Five Things to Do for Free in Denver This Weekend

Let there be light! This weekend's free events are all about light...and enlightenment. On Saturday, February 1, the Denver Theatre District’s Night Lights Denver will debut new works on the side of the D&F Tower at 1601 Arapahoe Street, created by artists Corin Hewitt, Kathy Rose, Kate Casanova, John Roemer, Natascha Seidneck and Lauryn Siegel.

Keep reading for five more enlightening — and free — things to do around town.

The Wright Retrospective
Closing Saturday, February 1
1821 Blake Street, Dairy Block
The Dairy Block has become a major entertainment draw in Denver, and the gallery at 1821 Blake Street is about to close its five-day pop-up exhibit, The Wright Retrospective, which celebrates innovative and inspired products that were Wright Award contenders over the past decade. Coinciding with the Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show, the display includes works by recognized outdoor companies from across the Rocky Mountain region; some of the resort maps created by James Niehues, author of The Man Behind the Maps, are on display.

La Cocina Tragen Gallery Exhibition Closing Day
Saturday, February 1, noon to 6 p.m.
861 Santa Fe Drive
Museo de Las Americas is about to redesign the Tragen Gallery Room, known as "La Cocina," and the exhibit that's been there for a decade will close today. At 3 p.m., Maruca Salazar, former Museo executive director will offer a free, behind-the-scenes lecture about the history of the space and the upcoming "Colonial" Gragen Gallery exhibition, La Mision, which will open March 26. Find out more at museo.org.

Her Flag 2020: Colorado Performance and Celebration
Saturday, February 1, 1 to 2:30 p.m.
RedLine Contemporary Art Center, 2350 Arapahoe Street
The 19th Amendment is almost 100 years old. To celebrate, artist Marilyn Artus of Oklahoma City is constructing a flag with 36 stripes to represent each of the 36 states that took part in the ratification of the 19th Amendment. She'll be in Denver on February 1, working with artist Susan Cooper to sew her stripe for Colorado on the flag.  Porlolo, with Erin Roberts, will perform during this free event; find out more here.

Cabo Beach Party
Saturday, February 1, 5 to 7 p.m.
Lola Coastal Mexican, 1575 Boulder Street
It may be the dead of winter, but this weekend should be pretty lively, with nice weather and a tropical party at Lola. Look for beachy cocktails and buckets of cerveza, as well as food specials including ceviches, aguachiles, tiraditos and nachos; listen to live tunes from DJ CRL CRRLL. Come dressed in your favorite beach getup and get a shot or cerveza on Lola. Admission is free; find out more at loladenver.com.

Littleton Indivisible: Immigration Policy
Sunday, February 2, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Bemis Library, 6014 South Datura Street, Littleton
U.S. Senate candidate Michelle Warren, who's a consultant with the D.C.-based National Immigration Forum, the advocacy and strategic engagement director for the Christian Community Development Association, and the author of The Power of Proximity, Moving Beyond Awareness to Action, will offer her views on immigration, then take questions at this meeting of Littleton Indivisible, a community group working toward equality and social justice. Listen and learn.

Ava DuVernay's When They See Us
Sunday, February 2, 3 to 5:30 p.m.
Museum of Boulder, 2205 Broadway, Boulder
The NAACP Boulder County is marking Black History Month with screenings of When They See Us, Ava DuVernay's original Netflix series focusing on the true story of the Central Park Five, every Sunday in February. The film will be followed by a presentation and/or panel discussion presented in partnership with the Korey Wise Innocence Project. The series is free, but seating is limited; get tickets through Eventbrite.

And a bonus:

It's not free, but the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver is holding another penny admission day on Saturday, February 1. You'll probably find a penny on the street as you head over to the MCA at 1485 Delgany Street. Find out more at mcadenver.org.

Know of a great free event in or around Denver? We'll be updating this list over the weekend; send information to [email protected].