27 upcoming · updated daily
Free, and actually good.
Every free major event in the Denver Metro right now: festivals, parades, markets, and concerts that cost exactly nothing.
A Denver summer does not have to cost anything. This page collects every free major event in the Metro right now: festivals, parades, weekly markets, and concerts that cost exactly nothing to attend. Levitt Pavilion in Ruby Hill Park runs 50 free shows a season, City Park Jazz fills Sunday evenings at Ferril Lake, and the biggest civic days of the year, from PrideFest to Juneteenth, are free to walk into.
We only list the free events that clear the same bar as everything else on DenverDrop: would we actually leave the house for this? You pay for food, drinks, and anything you buy from a maker. The event itself is free, and we flag the price floor on every page so there are no surprises at the gate.
Rooms on this page: Levitt Pavilion, Larimer Square.
FestivalsSun, Oct 25 · National Western Center
Oktoberfest: The Denver Wiesn at National Western Center
The Denver Wiesn brings a Munich-style Oktoberfest to the National Western Center over two weekends, October 16-18 and 22-25, 2026, with free general admission.
Sun, Oct 25 · Historic Downtown Littleton
Goblin Give Out
Goblin Give Out sends costumed kids trick or treating through the shops and restaurants of Historic Downtown Littleton on Sunday, October 25, 2026, free to attend.
Wed, Oct 28 · Stanley Beer Hall
Annual Kid's Pumpkin Carving Contest
Kids carve pumpkins for prizes at Stanley Beer Hall's annual Kid's Pumpkin Carving Contest on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, from 4 to 7 PM.
Fri, Oct 30 · Olde Town Arvada
Trick or Treat Street in Olde Town Arvada
Olde Town Arvada shuts its streets for free family trick-or-treating on October 30, 2026, with shops handing out candy from 5 PM.
Arts
WeirdSat, Oct 31 · Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Halloween Drag Queen Storytime with Miss Shirley
Miss Shirley reads children’s books in full drag at a free Halloween storytime in Ballrooms B through D at the Arvada Center on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 10 AM.
Sat, Oct 31 · Town Center at Aurora
Mall-O-Ween at Town Center Aurora
Mall-O-Ween offers free indoor trick-or-treating at Town Center at Aurora on Halloween, October 31, 2026, from noon to 4 PM.
Thu, Nov 5 · Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities
The After pARTy
The Arvada Center hosts a free pinata-smashing performance and live music night, The After pARTy, on November 5, 2026, 5-9 PM in its Main Gallery.
Fri, Nov 6 · Multiple art venues
Denver Arts Week First Friday Art Walk
Denver Arts Week's flagship First Friday Art Walk, Nov. 6, 2026, coordinates gallery openings and studio access across the city's art districts, more expansive than a typical monthly walk.
Fri, Nov 6 · Stanley Marketplace
First Fridays Creator Market at Stanley Marketplace
The First Fridays Creator Market returns to Stanley Marketplace on Friday, November 6, 2026, from 6 to 9 PM, with 45 booths of local artists inside the Aurora food hall, free to attend.
Fri, Nov 6 · Lakewood Cultural Center
Holiday Pop Up Market at Lakewood Cultural Center
The Lakewood Cultural Center's Holiday Pop Up Market puts local makers' work on sale in its Corner Gallery from November 6 through November 23, 2026, with free admission.
Sat, Nov 7 · Denver Art Museum
Denver Art Museum Free Day (November)
The Denver Art Museum's monthly SCFD free day falls Nov. 7, 2026.
Sat, Nov 7 · MCA Denver (Fries Building)
Night at the Museums at MCA Denver
MCA Denver opens free from 5 to 10 PM on Saturday, November 7, 2026 for its annual Night at the Museums during Denver Arts Week, featuring the museum-wide Colorado Currents exhibition.
Thu, Nov 19 · Fillmore Plaza, Cherry Creek North
Cherry Creek North Holiday Market
Cherry Creek North hosts its Holiday Market at Fillmore Plaza from November 19 through December 24, 2026, with holiday shopping, lights, and live music.
Thu, Nov 19 · Cherry Creek North (Winter Wanderland)
Giving Machines at Cherry Creek North
Cherry Creek North's Winter Wanderland brings back its Giving Machines charity vending kiosks for the holidays, opening November 19, 2026.
Fri, Nov 20 · The Plaza at Belmar
Belmar Holiday Tree Lighting
Belmar's annual Holiday Tree Lighting takes place in the Lakewood plaza on November 20, 2026.
Fri, Nov 20 · Tivoli Quad, Auraria Campus
Denver Christkindlmarket at Auraria
The Denver Christkindlmarket returns to the Tivoli Quad at Auraria November 20 through December 23, 2026, free and open daily.
Fri, Nov 27 · Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities
40th Annual Fine Art Market
The Arvada Center's 40th Annual Fine Art Market runs November 27 through December 13, 2026, with more than 100 Colorado artists selling work for free admission.
Fri, Nov 27 · Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities
50th Annual Holiday Pottery Sale
The Arvada Center's 50th Annual Holiday Pottery Sale runs November 27 through December 13, 2026, with free admission to browse and buy pottery made by its ceramics studio artists.
Fri, Nov 27 · Historic Downtown Littleton
Candlelight Walk in Downtown Littleton
The Candlelight Walk lights up Main Street in Historic Downtown Littleton on Friday, November 27, 2026, a free evening of holiday lights, cider, music and reindeer.
Thu, Dec 3 · Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park
Lakewood Lights Holiday Celebration
Lakewood Lights kicks off the city's holiday season December 3, 2026 with a free evening of lights, music, and Santa at Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park.
Fri, Dec 4 · Stanley Marketplace
First Fridays Creator Market at Stanley Marketplace
The First Fridays Creator Market fills Stanley Marketplace with 45 booths of Colorado makers on Friday, December 4, 2026, from 6 to 9 PM in Aurora, free to attend.
Thu, Dec 10 · The People's Building
In the Circle of Life
The People's Building in Aurora hosts a one-night multicultural film presentation, In the Circle of Life, on December 10, 2026.
Sat, Dec 12 · Washington Heights Arts Center
Holiday Arts and Pottery Sale
Washington Heights Arts Center in Lakewood holds its free annual Holiday Arts and Pottery Sale on Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Ongoing · check opening days · Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities
pARTy and Rigsby Revisited: The Arvada Center Turns 50
The Arvada Center marks its 50th anniversary with two free gallery shows opening the same night, September 10, 2026: pARTy: Celebrating 50 Years in the Main Gallery and Rigsby Revisited: 50 Years Later in the Upper Gallery, both running through November 8.
Ongoing · check opening days · 40 West Gallery
40 West Gallery Member Showcase (First Friday Opening)
40 West Gallery in Lakewood opens its biannual Member Showcase on First Friday, October 2, 2026, with the show running at The HUB at 40 West Arts through November 1.
Ongoing · check opening days · 40 West Gallery
"Unspoken: The Visual Language of Silence" Opening at 40 West Gallery
40 West Gallery opens 'Unspoken: The Visual Language of Silence' on First Friday, November 6, 2026, running through November 29 at The HUB at 40 West Arts in Lakewood.
Ongoing · check opening days · 40 West Gallery
"Earthen: Ceramics, Dirt, and More" Opening at 40 West Gallery
40 West Gallery opens 'Earthen: Ceramics, Dirt, and More' on First Friday, December 4, 2026, with the show running through December 20 at The HUB at 40 West Arts in Lakewood.