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. Admission to Four Mile Historic Park is free on Friday, August 22; for 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 summer session has started, with a new truck lineup.
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. On Saturday, August 23, there will be a special Pups & Pints, a dog-friendly afternoon from noon to 5 p.m. 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 Week
Sunset Cinema: Bridesmaids
Tuesday, August 19, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Sculpture Park, Denver Performing Arts Complex
The city's Sunset Cinema summer movie series concludes with an outdoor screening of Bridesmaids. Before the movie starts at 7:30 p.m., there will be food trucks (you can also bring picnics), a photo booth and an all-female improv set by Chaos Bloom Improv Theater.
Ukraine: Supporting the Fight for Freedom
Tuesday, August 19, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Arvada Community Room, 7601 Grandview Avenue, Arvada
Mark Hayward, a former Special Forces medic and a volunteer in Ukraine since 2022, will speak about what is currently happening there and the work he and friends have been doing to help — from training troops to use javelin missiles, to building drone jammers and portable surgery tables and refurbishing and delivering ambulances. Donations will be accepted.
The Narrators: Grades
Wednesday, August 20, 8 p.m. (doors at 7:30)
Buntport Theater, 717 Lipan Street
The longest-running storytelling program in Denver returns to Buntport with this month's theme: Grades. Hosted by Erin Rollman, Andrew Orvedahl and Ron S. Doyle, this round features comedians, actors, musicians and writers, including Regan Linton, Bethany Adams, Christie Buchele, Adrian Holguin and Izaiah Buseth.
CU Denver Block Party
Thursday, August 21, noon to 3 p.m.
Education Corridor, Lawrence Street between Speer and 14th Street
CU Denver kicks off the academic year with a community back-to-school event with interactive games, photo ops with Milo the Lynx, giveaways and more. Food trucks will be on hand.
Adult Spelling Bee
Thursday, August 21, 7 to 9 p.m. (seating at 6:45)
Adrift Tiki Bar, 218 South Broadway
Class is officially back in session – but this time, it’s for grown-ups only. Grab your #2 pencils, your favorite drinking buddies, and head to Adrift Tiki Bar for a Back to School-themed Adult Spelling Bee that’s equal parts brains and buzzed. Admission is free, but there's a two-item (cocktails, snacks or both) minimum to compete.
Jeff Bailey Book Tour: Mobility for Life
Thursday, August 21, 6:30 p.m.
Boulder Bookstore, 1107 Pearl Street, Boulder
Jeff Bailey will speak about and sign his new book, Mobility for Life: Healthy Joints, Strong Bones, and a Peaceful Mind with Avita Yoga, discussing how to improve your health by doing less and moving smarter. Although tickets are $5, you get $5 off your first book purchase.
Shakespeare in the Wild: Romeo and Juliet
Thursday, August 21, through Sunday, August 24, 7 p.m.
Goodson Rec Center, deKoevend Park, Centennial
Shakespeare in the Wild returns for a fourth season, this time presenting an outdoor staging of Shakespeare's most iconic love story, Romeo and Juliet. Bring blankets and a picnic; admission is free. The program will repeat the last weekend in August; RSVP here.
Artist Conversations with Catie Michel and Sarah Gonzalez Coffin
Friday, August 22, 6:30 p.m.
PlatteForum, 3575 Ringsby Court #103
PlatteForum intern will moderate this dialogue with artists Catie Michel and Sarah Gonzalez Coffin, who explore the themes of identity, place and our psychological connection to the natural world, drawing from their respective practices in art and research. Memoria, a multimedia storytelling project, is an exhibition examining the interconnectedness of the natural world and individual histories through the sharing of personal stories.
Civil Dusk: Performance by Artist Bethany Collins
Friday, August 22, 7:30 p.m.
Saint John's Cathedral, 1350 Washington Street
Civil Dusk is a special event presented in conjunction with MCA Denver’s current exhibition, The Future is Present, The Harbinger is Home: Selections from Prospect. 6, on view through August 24. Named after the first stage of twilight, Bethany Collins’ Civil Dusk (2024−2025) will begin as sunlight fades. The performance consists of multiple versions of Auld Lang Syne sung simultaneously, while focusing on a version historically sung by soldiers in the trenches of war; it will conclude at astronomical twilight, when the sunlight no longer illuminates the west-facing Charles Connick stained glass windows of Saint John’s Cathedral. The event is free, but registration is required.
Movies at McGregor: Shrek and Shrek 2
Saturday, August 23, 3 p.m.
McGregor Square, 1901 Wazee Street
The summer movie series concludes with a double feature: Shrek (3 p.m.) and Shrek 2 (5 p.m.) on the giant 66-foot LED screen, which offers a clear view even in the sunshine. Grab a chair or a seat on the lawn; there will be food and drink deals.
RiNo Summer Art Market
Saturday, August 23, 4 to 8 p.m.
RiNo ArtPark, 1900 35th Street
Don't miss the final RiNo Summer Art Market of the season, which will include work from more than fifty artists and crafters, as well as live sets from Bambinita (4 to 6) and Blessing Bled Chimanga (6:30 to 8); a DIY screenprinting station; a craft station for Pop Art Portraits with Fruits of Our Labor; an exclusive first look at digital works by Denver Digerati in the Truss House, with a sneak preview of the upcoming Digerati Experimental Media Festival; food trucks and more.
Do you know of a great free event? We update this list through the week; send information to [email protected].
