Denver Is the Ultimate Locals' Playground, Staycation Spot

Who says you have to leave town to feel like you’ve gotten away? A staycation in downtown Denver is your chance to break out of the everyday without packing a bag or booking a flight. You already know how vibrant and beautiful this city is, but when was the last time you gave yourself permission to enjoy it like a visitor?

There is always something happening in Denver. From street festivals and pop-up events to new restaurants and live music, the city stays active every day of the week.

Browse the ideas below for fun ways to explore downtown with family, friends or visiting guests. Check back often. This list is updated regularly to help you plan your next outing.

Looking for weekend-specific picks? Visit our weekend blog post, updated every Monday. And if you are ready to turn your plans into a full staycation, check out these hotel deals.

You do not have to go far to make the most of your time off.

Ideas for Getting Out in Denver Any Day of the Week

Cultural Festivals
Live Music
Sports and Outdoor Recreation
Museum Exhibitions
Performing Arts
New Dining Spots
Hotels and Spas
Things You Didn't Know About Denver
Fun and Games

Cultural Festivals

Some of the most popular summer festivals are about to get underway. 

Mark your calendar for these events that are coming soon.

Mile High Asian Food Week  (April 26–May 3, 2026) is a delicious way to support Colorado's growing Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community with special deals and secret menu items.

The annual Cinco de Mayo Festival  (May 2–3, 2026) is a weekend filled with food, fun and culture that puts the spotlight on the Mile High City’s vibrant Latino population. 

Experience the ultimate fandom weekend of celebs, cosplay, comics, anime, gaming and so much more at Fan Expo Denver  (May 28–31, 2026).

Set against one of the city’s most iconic backdrops, the outdoor Urban Markets at Union Station (May 30–June 28, 2026, on select days) brings together an exciting mix of local artists, makers, collectors and small businesses offering an ever-changing selection of art, handmade crafts, antiques, clothing, jewelry, home décor, unique treasures and more.

A little bit of Italy comes to the Mile High City every summer. The Denver Chalk Art Festival  (June 6 & 7, 2026) features more than 200 professional and amateur artists who will spend hours on their creations over the course of two days. Their efforts transform the streets of the Golden Triangle Creative District into a bright and colorful street museum, adorned in vivid pastel chalks.

Denver PrideFest (June 28, 2026), the signature event of a month-long celebration, is moving to downtown this year, taking over the 16th Street pedestrian promenade.

Find inspiration, connect with others through art and expand your worldview at the Cherry Creek Arts Festival (July 3–5, 2026).

This free annual celebration, the Colorado Black Arts Festival (July 10–12, 2026), honors African American art and culture in the historic City Park West neighborhood. Enjoy live music, art shows, a marketplace and a food court.

And Denver’s original lantern festival experience returns. At Bright Nights at Four Mile (July 18–Oct. 4, 2026), each year unveils a new theme, fresh experiences and stunning new sculptures. 

Live Music

Music will fill the city with pitch-perfect notes floating across stunning views.

Kick off festival season at Riverfront Park with this free, high-energy celebration in downtown Denver. Running from 2–9 p.m., Summer Sessions  (June 6, 2026) brings together live music, cold drinks and a lively crowd for an afternoon and evening of open-air fun to start summer on a high note.

The Juneteenth Music Festival (June 20, 2026) is one of the nation’s largest Juneteenth celebrations. Look for a parade, live performances, art, vendors, and fun for the entire family.

The annual concert, Deadbeats Backyard Jamboree: Zeds Dead & Friends (July 4, 2026), will be at a new downtown location, the Tivoli Quad at Auraria Campus.

The Underground Music Showcase in RiNo  (July 24–26, 2026) returns in a new home, moving from South Broadway to the River North Art District. Long known for spotlighting emerging and independent artists, the festival will present more than 200 performances across outdoor stages and venues throughout RiNo.

Sports & Outdoor Recreation

There are endless excuses for enjoying Colorado’s blue skies. Here are several more.

Strike a pose at one of the world’s most awe-inspiring venues. All you have to do is get up early and grab your yoga mat. There’s nothing like Yoga on the Rocks (May 30–Aug. 29, 2026; at 7–8 a.m. on Saturdays). And it's expanding this year, from 10 to 12 total events, including two bilingual sessions.

The Denver Colfax Marathon (May 16–17, 2026) is much more than a marathon with a half-marathon, urban 10-miler, Colfax 5K and several relays. The full-length marathon follows seven miles of rivers, lakes and bridges.

