SCFD Free Days
The Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) is a voter-approved special district in the seven-county Denver metro area that funds over 300 cultural organizations. Each funded institution is required to offer free or reduced admission days to the public throughout the year — no income qualification needed.
Combine with other programsLibrary Pass Programs and EBT discounts to stretch your access across the whole year.
Master Calendars
The best way to stay current is to bookmark these:
- Official SCFD Calendar: scfd.org/calendar
- KDVR — Free Days at Denver Museums, Zoo, Parks 2026
- Uncover Colorado — Free Admission Days 2026
- 303Happenings — Denver Free Museum Days 2026
- Mile High Mamas — Denver Free Days 2026
Denver Art Museum — 2026 Free Days
Free general admission to the entire DAM campus. No reservation required — just walk in.
| Date | Notes |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, January 13 | |
| Tuesday, February 10 | |
| Tuesday, March 10 | |
| Sunday, April 26 | Dia del Nino |
| Tuesday, May 12 | |
| Tuesday, June 9 | |
| Tuesday, July 14 | |
| Saturday, August 1 | |
| Saturday, September 12 | Friendship Powwow |
| Tuesday, October 13 | |
| Saturday, November 7 | Night at the Museums (Denver Arts Week) |
| Tuesday, December 8 |
Denver Museum of Nature & Science — 2026 Free Days
Free general admission. Some dates are evening-only events.
| Date | Notes |
|---|---|
| Sunday, January 11 | |
| Sunday, February 1 | |
| Monday, February 9 | |
| Friday, March 6 | Girls & Science, 4–9 p.m. only |
| Monday, April 13 | |
| Sunday, April 26 | Dia del Nino (with Mexican Cultural Center) |
| Friday, June 19 | Juneteenth |
| Monday, August 24 | |
| Tuesday, September 1 | Evening only, 4–9 p.m. |
| Sunday, October 11 | OUT! at the Museum |
| Saturday, November 7 | Night at the Museums, 5–10 p.m. (Denver Arts Week) |
| Monday, November 16 |
- Link: dmns.org — Free Days
Denver Zoo — 2026 Community Free Days
Tickets are online only and first-come, first-served. No walk-ups permitted. You must register during the ticket release window for each date. See Zoos & Botanical Gardens for EBT discount details.
| Free Day | Tickets Released | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, January 9 | January 2 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| Sunday, January 25 | January 11 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| Sunday, February 22 | February 8 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| Sunday, April 19 | April 5 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
| Wednesday, November 11 | October 28 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| Saturday, November 14 | October 31 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| Sunday, November 22 | November 8 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
How to get tickets:
- Check the dates above for when tickets are released
- Visit denverzoo.org/free-days on the release date
- Book up to 5 timed tickets per person (all guests including children 2 and under need a ticket)
- Bring your digital ticket on the day of your visit
Exclusions: Free admission does not cover the 4D Theater, train rides, or carousel.
- Link: denverzoo.org/free-days
Denver Botanic Gardens — 2026 Free Days
Free admission at both York Street and Chatfield Farms locations. Tickets are released on a rolling basis — available 3 months at a time, released on the 1st of each month. Events sell out — get tickets in advance. No onsite tickets for sold-out days.
York Street & