The forecast is for fun (and a few showers) this week! Because the Outside Festivalis setting up in Civic Center Park, there's no Civic Center EATS...but there are plenty of other things to do around town. Summer is here (unofficially), with outdoor movie series starting and block parties firing up. And the first Pride events are on the books.
For more entertainment opportunities, see our roster of events worth the price of admission.Now keep reading for fifteen free things to do in Denver this week...and beyond:
Free things to do in Denver this week
At the Heart of the Matter: Change Narratives, Change Minds
Thursday, May 30, noon to 1:30 p.m., online
The information we consume daily through the news headlines, social media, politics and pop culture influences the cultural narratives that shape our beliefs about ourselves and the world around us. But they can also uphold inequity and allow injustice to flourish. This virtual event will feature a conversation with Karen McNeil-Miller, president and CEO of the Colorado Health Foundation, and Jose Antonio Vargas, a leading voice for the human rights of immigrants as well as a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Emmy-nominated filmmaker and Tony-nominated theatrical producer. It will also feature a special performance by poet Alejandro Jimenez. It's free to sign up here.
Park Lights & Movie Nights
The Marvels
Thursday, May 30, 5:15 p.m.
Del Mar Park, 12000 East Sixth Avenue, Aurora
The outdoor movie season is here! Aurora is offering a series of family-friendly movies with pre-show entertainment. The films start at 6 p.m.; bring blankets, chairs and food to enjoy under the skies. The free series continues through mid-June; learn more here.
Alpine Rising: Sherpas, Baltis, and the Triumph of Local Climbers in the Greater Ranges, With Bernadette McDonald
Thursday, May 30, 6:30 p.m.
Boulder Book Store, 1107 Pearl Street, Boulder
The name of Maurice Herzog, the first man to reach the summit of Annapurna, is widely recognized, but how many know Ang Tharkay, the Sherpa who carried the seriously frostbitten Herzog on his back for miles? Although rarely mentioned in published accounts of early expeditions, local climbers have long been significant members of first ascents on the world’s tallest and most challenging peaks. In Alpine Rising, award-winning writer Bernadette McDonald sets the record straight by shining a light on these too often forgotten heroes. At the free May 29 event at Arc'teryx RiNo, she'll discuss her work, show slides and join in a Q&A; find details here. On May 30,McDonald will be in conversation with Jan Sacherer; although tickets are $5, they come with a $5 rebate for any book bought that day at the Boulder Book Store. RSVP here.
Art of Therapy
Thursday, May 30, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
FIRE at the Art hotel, 1201 Broadway
Join a roundtable Q&A session on the Art of Therapy with Kate King, an author and artist who's a Radiant Life Coach and certified art therapist, author and artist. It will be held in the Bear Den — complete with bear-themed artwork by Sean Landers — and is free, but space is limited; learn more here.
The Big Gear Show
Friday, May 31 (Industry Day); Saturday, June 1, and Sunday, June 2, noon to 8 p.m.
Lincoln Park by Civic Center Park
While the Outside Festival in neighboring Civic Center Park is paid admission, theBig Gear Show welcomes all outdoor recreation stakeholders for free. Friday is reserved for retail owners and buyers, as well as guide/outfitter businesses, but Saturday and Sunday are open to everyone, with dis plays showing the latest resources and gear. Learn more here.
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Waiting for a flight? Head to the plaza at DIA.
FlyDenver
DEN’s Park on the Plaza
Friday, May 31, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Denver International Airport
Have a few unexpected hours at Denver International Airport? To take advantage of Colorado’s sunny weather, travelers and residents alike are invited to enjoy the Park on the Plaza at Denver International Airport. The 82,000-square-foot open-air plaza, located pre-security between Jeppesen Terminal and the Westin Hotel, will offer entertainment options now through September 30. In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the performances on May 31 will include traditional Japanese Taiko drummers and Polynesian dancers, as well as a dragon parade with traditional Chinese and Vietnamese drummers. Learn more here.
Community Block Party: Warren Village's 50th Anniversary
Friday, May 31, 3 to 7 p.m.
Warren Village, 1323 Gilpin Street
Warren Village, a cornerstone in the Denver community dedicated to supporting unhoused and unstably housed low-income single-parent families, will mark its fiftieth anniversary with a block party complete with carnival-style activities. The celebration also marks the start of its Community Campaign, which has a goal of raising $5 million this year to further support the organization's mission and initiatives. The event is open and admission is free; learn more here.
Kick Off Summer at the Center
Friday, May 31, 4 to 8 p.m.
The Center, 1301 East Colfax Avenue
The Center kicks off summer with Glass Lawler Mental Health's barbecue. Activities include yoga, a sound bath session, food, games and an array of LGBTQ+-affirming mental health resources. Admission is free; learn more here.
City Park Day
Friday, May 31, 5 to 8 p.m.
City Park
The annual celebration of City Park will include free ice cream (from Sweet Cooie’s) and live music by the Denver Municipal Band, along with face painting, caricatures and exhibits from institutions like the Museum of Nature & Science,the Denver Zoo, and neighborhood groups. Victorian dress is encouraged, and admission is free. Learn more here.
