Eight Things to Do in Denver (and Beyond) on Labor Day

It's Labor Day! But while summer might be ending, the fun is just beginning. The Taste of Colorado has returned, and other events around town include everything from free concerts to free markets to free festivals. And if you're ready to open your wallet, there's always the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo, marking its 150th anniversary.

Now keep reading for eight of the best free things to do today:

Louisville Labor Day Parade and Fall Festival
Monday, September 5, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Main Street and Memory Square Park
Louisville's annual Labor Day Parade has the theme "Happiness Is...," and anyone who likes an old-fashioned, small-town celebration should be happy with this. The Children's Pet Parade starts at 9 a.m. at 749 Main Street; the Labor Day Parade will fill Main Street at 10 a.m., and the Fall Festival runs throughout it all from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Memory Square Park, where parade winners will be announced at 1 p.m. There will be live entertainment from Paige and Jeff, a magician and bouncy house, food vendors and more, and admission is free to all festivities. Get the details here.

Estes Park Labor Day Arts & Crafts Show
Monday, September 5, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Bond Park, 321 East Elkhorn Avenue, Estes Park
Head for the hills for a free fest with dozens of art and food vendors as well as live music through the day. This is a fundraiser for the Rotary, and admission is free; find the full schedule here.

Denver Chalk Art Festival
Monday, September 5, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Golden Triangle, Acoma and Bannock streets between West 11th and 13th avenues
The Denver Chalk Art Festival is turning twenty, and celebrating in a new spot: the Golden Triangle. This promises to be quite a party, with live music, food vendors and dozens of artists creating lovely, if short-lived, work. Admission is free; find out more here.

Commonwheel Art Festival
Monday, September 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Memorial Park, 502 Manitou Avenue, Manitou Springs
Commonwheel Artists Co-Op, a true art-and-craft tradition in Manitou Springs, will take over Memorial Park for its 48th annual Commonwheel Art Festival over Labor Day weekend. It’s a friendly and folksy fest with potters, jewelers, painters, sculptors, photographers and glass artists manning the booths, ready to chat about their work. While the event isn't fancy, it's fun, with a quality selection of handmades. Learn more here.
Taste of Colorado
Monday, September 5, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Civic Center Park
The Taste of Colorado is returning to where it all began, Civic Center Park, where it will hold three days packed with live entertainment (five stages filled with local and regional acts), food and drink (over fifty vendors), and shopping (fifty more vendors). Admission is free, and the fun is endless. Find out more here.

Supernova 7th Dimension 2022/Night Lights Denver Commissioned Animations
Daily through September, dusk to midnight
Daniels & Fisher Tower, 1601 Arapahoe Street
After a two-year pandemic break, Supernova, Denver Digerati’s all-free digital animation festival, returns to live programming at special events scheduled throughout September, on screens both large and small. Supernova also includes a display in collaboration with Night Lights Denver, showcasing magical work by ten commissioned artists. Check the website for a complete schedule, as well as plenty of other information, to chart your course through the month.
Art RiNo
Monday, September 5, through Sunday, September 11
RiNo Art District
The inaugural Art RiNo festival is a celebration of art in all its forms, with music, installations, arts workshops and special events, including mural painting that starts on September 5, making Labor Day a great time to expore the area. And on September 9, the first day of the Westword Music Showcase will fill nine venues in the district with performances by some of Denver's best local bands — all for free. Get the complete Art RiNo schedule here, and for more on the September 10 Showcase lineup at the Mission Ballroom Outdoors, go to westwordshowcase.com.

Do you know of a great free event in Denver? We'll be creating a new list for the week; send information to [email protected]