This weekend’s guide is a three-day guide due to Memorial Day Weekend. Some events you might recognize from our general What to do in Denver for Memorial Day Weekend 2016 article, but we’ve added many more kid and family-friendly events for you and your little (or big) ones to enjoy. Honor Memorial Day Weekend!
What do with Kids in Denver this Memorial Day Weekend May 27–30 2016
Events in chronological order
Mile High Flea Market Free Admission & Rides Friday
Photograph by ©Mile High Flea Market
When: Friday, May 27th, 2016
Where: Mile High Flea Market, 7007 E 88th Ave, Henderson, CO 80640
Time: 7am – 5pm
Cost: Free
Ages: all ages
Mile High Flea Market is hosting a special free admissions and free kiddie rides on May 27th. Enjoy a great time outdoors with your family and buy everything you want, new or used, at incredible prices.
International Youth Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty at the Park
Photograph by ©International Youth Ballet
When: Friday, May 27th, 2016
Where: Civic Green Park, 9370 S Ridgeline Blvd, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
Time: 6:30pm – 8pm
Cost: Free
Ages: all ages
International Youth Ballet will perform Sleeping Beauty outside, at Civic Center Park for families and kids of all ages for free.
Disney’s Beauty And The Beast Jr. at Spotlight Theater
Photograph by ©Spotlight Theater
When: Friday, May 27th through Monday, May 30th, 2016
Where: Spotlight Theater, 740 Wilcox St, Castle Rock, CO 80104
Time: 5:30pm & 7:30pm
Cost: $6 – $10. Purchase tickets at: bit.ly/BeautyAndTheBeastJr
Ages: all ages
Disney’s Beauty And The Beast Jr. will be playing at Spotlight Theater during Memorial Day Weekend. The classic story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.
29th Annual Boulder Creek Festival
Photograph by ©Dave Taylor
When: Friday, May 27th through Monday, May 30th, 2016
Where: Downtown Boulder, 9th St & Canyon Blvd, Boulder, CO 80302
Time: May 27: 7pm – 10pm (Kick-off concert only – bandshell food court & beer garden open at 6pm, no exhibitor booths will be open) May 28: 10am – 10pm (exhibitor booths close at 7 pm) May 29: 10am – 10pm (exhibitor booths close at 7 pm) Monday, May 30: 11am – 7pm
Cost: Free
Ages: all ages
The 29th Annual Boulder Creek Festival taking place during Memorial Day Weekend includes three days of festivities featuring a large variety of events, activities, food and entertainment unique to the Boulder community. The Festival is free to the public and features something for everyone: 9 separate event areas with 500 vendors showcase everything from community arts and crafts to healthier alternatives and technology while 4 performance stages feature a spectrum of music and dance. The festival also features carnival rides, food and beverage vendors, and the signature event: rubber duck race down the creek.
ArtStir Denver
Photograph by ©ArtStir Denver
When: Saturday, May 28th & Sunday, May 29th 2016
Where: Denver Pavilions, 500 16th St #10, Denver 80202
Time: 11am – 7pm
Cost: Free
Ages: all ages
ArtStir Denver is an art market exclusively showcasing Colorado Creatives designed to stir up the artist in all of us with a spirited blend of Colorado art, music and style. ArtStir Denver 2016 will be at the Denver Pavilions along the 16th Street Mall in the heart of Downtown Denver over Memorial Day Weekend. Featured works include painting sculpture, photography, illustration, textiles, furnishings, mixed media and more. ArtStir Denver will feature 140+ Colorado artists, performers & demonstrators. Let your inner artist get “stirred up” at the event. Show them your creative side by making your mark on our two art walls, creating a master piece to take home in the coloring corner & participating in other crafts at vendor booths.Also, don’t miss the new Colorado Craft Block that features more Colo booth vendors & will sell craft brews and food from Hard Rock Café & Grimaldi’s Pizzeria. Face painting for children can be found in the Horseshoe Market Lot by The Drake Parlor Face Painting.
