Free Things to Do in Denver This Weekend

Denver’s calendar this weekend is packed with free events, just as the city swelters under a heat advisory that pushed temps past 95°F on Friday. With wildfire smoke drifting in from southern Spain making headlines globally, locals are seeking shade and low-cost escapes.

Murals, yoga and a pop-up market

On Saturday, July 11, the RiNo Art District kicks off its monthly “Free First Saturday”, delayed a week due to the July 4 holiday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. along Larimer Street between 27th and 35th streets. Dozens of street artists will be painting live, and visitors can grab a free map at the Denver Central Market kiosk to self-guide past more than 120 murals. Last year, the district drew 1.2 million visitors, according to the Downtown Denver Partnership, and this weekend’s event is expected to draw a few thousand.

Sunday, July 12, brings free community yoga at Civic Center Park, hosted by CorePower Yoga instructors near the Greek Amphitheatre from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. The class is part of the city’s “Summer in the City” series, which this year offered 14 free fitness sessions across Denver parks. Attendance averaged 80 people per class in June, according to Denver Parks and Recreation data.

Museums, libraries and live music

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science, at 2001 Colorado Blvd., offers free general admission on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., part of its second-Sunday program funded by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District. Last year, the museum saw 1.6 million guests, with more than 200,000 using free days. Expect lines by 9:30 a.m.; arrive early to snag a spot in the temporary “Wildfire” exhibition, which opened last month and features interactive smoke models.

The Denver Public Library’s central branch at 10 W. 14th Ave. is hosting a “Make & Take” craft session for all ages from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Librarians will help visitors create pressed-flower bookmarks using herbs from the library’s rooftop garden, which last year yielded 130 pounds of produce donated to local food pantries.

For music lovers, the Levitt Pavilion Denver in Ruby Hill Park, 1380 W. Florida Ave., kicks off its free concert series Friday night with a 7 p.m. show by local funk band The Milk Blossoms. The lawn opens at 5:30 p.m.; food trucks will sell $8 tacos and $5 lemonades, but you can bring your own picnic. The series runs through September and draws an average of 2,500 people per show, per venue data.

If you’re up for a hike, the City of Aurora’s “Nature Walk” at the Plains Conservation Center, 21901 E. Hampden Ave., offers free guided tours of the shortgrass prairie from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday. The center is a 1,100-acre preserve with 5 miles of trails, a rare slice of open space within a 25-minute drive from downtown Denver. Last year, more than 45,000 people used the trails, according to city records.

Wrap up Sunday evening with free salsa dancing at the La Rumba Nightclub, 99 W. 9th Ave., where a beginner lesson starts at 7 p.m. followed by an open dance floor until 10 p.m., no cover, but donations accepted for the club’s scholarship fund, which has sent 12 Denver teens to salsa competitions in New York over the past three years.