Take a Free Spin on the Carousel on December 23!

Are your pockets feeling empty with several shopping days left before Christmas/Kwanzaa/Hanukkah/whatever you celebrate? No need to stay home and conserve money and energy this weekend: Get out there and participate in one of these five free events. And for those who'd like to help the truly needy, there's a bonus at the bottom of this post....

30th Annual Homeless Persons' Memorial Vigil
Saturday, December 21, 5:30 to 6:15 p.m.
Denver City & County Building
Before you head out and about, remember what we've lost this holiday season. The Colorado Coalition on the Homeless is hosting its thirtieth annual vigil at the City & County building, to honor those who lost their lives this year.

RMT4EVA at Understudy
Saturday, December 21, 6 to 8 p.m.
UnderStudy, 890 C 14th Street
Rich Mob Tendencies, a family-run clothing line and lifestyle brand based in Denver, is hosting a pop-up clothing store at Understudy, the art space tucked into the Colorado Convention Center. The RMT4EVA Clothing Store, where everyone can explore what makes them feel and live "rich," is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily through December 28, and is hosting two special events this weekend: performances by West and Sonny Cay, with an art pop-up by Izzark (the muralist featured in the space) from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, and performances by Strictly Denero and Its Key, with the art pop-up by Izzark, on Saturday. Admission is free; find out more here.

Chamber Music Concert
Saturday, December 21, 2 to 3 p.m.
Decker Public Library, 1501 South Logan Street
Get swept away when amateur musicians from the Colorado Chamber Music Society play a wide range of works. Find out more here.

Denver Pavilions Carousel
500 16th Street
Starting Saturday, December 21, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The carousel will start spinning for a sixth year on Saturday, December 21, and will keep twirling through January 2. To kick off the first round, the Blue Knights Brass Ensemble will deliver a free concert at 2 p.m. Saturday. While rides are normally $3 (or free with a voucher from a Denver Pavilions merchant, hotel or community partner), on Monday, December 23, rides are absolutely free. On that day, the Denver Choir League will add to the merriment with a holiday concert from 5 to 6 p.m. that day. Find out more about Denver Pavilions programming here.

Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides
Sunday, December 22, 2 to 6 p.m.
Orchard Town Center, 14697 Delaware Street, Westminster
Interested in riding through a winter wonderland? Orchard Town Center is offering free horse-drawn carriage rides for shoppers. Head to the Town Center Square for pick-up, and giddyup!

And a bonus:

Christmas Tree Giveaway
Monday, December 23
Echter's Garden Center, 5150 Garrison, Arvada
You might feel broke, but there are families out there who are truly in need. Echter's Garden Center gave away more than eighty Christmas trees to people who were really hurting last Christmas Eve, and the Echter family was so humbled by the stories they heard that they're repeating the giveaway this year. Not only will the business be offering free trees, but Echter's has been collecting decorations and tree stands for the past month, and will make those available, too. Please remember: This is only for people who are truly in need, not those who spent too much on dinner at a RiNo restaurant last night. Find out more here.

Know of a great free event around town? Send information to [email protected]. And watch for an update of this list on December 20.