Free things to do in Denver (and beyond) this week, Aug. 3-9

You don’t have to spend money to have fun in Denver. This list is updated multiple times every week with free events going on around the Mile High City.

For even more options, check our Summer Guide, with hundreds of events for the months ahead. Now keep reading for more free things to do in Denver (and beyond):

This week

Music on the Lawn: Cactus Cat
Friday, Aug. 7, 6 p.m.
Foothills, 215 E. Foothills Parkway, Fort Collins
Enjoy the music of Cactus Cat, a beer garden, local vendors and more at this free event. Register here.

Rockmount Legends: Celebrities in Classic American Fashion! 
Friday, August 7, 6 p.m.
Tattered Cover, 2526 E. Colfax Ave.
Steve Weil, president and chief creative officer of Rockmount Ranch Wear, will be at the Tattered Cover to talk about his third book chronicling the legendary Denver business, where his grandfather, Jack A. Weil, invented the snap button for Western shirts eight decades ago. Since then, many celebrities have shopped at the LoDo store or been seen in Rockmount gear, and Weil will reach for the stars during this talk, moderated by Westword editor emeritus Patricia Calhoun. Admission is $7.25 — but it includes a $5 coupon at Tattered, so it’s almost free (and the parking is definitely free). Or pay $48.61 and get a copy of the book, too.

One Book One Denver
Friday, Aug. 7, 6:30 and 8 p.m.
Central Library, 10 W. 14th Ave.
One Book One Denver is back with a new book selection for the city to read together. The evening unfolds through readings, live music, art and more. Every registered guest will leave with a free copy of the book. Register for a 6:30 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. slot here.

Dino Fest
Saturday, Aug. 8, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Thornton Arts & Culture Center and Lu Murray Park, 9209 Dorothy Blvd.
Kids of all ages are invited to unleash their inner scientist at this free event, which will include interactive STEM activities, hands-on exhibits and dino-themed adventures for the whole family. Learn more here.

Denver Days Back to School Fest
Saturday, Aug. 8, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Westwood Community Center, 1000 S. Lowell Blvd.
Hosted by Denver Human Rights & Community Partnerships and the Office of Mayor Mike Johnston, Denver Days Back to School Fest comes back for a third year, bringing together city agencies, nonprofit organizations, community partners, and volunteers to help Denver students and families prepare for a successful school year. The event includes more than 1,000 backpacks filled with school supplies handed out while supplies last, a backpack personalization station, vaccines, haircuts, dental exams and cleanings, treats, music and more.

Poudre RiverFest
Saturday, Aug. 8, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
New Belgium Brewing, 500 Linden St., Fort Collins
Head to Fort Collins for a festival of live local music, food trucks, New Belgium brews, family-friendly activities, exhibitors, free painting classes with Pinot’s Palette, a free yoga class with Old Town Yoga and hands-on river education for all ages. Over 2,500 attendees are expected.

Bubble Bash
Sunday, Aug. 9, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Orchard Town Center, 14697 Delaware St., Westminster
Do you like bubbles? If so, you’re not going to want to miss Bubble Bash, which will include interactive bubble stations, foam fun, a DJ, family activities and more. The event starts at 11 a.m., but a sensory hour providing a calmer, sensory-friendly experience will take place from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in partnership with Autism Colorado before the event.

Plan ahead

Queer and Sober Karaoke
Thursday, Aug. 13, 7 p.m.
Sexploratorium, 1800 S. Broadway
Get ready to sing. Whether you’re LGBTQ+, sober, or both, this karaoke night is a space where you can express yourself freely without judgment. Register here.

Music on the Lawn: Last Men on Earth
Friday, Aug. 14, 6 p.m.
Foothills, 215 E. Foothills Parkway, Fort Collins
Enjoy the music of Last Men on Earth, a beer garden, local vendors and more at this free event. Register here.

“The Comedy of Errors”
Aug. 14-16; Aug. 20-23; Aug. 27-30, performances at 7 p.m.
DeKoevend Park at Goodson Rec Center, 6315 S. University Blvd, Centennial
Check out Shakespeare in the Wild’s free performances of “The Comedy of Errors,” Shakespeare’s fastest, silliest, most gleefully chaotic play about two sets of separated twins, one very confused town, and the kind of mistaken-identity mayhem that hasn’t aged a day in 400 years. RSVP here. In bad weather, the show will be moved into Best Buy, 6707 S. Vine St., Centennial.

Morse Park Pool Party
Saturday, Aug. 15, 10 a.m. to noon
Morse Park, 8180 W. 20th Ave., Lakewood
As the oldest and one of the most popular neighborhood pools in the city, the existing pool is reaching the end of its lifespan and will need to be replaced in the next few years, so the City of Lakewood is asking for the community’s help to design a new one. Enjoy a back-to-school pool party and bring your ideas and feedback on pool concept designs. There will be refreshments and pool-themed giveaways.

Basecamp Exchange
Saturday, Aug. 15, noon to 6 p.m.
Basecamp Market Station, 1641 Market St.
Basecamp Exchange is a free, all-day event that brings together adventure films, outdoor retail and industry conversations in the heart of downtown Denver. Explore immersive film galleries, more than 30 adventure films, chats with participating filmmakers, live music, vendors and more.

City Parks Book Club Series: “Abundance & Reciprocity in the Natural World”
Sunday, Aug. 16, 10:30 a.m. to noon
Location TBA
Join Habitat Library for a free in-person book club, this time discussing Robin Wall Kimmerer’s “Abundance & Reciprocity in the Natural World.” Register and get the meeting location by emailing jeff@habitatlibrary.co.site.

Ongoing

SCFD Free Days
Locations and dates vary
Thanks to the sales tax you pay into the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, many arts institutions around the metro area offer occasional free days and programs. Admission to the Denver Botanic Gardens (both York Street and Chatfield Farms) is free on July 1; for more upcoming bargains, check the SCFD site.

Plaza on the Park
Daily through Sept. 30, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Denver International Airport
Have extra time at the airport? Activities return to Plaza on the Park, the space between the Jeppesen Terminal and the Westin Hotel. The nine-hole mini golf course is back; the space also hosts occasional special events and performances.

Music in the Gardens
Weekdays, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
17th Street Community Gardens, 17th and Wewatta streets
After a cold start to its first week, the sixth annual Music in the Gardens lunchtime music series continues with live performances every weekday lunch in the Union Station neighborhood. Get the schedule here.

Westracks Shuttle
Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Various stops in Jefferson County
The Westracks Shuttle Pilot Program will run free buses from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays through Labor Day, connecting riders to key destinations from the Jefferson County Government Center/RTD Golden Station, from Matthews/Winters Park, the Martin G. Lockley Center at Dinosaur Ridge, the Red Rocks Trading Post, Downtown Morrison, and the Morrison Natural History Museum.

Civic Center EATS
Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
1400 Block of Bannock Street, Civic Center Park
On Wednesdays and Thursdays through mid-October, Denver’s summer food truck rally will return to Civic Center Park. Although the location has shifted toward Bannock Street because of renovations in the park, there will still be at least a dozen trucks to choose from, as well as civic booths and live music from Youth on Record. Get the full lineup in our story (and note that there’s no EATS on 8/12, 8/13, 9/2 or 9/3).

Colorado State Capitol Tours
Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
200 E. Colfax Ave.
The legislative session is over, but the Capitol remains open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and free guided tours are available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Check in at the Visitor Information Desk, which opens at 9 a.m.

Do you know of a great free event? We update this list throughout the week; send information to editorial@westword.com.