Now in its third year, celebrate the outdoors during Outside Days  (May 29–31, 2026), a one-of-a-kind weekend festival that features live music, films, speakers and tons of gear. 

If you love soccer, don't miss the Colorado Rapids Soccer Celebration at Skyline Park (June 11–July 19, 2026). Local food vendors, retail specials, and surprise guests, including Rapids legends, will be featured on the block.

The world’s wildest downhill race, Red Bull Soapbox Race (June 13, 2026), rolls back into Denver for the first time in 24 years, taking over Empower Field at Mile High. 

Attention anglers and prospective anglers, your won't want to miss Troutfest Colorado (June 27, 2026). There will be lots of exhibitors, clinics on fly tying and casting, and live music at Coors Field.

Grab your tutu and your glitter and join 4,000 participants for a morning of movement, joy and belonging at the Denver Pride 5K (June 27, 2026).

International rugby comes to Denver for a historic Independence Day doubleheader, with the USA Eagles facing Portugal and Zimbabwe taking on Tonga. Part of Colorado’s annual 4thFest celebration, the event also features a free, family-friendly festival with live music, games and one of the state’s largest fireworks displays. Don't miss the World Rugby Doubleheader & 4thFest (July 4, 2026).

Bonus excuses for enjoying the outdoors: How about a summer movie from a lawn chair or blanket? The city also has more than 250 individual urban parks. How many have you been to? Having a picnic in Cheesman Park, watching the sunset at Confluence Park or taking a morning or evening stroll around Sloan’s Lake are great ways to unwind. Also, check out these lesser-known, hidden-gem parks or go for an urban hike.

Take your dog for a walk in a different neighborhood. The city is constantly evolving, and you’ll be surprised at what you discover, which will delight the other end of the leash. Mountain and skyline views pop out in unusual places and there’ll be a striking corner cafe or bistro you never knew existed.

Museum Exhibitions

Denver’s renowned cultural institutions have some inspiring stories to tell. And you'll get an exclusive look.

Here’s what’s coming up.

At Denver Pavilions, go on a journey through real human specimens, carefully and respectfully preserved, uncovering the intricate systems that sustain life. Bodies: The Science Within (May 15–June 28, 2026) is a national touring exhibition that's launching right here in the Mile High City. Be among the first to see it!

History Colorado Center is one of only eight cultural institutions nationwide chosen to display a collection of remarkable documents from our nation’s founding that have never before traveled together. Freedom Plane National Tour: Documents That Forged a Nation  (May 28–June 14, 2026) is a once-in-a-generation chance to see priceless historic artifacts, such as an original engraving of the Declaration of Independence and a tally of votes approving the U.S. Constitution. 

See the largest exhibition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art ever presented internationally. The Stars We Do Not See: Australian Indigenous Art (thru July 26, 2026) features more than 130 works by 142 artists.

Explore the mind-bending biology and amazing anatomy of sauropods — the largest land animals to ever live at The World's Largest Dinosaurs (thru Sept. 7, 2026). 

And at Jaume Plensa: A New Humanism (thru Sept. 7, 2026), experience towering portrait sculptures at Denver Botanic Gardens, along with the artist's iconic seated figures, portrait busts and more. It's the first retrospective of the internationally acclaimed artist’s work in the United States.

See more must-see art exhibitions.

Performing Arts

These performers have spent years honing their craft, many local but some from afar.

Take a pause and admire the beauty. Or be prepared for the unexpected.

"Madama Butterfly" (May 2–10, 2026) makes its highly anticipated return to Opera Colorado, bringing Puccini’s emotionally charged masterpiece to the stage.

Imagine a theatrical experience that intertwines two mythic tales — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone — as it invites you on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back. See "Hadestown" (May 5–10, 2026).

Back by overwhelming demand, the multiple Tony Award-winning musical "MJ" (May 13–17, 2026), about Michael Jackson, is making a victorious return to Denver. 

At "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi" in Concert with Colorado Symphony  (May 22–24, 2026), see the classic movie while the Colorado Symphony performs John Williams' legendary score live.

And Broadway’s spellbinding spectacular, "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" (May 30–June 21, 2026), is coming to Denver. Join the next adventure and experience the wizarding world like never before at this record-breaking hit and winner of six Tony Awards, including best play.

See more performing arts events. 

New Dining Spots

A slew of new restaurants have opened, heating up Denver's already hot dining scene. 

