Have fun. Save money. Denver free days and free things to do in Colorado.

Copper Country Music Festival (Labor Day Weekend)

Each year over Labor Day Weekend, Copper Mountain Ski Resort hosts the free Copper Country festival, with two full days of country, blues, and folk music from top name performers.

Colorado July 4th Fireworks 2017

Colorado puts on quite a celebration for Independence day, with a large number of fireworks shows across the state. There are events of all sizes in 2017. Here we list some of the larger shows both in the Denver metro area as well as across the state.

The Boulder Creek Festival on Memorial Day Weekend

The Boulder Creek Festival takes place every Memorial Day weekend in Boulder along Boulder Creek, and features great free music, dancing, rides for the kids, and other entertainment. This is one of the best festivals of the year, and a great thing to do on Memorial Day weekend.

Manitou Springs Great Fruitcake Toss Festival (annually in January)

Colorado is known for it's goofy festivals and the Great Fruitcake Toss is certainly one of the headliners. This Manitou Springs tradition is held every year after the holidays in an effort to dispose of certain unwanted confections you may have acquired.

Some people prefer to launch their cakes by hand but many choose to build elaborate contraptions to give their fruitcakes the send off they deserve. There are various cake launching categories as well as competitions for the best and prettiest fruit cakes.

When:
The 2014 Great Fruitcake Toss festival has been cancelled. Hopefully it will be back in 2015.

Where:
In Manitou Springs at the Manitou Springs High School track. 
401 El Monte Place
Manitou Springs, CO 80829.

Pueblo Chile Festival

The Pueblo Chile & Frijoles Festival in Southeast Colorado is guaranteed to burn your eyes with fun! Besides being overcome with tears in the chili roasting area, you will find a diverse selection of music and dance performances as well as local vendors.

Colorado Free Fishing Weekend (First Weekend in June)

On the first weekend of June each year, Colorado waives fishing license requirements. This is a great chance to grab your gear out of storage and take the family to a nearby lake or stream for some serious trout fishing! 

Denver Mountain Parks (always free)

The city of Denver operates a series of beautiful and diverse parks in the foothills areas west and south of Golden.

Celestial Seasonings Tour in Boulder (always free)

The free Celestial Seasonings tour is a fun way to learn about tea and tea making, while sampling the most popular Celestial Seasonings flavors!  A stop at the Celestial Seasonings tour is a favorite vacation destination if you're traveling to Colorado.

Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum in Golden (always free)

If you are spending a day in Golden and looking for free attractions, The Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum has a large display of rare gemstones, and their mining display downstairs should not be missed! One of the main attractions at the School of Mines Geology Museum is a moon rock collected during the Apollo 17 lunar mission!

When:
Monday - Saturday 9am - 4pm
Sunday 1pm - 4pm

Where:
1310 Maple St., Golden, CO 80401
The Museum is located in downtown Golden on the Colorado School of Mines campus, in the General Research Library building.

Check their web site for details:

Denver Art Museum (Free First Saturday)

The Denver Art Museum has a free day on the first Saturday of every month. The Denver Art Museum is a great place to spend an afternoon with friends in downtown Denver.

Patsy's Candies Tour in Colorado Springs (always free)

Patsy's Candies in Colorado Springs takes the making of chocolate candy to a whole new level. Free tours of their factory demonstrate the handcrafted nature of Patsy's Candies and highlight the artisanship present in their high quality candies. 

Children's Museum of Denver Free Days (first Tuesday monthly, 4-8pm)

One of the best free Denver attractions for kids, the Children's Museum of Denver's free day takes place from 4pm to 8pm on the first Tuesday of every month, known as Target Tuesdays.

Monarch Mountain Free Day (April)

For 2013, Monarch Mountain is offering a free lift ticket in April if you purchase a $10 GEMS card.

Get the details and order your GEMS card here: 

Location:
Monarch Mountain is located in South Central Colorado near Salida. Map

Learn more about Monarch Mountain Ski and Snowboard Area at their web site: 

U.S. Mint at Denver Free Tours (Monday - Thursday)

Denver Mint Tours are closed for construction through February 27, 2014.

If you ever wanted to know where that change in your pocket comes from, the free Denver Mint Tours are the place to find out! Tours are free of charge Monday through Thursday at the United States Mint in downtown Denver.  Reservations must be made in advance through the United States Mint Tour Reservation System

The Denver Mint building is highly secure, so you will need to pass through a security screening before your tour begins. Many common items are not permitted on the tour, such as purses, check their web site for a detailed list of prohibited items. The tour itself is very informative and interesting, discussing not only how new coins are made but also America's coin making history.

When:
Year-round, Monday - Thursday.
Reservations are required.
Be at the tour entrance 30 minutes prior to your tour time.

Location:
320 West Colfax Avenue
It's just off the southern end of the 16th Street Mall near Civic Center Park.

Visit their web site for tour details and reservations: