Monday, August 2, 2010

It’s time to celebrate our spectacular state with a visit to one (or many) of our State Parks for FREE on Colorado Day.  Just think of all the opportunities to drive, hike, float, bike, relax, climb, boat, horseback ride, run, reflect, camp, picnic, backpack, explore, discover, unwind, and generally enjoy yourself.  Whether you opt for mountains, rivers, lakes, prairies, canyons, reservoirs, rock crags, or a combination, you’ll probably find just what you want at one of our 42 State Parks.

Note that other fees such as camping and reservations are not waived on August 2.

Enjoy!

Back by popular demand — some of the free things to do to celebrate Independence Day, 2010! As usual, we won’t even scratch the surface of the hundreds of free celebrations going on around the state, but here’s a sampling for your independent spirits to enjoy. All events are on July 4 unless stated otherwise.

Avon – SALUTE TO THE USA FIREWORKS CELEBRATION
07/03/2010 – 5:00 p.m.
Harry A. Nottingham Park
Music, food vendors, and a beer garden. A FREE Family Zone will offer carnival games, inflatable jumping toys, face painting, clowns and a special children’s instrument petting zoo. The Family Zone opens at 5:30 p.m. and continue until the fireworks begin at 9:45 p.m.  970-748-4060

Boulder - READING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
07/03/2010 – 6:30 p.m.
University of Colorado, Boulder on the Green in front of the Mary Rippon Outdoor Theater
The Colorado Shakespeare Festival invites the public to a free reading of the Declaration of Independence.

Denver - CHEESMAN PARK INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
PARADE begins at 10:00 a.m.
East side of Cheesman Park at The Pavilion (East 9th and High Street)
Enjoy the balloon artist, the caricature artist, a marching band and more.  Children are to be accompanied by adults and should arrive by 9:00 AM to decorate their bikes or wagons. Also, enjoy face painting, a meet and greet with Denver policemen on horseback and with Denver firemen. For more information call Council Woman Jeanne Robb at (303 377-1807).

Estes Park
Pancake breakfast, car show, horse show and fireworks.

Frisco - FRISCO’S FANTASTIC FOURTH OF JULY

Start the day with the Kids Fishing Derby, cheer on the Main Street parade, watch a concert in the park or at the marina, and

end with the grand finale, the Fabulous Fireworks over Frisco Bay Marina on Dillon Reservoir.

800-424-1554

La Veta – 35TH ANNUAL ART IN THE PARK
7/3 – 7/4/2010
La Veta Town Park
Original handcrafted fine art, crafts, jewelry, apparel, paintings, ceramics, glass, wood, more. Rodeo, parade, barbecue and live music.  719-742-3074

We all love our National Parks, and we can love them for FREE this coming weekend and several other dates this year.  That’s right — free admission to all National Parks is back by popular demand.

So, get out and climb Longs Peak in RMNP, High Dune in Great Sand Dunes NP, descend to the Gunnison River at Black Canyon NP, or make the rounds of the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde NP.

Free National Park admission dates in 2010:

June 5-6
August 14-15
September 25
November 11

We’ve just added over a dozen new free events and activities for this summer to our events calendar!

We’ve also created a Group on Facebook where we are highlighting upcoming free stuff and asking group members to share as well. Although the group has only been in existence for a short time, we have close to 150 members as of this writing, and we’re growing quickly.

Our own Colorado-for-Free Calendar will remain the primary place to check for upcoming free things to see and do. But don’t forget to check out over 100 suggestions for ongoing free stuff arranged by Region (e.g. Front Range North, Front Range South, Southwest, etc.), by Category, or the “best of” index of featured events, activities, and samples arranged alphabetically.

It’s springtime and time to get out and enjoy the great outdoors (as soon as the hail is cleared off the roads).  There are lots of fun and free things coming up in the Jeffco region via Lookout Mountain Nature Center.  Here’s just a sampling:

Saturday, May 1
Dinosaur Ridge Discovery Day
9 am – 3 pm Dinosaur Ridge
Nature Center naturalists will be at one of the stops on the fantastic walking tour of Dinosaur Ridge. Bring family and friends to spend the day learning about Earth resources. Registration is not required for this drop-in event. All ages.