What's your next favorite spot?

Just in time for baseball, McGregor Square Food & Drink opened just steps away from Coors Field. It features six different concepts that serve up everything from pizza to ramen. 

Craving Italian? Check out Dear Emilia, celebrating the flavors of the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, or Bear Leek, featuring unexpected twists on international favorites. Both restaurants are located in RiNo.

Over in Cherry Creek, Chicken Riot is a love letter to chicken, bringing together the bold techniques of Texas barbecue with the traditions of Northern Mexico, where smoke and live fire shape the region’s culture.

For something a little off the beaten path, head to a corner in Sunnyside, buzzing with excitement across the street from the Leevers Locavore supermarket. Chef Cliff Blauvelt, the one behind the popular Odie B's Sunnyside (there's also a location in RiNo), has opened Boombots Pasta Shop, a fast-casual dining experience next door to his other Sunnyside shop, where you'll find "stupid good pasta."

And for a little adventure in the Baker neighborhood, check out Denver's newest immersive cocktail bar. With rotating themes, guests at the Adventure Time bar are transported into unique worlds featuring floor-to-ceiling set design, interactive features and a curated cocktail menu.

See more must-try restaurants. 

Hotels and Spas

With some of the most exciting hotels in the country to choose from, go for a retreat and try out these unique amenities for couples, families and dogs. 

From the gilded-age charm of the Urban Cowboy Denver to the eco-friendly Populus, you can live in the past or future. Either way, you’ll experience the utmost in luxury. The Kimpton Claret Hotel, offering a stunning rooftop bar — along with Populus — is a true gem that's blazing new trails in the city.

While Denver has several Michelin-starred restaurants, under the company’s new hotel-rating system, four hotels made the exclusive cut and received the prestigious “keys,” denoting “a very special stay”: Clayton Hotel and Members Club, Four Seasons Hotel Denver, The Crawford Hotel and the aforementioned Populus.

If you’re looking for something truly unique, reserve the Beatles suite at the Brown Palace Hotel & Spa by Marriott where the iconic band hung out in 1964.

Denver has a multitude of accommodations to choose from, whether you’re looking for a romantic, family-friendly or pet-friendly (no need for a boarding facility) stay. And on those warm summer days, you can’t beat these hotels with rooftop pools and bars. And anytime is a good time to nab a hotel deal.

Why not combine a hotel stay with a spa treatment for the ultimate in renewal? The Oxford Hotel has every kind of massage, body and skincare treatment you can imagine. The Oakwell Beer Spa, meanwhile, has a central location and combines a day spa with a craft beer bar. Yes, you can soak in a bubbly beer bath infused with hops, barley and seasonal herbs, which will give you a natural glow. What could be more Denver than that?

Things You Didn't Know About Denver

Take a plunge and learn something new about the city.

What’s the oldest working thing in Denver? Who invented the cheeseburger? Where can you find the rare black-footed ferret? Get the answer to these and more questions via our only in Denver blog series. 

Another great way to discover a different side of the city is through a guided tour. They’re not just for tourists! The Denver Graffiti Tour will teach all about the evolving street art scene on a two-hour stroll. Learn about the craft beer process by booking a tour at Wynkoop Brewing Company. Or impress your friends at the next party with your spirits knowledge by touring Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey.

Fun and Games

Playing games is a great way to bond or reconnect with friends and family members.

And you know you want to win, right?

Keep the good times rolling at Lucky Strike, with 12 full-size bowling lanes, or try your hand at Formula 1 racing at the F1 Arcade.

It’s all about teamwork at these Denver escape rooms. At EscapeWorks Denver, you’ve got one hour to band together with your group of two to twelve people to escape from a clue-filled room. 

Holey Moley is the city's first and only indoor miniature golf course. Located in the 130-year-old City Cable Railway Building, Holey Moley’s two high-tech nine-hole courses are decked out with thousands of LED lights, motion sensors and sound effects. 

Denver has lots of craft breweries, but only one of them also boasts Denver’s largest pool hall. Head to Wynkoop Brewing Company and belly up to one of the 15 tournament-sized billiards tables on the second floor for a game or two. 

And you better bring your A-game when you show up at Ace Eat Serve. This Uptown eatery dishes up dim sum, bao buns, fried rice, ramen and other Asian cuisines, along with a heaping helping of competition when you challenge your dinner companions to a few rounds of table tennis. 

See more indoor fun and games.