Butterflies at Chatfield Grand Opening
When: Saturday, May 28th & Sunday, May 29th 2016
Where: Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield Farms, 8500 W Deer Creek Canyon Rd, Littleton, CO 80128
Time: 9am – 4pm (3pm last admission)
Cost: $4 Adult, Child or Senior Non-Member; $2 Adult, Child or Senior Denver Botanic Gardens or Butterfly Pavilion Member; Free for children 2 and under; Non-members: $5 additional fee per passenger vehicle for admission to Chatfield Farms
Ages: all ages
Butterflies at Chatfield is presented to you through a partnership with Butterfly Pavilion and Denver Botanic Gardens. Encounter native Colorado butterflies and plants in the one-of-a-kind butterfly house at Chatfield Farms. This seasonal habitat is home to hundreds of native butterflies, such as two-tailed swallowtails, monarchs, silverspotted skippers and painted ladies. There are about 30 native plant species in this garden. The rest of the plants (about 20 species) were chosen for the nectar production for butterfly food and are not native species in Colorado.
Water World Memorial Day Weekend Opening
Photograph by ©Water World
When: Saturday, May 28th through Monday, May 30th, 2016
Where: Water World, 8801 Pecos St, Federal Heights, CO 80260
Time: 10am – 6pm
Cost: buy one admission ticket and get one free
Ages: all ages
Summer’s here and there’s no place better to celebrate than Water World! Enjoy Memorial Day Weekend at Water World and receive a coupon for Buy 1 Ticket, Get 1 Ticket Free Admission on opening weekend. Water World is one of America’s largest family water parks and is located just 15 minutes north of downtown Denver and sits on 64 landscaped acres. Water World features the largest variety of attractions (49) in America, from Wally World for the little ones, to Voyage to the Center of the Earth, the ultimate family water adventure. Plenty of picnic areas are available, from covered pavilions to landscaped grass areas. They also feature 3 separate Children’s Play Adventures, including the Big Top Family Fun Zone.
Colorado Remembers Memorial Day Celebration at The Colorado Freedom Memorial
Photograph by ©The Colorado Freedom Memorial
When: Saturday, May 28th, 2016
Where: The Colorado Freedom Memorial, 756 Telluride St, Aurora, CO 80011
Time: from 11am
Cost: Free
Ages: all ages
The Colorado Remembers Memorial Day Celebration will be held at The Colorado Freedom Memorial and is hosted by City of Aurora. Activities begin at 11am with a ceremony followed by musical performances by talented entertainers. The concert is free and begins at 2pm. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the show.
Elitch Gardens’ Island Kingdom Water Park Opening Day
Photograph by ©Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park
When: Saturday, May 28th, 2016
Where: Elitch Gardens Theme & Waterpark, 2000 Elitch Cir, Denver, CO 80204
Time: 10am – 6pm
Cost: Free with park admission
Ages: all ages
Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park is re-opening its Island Kingdom water park this Memorial Day Weekend. Water park is free with theme park admission (open through Labor Day). Two parks, for one admission price, with unlimited rides for everyone in the family. Elitch Gardens is Colorado’s must-see destination.
Longhopes Donkey Shelter Free Tour Day
Photograph by ©Longhopes Donkey Shelter
When: Saturday, May 28th, 2016
Where: Longhopes Donkey Shelter, 66 N Dutch Valley Rd, Bennett, CO 80102
Time: 10am – 2pm
Cost: Free
Ages: all ages
Longhopes Donkey Shelter will be offering free tours of their facility on Saturday, May 28th. Come meet their rescued donkeys and learn more about these wonderful animals. They will provide light refreshments and free donkey hugs! Longhopes is located only 30 minutes east of Denver on I-70.
