Summer break is right around the corner and here are 16 fun events to get you in the mood, including BLOOMapalooza, Pure Speed Drag Racing Experience, the Plein Air Festival and more. See our event calendar for full listings.
Joy Park Free Nights at the Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
May 19, 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
We’re keeping Joy Park open after hours from 4 – 8 pm (or dusk) on the third Friday of every month, May – September, thanks to a collaboration with Denver Parks and Recreation. Please note: These FREE nights include access to Joy Park only and are weather permitting. Except for the restrooms, the inside of the Museum will be closed.
ISDenver’s International Bash at the International School of Denver
May 20, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Travel the world in one day! Our International Bash is a festive end-of-year carnival-style event that attracts more than 3,500 guests. Imagine an outdoor celebration with games, activities, face painting, a cultural village, international-themed food trucks, student performances and plenty of fun for the whole family. The Bash is one of the largest international festivals in the Denver metro area. Everyone is welcome to join our end-of-year celebration of our globally-minded community.
Soccer star Neymar Jr’s Global Tournament Qualifier at Northside Park
May 20
Neymar Jr’s Five, the world’s biggest five-a-side football tournament comes to Denver where the winners of the qualifier will advance to the US finals in Miami in June with the ultimate goal of earning a spot in the World Final at the Instituto Projeto Neymar Jr in Praia Grande, Brazil.
FREE Family BBQ at Colorado Early Colleges Aurora
May 20, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Join Aurora’s newest high school for a day of family fun! Come and enjoy food trucks, bouncy houses and school tours from 12-3 p.m.! Bring your family and neighbors so they can learn more about CECA and how students are earning their Associate Degree.
Colfax Marathon at City Park
May 20 – May 21
The best urban tour around! Run the mile high course that takes you on and off Colfax, through parks, neighborhoods, trails and downtown. Enjoy amazing views of the front range, Confluence Park, Sports Authority Field at Mile High’s concourse, and the Cherry Creek trail. The half runs through the Denver Zoo.
BLOOMapalooza at the Butterfly Pavilion
May 20, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Join Butterfly Pavilion for Bloomapalooza on May 20th from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. This nature-filled extravaganza celebrates the wonder of flowers and the pollinators who make their growth possible. This event is part of our national Pollinator Awareness through Conservation and Education (PACE) initiative focused on increasing awareness of invertebrate pollination, encouraging the conservation and restoration of habitats.
Meet the Beekeeper at The Hudson Gardens & Event Center
May 20, 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Stop by the Hudson Gardens’ Apiary for a glimpse into the world of honeybees. All ages. See website for times.
Walk in the Wild: International Migratory Bird Day at Walden Ponds
May 20, 9:00 am – 1:30 pm
Want to learn more about birds and have fun in the great outdoors with your family? Join us on Saturday May 20th and celebrate International Migratory Bird Day: Walk in the Wild. Visit education stations, go on a guided bird walks, and meet raptors in the hand. Feeling crafty? Paint a bird for our Flock project. Free food and much more. This event is free, but also serves as a fundraiser for habitat restoration.
Family Discovery Series: Siren Song – A Pirate Odyssey at the Schoolhouse Theater
May 20, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Looking to introduce your little ones to new experiences? Then this series is perfect for you! Each show is affordably priced and under 60 minutes, to give your kids a taste of all that is great about the arts. A lifetime of enjoying the arts starts one Discovery at a time.
Plein Air Festival & Auction
May 20
Don’t miss the Plein Art Festival and Auction Saturday, May 20 in Loveland, Colorado. This free family-friendly festival showcases 50 Colorado artists as they masterfully paint works of art open air and on location throughout Loveland, providing a unique opportunity to experience each piece as it is being created. Once complete the paintings will be auctioned off at the Rialto Theater in downtown Loveland.
Five Points Jazz Festival at Denver’s Five Points neighborhood
May 20, 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
The free festival takes place the third Saturday of May and celebrates the history of Denver’s Five Points neighborhood. Once known as the Harlem of the West, Five Points was home to several jazz clubs which played host to many of jazz music’s legends such as Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk and many more. Since its inception in 2004, the Five Points Jazz Festival has grown each year in size and popularity.
Fun Summer Safe Summer at Standley Lake Library
May 20 @ 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Summer is just around the corner and there are plenty of upcoming camps, workshops, and events for your kids to have a fun, safe, and adventurous summer! Bring the family and join us in our grassy space outside the library to learn about these exciting opportunities. While you are busy gathering information we will provide activities and crafts for the kids to enjoy.
Konstantin Dimopoulos’ “The Blue Trees” Family Fun Day at Skyline Park
May 21
Family Fun Day will take place on Sunday, May 21 at Skyline Park on the 16th Street Mall, giving families a FREE opportunity to color 200 child-sized trees, participate in environmentally friendly educational activities, and enjoy kid-friendly entertainment.
Pure Speed Drag Racing Experience
May 21, 8:30 am – 1:30 pm
Have you ever wanted to take a trip down the drag strip at exhilarating speeds? Well, now’s your chance! Join Pure Speed Racing to fulfill your Need for Speed.
You can jump in the passengers seat of one of our 2-Seated Dragsters and take the Ride of Your Life, reaching speeds of 140+ mph in just a 9 second, 1/4 mile pass! But if you want to control your own destiny, let us strap you in the drivers seat of one our state of the art dragsters where you can spin the tires for a smoky burnout, stage the car at the lights, then launch off the line reaching speeds of approximately 130 mph in a full 1/4 mile run.
Info Night – Steve & Kate’s Camp at The Logan School for Creative Learning
May 24
Learn all about Steve & Kate’s innovative daily drop-in model as well as our self-directed studios that give kids the freedom to design their own learning experience this summer.
Picnic-N-Planes at Western Museum of Mining & Industry
May 24, 9:30 am – 2:30 pm
Picnic-N-Planes (USAFA Graduation Day). For $5 per carload, come to the museum to see the Thunderbirds fly low over the museum property. Bring your picnic lunch, cameras, and binoculars for a fun outing.
Nature EdVentures – Maps and Compass Treasure Hunt at Dad Clark Park
May 24 @ 4:54 pm – 5:54 pm
Learn how to read a map, orient yourself, and find various sites using a map and compass. Ages 8-12. Advance registration required. $20, $23 nonresident.
Author: Amber Johnson
Amber is the founder and editor of Mile High Mamas, travel writer and former columnist for The Denver Post. She is a passionate community builder and loves the outdoors. She has two awesome teens and is happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin.
