The last weekend of July brings along many fairs, festivals, and special events! Take your kids to the Denver County Fair or the Arapahoe County Fair, enjoy Golden’s big annual event: Buffalo Bill Days, witness dance performances at the Mile High Dance Festival, celebrate the opening of RTD’s Westminster Station with a special carnival, plus so much more!
What to do with Kids in Denver this Weekend July 29 – 31, 2016
Events listed in chronological order
Denver County Fair
Photograph courtesy of ©Denver County Fair
When: Friday, July 29th through Sunday, July 31st, 2016
Where: National Western Complex, 4655 Humboldt St, Denver, CO 80216
Time: July 29th: 4pm–9pm; July 30th: 10am–8pm; July 31st: 10am–6pm
Cost: Adults $10, Children (5–12) + Seniors (65+) + Military $5, Weekend Passes and Family Four Packs available as well.
Purchase tickets at: bit.ly/DenverCountyFair2016
Ages: All ages
The 6th Annual Denver County Fair, features some of the nation’s most innovative fair pavilions & attractions. Denver County Fair goers can visit the Kitten Pavilion, Holistic, Geek, Style, Green & Sports Pavilions and the Freak Show. Unicorn rides, adult Big Wheel tracks & trick pig acts are also part of the mix. The fair also includes many more traditional elements, such as the Crafts, Arts, Animals Kids, Backyard Farm & Garden, Home Pavilions.
Golden Buffalo Bill Days
When: Friday, July 29th through Sunday, July 31st, 2016
Where: Downtown Golden, Parfet Park, and various historical museums and parks around town.
For a complete schedule of events visit: bit.ly/BuffaloBillDaysSchedule2016
Time: July 29th: 5pm–10pm; July 30th: 6am–10pm; July 31st: 9am–5pm
Cost: Free
Ages: All ages
Golden Buffalo Bill Days will feature horses, cowboys and western fun in Cody’s Wild West event, a festive parade, an orphan and classic car show, the ever popular Muttin Bustin’ competition, bull riding, a golf tournament, live foot stompin’ entertainment, free kiddie train rides, children’s activities, and more!
Psst… Check out our featured article for this event!
Arapahoe County Fair
Photograph courtesy of ©Arapahoe County Fair
When: Friday, July 29th through Sunday, July 31st, 2016
Where: Arapahoe County Fairgrounds, 25690 E Quincy Ave, Aurora, CO 80016
Time: Daily – Gates & Exhibits: 11am–11pm; Carnival & Midway 12pm–12am
Cost: Gate Admission $15, Online Admission $10, Children 36″ and under Free. Parking $5 (cash only)
Purchase tickets at: bit.ly/ArapahoeCountyFair2016
Ages: All ages
The Arapahoe County Fair features unlimited carnival rides plus access to the fireworks show, concerts on the main stage, rodeo, high flying dock dogs, 4H exhibits, open class contests, tractor pulls and motor sports and more!
Denver Zoo’s Lion Celebration: Admissions Discount
Photograph courtesy of ©Denver Zoo
When: Friday, July 29th through Sunday, July 31st, 2016
Where: Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St, Denver, CO 80205
Time: 1pm–5pm
Cost: $4 off Admission tickets
Ages: All ages
Denver Zoo recently welcomed four one-year-old male lion cubs, each weighing more than 200 pounds, from Lee Richardson Zoo in Garden City, Kansas. The lions are now visible to the public in the Maternity Den area of Benson Predator Ridge.
Come welcome the lions with an admissions discount or membership special! Share your photos and experiences with the new lion pride using #16paws.
Psst… Redeem discount by printing out or opening the Denver Zoo event page on your smartphone.
Evergreen Jazz Festival
Photograph courtesy of ©Evergreen Jazz Festival
When: Friday, July 29th through Sunday, July 31st, 2016
Where: Evergreen Lake House, 29612 Upper Bear Creek Rd, Evergreen, CO 80439
Time: July 29th: 12pm–9pm; July 30th: 9:45am–9pm; July 31st: 9:15am–5:15pm
Cost: $30–$130; Friday Afternoon Educational Concert: Free. Purchase tickets at: bit.ly/EvergreenJazzFestival2016
Ages: All ages
The Evergreen Jazz Festival taking place at Evergreen Lake House, features jazz music concerts, dances and performances throughout its three-day festival. For a complete schedule of events visit: evergreenjazz.org/schedule
German Fest at Heritage Amusement Park
Photograph courtesy of ©German Fest
When: Friday, July 29th through Sunday, July 31st, 2016
Where: Heritage Amusement Park, 18301 W Colfax Ave, Golden, CO 80401
Time: July 29th: 4pm–9pm; July 30th: 10am–9pm; July 31st: 10am–6pm
Cost: $7 at the door, Children 10 and under are free
Ages: All ages
The 9th Annual German Fest at Heritage Amusement Park is a special cultural event fostering a spirit of camaraderie and gives a joyful experience of our best traditions and what is best known of our cultural heritage. The festival is for all ages, and there will be plenty of family fun and activities for the kids. Various artists face painting, twisting balloons into amazing pieces of art, and a variety of arts & crafts.
Samurai Stories at WOW! Children’s Museum
Photograph courtesy of ©WOW! Children’s Museum
When: Friday, July 29th, 2016
Where: WOW! Children’s Museum, 110 N Harrison Ave, Lafayette, CO 80026
Time: 11am – 12pm
Cost: Free, included in admission
Ages: All ages
Join Yoko Hiraoka at WOW! Children’s Museum, as she presents the exciting stories of Samurai warriors sung to the accompaniment of the ancient musical instrument the Biwa. Her performance will take children into the thrilling world of Samurai warriors and Japan’s medieval times. This special program is a part of the “WOW! Goes Around the World” series sponsored by Lafayette Cultural Arts Commission and is included with Museum admission.
