Check our weekly list for one-off activities worth the price of admission. Now keep reading for free things to do in Denver (and beyond) this weekend:
Ongoing
SCFD Free DaysLocations and dates vary
Thanks to the sales tax you pay into the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, many art institutions around the metro area offer occasional free days and programs. Many facilities will offer special programming on Colorado Day, August 1; for upcoming bargains, check the SCFD site.
Civic Center EATS
Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Civic Center Park
For over a decade, food trucks have rallied at Civic Center for lunchtime fun that often includes live entertainment. The summer session has started, with a new truck lineup.
Skyline Beer Garden
Wednesday through Sunday
16th and Arapahoe streets
Experience summer the Denver way at this outdoor beer garden with food, drinks, games and live entertainment all summer long. And from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 22, enjoy a pet-friendly Yappy Hour. Find the complete schedule here.
Upper DownTUNES
Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 4 to 7 p.m.
Outer Space, 16th and Welton streets
Liven up your lunch at Upper DownTUNES, a free live music series in Upper Downtown Denver.
This Week
Celebrate Colorado Week
Through Sunday, August 3
Around Colorado
The third annual Celebrate Colorado Week is the first major event in the year-long celebration leading to the state's 150th birthday on August 1, 2026. There are free and discounted events all around the state, from puppy yoga in Arvada to nighttime nature walks at Cherry Creek State Park. “Colorado is the best place to live, work, play, and celebrate everything that makes Colorado unique," says Governor Jared Polis. "I encourage all Coloradans, organizations and businesses to continue to register events for the week so Coloradans in every community can get out, join in on the festivities, and celebrate everything Colorado.” See a list of offerings here.
Leadville Boom Days
Saturday, August 2, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, August 3, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Leadville
Travel back in time in Leadville, which celebrates its mining heritage the first weekend of every August with events ranging from burro races to a parade, gunfighter shows, dances and mining competitions.
Back to School Fest
Saturday, August 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
National Western Center
Denver Human Rights & Community Partnerships is hosting this free, family-friendly event as part of the twelfth annual Denver Days. Mayor Mike Johnston will address the gathering, where 3,000+ free backpacks filled with essential school supplies will be handed out, while families take advantage of free health and wellness clinics.
Colorado Day Tours of the Governor's Residence
Saturday, August 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Boettcher Mansion, 400 East Eighth Avenue
Take a free tour of the Governor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion in celebration of Colorado Day.
History Colorado Celebration
Saturday, August 2, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway
Celebrate Colorado at a 149th birthday celebration at History Colorado Center. Arts and crafts, live performances, and snacks are just the tip of the snow cone at this carnivalesque gathering. All of the other History Colorado facilities around the state will be hosting events, too.
Colorado Day: Center for Colorado Women's History
Saturday, August 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Center for Colorado Women's History, 1310 Bannock Street
Ring in Colorado’s 149th birthday at the Center for Colorado Women’s History, which will be hosting live performances, art and food vendors, vintage collaging stations and games outside in the gardens, as well a free admission into the museum. There will also be an ice cream giveaway at 2 p.m.
Live Painting with Darrell Anderson
Saturday, August 2, noon to 2 p.m.
Blair Caldwell African American Research Library, 2401 Welton Street
Watch world-renowned Denver artist Darrell Anderson create a live portrait of late musician Charles Burrell for his Streets, Take 5 art exhibit at the Blair-Caldwell library. The exhibit, which is open through September, displays Anderson's original artwork inspired by Denver’s historical impact on jazz and the genre’s global resonance.
Andy Frasco & The U.N. with The Cultet and Barbara
Saturday, August 2, 7 p.m. (doors at 6)
Levitt Pavilion, 1380 West Florida Avenue
Andy Frasco is a cross between John Belushi’s “Joliet” Jake Blues and Jimmy Buffett, a band-fronting, songwriting party animal who turns into a swirling rock-and-roll Tasmanian Devil onstage, from switching instruments mid-song to stagediving into the crowd or kibitzing with them.The band has grown from playing bars to touring more than 250 days a year, with Frasco describing that fifteen-year journey on Growing Pains, the group’s landmark tenth studio album and first full-length effort since 2023’s L’Optimist.
Artist on the Rise: Neon the BIshop
Saturday, August 2, 7 p.m.
Dairy Block, 1800 Wazee
Neon the Bishop, a power pop/indie rock project, has become a must-experience act in the Denver scene and beyond, with piano and nostalgic synth merging with bass guitar-driven indie rock and stylish pop sensibility. Along with headlining several sold-out shows, NTB has shared the stage with major acts such as The 1975, Cage the Elephant, Rise Against, Halfalive, and lovelytheband. Catch it for free as part of the Dairy Block's summer series.
Concerts on the Fly: Kim & Kayla Waters
Sunday, August 3, 2 p.m.
The Plaza at Denver International Airport
Come enjoy live music in an unlikely setting. DJ K-Tone will oversee the proceedings, with performances by Jude Kofie and Jakarta Band before the headline act: Kim & Kayla Waters.
Dashiki Fest With Femi Kuti & The Positive Force
Sunday, August 3, 3:30 p.m. (doors at 3)
Levitt Pavilion, 1380 West Florida Avenue
The ninth annual Dashiki Fest returns to Levitt. In 2017, Colorado African Cultural Center established the fest to empower the African and African American communities and to foster unity, diversity and inclusion; in 2023 it moved to Levitt, which allowed it to offer more African music, cultural performances, African food and arts — including an African fashion show, complete with the chance to win best dressed dashiki Queen of the year.
City Park Jazz Brass Band Extravaganza
Sunday, August 3, 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.
City Park Pavilion
A Denver tradition closes off its 2025 season with an extravaganza that's twice as long as the usual City Park Jazz concert. Pack a picnic and enjoy live music by Rowdy Brass Band, Tivoli Club Brass Band and Guerrilla Fanfare.
Plan ahead
Colorado State Parks Celebrate Colorado Day
Monday, August 4
Around Colorado
To celebrate the state's 149th birthday, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is offering free entry to all Colorado state parks on Monday (three days after Colorado Day, but what the heck). While admission is free, all other park fees remain in effect, including camping reservations, boat and off-highway vehicle registrations, and hunting and fishing licenses.
High Plains Chautauqua
Monday, August 4, through Friday, August 8
Aims Community College Welcome Center, 4901 20th Street, Greeley
Beleaguered Colorado Humanities, which just lost much of its funding with the Trump administration cut humanities aid, is still hosting the annual chatauquas. This year’s theme is “America in the 20th Century,” and events feature a special lineup of notable historical figures from the “American Century.”
East Colfax BRT: Fillmore Street Arch Lift Party
Monday, August 4, 7 to 10 p.m.
Maria Empanada, 2730 East Colfax Avenue
Support small businesses and celebrate two East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit milestones: the fifth – and sixth – station arch installations. The celebration includes a live DJ, empanadas, a tango demonstration and booths for small businesses on East Colfax. Historic Denver will host a special Colfax Avenue-themed trivia challenge, and there will be prizes.
Bananas on the Block
Friday, August 8, through Sunday, August 10
Dairy Block, 1800 Wazee Street
The hottest baseball team in the country, the Savannah Bananas, will be celebrated at the Dairy Block with a series of events before the Bananas hit Coors Field on August 9-10.
Do you know of a great free event? We update this list throughout the week; send information to editorial at westword.com.
