Free Things to Do in Denver (and Beyond) This Week

The 120th National Western Stock Show is here for another six days full of rodeos, live music and other boot-scooting fun. To celebrate Denver’s cowtown roots, the City and County Building will stay lit until the National Western ends on January 25.

Other entertainment options look bright, too, culminating with a special stamp release at History Colorado and, yes, a big Broncos game.

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) over the next few days:

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. For example, there’s no admission charge at the Museum of Outdoor Arts on Tuesday, January 20. For upcoming bargains, check the SCFD site.

America 250 – Colorado 150
Through 2026
Around the state
Happy 150th birthday, Colorado! On August 1, 1876, Colorado became a state, and there will be celebrations all year — at the same time this country is celebrating its 250th anniversary. Find a full list of the activities at Am250CO150.org, don’t miss the related exhibits at the History Colorado Center: Moments That Made US and 38th Star: Colorado Becomes the Centennial State, and watch for a special event on January 24.

Thornton Yesterday, Thornton Today, Thornton Tomorrow
Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thornton Arts & Culture Center Annex, 9211 Dorothy Boulevard
When Sam Hoffman purchased the land that would one day become the City of Thornton and began building homes in 1954, he envisioned a thriving community that could stand on its own — a dream realized just two years later when Thornton officially became a city in 1956. Thornton is celebrating its seventieth anniversary with Thornton Yesterday, Thornton Today, Thornton Tomorrow, an exhibit that opened January 5 and runs through the year.

Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways Photography Exhibit 
Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sangres Art Guild’s 3^rd Street Gallery, 59000 Highway 69, Westcliffe
Start your celebration of Colorado’s sesquicentennial with a visit to Westcliffe, which just opened a show of 52 photographs taken along Colorado’s Scenic and Historic Byways. Frontier Pathways, Custer County Tourism and the Sangres Art Guild are hosting the Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways exhibition through April 19; there will be a “Love the Byways” reception on February 14, as well as a Welcome Spring reception on March 21. Learn more at visitwetmountainvalley.com.

Light the Lights 2025
Daily through Sunday, January 25, 5:45 and 6:45 p.m.
Denver City and County Building
The City and County Building will glow through the Stock Show, with a fifteen-minute light show coordinated to a soundtrack of classic holiday songs with an epic, cinematic twist. The show repeats daily Tuesday through Sunday at 5:45 and 6:45 p.m., with static lights from dusk until 10:45 p.m.

Winter of Reading 2026
Through February 28
Any Denver Public Library
Read alert! Winter of Reading, Denver Public Library’s annual reading challenge for adults, has kicked off, and there’s a special Book Buzz at the Sam Gary branch at noon on January 17. The official game board includes 24 flexible activities; if you complete five in a row, you can win prizes. “These days, it can be hard to disconnect from our digital screens,” says Nicolle Davies, the new city librarian. “Our Winter of Reading challenge encourages people to connect with the community and engage with our library services in ways they probably haven’t imagined before.” The gameboard is available in several languages; you can pick one up at any library or download it from denlib.org/wor, where you can also find more info.

Wide Open @ the Stockyards
Through January 25, 2:30 p.m. to midnight
Livestock Exchange, 4701 Marion Street
Yeehaw! Although you need a grounds admission pass to enter the National Western Stock Show, you can reach Wide Open @ the Stockyards without a ticket. This pop-up has taken over the former Stockyard Saloon space in the Livestock Exchange, where it’s serving barbecue from Riot BBQ (kitchen opens at 11 a.m.) and offering live music every day starting at 2:30 p.m. Check our story on the Wide Open, and get the full music schedule here.

This Week

The Art of the Can & Cheers Aurora 2026 Launch Party
Tuesday, January 20, 4 to 6 p.m.
The People’s Building, 9995 East Colfax Avenue, Aurora
This artistic happy hour will pour out what’s brewing for Cheers Aurora in 2026. Sip on samples from local breweries, enjoy a creative twist on craft culture, and get the inside scoop on this year’s passport, prizes and participating locations.