Saturday, May 8
International Migratory Bird Day Hike
7 am Crown Hill Park
Each year, birders around the globe celebrate by taking part in birding hikes on the second Saturday in May. Join this global observance of birds with an easy naturalist-guided hike around
the lake and into the restricted access Kestrel Pond refuge. All birding abilities welcome. This walk can accommodate strollers. All ages.

Saturday, May 15
Observatory Open House
8:30 – 10:45 pm William Baehr Observatory at Pine Valley Ranch Park
Make the moderate 1/3-mile hike up to the historic observatory for a special evening of stargazing. Ages 10 – adult.

Saturday, May 22
Ralston Buttes Special Access Hike
8 am  Meeting place TBD
Ralston Buttes is one of the crown jewels of Open Space and is only accessible during special Open Space events. Join naturalists and natural resource specialists to explore the area.
Registration is required, and space is limited. Ages 12 – adult. Call Lookout Mountain Nature Center for registration information.

Friday, May 28
Memorial Day Campfire
6:30 pm  Lair o’ the Bear Park
Memorial Day is a celebration of our forefathers. Join this old-fashioned campfire program to learn the story of  tribes and families that once lived in Bear Creek Canyon and the plants and
animals that shaped their lives. The program concludes with the ever-popular roasting of marshmallows. Ages 6 – adult.

Saturday, May 29
Kids’ Nature Art: Sketching Birds in Ink and Watercolor
9 am  Crown Hill Park
Spring is the time for birds, and sketching is a great way to learn about their plumage and habits. We will use binoculars and field guides to study birds in the Crown Hill refuge, and then draw
our findings in ink and watercolor. Art supplies are provided. Please bring water, a snack, sunscreen and a sun/baseball cap. Kids ages 6 – 10 with an adult.

Registration is required for all programs unless noted.
Register for programs online. Visit lmnc.jeffco.us and click the Register button, or call (720) 497-7600. Summer hours are 10 – 4, Tuesday – Friday and 9 – 5 on Saturday and Sunday. Call at least two days before a program.

And that’s just a sampling of what’s going on during May 2010!  For many more great activities, take a look at the Spring 2010 Program Schedule.

April 17 – 25, 2010
is National Parks Week  and you know what that means…free admission! 

That’s right — you can visit Rocky Mountain National Park, Great Sand Dunes NP & Preserve, Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP, and Mesa Verde NP and not pay anything at the entrance gates. Plus, there may be discounts at the bookstores and visitor centers in the parks, and special programs.

Need an example?  Check this out:

Guests of Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado can book one night at the Far View Lodge, priced at $99, and get the second consecutive night FREE. This offer is valid April 22 – April 30. Please note, entrance to Mesa Verde National Park is free through the end of April.

Sweet, eh?

By the way, if you’re planning a trip out of state, remember that all the National Parks all over the country are offering free admission for the week, so have a great time out there!

You’ve heard of Facebook and MySpace and Twitter — have you heard of Ning Networks?  It’s been described as a build-your-own social network platform where interest groups – such as people who are looking for free stuff to see and do in Colorado — can share ideas, photos, and so on.

We’re giving it a try so that we can hear your ideas.  You can post free things on our Event calendar, participate in a discussion in the Forum, and post photos of free events, tours, and activities in Colorado.

To get started, visit Colorado-for-Free Ning Network, sign up for free as a member of our network, and start sharing.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

They’re billing it as the “Celebration of the Century” and residents of the Uncompahgre Valley — including Montrose, Olathe, and Delta — are well aware of the impact made in the 100 years since a 6 mile tunnel was dug through hard rock allowing some of the water from the Gunnison River to “escape” the Black Canyon and flow into the fertile but extremely dry valley. 

Come join the fun in Montrose with a Turn-of-the-Century Parade down Main Street, special displays by blacksmiths, boot makers, and other trades from 100 years ago, enjoy horseshoe, tug-og-war, and pie-eating events, or check out a demonstration with mules and draft horses digging a canal.

There will be a re-enactment of the 1909 Tunnel Opening Celebration which featured President William Howard Taft ringing a bell (and others ringing bells across the valley), plus a “Grand Pyrotechnical Display” (now generally known as a “Fireworks Display”).

In addition, both Black Canyon National Park and Ridgway State Park are offering free admission on this special Saturday.  And if all this isn’t enough to get you to visit Montrose, there is also the Black Canyon Car Club Car Show in town (Centennial Plaza downtown), and a Volunteer Fair at the Library. 

More history on the Gunnison Tunnel can be found here.