sold-out days.
Four Mile Historic Park Free Days
WHEN: Every third Sunday of the month
Take a trip back in time to Denver's pioneer past at Four Mile Historic Park, nestled on the bank of Cherry Creek. Stop by for a free afternoon of tours, historic demonstrations and more on the third Sunday of each month.
Museo de las Americas Free First Fridays
WHEN: Every first Friday of the month
Museo de las Americas is dedicated to educating people about the arts and cultures of Latinidad in the Americas and is the premier Latin American art museum in the region. The museum offers free admission every First Friday, no tickets needed.
Penny Saturdays at MCA Denver
WHEN: Every first Saturday of the month
Okay, so it's not technically free. But every first Saturday of the month, Colorado residents can explore Museum of Contemporary Art Denver for just $0.01.
Denver Museum of Nature & Science Free Days
WHEN: See the museum's schedule
Explore the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, a maze filled with treasures of the earth: dinosaurs, dioramas, space exhibits, science experiments, a digital planetarium, the giant-screen Infinity Theater and touring shows.
Denver Art Museum Free Days
WHEN: See the museum's schedule
Explore the Denver Art Museum's galleries showcasing a world-famous Indigenous art collection, as well as traditional and contemporary art from around the world. And admission is ALWAYS free for youth ages 18 and under, ever day.
Clyfford Still Museum Free Days
WHEN: See the museum's schedule
Enjoy nine beautiful galleries of Clyfford Still’s art, historic photos and letters from the Clyfford Still Archives, an interactive timeline, dozens of videos and books and a pair of tranquil outdoor terraces.
Plains Conservation Center Free Days
WHEN: See the center's schedule
The Plains Conservation Center helps students and adults grow their knowledge and appreciation of the prairie ecosystem and the cultural history of Colorado through a variety of educational programs managed by Denver Botanic Gardens in cooperation with the City of Aurora.
Free Outdoor Fun
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Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre
Carved from towering red rock monuments, Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre is one of the world's most renowned concert venues. When there's no concert, the free Visitor Center has a museum and Performers' Hall of Fame, while the surrounding park offers hiking trails that weave in, around and over the colorful red rocks.
Lariat Loop Byway
Retrace the motoring adventures of the early 1920s and experience the thrill of foothills exploration at the dawn of the Age of Motorcars on the Lariat Loop, a 40-mile scenic circle in the foothills west of Denver. The Lariat Loop takes motorists to several popular attractions, including the Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave , the Colorado Railroad Museum and the Mother Cabrini Shrine.
Dinosaur Ridge
See some dinos — or what's left of them, anyway. Dinosaur Ridge in Morrison features famous Jurassic dinosaur bones, such as Stegosaurus and Apatosaurus, discovered in 1877, and Cretaceous dinosaur footprints. A guidebook is available for use on self-guided tours.
Littleton Museum
Travel back in time at the Littleton Museum and get a glimpse into Colorado's pioneer past. Located on 39 acres in Littleton, the museum consists of two living history farms (one from the 1860s and one from the 1890s), with a working farm, a blacksmith shop and more than 40,000 historic Colorado artifacts.
Plains Conservation Center
The Plains Conservation Center in Aurora helps students and adults grow their knowledge and appreciation of the prairie ecosystem and the cultural history of Colorado through a variety of educational programs managed by Denver Botanic Gardens in cooperation with the City of Aurora. It's always free to visit and hike the trails, explore the visitor center and check out the tipis and homestead village. There is a fee to attend any guided programs.
Garden of the Gods
Located just 60 miles from Denver, the awe-inspiring Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs features gigantic 500-foot-high red sandstone rock monuments at the base of Pikes Peak.
Denver Skatepark
The expansive Denver Skatepark — one of the most renowned skate parks in the country — is filled with bowls for all levels of skating skill. Admission is free. Helmets are required.
Denver Street Art
Denver street artists have been busy brightening (and enlightening) the urban landscape for decades by making canvases of the city’s alleyways, building exteriors, warehouses, garage doors and storefronts. Grab your camera and take a stroll past some of the city's favorite murals.
Farmers' Markets
Denver may be a major city, but there are hundreds of nearby farms across the Front Range, meaning there's no shortage of fresh produce to fill the Mile High City's multiple farmers' markets. You'll also find humanely-raised meats, baked goods, prepared foods, fresh flowers and artisanal personal care products, and many markets also include live music, food vendors and flea markets. Most markets begin in May and extend into the fall.
