But after the tragedy at Evergreen High School this week, today's Day of the Arts fest at the Center for the Arts Evergreen was canceled. Instead, the center organized a community art project: creating wooden hearts to hang around town.
Check our weekly list for one-off activities worth the price of admission. Now keep reading for free things to do in Denver (and beyond) this week:
Ongoing
SCFD Free DaysLocations and dates vary
Thanks to the sales tax you pay into the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, many art institutions around the metro area offer occasional free days and programs. You'll get free admission to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science on September 15; for more upcoming bargains, check the SCFD site. Civic Center EATS
Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Civic Center Park
For over a decade, food trucks have rallied at Civic Center for lunchtime fun that often includes live entertainment. The fall session started September 10.
Skyline Beer Garden
Wednesday through Sunday
16th and Arapahoe streets
Experience summer the Denver way at this outdoor beer garden with food, drinks, games and live entertainment all summer long. Find the complete schedule here.
Upper DownTUNES
Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 4 to 7 p.m.
Outer Space, 16th and Welton streets
Liven up your lunch at Upper DownTUNES, a free live music series in Upper Downtown Denver.
This weekend
Jaipur FestivalSaturday, September 13, and Sunday, September 14, 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Boulder Public Library, 1001 Canyon Boulevard, Boulder
The eleventh edition of JLF Colorado is a sibling of the world-renowned Jaipur Literature Festival. JLF Colorado brings together acclaimed authors, thinkers, and changemakers from Colorado and around the globe for inspiring discussions.
Fall Plant & Garden Event
Saturday, September 13, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Resource Central, 6400 Arapahoe Road, Boulder
Shop waterwise plants, browse reclaimed garden tools and yard equipment, and stop by the Eco-Cycle tent for composting tips and Microbe Brew to nourish your soil. With a live DJ and an ice cream truck adding to the fun, this is the perfect chance to prepare your yard for the season while supporting local conservation and keeping useful materials out of the landfill.
Centennial Chalk Art Festival
Saturday, September 13, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Streets of Southglenn, 6851 South Vine Street
Happy 25th birthday, Centennial! In honor of the day, nearly 100 artists will transform the pavement at the Streets of Southglenn. There will also be live music, a Children's Entrepreneur Market featuring over forty booths, and a free pancake breakfast starting at 10 a.m. The chalk-art winners will be announced at 3:30 p.m.
Art on the Green
Saturday, September 13, and Sunday, September 14, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Curtis Park, Greenwood Village
Art on the Green is a free, all-Colorado art fair featuring dozens of artist booths, food trucks, live music and much more at Greenwood Village’s Curtis Park, located next to Curtis Center for the Arts.
Second Saturday: Colorado Food Innovation Showcase
Saturday, September 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
CSU Spur, National Western Center
Find Colorado food entrepreneurs (and try free samples!) at this special Second Saturday at CSU Spur. The Food Innovation Center is hosting a showcase that will include more than two dozen up-and-coming local businesses. There wil also be interactive, hands-on activities ranging from trying virtual reality demonstrations in the Vida building to playing all sorts of instruments in the Hydro building’s Music Lab. There will also be an outdoor market along the National Western Center Riverfront.
Park Hill Open House
Saturday, September 13, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Hiawatha Davis Recreation Center, 3334 Holly Street
Denver Parks & Recreation and Denver Community Planning & Development is hosting an open house to discuss both the Park Hill Park and the Park Hill Community Action Plan. Stop in anytime during the three-hour session to see what's in the works.
Rootbeer Richie & The Reveille will be at the Sunnyside Music Festival.
Rootbeer Richie
Saturday, September 13, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Chaffee Park
The Sunnyside Music Festival returns with a day of free fun, ranging from yoga to an artisans' market to a kids' activitie area to food vendors. And a lot of music, of course.
Chai and Chat
Saturday, September 13, noon to 5 p.m.