Cheesman Park Arts Fest
Photograph courtesy of ©Cheesman Park Arts Fest
When: Saturday, July 30th & Sunday, July 31st, 2016
Where: Cheesman Park, 8th Ave & Williams St
Time: July 30th: 9am–7pm; July 31st: 9am–5pm
Cost: Free
Ages: All ages
130 juried artists and craftsmen will hail from 30 different states to showcase their work at the 4th Annual Cheesman Park Art Fest, a free, two-day festival in one of Denver’s prized historic parks. The show takes place on the southwest roads of Cheesman, where patrons can shop the works of potters, painters, jewelers, sculptors, glass artists, and more – in a wide range of prices!
Brent’s Place: Kids Cure Family Walk
Photograph courtesy of ©Brent’s Place
When: Saturday, July 30th, 2016
Where: General’s Park, Aurora, CO 80011
Time: Check-in: 8am; Walk 9am; Pancake Breakfast & Village Activities 10am
Cost: Free
Ages: All ages
Brent’s Place: Kids Cure Family Walk is a fun, free, family friendly event that starts at General’s Park (corner of Colfax and Peoria), includes a walk around the UC Denver Anschutz Medical Campus with fun zones along the course including a Party Zone with music and dancing, an Obstacle Zone, and a Water Zone with sprinklers and water slides. The walk ends back at General’s Park with a free pancake breakfast in addition to activities and games for kids.
Brent’s Place is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides clean, free housing to families with children undergoing immune compromising treatments at Children’s Hospital. This event is a fundraiser, however there is no registration or participation fee and we encourage people to come even without fundraising to get to know more about Brent’s Place and the families staying there.
Mile High Dance Festival
Photograph courtesy of ©Cleo Parker Robinson Dance
When: Saturday, July 30th, 2016
Where: Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, 119 Park Ave W, Denver, CO 80205
Time: 8:30am–9:30pm
Cost: Free
Ages: All ages
The Mile High Dance Festival, presented by Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, is a fun-filled day for movement lovers, bystanders, admirers, enthusiasts and connoisseurs of all kinds. During the day, the Mile High Dance Festival opens with classes in the CPRD Amphitheatre and features an all–styles Hip Hop Battle. At night, feel the surge of the crest of Denver’s dance pallete under the stars and city lights inside the amphitheatre.
Bring a blanket, a cooler and an appetite as the Festival will feature a Marketplace filled with food and arts & crafts vendors.
Inside the Orchestra’s Tiny Tots Performances
Photograph courtesy of ©Inside the Orchestra
When: Saturday, July 30th, 2016
Where: History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203
Time: 9:30am–10:15am; 10:45am–11:30am
Cost: Suggested Price $9.95 per person (financial assistance available). Purchase tickets at: bit.ly/TinyTotsPerformances
Ages: Recommended: Children ages 12 months and up
Inside the Orchestra is celebrating its 30th birthday with the first ever summer Tiny Tots performances. The music will be chosen from the most popular pieces performed over the last 30 years. Celebrate Inside the Orchestra’s 30-year history at History Colorado. Museum admission is complimentary with a Tiny Tots ticket. Tiny Tots gets children truly inside the orchestra by seating the audience on the floor and surrounding them with a 30+ piece orchestra.
Colorado Breastival
Photograph courtesy of ©Colorado Breastfeeding Coalition
When: Saturday, July 30th, 2016
Where: Ruby Hill Park, Denver, CO 80223
Time: 10am–1pm
Cost: Free
Ages: All ages
Colorado Breastival, hosted by the Colorado Breastfeeding Coalition and presented by the Mothers’ Milk Bank, this event kicks off World Breastfeeding Week by celebrating ALL Colorado families.
Featuring a fire truck, bounce house, free massages for parents, henna art, breastfeeding photography, food trucks, parent-baby yoga, baby sign class, toddler music class and more!
Denver Urban Market
When: Saturday, July 30th, 2016
Where: Skyline Park, Arapahoe St & 16th St, Denver, CO 80202
Time: 11am – 7pm
Cost: Free
Ages: All ages
The 10th annual Denver Urban Market is the Denver’s premier open air marketplace. At the market you will find an cornucopia of local arts and crafts sold direct by the artist, clothing, jewelry, antiques, furniture, holistic services, unique treasures, delicious food, and just about anything else you could want. Come out and have fun in the sun while supporting your local artists, businesses, and community at Denver’s outdoor shopping paradise.
Westminster Station Celebration & Retro Carnival
When: Saturday, July 30th, 2016
Where: Westminster Station, Westminster, CO 80030
Time: 6pm–10pm
Cost: Free
Ages: All ages
Celebrate the opening of RTD‘s B Line to Westminster with a special Westminster Station Celebration & Retro Carnival! The retro carnival will feature 25 cent carnival games and 5 cent candy, a beer garden, food vendors, free concert by Sad Star Cafe, face painting, fireworks and much more.
Psst… Free rides on all RTD trains all day!
“The Goonies” Outdoor Movie at Skyline Park
Photograph courtesy of ©Downtown Denver Partnership, Inc.
When: Saturday, July 30th, 2016
Where: Skyline Park, Arapahoe St & 16th St, Denver, CO 80202
Time: Movie begin at dusk, additional entertainment begins one hour before movie starts.
Cost: Free
Ages: All ages
The Southwest Summer Movies Series takes place at Skyline Park in downtown Denver, every Saturday throughout the summer. This Saturday, enjoy a free screening of the movie: “The Goonies”. Sponsored by Southwest Airlines, this series is in cooperation with Denver Parks and Recreation and the Downtown Denver Business Improvement District.
Psst… For more free outdoor movies this summer, check out our special summer outdoor movie guide!