Getting young children out of the house boosts mental and physical development, encourages social skills, provides a distraction from daily stress and challenges, and is part of a healthy lifestyle. The Family Center/La Familia has put together this list of free and low cost family events in northern Colorado – and at popular Denver attractions – so you can keep your young ones engaged and thriving this spring.
Starting in February
Alt text: Colorful flowers surround the red barn at the Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield
Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield Farms SCFD Free Days
Cost: FREE
8500 Deer Creek Canyon Rd., Littleton
(720) 865-4346, info@botanicgardens.org
Dates: February 17, March 16, April 21, June 7
Advance online registration is required. Tickets are released on the 15th of the current month for the following month. Free days include regular garden access (no ticketed special events).
Alt text: A sculpture sits in the middle of a pond filled with exotic water pants at the Denver Botanic Gardens at York Street
Denver Botanic Gardens at York Street SCFD Free Days
Cost: FREE
1007 York St., Denver
(720) 865-3500, info@botanicgardens.org
Dates: February 17, March 16, April 21, June 7
Advance online registration is required. Tickets are released on the 15th of the current month for the following month. Free days include regular garden access (no ticketed special events).
Photo by Chris Schneider
Alt text: A child sits on a dinosaur sculpture at Dinosaur Gulch inside the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, which hosts family free days this spring
Denver Museum of Nature and Science SCFD Free Days
Cost: FREE
2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver
(303) 370-6000, guestservices@dmns.org
Dates: February 27 (Black Science Day), May 1 (Día del Niño), May 23
Museum capacity is currently limited during the pandemic. The museum encourages guests to check the ticketing page daily leading up to free days for the latest information and availability.
Alt text: Rows of childrens’ books for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers are pictured at the Loveland Public Library
Baby & Toddler Storytime at Loveland Public Library
Cost: FREE
Dates: Every Wednesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. and every Tuesday at 11 a.m. in February
300 N Adams Ave, Loveland
(970) 962-2587, LibraryChildrensDivision@cityofloveland.org
Encourage early literacy skills with books, rhymes, music and fun! Suggested for children ages 0-3 and their caregivers. Space will be very limited, so please arrive early. Masks will be required for everyone ages 3 and up per the current Larimer County mandate.
Preschool Storytime at Loveland Public Library
Cost: FREE
Dates: Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and Wednesdays at 11 a.m. throughout February
300 N Adams Ave, Loveland
(970) 962-2587, LibraryChildrensDivision@cityofloveland.org
Enjoy books, songs and activities while building early literacy skills. Suggested for children ages 3-5 and their caregivers. Space will be very limited, so please arrive early. Masks will be required for everyone ages 3 and up per the current Larimer County mandate.
Bilingual Storytime – Hora de los Cuentos Bilingües at Loveland Public Library
Cost: FREE
Dates: Every Thursday in February at 11 a.m.
300 N Adams Ave, Loveland
(970) 962-2587, LibraryChildrensDivision@cityofloveland.org
Join Miss Claudeth for stories, music, fingerplays, and fun in English and Spanish! Suggested for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers.
Hora de los Cuentos Bilingües ¡Únase a Miss Claudeth para disfrutar de cuentos, música, juegos de dedos y diversión en inglés y español! Recomendado para niños de 0 a 5 años y sus cuidadores.
Alt text: A young boy swings on the rope course at Urban Air Fort Collins trampoline park, which hosts budget-friendly family nights this spring.
Family Night at Urban Air Fort Collins
Cost: $49.99 includes a large cheese pizza, four water bottles, and two hours of play for a family of four
Upcoming dates: February 24, March 3, March 10, March 17, and March 31 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
4250 Corbett Dr., Fort Collins
(970) 682-3374
One ultimate pass for a family of four, plus dinner. Reservations are valid for 3-5 p.m., 4-6 p.m., OR 5-7 p.m.
Jumperoo! Parent/Tot Fun at Urban Air Fort Collins
Cost: $9.99 per child + one FREE parent per child
Upcoming dates: February 11, February 18, February 25, March 4, and March 11 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
4250 Corbett Dr., Fort Collins
(970) 682-3374
Parents and caregivers – enjoy some time with just the little ones. Tubes, playground, and trampolines available. Enjoy parent-child playtime and stay for some lunch! Reserved for children 5 and under only. Kids’ meals can be purchased for $3.99.
Alt text: Children gather around a woman in a festive costume outdoors at the Lyric Cinema for its weekly Super Cool Kids Club.
