Summer in Colorado can be a season of sweet savings — especially for those who think ahead.
Free and affordable activities abound, in the cities and in the high country. But the clock is ticking. With about a month left until the official summer solstice (June 20), the time is now to plan to spend the season enjoying music, art, sports and this state’s splendid outdoors — without breaking the bank.
Here are several budget-minded tips to help round out your warm-weather calendar.
Free outdoor films
has teamed up with several local sponsors to host free outdoor movie nights starting June 30 with “Forrest Gump” at Skyline Park; other showings happen at Civic Center Park, Bible Park, Curtis Park, Governor’s Park and Ruby Hill. There are 16 free movie nights in total as part of Denver’s 2012 Movies in the Park Series. Look for the full schedule at denvergov.org/parksandrecreation.
At (4500 E. Kentucky Ave., Glendale, 303-639-4711), Monday Movie Madness begins June 11 and happens twice a month through Aug. 20. These free family films — including “The Goonies” and “The Princess Bride” — are shown at 8 p.m. on the park’s JumboTron. infinityparkatglendale.com
Elsewhere around the metropolitan area, there are free outdoor summer films at Festival Park in (Downtown CastleRock.com), (Centennial Colorado.com), (parker chamber.com) and in Littleton (shopaspengrove.com).
Ethnic festival stay-cations
The metro area’s ethnic festivals bring the world to our doorstep with food, music, dance and traditional clothing from around the globe. Admission is free or rock-bottom cheap; pay for food, rides and purchases. Among them are the , June 15-17, at Assumption Greek Orthodox Cathedral (4610 E. Alameda Ave., Denver, 303-388-9314, thegreekfestival .com); and the, June 23-24, which is devoted to Japanese culture and heritage including martial arts, at Sakura Square (1947 Lawrence St.; details at 303-295-1844 or cherryblossomdenver.org).
The (303-973-1209 or coloradoirishfestival.org) is July 13-15 at Clement Park in Littleton; the is July 28-29 at Sloan’s Lake (Sheridan Boulevard between West 17th and West 25th avenues; 303-953-7277 or cdbf.org); and Festival Italiano is Sept. 8-9 at Belmar in Lakewood (303-742-1520 or belmarcolorado.com).
Kids get rolling
Parents can register online for three free bowling programs.
is for students 18 and under, and includes one free game per day every day in June, July and August at local bowling centers. Details at coupons.bowl brunswick.com/ballpass.
With , kids 15 and younger can bowl for free all summer using a weekly voucher for two free games per child per day . https://freebowling.amf.com
And the national program provides two free games every day at more than a dozen Colorado centers. To learn more, call 866-798-4502 or visit kidsbowlfree.com.
Nature calls
The best freebie during (nationalgetoutdoors day.org), June 9, is waived entrance fees at all 397 national parks including .
Other free events on that same day include the family-friendly at (5656 Havana St., Commerce City; details at c3gov.com/recreation or ); the , (hrcaonline.org); and an open house at (16831 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison, dinoridge.org) with rockhounding, wildlife watching, guided tours of Dinosaur Ridge Trail, gold panning, metal detecting, fossil sifting, track painting and more.
For those who prefer to stay in the city, is a free family event Denver’s City Park, also on June 9. getoutdoorscolorado.org
Informal, affordable escapes
Bargain hunters can have the joy of camping and doorstep outdoor recreation with the comfort of sleeping indoors in rustic but comfortable cabins. Save even more by preparing your own meals.
In addition to campgrounds that accommodate tents and RVs, nine of have, among them, 58 cabins and yurts that accommodate families or groups of four or more. Rental fees from $70 per night. The closest is Golden Gate Canyon State Park; the most distant is Mancos in southwest Colorado. parks.state.co.us/Reservations/Cabin Information
Also, Larimer County’s near Estes Park has 15 rustic camper-cabins renting for $80-$100 per night. A bit farther afield, Larimer County rents two cabins at and . Details at larimer.org or call 800-397-7795.
The YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park and the YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch near Granby are large family-friendly resorts with reasonable rates that are bargains since they include on-site recreational activities. Options range from lodge rooms to multi-bedroom houses at reasonable prices. (The Y calls them “cabins,” but they’re way bigger.) Snow Mountain Ranch even has cool yurts. Cabin rates from $129 nightly. 800-777-9622 or
The best price of all
Off-season prices at mountain resorts are great to begin with. But some mountain resorts offer additional getaway savings, like a fourth night free when you pay for the first three.
You can do this in Vail; find out more by calling 800-805-2457 or visiting (click on “Plan a Trip,” then “Vacation Deals”).
Book a summer or fall stay in Telluride by June 15 and receive every fourth night of lodging free in a condominium or vacation home. Find out more by calling 970-728-3388 or visiting (use promo code “4SUMMER”).
And Breckenridge’s midweek special gives you a fifth night free when you book four. 800-536-1890 or .
Lest we forget …
The , , , , , , , , , and other local institutions all offer free days to Colorado residents throughout the year. (Note that you’ll have to wait until fall for the free day at the ) The Scientific & Cultural Facilities District tax funds this great local perk. Look for a .
Freelance writers Claire Walter of Boulder and Laura Daily of Denver co-own , a go-to resource for information about local freebies, values, sales and bargains.
