Free for All: Five Free Events in Denver This Week

As Denver grows with each passing month, its residents, both new and old, have more and more opportunities to participate in a thriving cultural scene. From family-friendly outdoor movie screenings and visits from celebrated authors to Lucha Libre wrestling and sordid tales of the road, the offerings from the city's creative community keep flowing all week long. Penny-pinching locals needn't break the bank to break up the monotony, either. Each of the following events is open to the public for the low, low cost of free (or included with the purchase of a book you should already have). With this many fun and free activities going on, Denverites will have no one to blame for their boredom but themselves.

Monday Movie Madness
Monday, July 10, 7:30 p.m.
Infinity Park at Glendale
With summertime upon us, local cinephiles can while away their balmy evenings with Monday Movie Madness at Glendale's Infinity Park. The organizers of Monday Movie Madness, which boasts a brand-new jumbo-sized screen, asked visitors which movies they'd most like to see, resulting in a program of family-friendly hits and crowd-pleasing classics like this week's choice, Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The series continues throughout the summer, with Finding Dory on July 17, Top Gun on July 24 and Sing on August 7. Gates open at 6:30 p.m.; arrive early to set up lawn chairs and blankets, or just spread out across the grass. Visit moviesatinfinitypark.com to learn more.

Tales of the Tour
Tuesday, July 11, 7 p.m.
Infinite Monkey Theorem
For musicians, comedians, dancers or even church choirs, a life on the road can be a professional necessity that provides both the dizzying highs and crushing lows of creative pursuits. Whether lifting or dashing your spirits, Tales of the Tour's evening of storytelling, at the hip downtown winery Infinite Monkey Theorem, is all about these experiences. Spotlighting tales from Stephen Brackett of Flobots, Kevin Larkin of Chimney Choir and Michael Catlin of Genius Media, Tales of the Tour encourages creatives to bring forth their most entertaining travelogues. The fine folks at Raconteur Denver are spearheading the event, which starts at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Visit the Raconteur Denver event page to learn more.

Keep reading for more free events.

DBC Comedy Showcasetacular
Wednesday, July 12, 8:30 p.m.
Denver Bicycle Cafe
The Denver Bicycle Cafe, a favored haunt for uptown cyclists and brewhounds, has quietly persisted as a comedy venue over the past few years. In addition to his weekly Sunday night open mic, local comic Roger Haak has helped produce a series of standup showcases in DBC's inviting taproom. Although Haak's regular co-host, James Xiong, recently moved away, and Haak himself will be out of town for his honeymoon, he'll be ably replaced by Zach Welch, one of Denver's funniest up-and-coming young comedians. The lineup includes local mirth merchants Roger Stafford, Priscilla Spangler, Zeke Herrera and headliner Christie Buchele, a founding member of the Pussy Bros. and co-host of the Empty Girlfriend podcast. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. Visit the Facebook events page to learn more.

Roxane Gay's Hunger: Book Discussion and Signing
Friday, July 14, 7 p.m.
Tattered Cover Colfax
Among the most important voices in the world of contemporary literature, Roxane Gay is a celebrated writer and cultural commentator whose work has appeared in McSweeney's, Oxford American and the New York Times where she contributes a regular opinion column. Her books, Ayiti, An Untamed State, Bad Feminist and Difficult Women  contain expertly-written insights into confounding social issues. Indeed they've become cultural flash points and rallying cries for her many readers. Gay, who's also collaborated with Marvel Comics on the Black Panther: World of Wakanda series has permeated the zeitgeist on a whole new level with her most recent book, Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body. A fearless examination of how societal pressures infiltrate our relationship with food and our own bodies, Hunger has provoked an overdue national conversation. That conversation continues on Friday, July 14, at a reading and signing event at the Tattered Cover's Colfax location. Free numbered tickets are available with the purchase of Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body ($25.99 Harper) from any Tattered Cover location. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis, so we recommend arriving early. Visit the Tattered Cover's events calendar to learn more.

Lucha Libre & Laughs
Sunday, July 16, 7 p.m.
Ratio Beerworks
Lucha Libre & Laughs' monthly showcases at the Oriental is a perennial favorite here in the pages of Westword, but producer/bumbling referee Nick Gossert has brought the show to a variety of different stages, such as the Crom Comedy Festival (R.I.P.) and the Denver Taco Festival. He's also produced a number of free showcases for die-hard fans at Ratio Beerworks. A streamlined version of the show Denver's comedy/wrestling nerds know and love, Sunday night's Lucha Libre & Laughs show includes fan favorites like Cody Devine, Johnny Crash, the Miracle That Is Tony, Delta Junior and more, slamming and sparring in the ring while local comics Ian Douglas Terry and Mitch Jones provide punched-up color commentary. Visit the Facebook events page to learn more.

Look for more to do? Visit the Westword calendar.