Summer Activities Around the Community

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Whether you’re looking for an active reward for books read, some family fun time, or just need to get out of the house for a while, we have you covered. Staff have recommended their favorite extra-literary locations and events and we’ve collected them here.  

Check out our blogs containing Virtual Summer Reading Activities for Ages 0-5, 6-12, and 12-18,  read about our State Park or Exploration Pass, or scroll down for activities in any of the following categories: 

Attractions  Local Events  Parks and Rec Centers 

Attractions

Name  Location  Exploration Pass  Cost 
Bishop Castle, opens a new window  Rye    Free 
Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave, opens a new window  Golden    $1-5/ea 
Butterfly Pavilion, opens a new window  Westminster  x  Varies 
Center for Colorado Women’s History, opens a new window  Denver    $7/adult                                                           

Free Under 18 

Children’s Museum, opens a new window  Denver    Varies
Clyfford Still Museum, opens a new window  Denver  x  Varies 
Colorado Railroad Museum, opens a new window  Golden  x  Varies 
Denver Art Museum, opens a new window  Denver    Varies 
Denver Botanic Gardens, opens a new window  Denver  x Varies 
Denver Firefighters Museum, opens a new window  Denver  x  Varies 
Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys, opens a new window Lakewood   Varies
Denver Museum of Nature and Science, opens a new window  Denver  x  Varies 
Denver Zoo, opens a new window  Denver  x  Varies 
Downtown Aquarium, opens a new window  Denver    Varies 
Elitch Gardens, opens a new window  Denver    $50-75/ea minimun
Forney Museum of Transportation, opens a new window  Denver  x  Varies 
Hammonds Candy Factory Tour, opens a new window  Denver    Free 
History Colorado Center, opens a new window  Denver    $15/adult                                                           

Free Under 18 

Kids Wonder, opens a new window                                                           

(Reservations Recommended) 

Centennial    Varies 
Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art, opens a new window  Denver    Varies 
Lakeside Amusement Park, opens a new window  Denver    $15-30/ea                                                           

$5 Spectator 

Littleton Museum, opens a new window  Littleton    Free 
Longhopes Donkey Shelter, opens a new window   Bennett    $50/ea 
MCA Denver, opens a new window  Denver  x  $12/adult                                                           

Free Under 18 

Meow Wolf: Convergence Station, opens a new window  Denver    Varies 
Molly Brown House Museum, opens a new window  Denver  x  Varies 
Monster Mini Golf, opens a new window  Centennial    Varies 
Museo De Las Americas, opens a new window  Denver  x  Varies 
Museum of Illusions, opens a new window Denver   Varies
National Ballpark Museum, opens a new window  Denver  x  $20/adult                                                           

Free Under 16 

Pirates Cove Waterpark, opens a new window  Englewood    Varies 
The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, opens a new window  Golden  x  Varies 
Wild Animal Sanctuary, opens a new window  Keenesburg    $30-50/ea 
Wings Over the Rockies – Air and Space Museum, opens a new window  Denver  x  Varies 
Wings Over the Rockies – Exploration of Flight, opens a new window  Englewood  x  Varies 

Local Events (Limited Dates) 

Name  Location  Date(s)  Cost 
A Taste of Colorado, opens a new window  Denver  TBD  Varies 
Tiny Town, opens a new window  Morrison  May 27-Sept 2  Varies 
Comanche Crossing Historical Society & Museum, opens a new window  Strasburg  June 1-Aug 31  Free 
Denver Day of Rock, opens a new window  Denver  June 1, 2024  Free 
ayA Con, opens a new window  Denver  October 4-6, 2024  Varies 
Denver Greek Festival, opens a new window  Denver  June 7-9, 2024 $5/ea 
Five Points Jazz Festival, opens a new window  Denver  June 8, 2024  Free 
Sounds of Southlands , opens a new window Aurora  June 20-Aug 8                                                           

Thursdays 6-8p 

Free 
Cherry Blossom Festival, opens a new window  Denver  June 22-23, 2024  Free 
Renaissance Festival, opens a new window  Larkspur  June 15-Aug 4                                                           

10a-6:30p 

Varies 
The Greeley Stampede, opens a new window  Greeley  June 26-July 7, 2024  Varies 
Fan Expo Denver, opens a new window  Denver  July 4-July 7, 2024  Varies 
Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, opens a new window  Denver  July 27-28, 2024 TBD 
Denver Pridefest, opens a new window  Denver  June 22-23, 2024 Free 
Cherry Creek Arts Festival, opens a new window  Denver  July 5-7, 2024  Free 
Black Arts Festival, opens a new window  Denver  July 12-14, 2024  Free 
Crested Butte Wildflower Festival, opens a new window  Crested Butte  July 12-21, 2024  Varies 
Arapahoe County Fair, opens a new window  Aurora  July 25-28, 2024  $25/ea 
Vail Dance Festival, opens a new window  Vail  July 26-Aug 5, 2024  Varies 
Water World, opens a new window  Federal Heights  May 25, 2024 - TBD  Varies 

Parks and Rec Centers 

Name  Location  Trails  Events  Water  Cost 
17 Mile House Farm Park, opens a new window  Centennial  x      Free 
Aurora Reservoir, opens a new window  Aurora  x    x  Varies 
Belleview Park , opens a new window Englewood    x    Varies 
Benedict Park, opens a new window  Brighton  x    x  Varies 
Castle Rock Parks, opens a new window  Castle Rock  x    x  Free 
Centennial Center Park, opens a new window  Centennial  x  x  x  Free 
Cherry Creek Reservoir, opens a new window  Aurora  x    x  Varies
Civic Green Park, opens a new window                                                      

(NO DOGS) 

Centennial      x  Free 
Clement Park, opens a new window  Littleton  x    x  Free 
Denver Recreation Centers, opens a new window  Denver    x  x  Varies 
Discovery Park, opens a new window  Parker  x    x  Free 
Elk Ridge Park, opens a new window  Castle Pines  x    x  Free 
Englewood Recreation Center , opens a new window Englewood      x  Varies 
Four Mile Historic Park, opens a new window  Denver  x    x  Varies 
Great Plains Park, opens a new window  Aurora  x    x  Free 
Ralston Central Park and Splash Pad , opens a new window Arvada  x    x  Free 
Ray Ross Park, opens a new window  Littleton  x    x  Free 
Red-Tailed Hawk Park, opens a new window                                                      

(Inclusive Playground) 

Aurora      x  Free 
Sheridan Recreation Center, opens a new window  Sheridan    x    Varies 
South Suburban Parks and Rec Centers, opens a new window  Varies  x    x  Varies 
Southwest Family YMCA, opens a new window  Denver    x  x  Varies 
Westlands Park, opens a new window  Greenwood Village  x    x  Free 
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