Colorado has some great things to do for free throughout the year and some of our favorite Denver Bucket List destinations.
COLORADO FREE THINGS TO DO
The Scientific & Cultural Facilities District is a voter-approved special district in the seven-county metro area that provides a stable source of supplemental funding to more than 300 scientific and cultural organizations inside the district’s boundaries. The SCFD collects a one-tenth of 1 percent sales-and-use tax (or one penny on every $10 spent), providing approximately $40 million each year to area cultural attractions both small and large.
Museum Admission is free on the dates listed below. To add a temporary exhibit, IMAX or Planetarium show, purchase tickets at the Museum on the Free Day; upgrade rates apply. Reservations and amenities (lunchroom, coat and lunch storage, bus drop off, etc.) for school groups are not available on SCFD Community Free Days.
Due to COVID restrictions, most of the Free Days require tickets or sign-ups that must be secured prior to your visit. Please click on the venue name to check the ticket/sign-up requirements.
2022 SCFD Community Free Days
FREE DAYS AT THE DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
2001 Colorado Blvd.
Denver, CO
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver | (303) 370-6000
A special note: Families who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits can visit the museum any time throughout the year and pay just $1 per person (up to 10 family members) when they show their EBT card. Admission can not be paid with the EBT card; it is simply proof of program participation.
The 2022 DMNS SCFD Free Days are
Sunday, May 1 – Children’s Day
Monday, May 23
Wednesday, June 29 (Free Night)
Wednesday, Aug. 17 (Free Night)
Wednesday, Sept. 7 (Free Night)
Monday, Sept. 19
Sunday, Oct. 9 – Out! at the Museum
Monday, Dec. 5
2022 SCFD Free Days
The Scientific & Cultural Facilities District is a voter-approved special district in the seven-county metro area that provides a stable source of supplemental funding to more than 300 scientific and cultural organizations within the district’s boundaries. The SCFD collects a one-tenth of 1 percent sales-and-use tax (or one penny on every $10 spent), providing approximately $40 million each year to area cultural attractions both small and large.
Satisfy your science curiosity in a safe environment during our SCFD Free Days. The Museum is currently operating under limited capacity for all guests as we follow local and state guidelines. We encourage you to check back before every free day for the latest recommendations and reserve your tickets in advance.
Denver Zoo
2300 Steele St., Denver | (720) 337-1400
Free Day tickets are only available through this system, they no longer accept walk-ins on Free Days.
Step 1: Check the chart below for lottery open dates.
Step 2: During the 5-day lottery registration period, click HERE to enter the lottery.
Step 3: Winners will be notified by email, so check your inbox daily for your vouchers.
Step 4: If you win, you MUST click the link in the email to reserve your tickets and entry time.
Step 5: On your designated Free Day, bring your tickets to the Zoo—and have a great day!
THE FINE PRINT: You may register to win (5) free tickets per transaction. Limit one registration per person, per Free Day. Vouchers and tickets are available ONLINE ONLY. No tickets will be available at the Zoo gate. All guests must have a timed ticket for entry, including children 2 and under. Tickets are valid only for the specific Free Day and entry time you reserved.
2022 DENVER ZOO FREE DAYS
Key Dates for Lottery + Winner Notification
| FREE DAY | LOTTERY OPENS | LOTTERY CLOSES | WINNERS NOTIFIED |
| Friday, January 7 | Sunday, December 26 | Thursday, December 30 | Friday, December 31 |
| Saturday, January 22 | Monday, January 10 | Friday, January 14 | Saturday, January 15 |
| Sunday, February 6 | Tuesday, January 25 | Saturday, January 29 | Sunday, January 30 |
| Sunday, April 10 | Tuesday, March 29 | Saturday, April 2 | Sunday, April 3 |
| Saturday, October 8 | Monday, September 26 | Friday, September 30 | Saturday, October 1 |
| Tuesday, November 1 | Thursday, October 20 | Monday, October 24 | Tuesday, October 25 |
| Sunday, November 13 | Tuesday, November 1 | Saturday, November 5 | Sunday, November 6 |
- Watch the website for more.