Roshni Healing Arts Sanctuary, 9709 East Colfax Avenue
Part of the New American Arts Festival, Chai and Chat is a response to the current political, cultural and socio-economic landscape that promotes a further divide between "haves" and "have nots." Sarzamin (Homeland) will showcase the history and art of Afghanistan; Rhythms of Resilience is a celebration of Congolese culture in Aurora. You'll get a taste of Afghan and Congolese cuisine, too. The theme of the fest is "Confluence — Move as One, Excluding None, and the lineup includes performances of Ryan Makepeace's ICE Baby/Inside Colfax East, an original play about a dancer and a community leader, at 7 p.m. today and 2 p.m. tomorrow. Events continue through September 21.
Ethiopian Day Celebration 2025
Saturday, September 13, noon to 7 p.m.
Aurora Municipal Building, 15151 East Alameda Parkway, Aurora
Colorado is home to one of the largest Ethiopian populations in the Rocky Mountain region, with an estimated 30,000+ Ethiopian-Americans living in the metro area alone. At this free celebration, the community will gather to celebrate the Ethiopian new year, with highlights including live music, dance performances, traditional food and artisan vendors.
Colorado Black Equity Study Community Listening Session
Saturday, September 13, noon to 2 p.m.
History Colorado, 1200 Broadway
Join the Colorado Black Equity Study team at History Colorado for a community listening session; learn about the study's progress, and share your own experiences.
Handmade in Colorado Expo
Saturday, September 13, and Sunday, September 14, noon to 6 p.m.
Wynkoop Plaza at Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop Street
Colorado’s biggest celebration of local art and handcrafted items pulls into Union Station today; all merchandise displayed at this show is handmade in the state and sold directly by both local emerging and experienced artisans. There will be live music, too.
The Dry Hop Fest
Saturday, September 13, noon to 4 p.m.
Phoenix Community Center, 2233 Champa Street
Join The Phoenix and community partners for Denver’s largest non-alcoholic beer fest. Celebrate the growing world of NA craft beer with thirty-plus vendors, eats from a local food truck, and a chance to win exclusive prizes in an NA product raffle. sobriety.
Aurora "Mallapalooza" 50th Anniversary Celebration
Saturday, September 13, and Sunday, September 14, noon to 8 p.m.
Town Center at Aurora, 14200 East Alameda Avenue, Aurora
Celebrate fifty years of the Aurora Mall at this weekend-long party in the parking lot filled with live music, food, games and community vibes. Admission is free with registration.
Celebrate 50 LOVE! at Gates
Saturday, September 13, 5 p.m.
Gates Tennis Center, 3300 East Bayaud Avenue
Come early to catch the elite amateur tennis competition of the Colorado State Open Quarter/Semi Finals that start at noon. At 5 p.m. today in the West Center Court, there will be a fiftieth anniversary recognition presented by Kim Yuan-Farrell, executive director of the Park People, the non-profit operating agency of Gates which collaborates with the Gates Family Foundation and Denver Parks & Recreation in facility operations; register here. The finals are tomorrow, and the play is livestreamed.
Oktoberfest: Denver Philharmonic Free Season Opening Party
Saturday, September 13, 7 to 10 p.m.
Diebolt Brewing Company, 3855 Mariposa Street
Join the Denver Philharmonic for its season kickoff with a night of music, brews and Bavarian bragging rights. Meet new maestro Scott O’Neil and enjoy live brass in the beer garden; there will also be stein-holding, and other Oktoberfest traditions. Although admission is free, a donation of $7.80 (in honor of season 78) is suggested.
Cherry Creek Trail Wall Fest
Sunday, September 14, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Cherry Creek Trail, between Sixth and First avenues
The paint will flow as the city celebrates local artists adding new murals to the walls along the Cherry Creek Trail in real time. At this first annual event, artists include Bradley Hansen, Brian Simmonds, Chloe Hanley, Chris Haven, Eric Weatherford, Gus Reynolds, Jason Hernandez, Jonathan Swartz, Lionnel Bumbakini, Tukeone, Noelle Miller, Patrick McGregor, Thien Tai, Thomas Berger, Tom Bond, Will Barker and Zaida Sever.
