Awesome events this week include Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, 5th Anniversary Grand Re-opening and Buffalo Bill Days. See our event calendar for full listings and don’t miss our Denver summer activity guide with 150+ ideas.
Buffalo Bill Days at Parfet Park
Jul 26 – Jul 28
The old west comes alive as Golden will once again be hosting its annual Buffalo Bill Days celebration July 26-28. There’s something for everyone in the family including a traditional pancake breakfast, “Best of the West” parade, Cody’s Wild West extravaganza, kids vs. sheep Muttin’ Bustin’ contest and a classic car show.
Indigenous Pop X at McNichols Civic Center Building, Denver Arts & Venues
July 26 – 28
In collaboration with the Denver American Indian Commission, Native Realities presents Indigenous POP X Denver, the most exciting pop culture convention to hit the Mile High City. Born from the Indigenous Comic Con, IPX Denver is a three-day Comic Convention and Pop Culture Festival highlighting the incredible artistic and creative contributions of Native American and Indigenous people in the areas of comics, film, futurisms, fashion, and much, much more.
Splash into Arts – Parker!
July 26, 5:30 – 7:30 pm
2019 SPLASH INTO ARTS featuring Stratus Chamber Orchestra performing music to highlight the “Colors of Summer.” Sit within an orchestra or next to a musician plus musical crafts, Life Art Dance Ensemble, Hawkquest (Sat. only), and more will be there to make the day EXTRAORDINARY. This concert is FREE for EVERYONE. Bring your Entire Family & Splash into Arts this summer.
5th Anniversary Grand Re-opening at Denver Union Station
July 26, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Denver Union Station is excited to be celebrating the 5th anniversary of its grand re-opening on Friday, July 26th with an evening of special events, including a free outdoor summer concert and a ticketed VIP party in the Great Hall.
Dive-in Movie: Mary Poppins Returns at Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park
July 26, 7:30 – 9:45 pm
Dive-In Movies are shown in Island Kingdom Water Park every Friday night June 28 – August 2. The Water Park closes at 6pm with the exception of the Wave Pool, movies beginning around 7:30 p.m. Movies are free with any park admission or Season Pass.
Bubble Run at Great Lawn Park
July 27, 8:00 – 9:30 am
If you’ve done a traditional 5K, you know they can be a bit lackluster. But the BUBBLE RUN™ is the running equivalent to the whimsical bubble room in Willy Wonkas factory.
Kids Obstacle Challenge at Apex Center
July 27 – 28
Kids Obstacle Challenge (KOC) – an obstacle and adventure course event series for kids ages 5-16 and their parents.
Cheeseman Park Art Festival at Cheesman Park Art Festival
July 27 – 28
This colorful outdoor festival was ranked #4 in the nation for sales of Classic & Contemporary Craft by Sunshine Artist Magazine in 2016, and Top of the Town by 5280 (Denver’s Magazine), in 2015. Charming & walkable, with work that is top-notch yet attainable, the Cheesman Park Art Fest has you culturally covered from live music beneath the trees to Denver’s best food trucks!
Rock the Runway at Outlets at Castle Rock
July 27, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Rock the Runway’ Model Search. The competition is open to all aspiring models, ages 5-23. Each of the winners will be given the opportunity to appear in future advertisements and fashion shows for Outlets at Castle Rock and Outlets at Silverthorne.
Colorado Dragon Boat Festival at Sloan’s Lake Park
July 27 – 28
Celebrate! Join Colorado’s annual celebration of Asian and Asian American heritage with the biggest Dragon Boat Festival in the US.
Colorado Renaissance Festival
July 27– 28
Flashback to the 16th Century and journey through a medieval city. Enjoy full-armor jousting, tasty turkey legs, music and a marketplace featuring more than 200 artisans.
Vegfest Colorado sy 1STBANK Center
July 27 – 28
VegFest Colorado is a 2 day community event that promotes a plant-based/vegan lifestyle. This event features renowned speakers who speak on health, diet, compassion, and environmental issues. VFC also features expert chefs who demonstrate how to prepare delicious healthful plant-based/vegan dishes.
Splash into Arts – Adams County at The Lutheran Center
July 27-28
2019 SPLASH INTO ARTS featuring Stratus Chamber Orchestra performing music to highlight the “Colors of Summer.” Sit within an orchestra or next to a musician plus musical crafts, Life Art Dance Ensemble, Hawkquest (Sat. only), and more will be there to make the day EXTRAORDINARY. This concert is FREE for EVERYONE.
Colorado Rockies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field
July 29 – 31
Enjoy exciting major league baseball and come out to this series between the Colorado Rockies and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Kids Film Series: Zootopia at Longmont Museum
July 30, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
This summer, cool off in the Stewart Auditorium with a bag of popcorn in a place where your don’t have to worry if your kiddo cries in the middle of the movie. Your ticket gets you $1 off the hands-on rodeo exhibit too! Buy tickets ahead; these movies sell out!
Ongoing General Events
Summer@DEN Series
May 24-Sept. 2
Denver International Airport is brimming with free family-friendly activities all summer. DEN Park on the Plaza will include gardens featuring native Colorado trees and plants, live music, lunchtime fitness classes and family activities. Each Wednesday, join a free, weekly lunchtime workout. Fitness classes include yoga, Pilates, Krav Maga, Zumba and more! Each Friday, enjoy a variety of free, fun, cultural and family-friendly activities and performance and from June 14-July 14 you’ll find free 18-hole mini golf course! Test your putting skills while you wait for your flight or simply as a fun outing. www.flydenver.com/events
Summer of Play
June 21 – August 2
On Friday, June 21, the Art Students League of Denver will launch “Summer of Play,” an invitational exhibition featuring a commissioned piece by the Ladies Fancywork Society, displayed alongside artworks by ASLD’s KidART Camp and Teen Studio instructors. The exhibition, which will r27un through August 2, is focused on playfulness and interactivity.
Moon Month
July
Neil Armstrong said the famous words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” on July 20, 1969. In honor of this achievement, get your space suits on and come celebrate the 50th anniversary of the lunar landing at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery this July. The #MoonMonth at FCMoD celebrations continue with programs and events all month long! fcmod.org/
Colorado Shakespeare Festival: Twelfth Night at Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre
June 7 – August 11, 2019
Ring in the summer season with an uproarious comedy about thorny love triangles, mistaken identities … and a pair of twins lost at sea. When Viola finds herself shipwrecked and her brother drowned (or so she thinks!), she begins to dress as a man named Cesario. Since 1958, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival has delighted audiences with professional theatre on the CU Boulder campus. Complete your Colorado summer with Shakespeare under the stars in the historic Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre—complimentary seatbacks included. cupresents.org
Butterflies at Chatfield Farms
May 25 – September 2
$4, $2 Gardens or Butterfly Pavilion member, free for children 2 and under
This seasonal habitat is home to hundreds of native butterflies such as swallowtails, monarchs, mourning cloaks and painted ladies. The plants in this house are used as a nectar source for butterfly food and designed to create a whimsical atmosphere for visitors of all ages to enjoy. Learn what types of plants you can add to your garden to attract butterflies and other pollinators. Presented with Butterfly Pavilion.
Serious Play: Design in Midcentury America at the Denver Art Museum
May 5 –August 25
Serious Play: Design in Midcentury America presents the concept of playfulness in postwar American design as a catalyst for creativity and innovation. This exhibition explores how employing playfulness allowed designers to bring fresh ideas to the American home, children’s toys and play spaces, and corporate identities. The cost is included in general admission which is free for kids 18 and under every day.
Our Senses: Creating Your Reality at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science
April 12 – August 4
When it comes to our senses, hasn’t the number five had enough time in the spotlight? Now other sensory heroes get some overdue attention in Our Senses: Creating Your Reality, a new exhibition at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science for the whole family where you play with color, patterns, sounds, scents, and textures to discover there’s so much more to human senses than just the famous five. www.dmns.org
Denver Art Museum
Visit the Denver Art Museum this summer where kids receive FREE general admission every day! There is plenty to do during #SummerofPlay2019 at the DAM including family-friendly artmaking in the galleries and in the Paint Studio (opening June 1). Step into the shining world of the new First Light Family Space (opening June 1) and try hands-on activities inspired by the exhibition The Light Show. Don’t miss this summer’s main exhibition, Serious Play: Design in Midcentury America, opening May 5, where children are invited to play in the Free Play Zone at the end of the exhibition where they can try on bold masks and bring them to life in a colorful theater, climb on a wavy playscape by sculptor Isamu Noguchi and creatively combine the pieces of the Tyng Toy.
Images from the Tracks at the Colorado Railroad Museum
January 28, 2019 – January 5, 2020
One of the foremost photographers to photograph the great American West, William Henry Jackson’s images had an immense influence on the public’s perception of the American West. A portion of those images were captured here in Colorado as Jackson traveled throughout the west by rail. This exhibit not only showcases the Museum’s collection of Jackson photographs but provides visitors with the opportunity to visit the rail car he traveled and lived in – the Denver & Rio Grande Western business car – the Rico.
Marine Biologist for a Day at the Downtown Aquarium
Jan 1- Dec 31, 2019
See if you have what it takes to become a Marine Biologist! Spend a day behind the scenes where all the scientific action happens. Experience close encounters with exotic species from the deep sea to shallow reef and everywhere in between. You’ll even get to dissect a squid! Program includes guided tour, biologist dive show, squid dissection, animal feedings and much more! T-shirts & lunch included.
Friday Night Bazaar
June 7- September 27
Celebrate the return of Friday Night Bazaar as they open on June 7th and pop-up weekly in RiNo, River North Art District all summer long from 5-10 p.m. for your shopping & sipping needs! Weekly features include 25+ Local Makers, Food & Fashion Trucks, live DJ and more. denverbazaar/fridaynightbazaar
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.
