Visiting museums can get expensive, especially for families. However, many local museums and attractions offer FREE admission every month — some even offer special activities on those days. The free days are funded, in part, by taxes collected through the Science and Cultural Facilities District and/or donations from generous sponsors. Because free days are so popular, you are wise to reserve tickets in advance if the attraction has a timed-entry policy.
While admission is FREE, special exhibitions or other add-on activities may incur a fee. Dates and times may change, so always double-check before you visit.
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Free Museum Days 2024
Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield
Clyfford Still Museum
February 29, April 28, July 28, November 2 (free from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.). 1250 Bannock St., Denver, 720-354-4880.
Colorado Railroad Museum
TBD. 17155 W. 44th Ave., Golden, 303-279-4591.
Denver Art Museum
January 9 & 27, February 13, March 12 & 24, April 9 & 28, May 14, June 11, July 9 & 21, August 13, September 7 & 10, October 8, November 2 & 12, December 10. General admission is FREE for kids 18 and younger every day. 100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy., Denver, 720-913-0130.
Denver Botanic Gardens at York Street
January 15, February 15, March 9, April 22, June 5, July 3, August 28, November 29. Advanced online registration is required. Tickets will be available three months at a time (on a rolling basis) and the tickets will be released on the 1st of the month. Go here to find the link for tickets. 1007 York St., Denver, 720-865-3500.
Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms
January 15, February 15, March 9, April 22, June 5, July 3, August 28, November 29. Advanced online registration is required. Tickets will be available three months at a time (on a rolling basis) and the tickets will be released on the 1st of the month. Go here to find the link for tickets. 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Rd., Littleton, 720-865-3500.
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
January 8 & 28, February 26, April 28, June 4 (free only from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.), June 19, August 21 (free only from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.), September 10 (free only from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.) & 30, October 20, November 2 (free only from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.) & 18 and December 8. Check here for more information on programming. (Note: FREE admission does not include IMAX or Planetarium.) 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, 303-370-6000.
Denver Zoo
January 5 & 21, February 11, April 7, November 1, 9 & 17. The Zoo provides a limited number of tickets for each Free Day, using a first-come, first-served system. n online lottery system. If you want to visit on a free day, you must grab your tickets online when they are released. Tickets are posted 11 days before each Free Day. Go here for more Free Days info. 2900 E. 23rd Ave., Denver, 720-337-1400.
Four Mile Historic Park
January 26, February 23, March 22, April 26, May 24, June 28, July 26, August 23, September 27, October 25, November 22, December (TBD). Free days are the fourth Friday of each month (but this sometimes changes so check first on the Park’s website). 715 S. Forest St., Denver, 720-865-0800.
Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Denver
January 6, February 3, March 2, April 6, May 4, June 1, July 6, August 3, September 7, October 5, November 2, December 7. Admission is 1¢ for Colorado residents on the first Saturday of each month. 1485 Delgany St., Denver, 303-298-7554.
Museum of Outdoor Arts
Unconfirmed for 2024. Free entry into Marjorie Park during regular park hours. Register in advance. 6331 S. Fiddlers Green Circle, Greenwood Village.
Plains Conservation Center
January 18, February 22, March 16, June 13, July 13, August 15, November 16, December 12. Advance registration is not required. Go here to check for free day hours. 21901 E. Hampden Ave., Aurora, 303-326-8380.
In addition, smaller museums, including strictly local ones, tend to have more free days (some are always free):
Aurora History Museum is FREE every day (closed on Monday). 15051 E. Alameda Parkway, Aurora, 303-739-6660.
Broomfield Veterans Museum is FREE Tuesday & Thursday (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and Saturday (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.). 12 Garden Center, Broomfield, 303-460-6801.
Golden History Museum is open and FREE Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 923 10th St., 303-278-3557.
Hudson Gardens is FREE every day. Hours vary by season. 6115 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton, 303-797-8565.
Longmont Museum and Cultural Center is FREE on the second Saturday of each month. 400 Quail Rd., Longmont, 303-651-8374.
Mines Museum of Earth Science features minerals, fossils, gemstones, meteorites and historic mining artifacts. Always FREE. General Research Lab (GRL) Building, 1310 Maple St., Golden, 303-273-3815.
Nederland Mining Museum. Celebrates hard-rock mining in Boulder County in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. FREE. Open from early June through late October. 200 N. Bridge St. (at the traffic circle), Nederland.
University of Colorado Museum of Natural History is open to the public and FREE seven days a week. Donations are appreciated. 15th and Broadway, Boulder, 303-492-6892.
I am looking for free days for homeschooling parent
Crystal – You will need to check each attraction for extra free days. However, we haven’t heard of any specifically for homeschooling parents. – LD