The much-anticipated Free Days calendar from the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District has been released for 2024, covering the metro area’s biggest nonprofit institutions, from the Denver Art Museum and the Denver Botanic Gardens to the Denver Zoo.
Those are considered Tier 1 organizations in SCFD’s sales-tax-enabled funding, and with another great haul in its most recent annual report — as well as $83 million handed out to nearly 300 nonprofit orgs — it is poised to support even more metro area arts and culture groups.
Here are the highlights for Tier 1 organizations. Note that some organizations are free every day, such as the Broomfield Veterans Museum, city of Lakewood art exhibitions, Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park, Foothills Art Center, Colorado Music Hall of Fame, the Aurora History Museum, and Louisville History Museum, according to SCFD.
Check scfd.org/find-culture/free-days for the full, updated list, and a printable bookmark for the institutions listed below. Many require online reservations, and all events are subject to change or cancellation.
Denver Art Museum free days
- Jan. 27
- Feb. 13
- March 12 and 24
- April 9 and 28
- May 14
- June 11
- July 9
- July 21
- Aug. 13
- Sept. 7 and 10
- Oct. 8
- Nov. 2 and 12
- Dec. 10
Note: General museum admission is free every day for kids 18 and younger. Free days do not include admission to ticketed exhibitions. Call 720-865-5000 or visit denverartmuseum.org for more.
Denver Zoo free days
Due to demand, tickets will not be available at the gate. Instead, all reservations must be made online. More info via 720-337-1400 or denverzoo.org/free-days
- Feb. 11
- April 7
- Nov. 3, 9 and 17
Denver Botanic Gardens at York Street and Chatfield Farms free days
- Feb. 15
- March 9
- April 22 (Earth Day)
- June 5
- July 3
- Aug. 28
- Nov. 29
For more information, go to botanicgardens.org or call 720-865-3500.
Denver Center for the Performing Arts free days
There will be $10 DCPAccess tickets for “Emma” (April 5-May 5) and “Where Did We Sit on the Bus?” (April 19-June 2). Also available are $10 student tickets to Denver Center Theatre Company shows, with ID, and 20% to 50% off tickets for military members (with online code BLUESTAR). 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org
Denver Museum of Nature & Science free days (and nights)
- Jan. 28
- Feb. 25
- April 28 (Día del Niño)
- June 4* and 19
- Aug. 21*
- Sept. 10* and 30
- Nov. 2* and 18
- Dec. 8
* Free only from 5 to 10 p.m. Free admission does not include IMAX or the Planetarium. More info: 303-370-6000 or dmns.org