Denver Chalk Art Festival
Saturday, June 1, and Sunday, June 2, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Area around 12th Avenue and Bannock Street
While the Outside Festival fills Civic Center Park, the annual Chalk Art Festival will take place just two blocks away. Over 200 artists will transform the streets into a gallery as they create chalk paintings; there will also be live music and family-friendly activities. Admission is free; learn more here.
Denver Cultural Market
Saturday, June 1, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Clyfford Still Museum Outdoor Forecourt, 1250 Bannock Street
There's more action in the Golden Triangle, where the Denver Cultural Market will offerunique items and books from local museums and cultural organizations, including the Clyfford Still Museum, the Center for Colorado Women’s History, the Denver Art Museum, the History Colorado Center, the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art, the Molly Brown House Museum, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver. Admission is free (and it's penny admission day at the Clyfford Still Museum, too); get details here.
Indie Retail Fest on Tennyson Street
Saturday, June 1, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tennyson Street, 35th to 46th avenues
Close out Small Business Month by celebrating the resilient indie retail community along Tennyson Street. Visit theIndie Retail Fest tent on the corner of 41st and Tennyson to grab a free tote and a printed map to participating businesses; you'll get asticker when you make a purchase or attend an in-store event. Then join the group at Call to Arms Brewery for a free drink, live music and the possibility of winning a prize for shopping local. Learn more here.
Made By Us Pride Party
Saturday, June 1, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
2631 Larimer Street
Pride month kicks off with a Made By Us vendor market and queer DJ party; there will also be drag queen performances from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Admission is free; learn more here.
Sikhlens Film Festival and Langar@DU
Saturday, June 1, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Boettcher Lawn, University of Denver
The third annual Langar@DU will serve up a free communal meal to promote selflessness and service; it's organized by students from the Inclusive Community course. This year's event includes the Sikhlens Film Festival, including the premiere of "Rhymes With Hunger," a short documentary on last year's event. Admission is free; learn more here.
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Catch Jaws at the Rockin' Block Party in Lakewood.
Inspire
Rockin' Block Party
Saturday, June 1, 5 to 11 p.m.
Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park, 801 South Yarrow Street, Lakewood
Inspire Arts Lakewood is underway through June 30, with the annual Rockin' Block Party on June 1. Celebrate the ’70s with live music by Bad Colorado, Colorado's Bad Company tribute band, followed by Crystal Visions, featuring the best of Fleetwood Mac. Then at 9 p.m., there's an outdoor screening of Jaws, the classic shark shrieker. Admission is free; get
details here.
Plan ahead:
Aspen U: A Conversation With Luis Benitez
Tuesday, June 4, 6 p.m. (doors at 5)
Limelight Denver Copper Ballroom, 1600 Wewatta Street
Aspen U, a series of free events, will debut at the Limelight with a program on how favorite outdoor activities can contribute to conserving the environment that makes it all possible. The conversation will be led by author and former mountaineering guide Luis Benitez, and will highlight topics included in his latest book, Higher Ground. There will be a cash bar; admission is free.
Free things to do in Denver...ongoing
While most museums charge admission (unless it's an SCFD free day), there are exceptions, and three of those have interesting exhibitions you can see for free just about any time.
201 Kimonos
Daily, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
McNichols Civic Center Building, 144 West Colfax Avenue
McNichols is no longer acting as a temporary shelter, so you can drop in anytime to see 201 Kimonos, the new exhibit there. It emphasizes the traditional T-shaped garment called “kimono,” but also integrates the more general concept of clothing, including a variety of other traditional Japanese apparel, such as haori, a short kimono, and other varieties of robe-like clothing. Admission to McNichols is always free, and another show is opening Friday; learn more here.
Mosaic of Cultures: Aurora's Nepali Community is now open at the Aurora History Museum.
Aurora History Museum
Mosaic of Cultures: Aurora’s Nepali Community
Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Aurora History Museum, 15051 East Alameda Parkway, Aurora
The Aurora History Museum and the Aurora Office of International and Immigrant Affairs are celebrating Aurora’s vibrant Nepali community with the exhibit Mosaic of Cultures: Aurora’s Nepali Community, which opened last week. It's part of the “Mosaic of Cultures” series, which promotes understanding of Aurora’s culturally diverse populations while incorporating the voices of those local communities into the city’s history. Admission is always free to the Aurora History Museum; learn more here.
Building on Stanley’s Foundation
Daily, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas Street, Aurora
The Aurora History Museum, in collaboration with Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum and Stanley Marketplace, created Building on Stanley’s Foundation, a just-opened exhibit in the Stanley about the innovators who worked in the same building seventy years ago. The exhibition includes two ejection seats built at the facility, historic photographs and other artifacts that tell the story of Bob Stanley, already an accomplished engineer and test pilot when he formed Stanley Aviation in 1948. Stanley’s mission was to save the lives of pilots in damaged aircraft; its team pioneered innovative escape systems for both airplanes flying slowly near ground level and supersonic jets high in the stratosphere. You can visit the exhibit whenever the Stanley is open; find out more here.
Do you know of a great free event? We update this list every week; send information to [emailprotected].
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