Five Things to Do for Free in Denver (and Beyond) Today

This weekend is full of opportunities to expand your mind, your horizons and your home decor.

Keep reading for five of the best free events in town today.

Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend Art Market and Festival
Sunday, October 9, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut Street, Boulder
In 2016, Boulder adopted Indigenous Peoples Day, with events through October 12 this year. At the Dairy, artisans from Native communities across the nation will display their handmade wares while traditional musicians and dancers perform, and the Little Sizzle food truck will be dishing out fry bread sandwiches and street tacos. A Sand Creek memorial will be observed on Sunday afternoon as things wind down. Find a schedule and learn more about related ticketed events here.

OUT! At the Museum
Sunday, October 9, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard
On this SCFD free day, the entire museum is open for free, except for the temporary exhibitions and planetarium, which require an additional charge. And there will be special events today, courtesy of LGBTQ partners. Out Boulder County will help you make your own rainbow galaxy slime; the Mile High Freedom Bands will perform in small ensembles on stage; and Joy as Resistance will be making pronouns and identity beaded bracelets. Find out more and register here.

Ofrendas 2022: Celebration of Life at Levitt Pavilion
Sunday, October 9, noon to 3 p.m.
Levitt Pavilion Denver, 1380 West Florida Avenue
The Latino Cultural Arts Center is back at Levitt Pavilion to kick off Ofrendas 2022, a Día de los Muertos-themed program promoting creative collaborations between artists, artisans, educators and mental-health professionals with the community to address personal losses. It’s free to join in a Zumba class, a performance by Cipriano and dancing to live music headlined by Los Mocochetes, or opt for the $35 VIP ticket with perks. Either way, RSVP at Ticketweb. Learn more — and check out LCAC’s slate of 2022 Ofrendas workshops — here.

Finding the Edge / Edge Effect: Lost and Found, Poetry Workshop with Poet Suzi Q. Smith
Sunday, October 9, 1 to 3 p.m.
Tail Tracks Plaza, 1550 Wewatta Street
Gabriel Rico’s totem sculpture series "La inclusión de mi raza (the inclusion of my race)” remains on view at Tail Tracks Plaza, courtesy of the Biennial of the Americas, through November 13. But here’s another reason to go have a look if you haven’t already (or to return): Denver poet and community mover and shaker Suzi Q. Smith will lead a free poetry workshop inspired by assemblage artworks intended to lead viewers through a Colorado-centric ecosystem. Meet Smith at the sculpture site to tour the work, then retire to the Wynkoop Brewing Company to a writing and beer-drinking session. RSVP here in advance.
Doors Open Denver
Through Sunday, October 16
All over Denver and online
Doors Open Denver has returned, with eight new virtual tours as well as virtual tours archived from DOD 2020 and 2021 that you can watch for free on the Denver Architecture Foundation website. The new virtual tours include looks at Eugene Groves’s Nordlund House, J. Roger Musick’s Bitman-Hower House, Watkins Stained Glass, the United States Air Force Academy, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, Historic Elitch Theatre and the Howard Berkeley Park Chapel. In addition to these free online tours, you can ante up for dozens of in-person tours and other programs. Get all the details here.

Do you know of a great event in Denver? We'll be updating this list throughout the weekend; send information to [email protected].