Free Days
You can experience some of the best cultural institutions in the area for FREE! The Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) is one of the largest cultural funding mechanisms in the U.S. They fund nearly 300 organizations and distribute over $80 million annually. Just 1 penny of every $10 in sales and use taxes collected goes to SCFD. This money enables free days for the residents of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson counties at some of the organizations below.
While our goal is to provide you with the most up-to-date information, we have no control over events that may be cancelled or rescheduled. Please make sure to VERIFY date(s), times, ticket requirements, additional paid items, and other details on the organization’s website, or call, prior to visiting the location to confirm that you will be able to access the event for free.
Planning to go to several attractions in the same week? Check out some great discounts with the Denver CityPASS®.
Have fun!
Free Days at Your Favorite Area Venues for 2026!
Arts Week Free Night at the Museums
November 7, 2026 is the one night of the year, after hours, that more than a dozen of the best museums and cultural institutions in the area will stay open late for the public to visit from 5 – 10 p.m., for free, as part of Denver’s Arts Week. Free shuttles may be available to make it easy to visit several locations.
Denver Art Museum
- Tuesday, January 13
- Tuesday, February 10
- Tuesday, March 10
- Sunday, April 26
- Tuesday, May 12
- Tuesday, June 9
- Tuesday, July 14
- Saturday, August 1
- Saturday, September 12
- Tuesday, October 13
- Saturday, November 7
- Tuesday, December 8
Attendees are asked to please reserve tickets online for these days. Please note general admission doesn’t include entry to the ticketed exhibitions. Children 18 years and under are FREE all the time!
Museum of Contemporary Art Denver
- Saturday, January 3
- Saturday, February 7
- Saturday, March 7
- Saturday, April 4
- Saturday, May 2
- Saturday, June 6
- Saturday, July 4
- Saturday, August 1
- Saturday, September 5
- Saturday, October 3
- Saturday, November 7
- Saturday, December 5
The first Saturday of each month is just a penny for Coloradans. This museum is always free for people 18 years old and younger. Please RSVP.
Denver Museum of Nature and Science
- Sunday, January 11
- Sunday, February 1
- Monday, February 9
- Friday evening, March 6 (Girls & Science, 4-9 p.m.)
- Monday, April 13
- Sunday, April 26 (Día del Niño, in collaboration with the Mexican Cultural Center)
- Friday, June 19 (Juneteenth)
- Monday, August 24
- Tuesday evening, September 1 (4-9 p.m.)
- Sunday, October 11 (OUT! at the Museum)
- Saturday evening, November 7 (Night at the Museums for Denver Arts Week, 5-10 p.m.)
- Monday, November 16
“No tickets are needed for general Museum admission on these days. Walk up anytime during Free Days or Free Nights and gain access to the Wildlife Halls or our permanent exhibitions.
A separate ticket is required if you’d like to visit the planetarium or temporary exhibitions.”
Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
- Friday, May 15
- Friday, June 19
- Friday, July 17
- Friday, August 21
- Friday, September 18
“Joy Park is open for free from 4:30 – 8 pm (or sunset) the third Friday of the month, May – September. Aside from the restrooms, the inside of the Museum is closed. Free nights are first-come, first-served; reservations are not available.”
Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave
- January 7
- February 4
- March 4
- April 1
- November 4
- December 2
Free on the first Wednesday of each month from November to April.
Clyfford Still Museum
FREE DAYS
- Sunday, April 26 – Día del Niño Celebration & Program
- Sunday, June 14 – Denver Pride Month
- Sunday, July 26 – Disability Pride Month Celebration & Program
- Saturday, September 19 – Clyfford Still Museum 15th Anniversary Community Celebration
- Saturday, November 7 – Night at the Museums (Denver Arts Week)
Visitors are encouraged to reserve tickets online in advance. Registration opens one week before the free day.
PAY WHAT YOU WISH DAYS
- Friday, January 2
- Friday, February 6
- Friday, March 6
- Friday, April 3
- Friday, May 1
- Friday, June 5
- Friday, July 3
- Friday, August 7
- Friday, September 4
- Friday, October 2
- Friday, November 6
- Friday, December 4
“Explore the Clyfford Still Museum for as little as one penny during the monthly First Friday Pay-What-You-Wish Days. Enjoy free mini-tours at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on each PWYW Day. Online reservations are recommended, and walk-ins are welcome. Online registration opens approximately one week before the Pay-What-You-Wish Day. The Museum offers 12 PWYW Days annually, each on the first Friday of the month.”
Center for Colorado Women's History
- March 7 – 8 (International Women’s Day)
This organization may request an RSVP prior to attendance.
Denver Firefighters Museum
There are six FREE days for residents of the 7 SCFD counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson.
- Saturday, February 7 (Burn Awareness Week – Free for all guests)
- Saturday, June 27 (Firework Safety Free Day – Free for all guests)
- Saturday, August 29 (First Responder Day – Free for all guests)
- Saturday, October 10 (National Fire Protection Association – Free for all guests)
- Saturday, October 31 (Halloween Children’s Day – Free for Children in Costumes)
- Saturday, November 7 (Armed Forces Appreciation – Free for Veterans and Active Military)
Denver Botanic Gardens
- “These events will sell out; get your tickets in advance. No onsite tickets available for sold out days.
- Free Days are for regular Gardens hours only and do not include ticketed events.
- Tickets will be available three months at a time (on a rolling basis) and the tickets will be released on the 1st of the month.”
