Free Things to Do in Denver (and Beyond) This Week, May 11-17

The temperature’s rising…and the cultural calendar is heating up, too, with seasonal traditions joining the lineup. Civic Center EATS is back this week, with more arts fests and farmers’ markets coming this weekend.

For more entertainment options, check our list of activities worth the price of admission. Now keep reading for free things to do in Denver (and beyond).

This Week

Sola Salon Studios Anniversary Party
Monday, May 11, 4 to 6 p.m.
2700 East Second Avenue
Polly Sanders-Peterson is celebrating 60 years behind the chair and in business! She was the the first African American salon owner in Cherry Creek and the first Black person to win a scholarship to Hollywood Beauty College in 1964. Join her in a 60th-anniversary celebration.

National History Day: Elite STEM
Monday, May 11, 5 to 7 p.m.
CU Anschutz Combat Medicine Research Center, 13001 East 17th Place, Aurora
­What do a combat medic, a graduate student, and an 8eighth grader have in common? They’ll all take the stage at ELITE STEM for short, fast-paced talks on how solving medical problems on the battlefield leads to better care in your local hospital. You’ll hear from CU Anschutz researchers, military medicine leaders, and middle- and high-school finalists from National History Day Colorado, whose projects explored how lessons from combat medicine have improved lives far beyond the front lines. program at 5 p.m., reception at 6. There’s also an optional tour of the historic Eisenhower Suite at 3:30. RSVP here.

Denver Art Museum Free Day
Tuesday, May 12, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
100 West 14th Avenue Parkway
Thanks to the SCFD, there’s no admission charge at the Denver Art Museum on Tuesday, when the hours are also extended.

Lee Gulch Lookout Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
Tuesday, May 12, 4 to 6 p.m.
Lee Gulch Lookout, Mile 20, High Line Canal
The Lee Gulch Lookout now features new interactive and interpretive elements, alongside physical improvements like seating and an improved trail intersection. There’s also a display of the historic flume over Lee Gulch, and tree stump flipbooks introduce “Trees of the Canal.”

Foraging Walk With Robin Greenfield
Tuesday, May 12, 6 to 8 p.m.
Sloan’s Lake, 1700 Sheridan Boulevard
Environmentalist Robin Greenfield is living on 100% foraged food for an entire year – no grocery stores, no restaurants. He’s visiting Denver as part of his West Coast Tour, and will host a Foraging Walk, where he will introduce you to all the possibilities in nature. A donation is requested here.

Christine Reed Alone in Wonderland: Longing for Connection and Adventure in the Shadow of Mount Rainier
Tuesday, May 12, 6 to 8 p.m.
Tattered Cover Colfax, 2526 East Colfax Avenue
Join long-distance backpacker, climber, and trail runner Christine Reed as she discusses her solo adventure in the wild and her new backpacking memoir, Alone in Wonderland: Longing for Connection and Adventure in the Shadow of Mount Rainier. There will be a Q&A after the book talk. Your $7.25 registration includes a signed paperback copy of the book, or a $5 gift card to the Tattered. Register here.

Chautauqua Geology Tour
Wednesday, May 13, 10 a.m. to noon.
Chautaqua Park, 298 Morning Glory Road, Boulder
Explore the geology of the Flatirons on a guided walk led by local expert and professional geologist Bruce Manchon. He’ll share how ancient rock formations tell stories millions of years in the making. Bring water, hat, sunscreen and sturdy shoes…and no pets allowed! Reservations required; meet in the Academic Hall.

The 2026 Eleanor Gehres Awards Ceremony
Thursday, May 14, 4 to 6 p.m.
Denver Central Library, Park View, 10 West 14th Avenue Parkway
Honor trailblazers who preserve history at this ceremony named after Eleanor Gehres, who bolstered Denver Public Libraries archives and historic artifact collection.

Moonshot Showcase: A Celebration of Learning, Leadership & Innovation
Thursday, May 14, 5 to 8 p.m.
Upper Larimer, 3034 Larimer Street
Moonshot is hosting its annual Showcase, an annual community celebration where emerging leaders from across the Denver area will share the youth-centered solutions they are designing and piloting in their communities. There will be drinks, dinner and music.

Spring Storytelling Soirée hosted by Unbound Authors
Friday, May 15, 6 p.m.
7173 South Havana Street, Centennial
Unbound Authors is a nonprofit writing and communication program working inside Colorado correctional facilities, in partnership with the Colorado Department of Corrections, supporting incarcerated writers in building skills, confidence, and a sense of voice through storytelling.This year’s Storytelling Soirée celebrates a powerful next chapter: the debut of the group’s first anthology and a statewide prison newspaper through Mercury Mountain Media. Donate when you register here.

Ongoing

SCFD Free Days
Locations and dates vary
Thanks to the sales tax you pay into the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, many arts institutions around the metro area offer occasional free days and programs. There’s no admission charge at the Denver Art Museum on Tuesday, May 12, for example. For more upcoming bargains, check the SCFD site.

Civic Center EATS
Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
1400 Block of Bannock Street, Civic Center Park
Starting May 13 and running through mid-October, Denver’s summer food truck rally returns to Civic Center Park. Although the location has shifted toward Bannock Street because of renovations in the park, there will still be at least a dozen trucks to choose from, as well as civic booths and llive music from Youth on Record. Get the full lineup in our story (and note that there’s no EATS on 7/1, 7/2, 8/12, 8/13, 9/2 or 9/3).

Colorado State Capitol Tours
Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
200 East Colfax Avenue|
The Capitol is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free guided tours are available, but limited to thirty people on a first come, first served basis. Check in at the Visitor Information Desk, which opens at 9 a.m.

America 250 – Colorado 150
Through 2026
Around the state
Happy 150th birthday, Colorado! On August 1, 1876, Colorado became a state, and there will be celebrations all year — at the same time this country is celebrating its 250th anniversary. You can find a full list of the activities at Am250CO150.org.

“We Are the Land”
Denver’s YouTube
Denver documented the history and culture of the city’s current American Indian population, as well as Tribal Nations with cultural and historic ties to the land that is now Denver, with the oral history project “We are the Land: American Indian Life, Legacy and Future in Denver.” The project includes an accompanying documentary produced by Off the Road Productions, “We Are the Land,” which is now available for free on Denver’s YouTube channel.

Do you know of a great free event? We update this list throughout the week; send information to editorial@westword.com.