Ten Things to Do for Free in Denver (and Beyond) on Memorial Day

You don't need to head for the hills to have a great holiday. The BolderBoulder is today, the party continues on Old South Gaylord, and Memorial Day ceremonies abound around town.

If you do want to get to the mountains, the Grand Lake Memorial Day Parade event is a good option; for more events, keep reading:
BolderBoulder
Monday, May 29, 6:55 a.m.
Folsom Field, Boulder
The fortieth annual BolderBoulder takes off early this morning, giving spectators quite a show as the legendary 10K winds through the town. It's free to watch, and also to join the grand finale, the Memorial Day Tribute at Folsom Field, which honors those who lost their lives serving the country with skydivers and a 21-gun salute. Find out more here.

Annual Memorial Day Guided Birding Hike
Monday, May 29, 7 to 11 a.m.
DuPont Park, 8020 Main Street, Louviers
DuPont Open Space provides nesting habitats for many different species of birds, and this family-friendly hike is moderately easy, with many stops to talk and witness wildlife. The hike will be led by three local birding experts along a riparian area along Plum Creek. The hike is free; find out more here.

Commerce City Memorial Day Parade
Monday, May 29, 8:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Veterans Memorial Park, Commerce City
Head to Commerce City for the 57th annual Memorial Day Parade, one of the city's longest-running traditions and the largest in the area. Before the parade, the city hosts a ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park to honor those who have given their lives in service to our nation; after the parade, there's a concert with live music from HomeSlice, food trucks, booths from veterans’ service organizations, city boards and commissions, and more. Admissions is free; get details here.

Memorial Day Car Show
Monday, May 29, 9 a.m.
Applebee's Grill + Bar, 10625 West Colfax Avenue
Buckaroo Enterprises is hosting this giant car show, with more then 1,000 automobiles on display. Admission is free; find out more here.
Kickoff to Summer
Monday, May 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Old South Gaylord
The annual Memorial Day weekend festival returns to the 1000 block of South Gaylord Street with live music, food vendors and even a doggie play area. Admission is free; get the details here.

Boulder Creek Festival
Monday, May 29, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Along Boulder Creek, from 9th to 14th streets between Canyon Boulevard and Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder
It wouldn’t be Memorial Day weekend without the Boulder Creek Festival, a creekside tradition now in its 34th year. The four-day fest is mostly free and built for rest, relaxation and play, with live music by more than thirty bands on three stages, street eats, a kids’ zone and a makers’ market. Looking for out-of-the-ordinary? The Sunday Bash at the Banks Skate Jam from noon to 6 p.m. on 13th Street offers free skateboarding lessons and demos, while the not-so-unusual, ticketed Creekside Beer Festival will hold four two-hour sessions over Saturday and Sunday (get tickets, $30, at Eventbrite). Find general info here.

Territory Days Festival
Monday, May 29, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Old Colorado City
For more than 45 years, Territory Days has hosted Colorado's largest street fair in the first territorial capital. This year's event has 25 bands on three stages, including Ryan Chrys & the Rough Cuts, the Michael Hornbuckle Band and Float Like a Buffalo, as well as hundreds of vendors with handcrafts from around the world, and dozens of educational and patriotic displays. Admission is free; find out more here.

Grand Lake Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony
Monday, May 29, 10 a.m.
Town Park, Grand Lake
The annual parade in Grand Lake includes veterans, service groups, horses and plenty of patriotism! A ceremony will immediately follow the parade with a special service honoring veterans. Find out more here.

2023 Fort Logan National Cemetery Memorial Day Honors
Monday, May 29, 11 a.m. to noon
Fort Logan National Cemetery, 4400 West Kenyon Avenue
The Honor Bell Foundation will host this Memorial Day tribute; find out more here.

INSPIRE Arts Week
Through Saturday, June 3
Multiple venues across Lakewood
You don't need to wait for the Casa Bonita opening to get inspired in Lakewood. During INSPIRE Arts Week, more than twenty galleries, cultural centers, shops and other art venues in Lakewood will be hosting free and low-cost arts and culture experiences. The events kick off at the Lakewood Cultural Center with several exhibitions (read our story about one show here), and culminate on June 3 with the Rockin' Block Party. Get all the details here.

Do you know of a great free event in Denver? We'll be updating this list throughout the week; send information to [email protected].