Eight Things to Do for Free in Denver This Weekend

After days of rain, this weekend is off to a sunnier start, with another round of Nuggets playoffs and plenty of outdoor activities. Weather willing, you can enjoy a food truck carnival in Northglenn, shop at a night market in Sun Valley and visit the Spring Farm Fest in Lakewood. And then there's that party at Ant Life...

Keep reading for eight of the best free events in metro Denver this weekend, and watch for updates:
Food Truck Carnival
Saturday, May 20, noon to 9 p.m.; Sunday, May 21, noon to 5 p.m.
E.B. Rains Park and E.B. Rains Park and Civic Center Campus, 11800 Community Center Drive, Northglenn
The City of Northglenn’s three-day Food Truck Carnival returns with a mixture of live music and street performers, carnival rides and games, and a rotation of food trucks. Entry to the area hosting food trucks and music is free (purchase food and drinks directly from vendors), but carnival passes are $30 to $35, and $3 to $6 per ride; sign up for a $5 pass discount here. Free parking is available at Wagon Road RTD Parking Lot, 600 West 120th Avenue, Westminster. Get more details here.

Pre-Pride Block Party
Saturday, May 20, noon to 6 p.m.
Bierstadt Lagerhaus, 2875 Blake Street
Get primed for Pride at the Bierstadt Lagerhaus, where an outdoor Pre-Pride Block Party will offer a taste of what’s to come in June, when the parties rev up and the scene comes fully alive. In the meantime, take advantage of the sneak peek to pick up some Pride paraphernalia at vendor booths and watch a drag show— this is Colorado, after all, where drag is alive and well — and let your queer flag fly. Admission is free, but be prepared to pay for beer and food; RSVP at Eventbrite.

Satellite Saturdays: Summer ArtPark Program
Saturday, May 20, noon to 4 p.m.
RiNo ArtPark, 1900 35th Street
RedLine is kicking off a monthly series of events in RiNo Art Park this summer with a day of art. Watch a 3D-Pen demonstration and then join in AR drawing workshops with resident alumni Jodi Stuart. Catch more interactive workshops as well as Slam Nuba performances, live music and more; food trucks will be on hand. Get the details here.

Rebel's Faire
Saturday, May 20, 2 to 8 p.m.
Ant Life, 2150 Market Street
Calling all rebels! Join a rag-tag band of artists, crafters, jewelers and rebels all for an afternoon "where you can see some cool stuff, buy some cool stuff, listen to some cool music, and generally exist despite everything getting us down." The party will be at the psychedelic wonderland known as Ant Life, and admission is free. Get the details here.

Con Men and Klansmen: Denver 100 Years Ago
Saturday, May 20, 3 p.m.
Sam Gary Branch Library, 2961 Roslyn Street
Journalist and author Alan Prendergast discusses his new book Gangbuster, a nonfiction account of Denver in the 1920s, and the archival reporting behind it. Admission is free; find out more here.

Thanks,
Sun Valley Viaduct Night Market
Saturday, May 20, 4 to 10 p.m.
Empower Field parking lot B, under the Colfax Viaduct
The Sun Valley Viaduct Night Market returns to its space under the viaduct by Mile High with another selection of ethnic food, vendor goods and cultural performances to celebrate Sun Valley’s remarkable diversity. Expect dishes from Vietnam, Somalia, Jordan and Mexico from a variety of vendors and food trucks, as well as art, clothing, food items, trinkets and gifts from other Sun Valley businesses. Admission is free, and parking is available in lots A, B and C at the stadium. Learn more at Eventbrite.

Plank Canvas 2023
Saturday, May 20, 7 p.m.
Denver SquareHouse, 4321 Broadway, Unit 4
Denver artist and skateboarder Kyle Garlock was looking at a pile of old skateboard decks when he got an idea: Have artists use them as canvases, then throw a party where people could mingle and buy the pieces. Last year Denver SquareHouse hosted the inaugural Plank Canvas; now it's back. “There’s something special about it being once a year," says Garlock. "It's a fleeting thing…a moment where ego is hopefully suspended and you’re able to just see art and community in a way that I don’t think is presented very often in Denver and maybe elsewhere.” Admission is free, and all art sales go to the artists. Read our story on Plank Canvas 2023 here.

Spring Farm Fest
Sunday, May 21, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Yetman Family Farm, 2995 South Estes Street, Lakewood
It’s called Yetman Family Farm for a reason: It's run by one small family for all families, as a place to embrace the beauty of life on a farm. The Spring Farm Fest is a free introduction to all its wonders, with live music and tours; opportunities to meet and feed the farm’s horses, goats, chickens and cats; and a barn sale with free seeds and mulch as well as garden seedlings. To visit this rural oasis in the growing metropolis, RSVP here.

Black Market Translation Open Jam and Album Release Party
Sunday, May 21, 5 p.m.
Mutiny Information Cafe, 2 South Broadway
Black Market Translation, the improv psych-punk band behind Punketry, just released a new album, Triogenes, and is hosting an open jam to celebrate at Mutiny. Come with a poem, instrument, what have you, and join in. "There will be a house mic or two, we can provide an extra amp, electricity generously supplied by the store, and the band will insist on playing like the whole time but will not be playing anything from said celebrated album," report the musicians."This happening also may be recorded." Get more details here.

and a plan-ahead bonus:
In the Hot Seat: A Hot Ones Mayoral Forum
Monday, May 22, 6 p.m.
Town Hall Collaborative, 525 Santa Fe Drive
New Era Colorado, COLOR Latina, One Colorado and Cobalt host this special mayoral forum, inspired by the YouTube phenomenon Hot Ones! The organizers will be serving Kelly Brough and Mike Johnston wings that increase in heat (thanks to @FotmDenver!) as they're asked spicy questions on the issues that impact our communities most. Admission is free, and overflow crowds can watch at nearby Renegade Brewing (or watch the livestream); register here.

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