Denver's City Parks
No matter where you find yourself in the Mile High City, you’re likely only a few steps away from a lush and relaxing green space. Memorial Day weekend is the perfect time to explore Denver's more than 5,000 acres of traditional parks and parkways, as well as an additional 14,000 acres of spectacular mountain parks in neighboring counties that are maintained by the City and County of Denver.
Lesser-Known, Hidden-Gem Parks
If you’re looking for a quiet spot to have a picnic, take in great views or experience a different side of the city, check out these lesser-known Denver parks.
How to Explore the South Platte River by Bike
Take a two-wheeled tour through the heart of the city along this beautiful river. You'll cruise by some of the city's biggest attractions.
Denver's Best Urban Hikes
Denver is a city with boundless outdoor fun and has an ideal location next to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. While the Mile High City is conveniently close to major peaks for hiking, there's actually no need to head into the mountains when Denver's regional trail system encompasses hundreds of miles for all ages and abilities to explore.
Outdoor Concerts
The Mile High City is filled with music, and during the spring and summer, many of the outdoor concerts are free for all, including City Park Jazz, Concerts in Central Park and many of the shows at Levitt Pavilion.
How to Explore the Colorado Trail in Waterton Canyon
Many people think that Denver’s prettiest, closest and most accessible bit of mountain scenery is Waterton Canyon. This is the start of the famous Colorado Trail, one of the great long-distance hikes (or mountain bike rides) of the Rocky Mountains.
Pet-Friendly Denver
Denver is home to dozens of pet-friendly activities and destinations, including dog-friendly hotels and dog parks. Find the best on-leash and off-leash fun for your best friend.
More Free Attractions & Tours
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First Friday Art Walks
WHEN: Every First Friday
WHERE: Denver's Art Districts
Discover Denver's thriving creative community during a First Friday celebration, held every first Friday of the month. Galleries in Denver's creative art districts stay open late.
Free Denver Public Art Tours
Denver Arts & Venues invites art and architecture lovers to participate in free public art tours on foot, bike and scooter. These free guided tours focus on small segments of the city’s public art collection and give citizens and visitors the opportunity to venture inside venues such as the Ellie Caulkins Opera House and Colorado Convention Center to view works and hear the intimate details of their creation and installation.
Colorado State Capitol Tour
Tour the magnificent, gold-domed Colorado Capitol Building. Stand at exactly a mile high on the steps, see Allen True's beautiful murals, listen in on the Colorado General Assembly, and check out the gorgeous Rose Onyx wainscoting. Free tours are available on the hour 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.
U.S. Mint Tour
Learn how to make money! The U.S. Mint can produce more than 50 million coins a day, each one stamped with a little "D" for Denver. Free guided tours show every step in the process of turning a dull, blank, metal slug into shiny pocket change. Tours are available Monday through Thursday (excluding Federal holidays). All visitors must be 7 years and older. See the Mint's latest policies.
Denver Story Trek
Ever wonder about the stories of the places you pass? On Denver Story Trek you'll explore the stories behind Denver's historic landscapes and landmarks on an interactive, self-guided tour of the city. It's simple to use and free!
Great Divide Brewery Tour
Get a behind-the-scenes look at Denver's craft beer world on a free tour at the Great Divide Brewery downtown or the Great Divide Barrel Bar in RiNo. Tours at both locations take place at 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., Mon.–Fri. and each hour from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Museum
Housed in Empower Field at Mile High (home of the Denver Broncos ), the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Museum honors the legacies of The Mile High City's greatest sports heroes and features the Gallery of Legends, a "Great Moments in Colorado Sports" exhibit and a section celebrating the achievements of girls and women in Colorado Sports.
Denver Central Library
Denver Central Library has an impressive art gallery on the seventh floor. The library is best known, perhaps, for its Western History Collection, which covers the earliest explorations, Spanish land grants, Native American history, the gold rush era and the present day with a particular focus on the Rocky Mountain West.
Denver Beer Trail
The Denver Beer Trail provides a sampling of Denver’s top microbreweries. Follow the suggested routes or pick and choose from the list of featured breweries.
Rockmount Ranch Wear
Browse the racks and enjoy the free museum at Lower Downtown's historic Rockmount Ranch Wear, the originator of the western snap-button shirt. The walls are adorned with photos of the many celebs who have worn Rockmount shirts, including Eric Clapton, Robert Redford and Elvis Presley.
Tattered Cover Book Store
The Tattered Cover is one of the nation's most well-known independent bookstores with 10 locations across the state. It often hosts free signings by some of the literary world's most famous authors. They also offer free Wi-Fi if you want to surf the net while you're there.