Summer Activities Around the Community

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Whether you’re looking 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 blog containing Virtual Summer Reading Activities for Ages 0-18, read about our State Park or Exploration Pass, or scroll down for activities in any of the following categories:

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 per person
Butterfly Pavilion, opens a new window Westminster Yes 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 Yes Varies
Colorado Railroad Museum, opens a new window Golden Yes Varies
Denver Art Museum, opens a new window Denver — Varies
Denver Botanic Gardens, opens a new window Denver Yes Varies
Denver Firefighters Museum, opens a new window Denver Yes 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 Yes Varies
Denver Zoo, opens a new window Denver Yes Varies
Downtown Aquarium, opens a new window Denver — Varies
Elitch Gardens, opens a new window Denver — $50–75 per person (minimum)
Forney Museum of Transportation, opens a new window Denver Yes 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 (reservations recommended), opens a new window Centennial — Varies
Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art, opens a new window Denver — Varies
Lakeside Amusement Park, opens a new window Denver — $15–30 per person; $5 spectator
Littleton Museum, opens a new window Littleton — Free
Longhopes Donkey Shelter, opens a new window Bennett — $50 per person
MCA Denver, opens a new window Denver Yes $12 adult; free under 18
Meow Wolf: Convergence Station, opens a new window Denver — Varies
Molly Brown House Museum, opens a new window Denver Yes Varies
Monster Mini Golf, opens a new window Centennial — Varies
Museo de las Americas, opens a new window Denver Yes Varies
Museum of Illusions, opens a new window Denver — Varies
National Ballpark Museum, opens a new window Denver Yes $20 adult; free under 16
Pirates Cove Waterpark, opens a new window Englewood — Varies
Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, opens a new window Golden Yes Varies
Wild Animal Sanctuary, opens a new window Keenesburg — $30–50 per person
Wings Over the Rockies – Air and Space Museum, opens a new window Denver Yes Varies
Wings Over the Rockies – Exploration of Flight, opens a new window Englewood Yes Varies

Local Events (Limited Dates) 

Name Location Date(s) Cost
A Taste of Colorado 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 Oct. 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 6–8 p.m. 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, 10 a.m.–6:30 p.m. Varies
The Greeley Stampede, opens a new window Greeley June 26–July 7, 2024 Varies
Fan Expo Denver, opens a new window Denver July 4–7, 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 Yes — — Free
Aurora Reservoir, opens a new window Aurora Yes — Yes Varies
Belleview Park, opens a new window Englewood — Yes — Varies
Benedict Park, opens a new window Brighton Yes — Yes Varies
Castle Rock Parks, opens a new window Castle Rock Yes — Yes Free
Centennial Center Park, opens a new window Centennial Yes Yes Yes Free
Cherry Creek Reservoir, opens a new window Aurora Yes — Yes Varies

Civic Green Park (No dogs)
, opens a new window		 Centennial — — Yes Free
Clement Park, opens a new window Littleton Yes — Yes Free
Denver Recreation Centers, opens a new window Denver — Yes Yes Varies
Discovery Park, opens a new window Parker Yes — Yes Free
Elk Ridge Park, opens a new window Castle Pines Yes — Yes Free
Englewood Recreation Center, opens a new window Englewood — — Yes Varies
Four Mile Historic Park, opens a new window Denver Yes — Yes Varies
Great Plains Park, opens a new window Aurora Yes — Yes Free
Ralston Central Park and Splash Pad, opens a new window Arvada Yes — Yes Free
Ray Ross Park, opens a new window Littleton Yes — Yes Free

Red‑Tailed Hawk Park (Inclusive playground)
, opens a new window		 Aurora — — Yes Free
Sheridan Recreation Center, opens a new window Sheridan — Yes — Varies
South Suburban Parks and Rec Centers, opens a new window Varies Yes — Yes Varies
Southwest Family YMCA, opens a new window Denver — Yes Yes
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