We know frugal families are well-versed on the FREE Days at museums and attractions across the city. Therefore, rather than posting each one individually, we created a comprehensive list of all the FREE days for easy one-stop “shopping.” Most of the free days are funded, in part, by taxes collected through the Science and Cultural Facilities District. Others are funded by corporate sponsorship. We’re lucky to live in a city with so many wonderful institutions to explore without breaking the bank. However, it’s important to note that the FREE Days are very popular. (Translation: Be prepared to deal with large crowds and allow time to search for a good parking spot.) To review our page, click here. Of course, if we find a FREE Day of note because of some special attraction or exhibit, we’ll post it for you.
Things To Do
Game On! Deals & Discounts at Dave & Buster’s
Game on! Families looking for lots of fun-packed action should head to Dave & Buster’s. The entertainment complex has it all — sports bar, restaurant and arcade. Now, this is not your typical arcade. For those old enough, it’s not Pac-Man, Centipede or Frogger anymore. Now, everything is much more high-tech and interactive.
The destination offers some of the most cutting-edge video games, many based on hit movies. On the flip side, they also offer many “carnival” arcade games for those who prefer their gaming a little more traditional, but still lots of fun. (On the arcade games, players earn tokens for high scores, which can be redeemed for some really cool prizes.) [Read more…] about Game On! Deals & Discounts at Dave & Buster’s
Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms
The 700-acre Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms is best known as a native plant refuge and working farm located along the banks of Deer Creek in southern Jefferson County. This expansive site includes historic Hildebrand Ranch and its restored 1918 dairy barn. The aromatic lavender garden showcases 14 species, while the unique flower-filled butterfly house is habitat to native species of these “painted ladies.”
Facilities include the Earl J. Sinnamon Visitor Center, the historical Hildebrand Ranch, a restored 1918 dairy barn and silo, the 1874 Deer Creek Schoolhouse, 2.5 miles of nature trails, the Deer Creek Discovery children’s play area and numerous wildflower gardens.
Bring your binoculars and wander the many trails. The area is known for exceptional bird watching.
The Natural Dye Study Group of the Rocky Mountain Weavers Guild approached the Gardens to establish a habitat for plants used in dyeing. The result is the Janice Ford Dye Garden, one of the few such gardens in the country. The entire complex is a bucolic refuge near the city and its fast-growing suburbs.
Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms, 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Rd., Littleton, 720-865-4346
Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield
Hours
Open Daily: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Last admission is at 4 p.m.)
Admission Prices
$10 adults
$7 children ages 3 to 15
$7 seniors (65+)
$7 military and veterans (with ID)
FREE children 2 and under
Members: Free
To learn more about Chatfield Farms FREE DAYS and to reserve tickets go here.
Timbuk Toys’ Weekly Story Play Time, $10 Discount For Birthday Boys & Girls
Timbuk Toys brings Denver the world’s best toys for learning, laughter and fun. However, they offer families more than just toys. In all of its stores, they have interactive play stations where kids can have fun with its toys and parents can see how its curated selection of toys enrich the play experience.
Plus, they offer a weekly Story Play Time for toddlers and pre-schoolers, an interactive hour of entertainment and engagement by the beloved Mr. Paul. [Read more…] about Timbuk Toys’ Weekly Story Play Time, $10 Discount For Birthday Boys & Girls
Regal Cinemas: Get 50% Off Popcorn Every Tuesday
Regal Cinemas’ Regal Crown Club is a must for both the casual and fanatical movie-goer. Not only is membership FREE, but the club offers rewards, discounts and promos. Whether you go to the movies a few times a year or every week, you’d be foolish not to sign-up for the loyalty program — just the savings. [Read more…] about Regal Cinemas: Get 50% Off Popcorn Every Tuesday
Active Minds Offers 20+ Free Classes Every Month in Denver/Boulder
Hungry to learn more about…well everything? Check out Active Minds which offers 20 to 25 FREE classes each month across metro Denver, Boulder and Longmont. Topics run the gamut from Climate Change and The Civil Rights Act to Artificial Intelligence and Pops Goes The Orchestra. [Read more…] about Active Minds Offers 20+ Free Classes Every Month in Denver/Boulder
14 Free & Cheap Fun Tours in Denver
We love a good factory or “insiders” tour, not only because they’re usually FREE, but because you walk away with a little more knowledge…and possibly some samples. (Yes, we’re talking about you, MillerCoors, Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey and Celestial Seasonings!) They’re a great way for visitors to spend a few hours getting to know the Mile High City, but can also be just as enjoyable for locals. The days and hours of tour schedules vary, so check first before making plans. Unless noted, no reservations are required. Remember, tours are very popular during the spring and summer months, so be prepared to wait. Walk this way and review our 14 Free & Cheap Fun Tours in Denver page for more details.
