Are you ready to fall for autumn in the Rockies? Leaf-peepers are going for the gold…and the orange, as pumpkin patches and Halloween haunts open for the season, with Day of the Dead events coming right up. And tonight, you can travel back to Woodstock West.
This is also National Banned Books Week, and Anythink Libraries is offering full access to the Freedom to Read Collection at no cost; it’s open to anyone in Colorado, not just in the Adams County library district. Get the details here.
Check our weekly list for one-off activities worth the price of admission. Now keep reading for free things to do in Denver (and beyond) this week:
Ongoing
SCFD Free Days
Locations and dates vary
Thanks to the sales tax you pay into the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, many art institutions around the metro area offer occasional free days and programs. For example, there’s no admission fee at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science on October 12, and the Denver Art Museum is free on October 14. For more upcoming bargains, check the SCFD site.
Civic Center EATS
Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Civic Center Park
For over a decade, food trucks have rallied at Civic Center for lunchtime fun that often includes live entertainment. The fall session runs until October 16.
This Week
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Opera Colorado Town Hall With Barbara Lynne Jamison
Thursday, October 9, 6 p.m., online
Get to know Barbara Lynne Jamison, Opera Colorado’s new Ellie Caulkins General Director & CEO. Dennis Robinson, the organization’s new director of Programs & Partnerships, will moderate a discussion of questions submitted by the Opera Colorado community. Register here.
University of Denver Livingston Lecture: Woodstock West
Thursday, October 9, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Davis Auditorium, Sturm Hall, University of Denver
DU professor Sheila Shroeder had never heard of “Woodstock West” twenty-plus years ago when two students pitched a story about it for a video magazine class she was teaching. They said it was a University of Denver protest reacting against Nixon’s 1970 expansion of the Vietnam War and the deaths of four students at Kent State University. But the more she learned about the week-long incident that led to stand-offs with the administration, Denver Police and ultimately the National Guard, the more inspired she became to create a fictional feature film screenplay and a documentary podcast to bring the story to life. She’ll share parts of the project at this lecture.
Denver Dog Days
Friday, October 11, noon to 5 p.m.
1700 Sheridan Boulevard
This dog-friendly outdoor festival will bring together the Denver community for a day of fun at Sloan’s Lake, complete with a dog costume contest. and pet parade. The YourgiYard will include caricature artists, a photo booth, a dog-treat bar and free swag; Yourgi will donate $5 to Soul Dog Rescue for every account created at the event.
An Evening with Christine Reed: Blood Sweat Tears
Friday, October 10, 6 to 8 p.m.
Gnara, 939 Pearl Street, Boulder
Gnara, which created “the pants that broke the internet,” has a new popup on the Boulder Mall, and it’s launching a series of special events. On Friday, it will host author Christine Reed at an evening devoted to Blood Sweat Tears, a collection of short stories from 26 women+ hikers and runners about the experience of being a female body on the trail.
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Second Saturday at CSU Spur
Saturday, October 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
4777 National Western Drive, National Western Center
Every second Saturday, the Colorado State University Spur campus hosts a day of free, interactive, hands-on activities for families to enjoy. The October event will include a celebration of Dia de los Muertos as well as Girl Scout Day. Come decorate sugar cookie skulls in celebration of the Day of the Dead, try out a new instrument at the CSU Spur Music Lab and watch veterinarians performing live surgery on dogs and cats in the Humane Colorado Veterinary Hospital.
Denver Public Art Dedication: Paula Castillo
Saturday, October 11, 10 a.m.
Garden Room, Denver Art Museum, 100 West 14th Avenue Parkway
Join the dedication of three new public artworks by Paula Castillo: “Glyph” and “Trestle” on the Denver Art Museum campus and “Equis” near the Broadway Boulevard entrance of the Denver Central Library. The sculptures celebrate the layered history and ecology of Denver, honoring the contributions of mestizaje cultures to the city’s contemporary identity. The morning will include an artist-led tour, as well as a poetry reading of “Under a Golden Star” by guest poet Terry Mulert at the library
Dia de Muertos Family Fiesta
Saturday, October 11, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Downtown Longmont
Day of the Dead celebrations start early in Longmont, where the Dia de Muertos Family Fiesta kicks off three weeks of activities, including Dia de Muertos: Portals , an exhibit at the Firehouse Art Center that includes workshops and story sharing. The traditional Gigantes Procession is at 2 p.m.; learn more here.
Open Studios Tour
Saturday, October 11, and Sunday, October 12, noon to 5 p.m.
Around Boulder County
Now in its thirtieth year, the Open Studios Tour allows you to take a self-guided tour inside the private creative spaces of artists in Boulder County. The event continues next weekend, too.
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Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2025: “Breaking Barriers to Native Education For All”
Sunday, October 12, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut Street, Boulder
Right Relationship Boulder presents this daylong event supporting Native Education for All, with an art market, performances and programs.
FirePower Productions Presents: Galloween
East Colfax Avenue and Race Street
Sunday, October 12, 3 p.m.
Galloween kickstarts Denver Halloween events with a party at East Colfax Avenue and Race Street, featuring artists and vendors at Lion’s Lair, Purple Haze, Port of Call and High Level Health. The event is free and supports local businesses impacted by BRT construction.
Plan Ahead
Biennial of the Americas
Wednesday, October 15, through October 26
Downtown Denver The Biennial of the Americas Festival is a landmark cultural celebration uniting artists, innovators and thought leaders from across the Western Hemisphere. It returns to Denver with music, art and fashion events, as well as conversations about issues shaping the future of the Americas. Many events are free; learn more here.