Denver and the surrounding area has activities for everyone. Following is a list of my friends and family’s favorites attractions and annual events, including the list of free days for families who are willing to brave the crowds and save big. So grab your calendar and pencil in what appeals to you! If you have an attraction or event you’d like added to this page, please contact me with the details.
Attractions
- Butterfly Pavilion – visit their website for more information
- Colorado Railroad Museum (2014) – Visit their website for more information. Free Days: January: Sat 1/4; March: Sat 3/1; May: Sat 5/3
- Denver Zoo (2014) Visit their website for more information. Free Days: January: Fri 1/10, Sat 1/11, Wed 1/22; February: Sun 2/2, Mon 2/3, Thurs 2/20; November: Mon 11/3, Fri 11/14, Thurs 11/20
- Denver Art Museum (2014) Visit their website for more information. Free Days: First Saturday of the month – except April, free day in April is on Sun 4/27
- Denver Museum of Nature and Science (2014) – Visit their website for more information. Free Days: January: Mon 1/13; February: Sun 2/2; March: Sun 3/2; April: Sun 4/13 and Sat 4/26; June: Mon 6/2 and Mon 6/30; July: Sun 7/20; September: Mon 9/8 and Sun 9/28; October: 10/27; December: Sat 12/1
- Denver Botanic Gardens (York Street, 2014) – Visit their website for more information. Free Days: January: Mon 1/20 20th (Martin Luther King Day); February: Mon 2/17 (President’s Day); March: Mon 3/3 and Sat 3/22 (World Water Day); April: Mon 4/22 (Earth Day); August: Mon 8/4; November: Sat 11/8, Fri 11/14 & Sat 11/15 (Holiday Sale)
- Denver Botanic Gardens (Chatfield, 2014) – Visit their website for more information. Free Days: First Tuesday of the month (except no free days in July, September, October and December)
- Denver Children’s Museum (2014) – Visit their website for more information. Free Days: First Tuesday of the month from 4:00-8:00 pm
- Elitch Gardens – visit their website for more information
- Four Mile Historic Park – visit their website for more information
- Lakeside Amusement Park – visit their website for more information
- Pirates Cove – visit their website for more information (Littleton)
- Water World – visit their website for more information
Annual events
- Denver Stock Show January 10-25, 2015 – visit their website for more information
- Denver Restaurant Week February 22-28 AND August 23-29 – visit their website for more information
- First Friday’s – visit their website for more information
- City Park Jazz in the Park, a summer concert series – visit their website for more information
- Paris Street Market – visit their website for more information – 1st Saturday May-October (Littleton)
- Western Welcome Week August 8-17, 2014 – visit their website for more information (downtown Littleton)
- Brew at the Zoo – Fri. September 12
- Great American Beer Festival – visit their website for more information – event occurs in October at the Convention Center and tickets go on sale in July
- Boo at the Zoo – October 25-26
- Pumpkin Festival at Chatfield Botanic Gardens – mid October
- Trail of Lights at Chatfield Botanic Gardens – mid December
- Zoo lights – December dates to come