Perhaps you’re feeling somewhat sad that summer fun is coming to a close or maybe you’re looking forward to being back on a schedule soon (or, like me, a little bit of both). Be sure to make some time in your schedule to enjoy a few more adventures with your kids, starting with Fun at the Firehouse this Saturday, August 6, from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

Fire Station One, one of Denver’s oldest, served as a working fire station until 1975 and is now home to the Denver Firefighters Museum. Children under the age of 7 are among the most vulnerable during a fire. Most young children are enamored by the sight and sounds of a fire engine but can become frightened by a firefighter fully dressed in protective gear. Fun at the Firehouse, an annual safety fair hosted by the Museum, provides an opportunity to learn about fire safety in a fun environment. Kids of all ages — and parents too — can try their hand with a fire hose or maneuver through a fire safety obstacle course. Local fire departments will be offering demonstrations all day. Guests can also ride on a vintage fire truck and even take a trip upward in the fire engine bucket! Inside the museum, learn about the history of firefighting and 9-1-1, dress in firefighter gear, or read books and play computer games in the Kids Gallery.

A few things to note about this event: Admission to the museum is FREE for this event. 13th Street and Tremont Place will be blocked off for the outdoor activities. Metered parking and street parking is available about a block from the museum. The museum will have a food booth selling hot dogs and hamburgers. Fire Station One is a historical building and does not have an elevator. The Kids Gallery is located on the second floor of the building.

Other August Adventures:

★ Experience boots, chaps, and cowboy hats at the Adams County Fair and Rodeo August 3-7 or the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo August 4-7.
★ Dogs and cats and hedgehogs, oh my! The 7th Annual Critter Fest at the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center in Woodland Park takes place Saturday, August 6 from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM and Sunday, August 7 from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
★ Enjoy a Full Moon Walk under the Heat Moon at the Plains Conservation Center in Aurora [http://plainscenter.org/] on Saturday, August 13 from 7:30-9:00 PM. Reservations required.
★ Head south for the annual Burro Birthday Bash and Bluegrass Festival at the Western Museum of Mining & Industry in Colorado Springs. The party starts at 10:00 AM on Saturday, August 13.
★ Celebrate Asian music, art, dance, and food at the Boulder Asian Festival August 13 and 14, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM each day.
★ “Nessie Lives” at the 48th Annual Colorado Scottish Festival & Rocky Mountain Highland Games in Highlands Ranch. This Celtic celebration is 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM on August 13 and continues 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM on August 14.
★ Take time to stop and smell the flowers at the Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival Friday, August 19 from 4:00-11:00 PM and Saturday, August 20 from noon till 11:00 PM.
★ The Lafayette Peach Festival is a free street fair that takes place rain or shine. This year’s event, held Saturday, August 20 from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, includes free concerts, free face painting and other children’s entertainment, and of course, the best peaches in the country!
★ Don’t miss the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo August 26 – September 5. Take advantage of special deals with these Discount Days.

Kyrie Collins is a local mom and the author of Playdate with Denver & Colorado’s Front Range, an adventure guide for parents, grandparents, and caregivers featuring nearly 200 local destinations. She makes a mean pumpkin spice bread and is a “spectacular fun planner” according to her husband and two young boys. To learn more about her book, please visit www.playdatewithdenver.com.