Cost: FREE
Upcoming dates: Every Thursday from 4-5 p.m.
The Lyric Cinema
1209 N College Ave, Fort Collins
(970) 426-6767, marketing@lyriccinema.com
Weekly live music, art projects, educational demos, and more. Past kids clubs have included jugglers, reptiles, dancers, chemistry experiments, pottery wheels, musical theater, and story time. The Super Cool Kids Club is based on community building – don’t worry if you’re running late, as our festivities often run until 5:30 p.m. Feel free to stay for dinner, too! Indoors during winter; masks required.
Alt text: A woman assists a young boy with a science experiment using a recycled plastic bottle.
STEM Program – Can We Send Trash to Space?
Cost: FREE
Larimer County Garbage Garage Education Center
5887 South Taft Hill Road, Fort Collins
(970) 498-5775, gcohen@larimer.org
Dates: February 15-18, from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Grade school. Explore what might happen to trash in space. Design an air powered rocket and test it out. Registration required.
Starting in March
Alt text: Visitors walk toward the entrance of the unique, angular Denver Art Museum building, which is always free for children.
Denver Art Museum SCFD Free Days
Cost: FREE
100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy., Denver
(720) 913-0130, info@denverartmuseum.org
Dates: March 8, April 12, April 24
Ticket reservations are encouraged. Tickets for March 8 are currently available; later dates coming soon. Children 18 years and younger are ALWAYS FREE.
Alt text: Colorful old t-shirts hang ready to be turned into tote bags at the Larimer County Garbage Garage’s T-Shirt Bag Workshop for Teens.
DIY Reusable T-Shirt Bag Workshop for Teens
Cost: FREE
Larimer County Garbage Garage Education Center
5887 South Taft Hill Road, Fort Collins
(970) 498-5775, gcohen@larimer.org
Dates: March 4 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Practice reusing by turning an old t-shirt into a tote bag. We will show you how to do it yourself. It’s easy! Provide your favorite used shirt or use one of ours. Registration required for adults and teens.
Alt text: A selection of trash objects that can be reused as instruments, such as aluminum cans, wooden sticks, and metal utensils, are ready for toddlers to use at the free Spring Into Song event at the Larimer County Garbage Garage.
Cost: FREE
Larimer County Garbage Garage Education Center
5887 South Taft Hill Road, Fort Collins
(970) 498-5775, gcohen@larimer.org
Dates: March 9 and March 11 from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Registration required. Recycling education and activity – move, learn and sing: Make an upcycled musical instrument, observe the different sounds different objects make, and go through our outdoor Recycle Hero Obstacle Course as fast as you can.
Image via Visit Fort Collins
Alt text: A boy stops to look at artifacts from various cultures displayed at the Global Village Museum in Fort Collins.
Free Admission Day at Global Village Museum
Cost: FREE
200 West Mountain Avenue, Fort Collins
970-221-4600, info@globalvillagemuseum.org
Date: March 12, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures welcomes all visitors for free on Saturday, March 12, the 110th anniversary of the Girl Scouts. Juliette Gordon Low founded the Girl Scouts on March 12, 1912. “Girl Scouts Impact the World” is currently showing in the Museum’s Main Gallery. The exhibit highlights how Girl Scouts have made the world a better place through courage, confidence, and character. No registration required.
Alt text: Children gather around a table filled with plants to learn about the roles birds and worms play in the garden.
Spring Break – Early Bird Gets the Worm
Cost: FREE
Larimer County Garbage Garage Education Center
5887 South Taft Hill Road, Fort Collins
(970) 498-5775, gcohen@larimer.org
Dates: March 15-18; two sessions per day – 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Registration required! For grade school aged participants with their caregiver. What do you know about birds and worms? Learn what they have to do with garbage. Make an upcycled bird feeder. Pot a plant you can care for at home.
Starting in April
Alt text: Jaya, an 11-year-old Sumatran orangutan, poses for a photo at the Denver Zoo in Colorado.
Denver Zoo Free Days
2300 Steele St., Denver
(720) 337-1400, guestcare@denverzoo.org
Spring dates: April 10 (Lottery runs from March 29 – April 2)
To provide the best experience for all guests, the Denver Zoo is offering a limited number of tickets for each Free Day, using an online lottery system. Anyone who wants to attend a Free Day must register online during the open lottery period for a chance to obtain up to five (5) vouchers for its corresponding Free Day.
We invite you to take advantage of these community events and special deals to entertain the whole family this spring – on a budget!
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