History Colorado free admission
On Aug. 1, 1876, President Grant officially made Colorado the Centennial State. The History Colorado Center (at 1200 Broadway in Denver) is celebrating the big day with free admission on Aug. 1. All Coloradans are invited to enjoy arts and crafts, live music, snacks and a visit with alpacas at the carnival-like gathering. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Advance registration is recommended if you want to skip the entry lines. Plus, children (18 and under) get in for free every day. historycolorado.org/events
Brent’s Place block party
Join local nonprofit Brent’s Place for a family-centered community event on Aug. 5 to celebrate 26 years of care for families facing a medical crisis. Starting at 11 a.m., the block party will feature fun for all ages, including carnival games, water slides, a climbing wall, dunk tank, yard games, food trucks and more. The festivities will be at the Anschutz Medical Center Parade Grounds (12474 E. 19th Ave.) in Aurora. Admission is free. Surface-level parking is also available at two nearby lots for free with a special code given to attendees when they register, which is required. brentsplace.org/blockpartyhq
Stranahan’s Colorado Day bash
Cheers, Colorado! Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey (200 S. Kalamath St. in Denver) will celebrate its birthplace in style. On Aug. 6., the local distillery is hosting its Colorado Day Bash, complete with tours, live music and food trucks. From noon to 8 p.m., Coloradans can enjoy tours of the state’s first legal distillery since Prohibition and performances from local artists. From 12:30 to 7:30 p.m., join a 45-minute American Single Malt Tour, beginning every half hour. Tour tickets are $5 with all proceeds going to Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado. (Best to reserve a spot online.) In addition, local food trucks Luchador and Brutal Poodle will be on-site. stranahans.com/events/colorado-day-bash
Parker Honey Festival
Parker is all abuzz for its family-friendly Honey Festival on Aug. 6 at the town’s O’Brien Park (10795 Victorian Drive). From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., learn about the importance of honey bees and how to support the health of bees and other pollinators. See hives up close, sample honey, make a craft, try on a beekeeper’s suit and pick up lots of bee booty, including honey sticks, dippers and recipes. Attendees will also find lots of health and beauty products made with honey and beeswax. There will be a kids’ corner, music performances and artistic displays, too. parkerarts.org/event/the-honey-festival
Meow Wolf’s Monster Battle
Families can have a monstrously good time at Meow Wolf’s epic summer clash of the costumes, Monster Battle. All kinds of creative creatures will unite on Aug. 10 from 4 to 10 p.m. in the Cheesman Park Pavilion (1900 E. 11th Ave.) in Denver. Admission is free. Participants will twist, shout and dance with their claws out to the tunes of Meow Wolf’s DJ Snaggy and more. Enjoy games, prizes and the chance to take home the glory of being the best dressed. tickets.meowwolf.com/events/denver/monster-battle
2023 Parade of Homes
The 2023 Parade of Homes features 32 newly designed and custom homes across the greater metro area, open to the public for free touring from Thursday to Sunday. The tours run Aug. 10-27 from noon to 5 p.m. No reservations are required. Homes range from luxury show homes to affordably priced houses, from innovative to elegant, located in neighborhoods across the Front Range. Some people visit with an eye to buy, while others are looking for inspiration in decorating their own homes. Virtual tours are also available. Download a map for directions and to plan your route at paradeofhomesdenver.com.
Bark Around the Block
Dairy Block and The Maven Hotel are celebrating National Dog Month with a dog-friendly Bark Around the Block event on Aug. 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The furry-friend-filled gathering includes a Puppy Yoga Class, free dog caricatures, a Dairy Block “Pup” Crawl and more. Puppy Yoga, a free one-hour Vinyasa Class led by CorePower Yoga, starts at 9 a.m. in the Alley and will feature furry friends available for adoption from Lifeline Puppy Rescue. Donations will be collected for the rescue organization. Plus, pet parents can stop by The Maven Hotel’s Windsor Room to enjoy special games and free dog caricatures from Alias K. Masters Studios. dairyblock.com/events/bark-around-the-block.
