Events in and around Denver, spring and summer 2024

Tulips at the Botanic Gardens
More than 16,200 orange, yellow, red, pink and white tulips are in season during April at the Botanic Gardens on York Street. According to the Gardens, blooms are expected to arrive mid-April.
Costs:
$15.75 adults
$12 seniors (65+), military and veterans
$11.50 children (3-15) and students
Location:
1007 York St, Denver, Colo., 80206

Farmer’s Markets
There are nearly 30 farmer’s markets in the Denver metro area. Most start in May, but a few opened early April or have early spring merchant markets available before the official openings. See the comprehensive live of markets and when they’re open here.

2024 Firefly Handmade Spring Market
Firefly Handmade Markets hosts seasonal events of curated artisan markets featuring handmade goods. Spring’s market will include live music, artists and designers, and will take place on May 4 through May 5.
Hours:
11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Location:
1000 Block of South Gaylord Street (between Tennessee & Mississippi), 1004 S. Gaylord St., Washington Park, Denver, Colo., 80209

Civic Center Eats
Civic Center Eats is an annual event that brings various food trucks to Civic Center Park throughout spring and summer. The food trucks will be at the park on Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout the spring and summer from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., starting May 8 and ending for the year on October 26.

First Friday Art Walks
Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe hosts First Friday Art Walks, displaying art from hundreds of artists, whether it be on the street, in galleries or in alleyways. This event takes the cake for Denver’s largest art walk. During the First Friday Art Walk in August, the Art District shuts down Santa Fe Drive from 7th to 12th Avenue.
Hours:
5:30 – 9:30 p.m. on the first Friday of every month
Location:
The District spans from 13th Avenue to Alameda Avenue and Kalamath Street to Inca Street. The bulk of the galleries are in a walkable area between 5th and 11th Avenues.

Free Days

• Denver Center of Performing Arts: See Shakespeare in the parking lots Romeo and Juliet at Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library
  • When: 12 – 2 p.m.
• Denver Art Museum: April 28, May 14, June 11
• Denver Botanic Gardens: April 22, June 5
  • When: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Get tickets in advance here
• Denver Museum of Nature and Science: April 28, June 19
  • When: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Denver Art Museum: April 28, May 14, June 11
  • When: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum: May 4
  • 10 – 5 p.m.

Chalk Art Festival

Over 150 artists participate in Denver’s annual Chalk Art Festival, where artists will transform the ground of the Golden Triangle neighborhood with chalk art. The festival will span June 1 through June 2 and is free to attend.

City Park Jazz
City Park hosts 10 jazz concerts throughout the summer on Sundays, starting on June 2 and running through August 4. The entire lineup can be seen below.

• • June 2: Roka Hueka
  • June 9: Stafford Hunter and Jazz Explorations
  • June 16: Mistura Fina
  • June 23: Zimbira
  • June 30: Hazel Miller and the Collective
  • July 7: JoFoKe & Same Cloth
  • July 14: Delta Sonics Blues Revue
  • July 21: Denver Jazz Orchestra
  • July 28: Nelson Rangell
  • August 4: Jakarta

When:
6 – 8 p.m. on Sundays

Cherry Creek Arts Festival

The Cherry Creek Arts Festival features the creations of over 250 juried artists on the streets of Cherry Creek North. The event will include kids activities, art, education information, live music, food and more. The event is free to attend and will run from July 5 to July 7. On the fifth and sixth, the festival will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. On the seventh, the festival will close two hours earlier at 6 p.m.

Cheesman Park Art Fest

Over 150 artists and craftsmen nationwide will showcase their wide variety of work at Cheesman Park’s art fest. The event is juried, and all art is American, handmade and original. The event will include shows, jazz and folk music and food trucks as well. Admission is free, and the event will take place July 27 through July 28 at Cheesman Park.

Outdoor Movies
Once spring and summer roll around, a variety of restaurants, venues, parks, bars and even amusement parks around the city play movies outdoors once it gets dark. See a comprehensive list of which locations play movies regularly here.

Drive-In Movies
After many in and around Denver had cause for concern that the city’s last nearby drive-in theater would shut it’s nonexistent doors after last summer, the 88 Drive-In Theatre announced with a post on social media that it would stay open for at least one more season. The drive-in posted that it’d open in May on its Facebook page Thursday, April 11, although a date wasn’t specified. Another option is the Holiday Twin Drive-In, but moviegoers might have to drive a little farther to Fort Collins, Colo. The Holiday Twin opens on April 20.
Addresses:
88 Drive-In:
8780 Rosemary St, Commerce City, Colo., 80640
Holiday Twin:
2206 South Overland Trail, Fort Collins, Colo., 80526

Denver Parks

• Cheesman Park
• Washington Park
• City Park
• Sloan’s Lake Park
• Civic Center Park
• Commons Park
• Jefferson Park

Denver Lakes/Reservoirs

• Cherry Creek Reservoir
• Ferril and Duck Lakes (located in City Park)
  • Pedal boat rental is available
• Bear Creek Lake
• Sloan’s Lake
• Chatfield Reservoir
• Smith Lake (located in Washington Park)
  • Pedal boat rental is available

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