REMINDER: Denver Zoo Share the Love Days vouchers and tickets are available ONLINE ONLY. No tickets will be available onsite. You must redeem your voucher for a timed ticket in order to enter the park. All guests must have a time ticket for entry, including children 2 and under.
MORE FREE DENVER EVENTS
Friday, March 4 and Friday, April 8: Friends of Dinosaur Ridge. Explore the home of the world’s first Stegosaurus discovery and see dozens of other fossils and prehistoric tracks at the top-rated dinosaur track site in the U.S.
Wednesday, March 16 and Saturday, March 19: Denver Botanic Gardens. Immerse yourselves in flora from every corner of the globe as your family enjoys acres of natural beauty.
Friday, March 11 and Friday, April 8: Four Mile Historic Park. Take a trip back to Colorado’s pioneer days as you walk through the park featuring historically accurate replicas, a working farm, and the site of Denver’s oldest standing structure. 715 S. Forest St., Denver | (720) 865-0800
Sunday, May 1 and Monday, May 23: Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Enjoy a full day of exploration as your family wanders through exhibits that take you through all aspects of the natural world from the days when dinosaurs walked the earth to modern space exploration.
Denver Art Museum Free Days 2022
Visit the Denver Art Museum and enjoy free general admission all day!
Please note: Free Days do not include admission to Whistler to Cassatt.
- April 12, 2022
- April 24, 2022
History Colorado Center
1200 Broadway, Denver | (303) 447-8679
A special note: Families who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits can visit the Museum any time throughout the year and pay just $1 per person (up to 10 family members) when they show their EBT card. Admission can not be paid with the EBT card; it is simply proof of program participation. History Colorado Center offers free admission for all active duty, National Guard and Reserve military personnel and their families every day!
- Dates TBA
Always Free: Aurora History Museum, Hudson Gardens, and Museum of Outdoor Arts.
Additionally, you can request free passes for a variety of area museums through the Culture Pass offered by your local library. Passes are for general admission for a specific day and are very limited in quantity.
Participating venues include Butterfly Pavilion, Clyfford Still Museum, Denver Firefighters Museum, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, History Colorado Center, Molly Brown House Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, and Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum.
Denver Mint
Tours at the Denver Mint are free. Learn how to make reservations here.
Hudson Gardens
Hudson Gardens in Littleton offer free admission every day.
Aurora History Museum
The Aurora History Museum offers free admission every day.
FREE DAYS AT NATIONAL PARKS IN COLORADO
The National Park Service will have five entrance fee-free days in 2022. The free admission days are designed to encourage discovery and visitation of the country’s variety of national parks. With at least one in every state, national parks are accessible places to visit to refresh body, mind and spirit.
The free entrance dates for 2022 are:
- Monday, January 17 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- Saturday, April 16 – First Day of National Park Week
- Thursday, August 4 – Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
- Saturday, September 24 – National Public Lands Day
- Friday, November 11 – Veterans Day
“Whether on an entrance fee-free day or throughout the year, we encourage everyone to discover their national parks and the benefits that come from spending time outdoors,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “National parks are for everyone and we are committed to increasing access and providing opportunities for all to experience the sense of wonder, awe and refreshment that comes with a visit to these treasured landscapes and sites.”
Participating Parks include:
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Colorado National Monument
Dinosaur National Monument
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
Hovenweep National Monument
Mesa Verde National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park
PLAINS CONSERVATION CENTER
Plains Conservation Center
21901 E. Hampden Ave, Aurora
303-326-8380
CLYFFORD STILL MUSEUM
Clyfford Still Museum
1250 Bannock Street, Denver
720-354-4880
COLORADO RAILROAD MUSEUM
COLORADO RAILROAD MUSEUM
17155 W. 44th Avenue, Golden
303-279-4591
FOUR MILE HISTORIC PARK
FOUR MILE HISTORIC PARK
715 S. Forest St., Denver
720-865-0800
2nd Friday of every month (except holidays) from 12-4 pm
Red Rocks
You can visit the historic music venue most days to hike, walk the steps or just sit and enjoy a latte or read a book.
