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 Favorite Places for Outdoor Adventures, 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    $10/adult                           

Free Under 18 

Children’s Museum, opens a new window  Denver    $15-17/ea 
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 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 
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    $14/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  $10/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 
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  May 14, June 4, July 9, Aug 6, 2023  Varies 
Tiny Town, opens a new window  Morrison  May 29-Sept 4  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 3, 2023  Free 
ayA Con, opens a new window  Denver  June 9-11, 2023  Varies 
Denver Greek Festival, opens a new window  Denver  June 9-11, 2023  $5/ea 
Five Points Jazz Festival, opens a new window  Denver  June 10, 2023  Free 
Sounds of Southlands , opens a new window Aurora  June 15-Aug 3                           

Thursdays 6-8p 

Free 
Cherry Blossom Festival, opens a new window  Denver  June 17-18, 2023  Free 
Renaissance Festival, opens a new window  Larkspur  June 17-Aug 6                           

10a-6:30p 

TBD 
The Greeley Stampede, opens a new window  Greeley  June 22-July 4, 2023  Varies 
Fan Expo Denver, opens a new window  Denver  June 30-July 2, 2023  Varies 
Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, opens a new window  Denver  July 22-23, 2023  TBD 
Denver Pridefest, opens a new window  Denver  June 24-25, 2023  Free 
Cherry Creek Arts Festival, opens a new window  Denver  July 1-3, 2023  Free 
Black Arts Festival, opens a new window  Denver  July 7-9, 2023  Free 
Crested Butte Wildflower Festival, opens a new window  Crested Butte  July 7-16, 2023  Varies 
Arapahoe County Fair, opens a new window  Aurora  July 27-30, 2023  $20/ea 
Vail Dance Festival, opens a new window  Vail  July 28-Aug 7, 2023  Varies 
Water World, opens a new window  Federal Heights  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  $10/car 
Belleview Park , opens a new window Englewood    x    Varies 
Benedict Park, opens a new window  Brighton  x    x  Free 
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  $7/car 
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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