See our list of art openings around town here; now keep reading for six free events around town today, as well as a bonus:
Great Western Alpaca Show
Sunday, May 1, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
National Western Complex, 4655 Humboldt Street
Hundreds of alpacas, alpaca-related vendors and businesses, and fiber artists from across the country will be at the Great Western Alpaca Show, which will host competitions throughout the weekend, including performance and costume contests on Saturday. The alpaca selfie booth will be open through the event, and visiting that spot — as well as the entire show — is free. Parking is $10, however. Find out more about the show here.
Tattered Cover Celebrates Independent Bookstore Day
Sunday, May 1
Tattered Cover stores on Colfax, in Westminster, Aurora (Stanley Marketplace) and Littleton (Aspen Grove)
Independent Bookstore Day was April 30, but the Tattered Cover celebration continues with a Signed First Edition Sale/Garage Sale, as well as some special talks. The sale includes more than 2,000 copies of mostly signed and first edition books from the past forty years, all for just $10 each. Find out more here.
Good Market
Sunday, May 1, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Banshee House, 2715 Larimer Street
The artisan and flea markets that Denver loves are multiplying, with some new ones that are small, independent and more intimate. That describes Good Market, a startup from the event-makers at Two Parts, who call it “hyper-curated” for your shopping pleasure. Good Market premieres with a free three-day run at Banshee House, with a variety of housewares, plants, candles and artisanal snacks, as well as a sweet beverage bar run by the Family Jones. Find info here.
Firefly Handmade Spring Market
Sunday, May 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Twenty Ninth Street, 1710 29th Street, Boulder
Firefly Handmade is not only one of the longest-lasting markets on the Front Range, but it’s also big, friendly and made for a wide audience. Eighty-plus vendors will provide a varied spread of handmades, artisanal food items, home goods, jewelry, apparel and accessories, as well as alcohol sampling and sales with the Family Jones and Branch & Barrel Distilling, live music and the ShutterBus Vintage VW Van photo booth. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are allowed, too. Admission is free; get the details here.
Made By Us, Cider Sundays Brunch Market
Sunday, May 1, noon to 5 p.m.
Stem Ciders RiNo Taproom, 2811 Walnut Street
Another modern ploy for small, independent artisan markets? Pair up with a brewery. Or in this case, a cidery, where you can take a seat and a sip of hard cider or get up to peruse the twenty or so artisans and makers of Made By Us, who will be standing by ready to chat about their work — and sell it. Street food will be available for the brunch part. Admission is free, but you’ll want to test Stem’s product; learn more here.
Benefit CHAC and take home a hand-painted heart.
Chantel Lucero
Sunday, May 1, 5 to 9 p.m.
Los Amigos Kitchen, 7260 Pecos Street
While the Chicano Humanities and Arts Council is still whipping its new space in Lakewood into shape, the artists of CHAC were so excited to finally be able to host another Milagros del Corazon fundraiser that they just couldn't wait. The event is usually tied to Valentine's Day, so there will be plenty of colorful art hearts that you can grab at a silent auction just in time for Mother’s Day gift giving. The party is free; food and drink will be available to purchase from Los Amigos Kitchen. Find info and RSVP here.
plan ahead:
Cook's House Library on Food & Land Book Club
Rocky Mountain Land Library, Buffalo Peaks Ranch
The amazing Rocky Mountain Land Library is creating a new branch at Buffalo Peaks Ranch: the Cook’s House Library on Food & Land. To celebrate, it's launching a new book club with the same theme, which will host free discussions at the ranch this summer. On July 24, the talk will be about Jessica Harris's High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey From Africa to America; on August 14, Eating the Landscape: American Indian Stories of Food, Identity, and Resilience, by Enrique Salmon. Registration is now open; you can sign up here.
Do you know of a great free event in town? We'll be updating this list through the week; send information to [email protected].