Nintendo Summer of Play
It’s game time! The Nintendo Summer of Play stops at FlatIron Crossing (One W. FlatIron Crossing Drive) in Broomfield from Aug. 17 to 20. Admission is free. The event gives players of all ages the chance to discover their favorite Nintendo characters and learn more about the worlds they come from. Attendees will receive a Nintendo Summer of Play passport, which can be stamped after participating in various activities. Once completed, passport holders have an opportunity to receive free Nintendo goodies. The fun runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the first three dates and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. nintendo.com/events/play-events
Aurora Global Fest
Aurora Global Fest, an international culture festival, is set for Aug. 19 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the Great Lawn at the Aurora Municipal Center (15151 E. Alameda Parkway) on Aug. 19 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free. With more than 170 languages spoken in Aurora, the festival provides a unique opportunity for the community to become one. The family-friendly event includes a kids’ area, musical and dance performances, fashion show, a large variety of food vendors and a global market. auroragov.org/things_to_do/events/global_fest
Lafayette Peach Festival
The 24th annual Lafayette Peach Festival turns the town’s main street into one peachy carnival on Aug. 19 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Morton’s Orchards and Tate Orchards truck in more than 30,000 pounds of certified organic peaches from Palisade for peach lovers to purchase. Check out the Festival Plaza, where you’ll find hundreds of fresh peach pies and pans of peach cobbler. (Get there early, though, because the peach treats always sell out.) The festival also will showcase crafters, antique dealers and artists from the Front Range and Western states. For kids, there will be free face painting and balloon sculpting from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parking is available in the surrounding neighborhoods; just do not block driveways or park in restricted areas. lafayettecolorado.com/special-events
Rocky Mountain Record Show
Vinyl is back — and in a big way. And music collectors will want to take a spin at the Rocky Mountain Record Show on Aug. 19 and 20 at The Brighton (3403 Brighton Blvd.) in Denver. The show brings together top vinyl sellers from all over the country to offer more than 150,000 records. There also will be other recorded media, music memorabilia and ephemera for sale from more than 75 vendors. Food trucks and a full bar will be available. Enjoy tunes from vinyl-only DJs while you are digging through the racks. Early bird pricing (until Aug. 1) is $10 for general admission on Saturday. Admission is free on Sunday. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. rockymountainrecordshow.com
Golden Fine Arts Festival
Downtown Golden transforms into an open-air art gallery on Aug. 19 and 20 for the Golden Fine Arts Festival. Traditionally, more than half of the 100 participating artists travel to Golden from outside the state. Find works in ceramic arts, fiber, glass, jewelry, mixed media, painting, photography and sculpture. Admission is free and the event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day on 11th St. (between Maple and Arapahoe). Besides the colorful art, enjoy live entertainment, a beer and wine garden and food. goldenfineartsfestival.org
Loveland Corn Roast Festival
Loveland’s Corn Roast Festival is on Aug. 25-26 at the Old Fairgrounds Park (700 S. Railroad Ave.). Admission is free. Festivities start Friday at 5 p.m. with entertainment, as well as roasted and boiled corn for sale. Friday night’s headliner is Nashville recording artist Craig Campbell, performing from 8 to 10 p.m. Live music, a corn shucking contest, beer garden, Kids Zone, vendor area and a parade fill out the two “corny” days. The festival pops up from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday. Attendees can also enjoy a cornhole tournament at noon and the Loveland Rotary Duck Race at 4 p.m. loveland.org/events-2/festival-information
Free admission to Colorado state parks for veterans
As a thank you to U.S. military members, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is offering active duty, veterans and the National Guard to all state parks for the month of August. Military members and veterans, resident and nonresident, can pick up a free August Military Pass at any Colorado State Park or CPW office by showing proof of service. All other park fees remain in effect, including camping reservations, boat and off-highway vehicle registrations, and hunting and fishing licenses. cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/MilitaryBenefits.aspx
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