Keep reading for six of the best things to do for free in Denver this weekend.
Denver PrideFest
Saturday, June 25, through Sunday, June 26, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Civic Center Park, 101 West 14th Avenue
Denver PrideFest, the city's annual two-day Pride celebration put on by the Center on Colfax, returns to Civic Center Park after two years of digital-only festivities. The festival will host over 250 exhibitors, thirty food and beverage vendors, many live performers and thousands of guests. Over the two days, there will be live entertainment on three different stages — the main stage, the Absolut Dance World stage and the US Bank Latinx stage — from musicians, drag performers, DJs, dancers and more. Headliners include RuPaul's Drag Race legends Silky Nutmeg Ganache, Yvie Oddly and Kylie Sonique Love; Australian pop singer Betty Who; and DJ Cazwell. The Coors Light Denver Pride Parade starts Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and will march from Cheesman Park to Civic Center Park, covering fourteen blocks of Colfax. For a full schedule of Denver PrideFest 2022 events, visit the Denver Pride website.
48th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival 2022
Sunday, June 26, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sakura Square, 1255 19th Street
Denver’s Japanese community has had its day in the sun every year for nearly fifty years, and shows no sign of throwing in the towel. The Cherry Blossom Festival has grown larger and better organized, perhaps, but it's still friendly, beautiful, delicious, loud as a taiko drum and sweet as a samisen, with cultural displays and food, courtesy of an army of volunteers. And the vendor market is wonderful, with lovely things you won’t find anywhere else. Learn more here.
Herbert Bayer: An Introduction, installation view.
Courtesy of Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies
Opens Sunday, June 26, at noon
Summer hours through September 1: Mondays through Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m.; Sundays, 2 to 7 p.m.
Tours: 1:45 p.m. daily, June 26 through July 1; 12:30 p.m. thereafter, Monday, July 4, through September 1
Bayer Center, Aspen Institute Campus, 610 Gillespie Avenue, Aspen
There seems to be a spike in appreciation for artists we can consider Colorado treasures, including Herbert Bayer, a leading figure in the Bauhaus movement who wore many creative hats as an artist, sculptor, designer and architect. Bayer moved to Aspen in 1946, bringing his reputation and palette of skills with him. In Aspen, he helped design the Aspen Institute’s quarters, and in turn, the Institute has now created the Bauhaus-inspired Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies to house and display a collection of Bayer’s diverse works. The new space opens to the public on Sunday afternoon with the exhibition Herbert Bayer: An Introduction, curated by Bayer scholar Bernard Jazzar. Admission and tours are free; reserve tours at Eventbrite.
Vespa Parade 2022
Sunday, June 26, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Sportique Scooters, 160 South Broadway
There’s nothing like a scooter parade, bringing to mind a gang of Italians, hair flying as they maneuver hairpin turns in the Alps on shiny Vespas in rainbow colors. Keep that image in your mind and consider this: June 26 is National Vespa Parade Day everywhere, including on less dangerous urban roadways, and Denver’s Vespisti are invited to hop aboard and meet en masse at Sportique Scooters for a ride around Denver. If that means you, arrive at Sportique at 12:30 p.m. for a 1 p.m. roll-off and make some new friends. Learn more on Instagram.
Cotton Collective Vintage Market Summer Series
Sunday, June 26, 4 to 9 p.m.
Matchbox, 2625 Larimer Street
Vintage shopping has never been sweeter than when the Cotton Collective Vintage Market sweeps into your favorite bar for a pop-up market. This weekend, the traveling flea will be rocking RiNo at the Matchbox on Sunday evening for its hopped-up Summer Series, with at least ten superb vintage vendors slinging tees, jeans, shoes, one-shots and other goodies. Admission is free to a 21+ crowd; check the Facebook page for info and future dates.
Know of a great free event around town? We'll be updating this list through the week; send information to [email protected].
