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Enjoy the best Denver has to offer this fall without stretching your budget. The Mile High City is packed with free festivals, attractions and activities that will keep you busy all season long!
Carved from towering red rock monuments, Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre in Morrison 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.
Fall in Colorado isn’t complete without taking in the brilliant transformation of the state’s signature tree, the Aspen. The fall change from mellow green to stunning gold takes place during various weeks in September, depending on where you are — and since the color only lasts a week, timing is everything! One of the best leaf-peeping routes on the Rocky Mountain Front Range is the Peak to Peak Highway and Scenic Byway that travels the high-altitude road between Black Hawk and Estes Park. Virtually every way you look, you’ll see majestic Aspen colors. Another great Front Range ride is along the Guanella Pass Scenic Byway, just south of the historic town of Georgetown. Bunches of blazing Aspen can be found all over this incredible drive.
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.
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.
Travel back in time at the Littleton Museum and get a glimpse into Colorado's pioneer past. Located on 39 acres, 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.
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.
WHEN: TBA 2022
WHERE: Pearl Street Mall, Boulder
Firefly Handmade is beyond excited to once again join this cherished Boulder tradition! Browse goods from more than 100 fabulous Firefly Handmade artisans, enjoy live music and sip drinks at the beer/wine/margarita garden. Admission is free.
WHEN: TBA 2022
WHERE: Throughout Denver
Enjoy nine days of all things beer during Denver Beer Week, with tons of beer-related events. Head to The Mile High City for tap takeovers, rare beer tappings, firkin nights, meet-the-brewer events, beer and food pairings and much, much more.
WHEN: TBA 2022
WHERE: Boulder Bandshell, Boulder
Casual Fest takes over the Boulder Bandshell for a day of local artists, authors, and speakers. The goal is to create a free public art and music event to connect the community.
Enjoy nine days of all things beer during Denver Beer Week.
Denver Arts Week is the perfect time to explore the city's many galleries and artist studios.
WHEN: TBA 2022
WHERE: Various venues throughout town
Each year, Denverites observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15. It's a month-long celebration of the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
WHEN: TBA 2022
WHERE: Empower Field at Mile High
BBQ is back! Don't miss this chance to grab an ice-cold brew and sample pure smoked bliss from award-winning pitmasters from across the country. Admission is free with BBQ, drinks and more available to purchase, or get an all-you-can-eat-drink Q Pit Pass.
WHEN: TBA 2022
WHERE: Central Park's Conservatory Green Neighborhood
This free fine art and fine crafts festival supports Colorado artists while showcasing a select group of national artists.
WHEN: TBA 2022
WHERE: Olde Town Arvada
Enjoy a weekend of shopping featuring more than 100 hand-selected artisans in the heart of Olde Town Arvada to find trendsetting indie goods, including original fashion and jewelry, paper goods, innovative home decor and housewares, art, photography, food, plus much more. Admission is free!
WHEN: TBA 2022
WHERE: Parfet Park, Golden
Colorado’s premier mountain festival features a fun-filled, family-friendly weekend of multi-sport adventuring, educational programming and celebration of all things Mountain! The free festival will feature a variety of clinics, competitions, gear demos, swag, entertainment and local food and libations.
WHEN: TBA 2022
WHERE: Belleview Station
Denver BAZAAR's signature makers marketplace returns just in time for fall shopping and sipping. Spanning three blocks, the free Autumn BAZAAR at Belleview Station brings a shopping party to the streets to support local small businesses!
WHEN: TBA 2022
WHERE: Cheesman Park
More than 130 artists and craftsmen from across the country will showcase their work at the 2021 Cheesman Park Art Fest. This is a juried event, and the festival organizers take pride in the curated selection of hand-made, American-made work sold directly by the artists.
WHEN: TBA 2022
WHERE: Throughout Denver
Denver Arts Week is a celebration of all things art in The Mile High City, featuring events at a wide variety of art galleries, museums, theaters and concert halls.
WHEN: TBA 2022
WHERE: Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Explore the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, a maze filled with treasures of the earth: dinosaurs, dioramas, space exhibits, science experiments, a digital planetarium, an IMAX theatre and touring shows.
WHEN: TBA 2022
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
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.
WHEN: TBA 2022
WHERE: Clyfford Still Museum
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.
WHEN: TBA 2022
WHERE: History Colorado Center
History Colorado Center showcases powerful stories, honoring Colorado’s treasured memories and vibrant communities through exhibitions and programs. The center is also home to the State Historic Preservation Office and Stephen H. Hart Research Center — the portal to History Colorado’s more than 200,000 artifacts.
WHEN: TBA 2022
WHERE: Four Mile Historic Park
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 second Friday of each month.
WHEN: TBA 2022
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens
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.
WHEN: TBA 2022
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield Farms, Littleton
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.
WHEN: TBA 2022
WHERE: Plains Conservation Center, Aurora
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 .
WHEN: TBA 2022
WHERE: MCA Denver
Okay, so it's not technically free. But every first Saturday of the month, Colorado residents can explore MCA Denver for just $0.01.
WHEN: TBA 2021
WHERE: Museo de las Americas
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.
WHEN: TBA 2022
WHERE: Denver Zoo
Say hello to the animals for free this season. Denver Zoo, located in City Park , spans over 75 acres and is home to more than 4,000 animals, including rare amur leopards, okapi, black rhinoceros, elephants, vampire bats, orangutan, Komodo dragons and more!
WHEN: TBA 2022
WHERE: Colorado Railroad Museum
Travel back in time at this 15-acre railyard and museum in nearby Golden. The Colorado Railroad Museum feature over 100 engines, cabooses and coaches, a garden railway and a library and roundhouse restoration facility with working turntable.
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.
WHEN: Thru April, Tuesdays–Saturdays
WHERE: Meier Skis
Meier Skis offers two free tour options to learn about how trees are turned into skis. Grab a seat at the bar, made from ski core wood with windows looking onto the factory floor. Enjoy a complimentary locally brewed beer while a friendly skitender explains the ski-building process. Or reserve a 5 p.m. happy hour tour and go behind the scenes and learn about each step in the ski-making process.
Night Lights Denver features rotating content designed by local artists and the community and projected on the Arapahoe Street side of the Daniels & Fisher Tower every Thursday through Saturday evening.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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