Fur-Ever Pet Fest
Sunday, September 14, 9 a.m. to noon
Fairmount Family Pet Loss Care, 430 South Quebec Street
This inaugural Fur-Ever Pet Fest includes crafts, food, dog boutiques and a pet blessing.
Taste of Ethiopia Festival
Sunday, September 14, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
City Park Pavilion and Bandshell
Celebrate Enkutatash, the Ethiopian New Year (which actually starts September 11), at Colorado's eleventh annual Taste of Ethiopia Festival, now in City Park. "This is more than a festival; it’s a shared New Year’s celebration with our entire Colorado community,” says Nebiyu Asfaw, chairman and co-founder of the Taste of Ethiopia Heritage Foundation. “Moving to City Park and aligning with Enkutatash allows us to share the true meaning of this holiday — renewal, community, and joy — on a grander scale than ever before.” The lineup includes food, live music and dance, and a cultural market, as well as family activities.
Denver Zine Fest
Sunday, September 14, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Denver Central Library, 10 West 14th Avenue Parkway
The Denver Zine Library has been a Denver treasure for two decades. Its annual zine fest is bigger and better than ever this year, with a prime spot at the DPL. Read all about it in Kristen Fiore's story.
Weenies & Mimosas Dachshund Meetup
Sunday, September 14, 11 a.m.
McGregor Square, 1901 Wazee Street
McGregor Square is hosting its first-ever Weenies & Mimosas. Bring your dachshund to meet their new best friends, with pup cups and weenie swag provided by Sploot vets!
Block Party and Youth Music Festival
Sunday, September 14, 1 to 6 p.m.
Youth on Record, 1301 West Tenth Avenue
Youth on Record's eleventh annual Block Party and Youth Music Festival brings together hundreds of all-ages music lovers for powerful performances from emerging artists, food trucks, community vendors and free activities.
Viva Southwest Mariachi
Sunday, September 14, 5 p.m. (doors at 4)
Levitt Pavilion, 1380 West Florida Avenue
Viva Southwest Mariachi celebrates the richness of mariachi music, with students from across Colorado — an all-state youth group known as Mariachi Estelares de Colorado — opening for headliner Lupita Infante, a critically acclaimed Mexican-American singer-songwriter and granddaughter of legendary Pedro Infante. She's redefining ranchera music for a new generation, blending traditional and modern mariachi.
Plan ahead
Colorado Startup WeekTuesday, September 16, through Thursday, September 18
Downtown Denver
Colorado Startup Week is a free, community-driven celebration of bold ideas and entrepreneurial spirit — across Colorado and beyond. As the largest event of its kind in North America, CSW brings together over 10,000 founders, investors, creatives, and changemakers for a week of learning, inspiration and connection. Find the full schedule here.
Food, Culture & Journalism
Thursday, September 18, 10 to 11:45 a.m.
Anderson Academic Commons, Room 290, 2150 East Evans Avenue, University of Denver
This year's Margolin lecture is by Gustavo Arellano, author of "Ask a Mexican," 2023 Pulitzer Prize winner, celebrated Los Angeles Times columnist and winner of this year's University of Denver Anvil of Freedom, talking about Mexican cuisine, Latino communities and the power of storytelling through food. Julia Roncoroni, associate professor in the Morgridge College of Education and head of the Health Disparities Research Lab, will start the program with insights from her forthcoming cookbook; additional remarks will come from Lina Reznicek-Parrado, associate teaching professor and director of the Spanish Program for Heritage/Bilingual Speakers, and Carlos Jimenez Jr., associate professor in Media, Film and Journalism Studies. The event is open to the public; register here.
Do you know of a great free event? We update this list through the week; send information to [email protected].