YORK STREET AND CHATFIELD FARMS
- Monday, Jan. 19 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
- Thursday, Feb. 12
- Monday, March 9
- Wednesday, April 22 (Earth Day)
- Tuesday, June 9
- Wednesday, July 1
- Tuesday, Aug. 25
- Friday, Nov. 27 (Day after Thanksgiving)
“The first floor of the Freyer – Newman Center at our York Street location is always free admission for members and the general public, no reservation required. Access includes the Helen Fowler Library and the Copper Door coffee shop.”
- Thursday, Jan. 15, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Wildlife tracking)
- Thursday, Feb. 19, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Backyard birds)
- Saturday, March 21, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Pioneers)
- Thursday, June 11, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Pollinators)
- Saturday, July 11, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Summer celebration)
- Thursday, Aug. 20, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Agriculture)
- Saturday, Nov. 14, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Indigenous Peoples)
- Thursday, Dec. 17, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Holiday)
Dinosaur Ridge
- March 27
- April 24
- September 27
- November 15
- December 20
Visitors can also bike or walk the Dinosaur Ridge Trail for free every day from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.
Four Mile Historic Park
- Friday, January 23
- Friday, February 27
- Friday, March 27
- Friday, April 24
- Weekend, May 23-24
- Friday, June 26
- Friday, July 24
- Friday, August 28
- Friday, September 25
- Friday, October 23rd
- Friday, November 20th (3rd Friday)
- Friday, December 18th (3rd Friday)
General admission is free on the fourth Friday of each month during general admission hours (10am-4pm). Admission to any signature programs or events is not included for free days.
Molly Brown House
- Thursday, February 5
- Thursday, March 5
- Sunday, March 8 (Free All Day)
- Thursday, April 2
- Thursday, May 7
- Thursday, June 4
- Thursday, July 2
- Thursday, August 6
- Wednesday, August 26 (Free All Day)
- Thursday, September 3
- Thursday, October 1
- Thursday, November 5
- Thursday, December 3
Free days are the first Thursday of the month from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. for the SCFD Counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson. ID required. No reservations accepted; admission is first-come, first-served. On our free admission days, we kindly ask that you consider making a donation based on your ability.
Museo de las Americas
- Friday, January 2
- Friday, February 6
- Friday, March 6
- Friday, April 3
- Friday, May 1
- Friday, June 5
- Friday, July 3
- Friday, August 7
- Friday, September 4
- Friday, October 2
- Friday, November 6
- Friday, December 4
On the first Friday of the month, this museum is free from 12 – 6 p.m. No tickets are required. Members and children 13 and younger are free daily.
Colorado Parks
NATIONAL PARKS
- February 16: Presidents Day (Washington’s Birthday)
- May 25: Memorial Day
- June 14: Flag Day/President Trump’s birthday
- July 3–5: Independence Day weekend
- August 25: 110th Birthday of the National Park Service
- September 17: Constitution Day
- October 27: Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday
- November 11: Veterans Day
*Other fees for things like timed entry or reservation fees may apply. Please visit the website for details. “Beginning in 2026, free entrance on these days will be for US citizens and residents only. Nonresidents will pay the regular entrance fee and any applicable nonresident fees.”
STATE PARKS
Over 40 Colorado State Parks are free on Colorado Day. However, this is often celebrated on the first Monday in August.
Boulder County residents (with proof) can get in free on:
- Friday, May 22 (10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
- Friday, August 7 (10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
- Friday, October 16 (10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
Check the website for only Boulder County residents here.
Free for all visitors by the SCFD on:
- Thursday, March 12 (10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
- Thursday, May 7 (10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
- Thursday, October 1 (10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
Note: None of the free days include a train ride.
Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab
The Mizel Institute has free days to the Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab (CELL) for all visitors by the SCFD on:
- Friday, January 16 (10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
- Friday, February 20 (10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
- Friday, March 20 (10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
- Friday, April 17 (10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
- Friday, May 15 (10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
No ticket or timed entry required.
Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum
- Saturday, Jan. 17
Denver Zoo
• Friday, January 9 (tickets released on January 2)
• Sunday, January 25 (tickets released on January 11)
• Sunday, February 22 (tickets released on February 8)
• Sunday, April 19 (tickets released on April 5)
• Wednesday, November 11 (tickets released on October 28)
• Saturday, November 14 (tickets released on October 31)
• Sunday, November 22 (tickets released on November 8)
“Before visiting on an SCFD free day, make sure you’ve been awarded special lottery tickets in advance. And please be aware that free admission does not cover additional attractions at the Zoo, such as the 4D Theater and rides on the train and carousel.”
Free Every Day
- Arvada Historical Museum
- Aurora History Museum
- Benson Sculpture Garden
- Broomfield Depot Museum & Crawford Honey House
- Broomfield Veterans Museum
- Castle Rock Historical Society and Museum
- City of Lakewood Art Exhibitions
- Colorado Music Hall of Fame
- Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Museum (Thurs – Sat)
- Denver Mint (Reservations required)
- Depot Art Gallery
- Foothills Art Center
- Fort Collins Museum of Discovery’s Free Zone
- Golden History Museum and Park (Tues – Sat)
- Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park
- Highlands Ranch Mansion & Historic Park
- Hiwan Heritage Park
- Hudson Gardens
- Lafayette History Museum
- Louisville Historical Museum
- Mines Museum of Earth Science
- University of Colorado Art Museum
- University of Colorado Heritage Center (Reopens early 2026)
- University of Colorado Museum of Natural History (Reopens early 2026)
While our goal is to provide you with the most up-to-date information, we have no control over events that may be cancelled or rescheduled. Please contact us if anything should be added, modified, or corrected to help others. We would appreciate it.
Please make sure to VERIFY date(s), times, ticket requirements, additional paid items, and other details on the organization’s website, or call, prior to visiting the location to confirm that you will be able to access the event for free.
Have fun!