Go Wild For Free On Your Birthday at Denver Zoo
If you’re an animal lover, here’s the perfect way to go wild on your birthday, courtesy of the Denver Zoo.
The popular attraction offers complimentary admission on your birthday, as well as a few more treats to make the day extra special. [Read more…] about Go Wild For Free On Your Birthday at Denver Zoo
Denver Art Museum: Free Entry For Kids All The Time
The Denver Art Museum is now welcoming kids ages 18 and under for FREE. Grown-ups still have to pay admission (and there may be fees for special exhibits), but Free for Kids applies every day the museum is open. To get the free entry, simply come to the Denver Art Museum welcome desk, and everyone ages 18 and under receives a FREE general admission ticket.
The museum offers families a ton of options. The Family Activity Cart, included with admission, offers bilingual backpacks and Art Tubes filled with activities for kids of all ages. The Just For Fun Center and Kids Corner spaces are filled with kid-centric projects including costumes, memory games, architectural blocks, art making and more.
Find a list of family fun at the Denver Art Museum here. 100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy., Denver.
Fun, Yet Educational Wagon Tours at Plains Conservation Center
Take a trip back to the 1800s when the Plains Conservation Center offers Wagon Tours most Saturdays. Get to know the prairie in a whole new way. On a ride across the plains, participants watch for wildlife in the landscape, from prairie dogs to pronghorn antelope and birds of prey, beneath the great stretching sky while learning about the short grass prairie ecosystem along the way. [Read more…] about Fun, Yet Educational Wagon Tours at Plains Conservation Center
CLOSED! Sit In On Free Jam Sessions at Swallow Hill Music
CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE! No matter your musical taste, Swallow Hill Music has a FREE jam session or performance group opportunity for you. These monthly events are a great way to learn new music styles, refine your techniques and expand your repertoire. They are FREE and open to everyone (members and non-members) alike ages 18 and older. Here’s what’s on the schedule: [Read more…] about CLOSED! Sit In On Free Jam Sessions at Swallow Hill Music
Belmar Cinephiles Series – Free Movies For Grown-Ups
Belmar Cinephiles is a FREE film series that appeals to every taste and interest. Hosted by Belmar Library, the monthly Saturday screenings offer film lovers the opportunity to catch up with independent features, docudramas, documentaries and topical films that were limited in distribution. [Read more…] about Belmar Cinephiles Series – Free Movies For Grown-Ups
Website Lists Deals to Detour You Off I-70
Headed into the mountain for some fun? Enjoy! But know that thousands of your not-so-closest friends are planning to do the same on any given weekend or holiday, creating bumper-to-bumper-to-bumper traffic. That’s why the Colorado Department of Transportation has teamed with I-70 corridor businesses and communities to get you off the highway during peak times. [Read more…] about Website Lists Deals to Detour You Off I-70
Pop Culture Classroom: Low-Cost, Fun Educational Workshops For Kids
How do you make learning fun? Try board games, cosplay and comic books. That’s the philosophy of Pop Culture Classroom, the nonprofit organization behind Denver Comic Con. The group is hosting a series of after-school educational workshops for local kids on topics they already love. Most workshops are priced at an affordable $10. [Read more…] about Pop Culture Classroom: Low-Cost, Fun Educational Workshops For Kids
Free Community Runs from Shake Shack
Shake Shack is known far and wide for burgers, hot dogs, fries and shakes. It is now offering a way to burn off some of those calories. Shake Shack Track & Field hosts FREE community runs on the second Tuesday of each month beginning on August 14. The runs, which are open to all ages and abilities, take off from and return to two metro Denver Shake Shack locations — RiNo and Highlands Ranch. Upon return, the first beverage back at “the Shack” is FREE.
Click here to register, and then meet the group meet at the Shake Shack of your choice at 6:30 p.m. for the 3- to 4-mile loop led by Boulder Running Company. The RiNo Shack is at 995 Larimer St.. Denver, 720-543-8609. The south suburban Shack is at 1509 Park Central Dr., Suite 100, Highlands Ranch, 720-452-1007.