27 Free Things I Actually Do in Denver on Weekends (Not Just Hiking)

Everyone always says “Denver is expensive now.” And yeah, they’re not wrong.

But here’s what I’ve figured out – there’s actually a TON of free stuff to do here. You just need to know where to look.

I’m talking beyond the obvious “go hiking” advice everyone gives. Because sometimes you just don’t want to drive to the mountains, you know?

Downtown & Union Station Area (Free All Day)

1. Union Station people watching – Seriously underrated. Grab a bench, watch the chaos. Free entertainment.

2. Wynkoop Plaza fountains – Kids love it, adults can chill on the steps. Summer vibes.

3. Confluence Park – Where the rivers meet. People bring tubes and float. Or just walk along the water.

4. 16th Street Mall performers – Some are actually really good. The breakdancers near California Street are legit.

5. Larimer Square window shopping – Can’t afford anything there but it’s pretty to walk through.

RiNo District (Best on First Fridays)

6. RiNo street art walk – The murals change all the time. Start at Denver Central Market and just wander.

7. First Friday art walks – Galleries open late, free drinks sometimes. Gets packed though.

8. Denver Central Market browsing – You don’t have to buy anything. Great people watching spot.

Capitol Hill & Golden Triangle

9. Colorado State Capitol tours – Free tours Monday-Friday. The dome view is insane.

10. Civic Center Park – Food trucks, random festivals, good spot to read.

11. Denver Art Museum (free for kids) – Kids under 18 get in free. Always.

12. Civic Center EATS – Summer Wednesdays, tons of food trucks. The park becomes a party.

City Parks That Don’t Suck

13. City Park Jazz – Summer Sundays, 6-8pm. Bring a blanket. Gets crowded but worth it.

14. Cheesman Park sunset – Best sunset views in the city. The locals know.

15. Washington Park loop – 2.5 miles around. Everyone’s doing something – running, skating, whatever.

16. Sloan’s Lake walk – 2.96 miles around. Mountains on one side, city on the other.

Weird But Free Stuff

17. Tattered Cover browsing – Multiple locations. Stay as long as you want. Nobody cares.

18. REI climbing wall viewing – You can watch people climb the massive wall. The store itself is entertainment.

19. Little Man Ice Cream gawking – The building is shaped like a milk can. Photo op central.

20. Burns Park Sculpture Garden – Hidden gem. Weird sculptures, nobody there.

Seasonal Free Events

21. Oktoberfest on Larimer – Free admission. You pay for beer but wandering around is free.

22. Pride Festival – Civic Center Park goes OFF. Free to walk around.

23. Chalk Art Festival – Larimer Square. Artists create insane sidewalk art.

24. Christmas lights downtown – Union Station goes all out. The whole downtown gets decorated.

Markets & Food Browsing

25. Cherry Creek Farmers Market – Saturdays. Free samples everywhere if you time it right.

26. South Pearl Street wandering – Sundays they close the street. Live music, vendors.

27. Denver Flea at National Western – First weekend of the month. Vintage everything. Just browsing is fun.

My Favorite Free Saturday Route

Here’s what I actually do when I’m broke but need to get out:

• Start at Union Station (free parking on Sunday)
• Walk to Confluence Park
• Follow the river to REI
• Check out REI (it’s basically a museum)
• Walk through Commons Park
• End at Little Man Ice Cream area

That’s like 2-3 hours of entertainment. Zero dollars.

Pro Tips for Free Denver

Library passes: Denver Public Library has free museum passes. Book them early.

SCFD Free Days: Every museum has them. Google “SCFD free days Denver” for the schedule.

Happy hour culture: Not free, but $3 beers and $5 apps basically are.

Parking hack: Sundays = free street parking downtown. Game changer.

Weather-Specific Free Stuff

Hot days: Confluence Park for water watching. City Park for shade. Any brewery’s patio (water is free).

Cold days: Union Station wandering. Denver Central Library (it’s huge). Tattered Cover book browsing.

Perfect days: Literally anywhere outside. This is why we live here.

Actually Free vs. “Free”

Let’s be real about what’s actually free:

Truly free: Parks, street art, window shopping, most festivals, library everything.

“Free” but you’ll spend money: Farmers markets, food festivals, brewery tours, First Fridays.

Worth the splurge: Museum free days (but expect crowds).

The Locals’ Secret

You want to know the real secret?

The best free activity in Denver is just existing outside on a nice day. Find a park, bring a blanket, people watch.

That’s literally what half of Denver does every weekend.

We’re all just pretending we’re outdoorsy while actually just hanging out in parks.

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What’s your favorite free Denver spot that tourists don’t know about? Always looking for new places to be cheap at.

Related: I Work Remote in Denver – These 12 Coffee Shops Actually Have Outlets – for when you need wifi with your free activities.