Deer Creek & Weaver Hollow Pools Opening Day
Photograph by ©Foothills Park & Recreation District
When: Saturday, May 28th, 2016
Where: Foothills Park & Recreation District, 6612 S Ward St, Littleton, CO 80127
Time: 10:30am – 5pm
Cost: $3
Ages: all ages
Kick off your Memorial Day Weekend at Foothills Park & Recreation District’s Deer Creek & Weaver Hollow outdoor pools enjoy $3 admission per person on opening day.
May 2016 Sweet William Market
Photograph by ©Sweet William Market
When: Saturday, May 28th, 2016
Where: Sweet William Market, 29th Avenue & Syracuse St, Denver, Colorado 80238
Time: 9am – 2pm
Enjoy Memorial Day Weekend at the first Sweet William Market in Stapleton for the year 2016. Sweet William Market is proud to feature local, handmade artisans as well as delicious food trucks, and live music by musician, David Potter.
Kids Upcycled Art Workshop at Show of Hands
Photograph by ©Show of Hands
When: Saturday, May 28th, 2016
Where: Show of Hands, 210 Clayton St, Denver, CO 80206
Time: 10:30am – 4pm (drop-in whenever you want)
Cost: each project is $30
Ages: all ages
Kids get to experience a special art workshop at Show of Hands. Put down those cute little paint brushes and pick up a hammer and power tools and join southern folk artist Alan Moore for a upcycled art workshop specifically tailored for that creative kid you love. Alan will have all kinds of unique items for the kids to use to make one-of-a-kind works of art including vintage soda cans, antique buttons, bottle caps, weathered metals, rustic woods, piano parts, and much more.
Slow Food Farmers Market at the Source Opening Day
Photograph by ©The Source
When: Sunday, May 29th, 2016
Where: Source, 3350 Brighton Blvd, Denver, CO 80216
Time: 10am – 2pm
Cost: Free
Ages: all ages
The Source and Slow Food Denver are debuting a weekly indoor farmers market this Memorial Day Weekend, featuring top Colorado farms, educational programming; culinary and cocktail-making demonstrations, rotating guest vendors, “Little Locavores” activities for kids and in-store special events.
Memorial Day Vendor & Craft Fundraiser
When: Sunday, May 29th, 2016
Where: Holiday Inn Denver Lakewood, 7390 W Hampden Ave, Lakewood, CO 80227
Time: 1:30pm – 4pm
Cost: Free
Ages: all ages
Katalyst Events are hosting a special Memorial Day Vendor & Craft Fundraiser for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund (IFHF) at Holiday Inn Denver Lakewood. Come support your local small businesses while raising funds for fallen heroes. There will be a raffle with loads of prizes, including a free 2 day weekend getaway. All proceeds after costs goes to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund (IFHF). In honor of those who sacrificed their life to protect our freedom. Venue is inside so it will occur regardless of weather.
Battle Zone’s NERF Open Play at Cornerstone Park
Photograph by ©Battle Zone
When: Monday, May 30th, 2016
Where: Cornerstone Park, 5150 S Windermere St, Littleton, CO 80120
Time: 11am – 5pm
Cost: $5 for 30 minutes of play, or $8 for 60 minutes. Admission includes safety equipment, use of a Nerf Firestrike blaster, unlimited darts, and 30 minutes of play time in the mega arena.
Ages: all ages
It’s Memorial Day and School’s Out! Enjoy a fun NERF day with Battle Zone at Cornerstone Park. They will be out in their mega arena playing in exciting Nerf battles all day long.
52nd Annual Memorial Day Parade in Commerce City
When: Monday, May 30th, 2016
Where: Veterans Memorial Park, 6015 Forest Dr, Commerce City, CO 80022
Time: 10am – 1pm
Cost: Free
Ages: all ages
The 52nd Annual Memorial Day Parade at Veterans Memorial Park in Commerce City, provides an opportunity for patriotic Americans to come together and honor those who have sacrificed so much in service to the country. Be a part of Colorado’s largest Memorial Day Parade.