Brandon Marshall
Audio By Carbonatix
The weather’s warming and things are looking hot, with big St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Keggs & Eggs has moved to Union Station, where the party starts early today; the parade will kick off in the same area tomorrow morning. Arvada and Aurora are having parties, too, and pooches will be parading in Boulder and along Welton Street.
There’s also a big paid party on Larimer Street. For info on that and more ticketed options, check our list of activities worth the price of admission. Now keep reading for free things to do in Denver (and beyond) this weekend.
Ongoing
SCFD Free Days
Locations and dates vary
Thanks to the sales tax you pay into the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, many arts institutions around the metro area offer occasional free days and programs. For dates, check the SCFD site.
Colorado State Capitol Tours
Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
200 East Colfax Avenue|
The Capitol is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free guided tours are available, but limited to thirty people on a first come, first served basis. Check in at the Visitor Information Desk, which opens at 9 a.m.
America 250 – Colorado 150
Through 2026
Around the state
Happy 150th birthday, Colorado! On August 1, 1876, Colorado became a state, and there will be celebrations all year — at the same time this country is celebrating its 250th anniversary. You can find a full list of the activities at Am250CO150.org, but don’t miss the already-open exhibits at the History Colorado Center: Moments That Made US, 38th Star: Colorado Becomes the Centennial State, and the new John Fielder show, Majestic Mountains.
Thornton Yesterday, Thornton Today, Thornton Tomorrow
Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thornton Arts & Culture Center Annex, 9211 Dorothy Boulevard
When Sam Hoffman purchased the land that would one day become the City of Thornton and began building homes in 1954, he envisioned a thriving community that could stand on its own — a dream realized just two years later when Thornton officially became a city in 1956. Thornton is celebrating its seventieth anniversary with Thornton Yesterday, Thornton Today, Thornton Tomorrow, an exhibit that opened January 5 and runs through the year.
Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways Photography Exhibit
Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sangres Art Guild’s 3rd Street Gallery, 59000 Highway 69, Westcliffe
Start your celebration of Colorado’s sesquicentennial with a visit to Westcliffe, which just opened a show of 52 photographs taken along Colorado’s Scenic and Historic Byways. Frontier Pathways, Custer County Tourism and the Sangres Art Guild are hosting the Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways exhibition through April 19, with a Welcome Spring reception on March 21. Learn more at visitwetmountainvalley.com.
“We Are the Land”
Denver’s YouTube
On February 7, Landmark Preservation staff and the American Indian community celebrated the culmination of more than three years of work to preserve and celebrate the history and culture of Denver’s current American Indian population, as well as Tribal Nations with cultural and historic ties to the land that is now Denver, with the oral history project “We are the Land: American Indian Life, Legacy and Future in Denver.” The project includes an accompanying documentary produced by Off the Road Productions, “We Are the Land,” which is now available on Denver’s YouTube channel.
USPS
This Week
Nonprofit Networking Breakfast Summit
Friday, March 13, 8 to 11 a.m.
Serendipity Labs, 1801 Wewatta Street
This free event will bring together nonprofit professionals, 501(c)(3) organizations, human service providers, and corporate leaders from across the Denver metro for a morning of meaningful connections and discussions, with a complimentary breakfast.
Keggs & Eggs 2026
Friday, March 13, 8 a.m. (doors at 7 a.m.)
Union Station Great Hall, 1701 Wynkoop Street
KTCL’s Keggs & Eggs is moving to Union Station for its twentieth anniversary, bringing live music and a free party to the Great Hall. There will be performances by Sublime, alongside The Paradox and Bike Routes, as well as special themed food and drink offerings. If you really want to live it up, book a Crawford Hotel package. But for the rest, it’s first come, first served; queue up early on the Wynkoop Plaza.
RiNo Made Pop-Up Closing & Artist Event
Friday, March 13, 4 to 8 p.m.
Truss House, 3400 Arkins Court
RiNo Made Pop Ups are designed to support the creative economy, strengthen community and activate unoccupied spaces in the area. The first iteration is ending March 16, and this gathering will feature artist talks, curatorial walkthroughs and a final chance to visit with the first cohort of Yvens Alex Saintil, Jenna Annunziato, Erin McAllister, Miguel Angel Aguilar and Justin DeCou (JUHB).
St. Patrick’s Day Burlesque Show
Friday, March 13, 7 to 9 p.m.
Cruise Room, Oxford Hotel, 1600 17th Street
The seasonal burlesque shows continue with a free St. Patrick’s Day celebration at one of Denver’s greatest bars.
Terminal Bar St. Patrick’s Day Parade Watch Party
Saturday, March 14, 9 a.m.
Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop Street
Want a front row seat to the St. Patrick’s Day parade? The Terminal Bar is hosting a watch party, where you can ctch the parade right as it marches down Wynkoop Street for its turn down 17th Avenue. There will be a live DJ on hand, and drink specials
St. Patrick’s Day Party at McGregor Square
Saturday, March 11, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
McGregor Square, 1901 Wazee Street
Before and after the parade, you can celebrate at McGregor Square, which is offering plenty of specials and lots of free entertainment.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade: “Stars, Strips & Shamrocks”
Saturday, March 14, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
19th and Wynkoop Streets
The 64th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off at 9:30 a.m. from the corner of 19th and Wynkoop, turns left on 17th Street to Blake Street, then marches east on Blake and ends at 27th and Blake at the Coors Field parking lot. Find the schedule of parade week events here.
Here for the Shenanigans St. Patrick’s Day Party
Saturday, March 14, 10 a.m. to midnight
Wonderyard, 2200 Larimer Street
While there’s a ticketed festival nearby, Wonderyard is hosting a free, all-day St. Patrick’s Day party filled with outdoor fun, with drink specials and yard games.
Second Saturday at CSU Spur: Girls and Science
Saturday, March 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
CSU Spur, 4777 National Western Drive
Celebrate “Girls and Science” at this month’s Second Saturday at CSU Spur. All three buildings will offer activities, including lectures by the Colorado State Forest Service, vetinarians performing surgey on dogs and cats, virtual reality demonstrations and more. Two mini horses will be on display, and Girls Inc. will be giving away free, animal-themed STEM activity boxes for kids.
Shamrock the Block
Saturday, March 14, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Dairy Block, 1800 Wazee Street
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade will pass right by the Dairy Block, making the Milk Market and Alley ideal places to set up base camp, listen to live music, get glitter tattoos and enjoy drink and food specials.
Olde Town Arvada St. Patrick’s Day Festival
Saturday, March 14, noon to 6 p.m.
Olde Town Arvada
Everyone’s Irish at Arvada’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival, a street festival with almost a hundred vendors and food trucks, a dedicated kid’s zone, adult libations and lots of live music on two stages, with a march led by Centennial State Pipes and Drums from Cheapskates to Olde Town Square at noon. Other performers include Eric Golden, School of Rock, Guerrilla Fanfare and The McDeviants.
St. Patrick’s Day at Town Center of Aurora
Saturday, March 14, noon to 4 p.m.
Town Center, 14200 East Alameda Avenue, Aurora
Celebrate the luck of the Irish with us in Aurora, with performances by the Celtic Steps Irish Step dancing team and the local Irish band the Queen City Rovers, as well as St. Patrick’s Day-themed crafts and activities.
St. Patrick’s Day Puppy Parade
Saturday, March 14, 1 p.m.
1600 38th Street, Boulder
Boulder Social’s third annual St. Patrick’s Day Puppy Parade kicks off at 1 p.m. at the club, starting in the back parking lot, then heading down Arapahoe and around 38th Street. There will be a wrap-up part on the dog-friendly patio and in the parking lot. It costs $10 to enter your pet in the parade and costume contest (registration starts at 11 a.m,, and you get a free Boulder Social Beer); watchingis free. Proceeds go to POSO Dog Rescue.
St. Paddy’s Day Pet Parade
Saturday, March 14, 1:30 p.m.
Sonny Lawson Park, Welton Street
Dress your four-legged friends in green for a festive pet parade down Welton Street. This community gathering is all free.
El Pinon St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
Saturday, March 14, 2 to 11 p.m.
La Vista, 5500 East Colfax Avenue
The gathering place in the revived La Vista motel is hosting its first St. Patrick’s Day celebration, complete with a guest DJ in the parking lot and food and beer specials.
Local Author Meet and Greet
Sunday, March 15, 3 to 6 p.m.
Fiction Beer Company, 7101 East Colfax Avenue
Looking for a new book to read? Swing by the Fiction Beer taproom to meet local authors, who’ll be talking about their books…and selling them. The lineup: Christine Layne/RC Lehan, Contemporary Romance/Horror & Dark Romance; Rae Valtera, Fantasy, Ann H. Fox; Fantasy, Ian Thomas Healy, Sci fi, Superhero; TJ Lundin, Fantasy/Adventure; and Mikaelynn Rose, Urban Fantasy Romance.
Beagle Meet and Greet
Sunday, March 15, 4 to 6 p.m.
Bruz Beers, 1675 West 67th Avenue, Suite 100
John Ramer from Wyoming’s Kindness Ranch, a sanctuary for animals used in laboratories, and Uno, a beagle bred for research, will be in town this weekend for appearances and events, including this appearance at Bruz Beers.
Do you know of a great free event? We update this list throughout the week; send information to editorial@westword.com.