Unlike other big cities in the USA, in Denver you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have fun. We’re lucky enough to have some of the country’s most gorgeous lakes, parks and mountain trails at our fingertips. In the summertime, Denver also offers a variety of free, family-friendly activities to enjoy throughout the city. We’ve put together a list of just a few of them that you won’t want to miss!
Free Outdoor Movies
Take a trip down memory road, when outdoor movie theaters were king and dancing hotdogs were still cool, and get outside to watch some awesome blockbuster oldies-but-goodies. All through the summer in various parks around Denver, you’ll be able to watch classics like “The Labyrinth” or “Big” under the stars. Just be sure to bring a blanket or fold-up chair and your own popcorn, of course.
Check out the following July outdoor movie showings, or get the rest of the summer’s schedule here.
Glendale Infintity Park
July 7 – “Big”
July 21 – “Mary Poppins”
Historic Elitch Theatre
July 11 – “The Way We Were”
July 25 – Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan”
Skyline Park
July 12 – “Monsters University”
July 19 – “Father of the Bride”
July 26 – “Fly Away Home”
Red Rocks Amphitheatre
July 8 – “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” with Boy & Bear and Inner Oceans
July 29 – “Pitch Perfect” with Tracksuit Wedding and The Messers
If you’re a bicyclist, be sure to check out the bike-ins at the Civic Center.
Civic Center Bike-In Movies Lineup:
July 24 – “American Flyers”
September 5 – “Office Space”
Fitness Classes at the Civic Center
With everything from yoga to boot camp classes to lunchtime workouts, Civic Center Moves is a fitness series for all levels. And guess what? It’s completely free of charge! Check out all the details on schedules and class descriptions here.
If you can’t make it down to the Civic Center, no worries, there are free fitness classes all over the city. Check out this yoga meetup that gets together weekly, it’s absolutely free to join and attend, just be sure to bring your own mat.
Yoga classes at Denver Parks and Rec may not have those eucalyptus-scented eye pillows or organic cotton throws to curl up with after a hard flow session, but they are dirt-cheap and good quality classes.
Or check out your local yoga studio and ask if they offer a community class. These donation-based classes are open to all levels and led by professionally-trained yoga instructors. If you’re in the Washington Park area, both Breathe Yoga Cycle and 303 B Yoga offer community classes and are are both fantastic studios to get your Om on.
City Park Jazz
If you’re one of those people who every year say they are going to make it down to City Park Jazz and never do, there are no more excuses! This year’s concert line-up is better than ever and the weather has been absolutely gorgeous for a day in the park. Some recommendations to make your experience enjoyable:
1) Get there early and pick a spot close to the bandstand. If you really want to enjoy the music, you’ll need to get close up. Unfortunately the sound system isn’t played at a break-your-eardrum level, so if you’re stuck on a lawn further away, you won’t hear a thing.
2) Skip the picnic. Don’t even bother to break out the picnic basket, City Park has dozens of Food Truck options to choose from. Trust me, your bologna sandwich will wilt in comparison to your neighbor’s grilled Italian sausage with sauteed red peppers and onions.
3) Do bring water and sunscreen. If there’s one thing you don’t want to pay for, it’s overpriced water and sunscreen, so make sure to stock up on both, you’ll need it as there isn’t much coverage from the sun!
Check out all the details and dates for City Park Jazz here.
Do you know of any other fun, totally-free summer events going on in Denver? Tweet us about them @WashPark!