Colorado Poets Center Poetry Reading & Open Mic
Tuesday, January 20, 6:30 p.m.
Boulder Bookstore, 1107 Pearl Street, Boulder
Poets Andrea Rexilius and Violet Mitchell will each read for thirty minutes; an open mic will follow.

Bison Days at Number Thirty Eight
Wednesday, January 21, 6 p.m.
Number Thirty Eight, 3560 Chestnut Place
Stock Show-inspired Bison Days continue at Number Thirty. While some concerts are ticketed, there’s no cover on Wednesday’s Ladies Night with Adda Boyd; on January 22, enjoy a throwback country DJ.

Curiosity Collective: Under the Influence
Wednesday, January 21, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Avanti F&B, 3200 Pecos Street
The Denver Public Library takes its roaming lecture series to Avanti, where two learned panelists will ask (and answer): When are we choosing — and when are we being shaped?, looking at everything from political propaganda to psychedelic healing. David Coppini will examine how mass media, political messaging and modern information systems can shape our beliefs and behavior; Stacy Fischer will explore how psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is opening new paths for healing.

The Narrators: Time Out
Wednesday, January 21, 8 p.m.
Buntport Theatre, 717 Lipan Street
Denver’s long-running storytelling event and podcast returns for its monthly installment, this one with the theme “Time Out.” It’s hosted by Erin Rollman, Andrew Orvedahl and Ron S. Doyle, and features some of the town’s best comedians, actors, musicians, writers and other fascinating folks. Learn more and listen to the podcast at thenarrators.org.

Harmony Jam Session: “Shut Up and Dance” (Walk the Moon)
Friday, January 23, 6:30 to 8:45 p.m.
York Street Yards, 3869 York Street
Harmony Jam Sessions brings 200 strangers together to celebrate our common humanity through music. Once a month, the grouop picks a song, breaks it into harmonies and invites everyone to come sing…no experience needed. This session features “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon.

International Snow Sculpture Championships
Saturday, January 24, through February 3
Breckenridge
The 35th annual International Snow Sculpture Championships will transform the mountain town into a world-renowned outdoor winter art gallery. Ten of the twelve teams in this year’s competition are truly international, coming from Ukraine, the Republic of Korea, Italy, Lithuania, Argentina, Germany, India, Finland, Malta and Mongolia, in addition to a domestic Vermont team and the Breckenridge home team. Each team will carve a giant block of snow into a work of art entirely by hand. You can see the work in progress right up to January 28, when there will be an awards ceremony; the finished sculptures will be lit up from January 28 through February 3.

Mountains Majesty: On the Summit with John Fielder 
Saturday, January 24, 8:30 a.m. to noon
History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway
In honor of Colorado’s 150th anniversary, the U.S. Postal Service is issuing a new commemorative stamp with a photograph by the late John Fielder, which will be unveiled Saturday morning. The ceremony will run from 8:30 to 10 a.m. and will include remarks by Governor Jared Polis, History Colorado President and CEO Dawn DiPrince, and USPS representative Amber McReynolds; the USPS will be selling the stamps until noon. At the same time, History Colorado will open Mountains Majesty: On the Summit With John Fielder, the third installment in a five-year run of exhibits devoted to his work. “This exhibition is a love letter to John Fielder and his mountain photographs from History Colorado’s members,” says Katherine Mercier, the historian who developed this exhibition. “As History Colorado members selected photographs, I was struck by their deep emotional connection to John Fielder’s work. His powerful photos of Colorado’s mountains brought back personal memories of the state’s beauty and wonder.”

Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Center for the Healing Arts Open House
Saturday, January 24, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
119 Park Avenue West
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance has finished its expansion into a new building next door; you can see the place for yourself during this open house, where you can check out classes. Admission is free, but you must register here. Now, read our story about CPRD’s new facility.

Banned Books Bingo
Saturday, January 24, 3:45 to 4:45 p.m.
Curious Theatre, 1080 Acoma Street
The Denver Public Library presents Banned Books Bingo at Curious Theatre. Match book covers on your game board and win prizes; you can also learn about Bad Books, the theater’s current production. RSVPs encouraged but not required.

Après for a Purpose, a Snow-Stoked Celebration Benefiting the National Ski Patrol 
Saturday, January 24, 4 to 10 p.m.
Golden Mill, 1012 Ford Street, Golden
YoColorado outdoor lifestyle apparel manufacturer and the Golden Mill are hosting this winter celebration and fundraiser supporting the nonprofit, Lakewood-based National Ski Patrol. Bust out your vintage ski wear and join the community for a day packed with winter fun, including the debut of YoColorado’s retro-inspired mountain lifestyle collection, as well as meet-and-greets with ski patrollers and avalanche rescue dogs, ski product giveaways, live music, and food, drink and merch available for purchase. Twenty percent of all event proceeds will go to the NSP.

Artisan Craft & Art Walk
Saturday, January 24, 5 to 9 p.m.
Junction, 2000 South Colorado Boulevard
This new, monthly, indoor market will bring together local artisans offering handmade goods, art, gifts, and specialty items. While you shop, you can enjoy Junction’s drinks and dining offerings. 

Rook Rooftop Ruckus: Western Line Dancing Stock Show Social
Saturday, January 24, 6 to 8 p.m.
Rook Rooftop, Catbird Hotel, 3770 Walnut Street
Giddyup at this no-cover event that brings together live Western line dancing instruction by Two Left Boots, a custom leather branding pop-up from Ember & Stitch ($15 BYO branding, or $5 on any Ember & Stitch item) and plenty of socializing.

Stock Show After Party: Ride the Mechanical Bull
Saturday, January 24, 9 p.m.
Moodswing, 3625 East 48th Avenue
Skip the parking hassle at the Stock Show and take a free shuttle from the new pickleball venue Moodswing, which runs continuously pre-rodeo and post-rodeo, from 3 to 9:15 p.m. After the rodeo, head back to Moodswing and keep the fun going — ride the mechanical bull, grab a drink, and enjoy the party.

AFC Championship Game Watch Party
Sunday, June 25, noon
Denver Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop Street 
Celebrate the Mile High spirit at a Broncos Watch Party for the AFC Championship Game. There will be extra-big screens in the Great Hall with DJ Chris spinning tunes during commercial breaks and halftime. You’ll be able to purchase beers and other beverages from Terminal Bar, while ordering food from station partners.  www.denverunionstation.com/events/ 

Living in Balance: Anishinaabe Star Knowledge
Sunday, January 25, 4:30 p.m. (doors at 4)
Gates Planetarium, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard
The International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management is presenting this free program as part of the Indigenous Film & Arts Festival. Traditional Anishinaabe stories will be used to discuss environmental changes brought on by climate change.

Plan Ahead:

be well Awards: Be Heard
Saturday, January 31, 5 to 8 p.m.
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 3203 Quebec Street
This final event of the month’s MLK celebrations will honor individuals creating meaningful change across Park Hill, East Colfax, Northwest Aurora, Montbello and Central Park. Admission is free; RSVP here.

Colorado Preservation Inc.: Saving Places Conference
Wednesday, February 11, 6 to 8 p.m.
Grand Ballroom II/III, DoubleTree by Hilton, 3203 Quebec Street
While the annual Colorado Preservation Inc. conference requires paid registration, CPI is hosting a special preservation workforce development networking event that’s free open to all. It’s designed to connect preservation employers with people looking for jobs, students and emerging professionals with seasoned professionals, and current practitioners eager to meet collaborators across the industry. Meet people across different parts of the preservation pipeline, swap stories, build real connections, and maybe win a prize or two

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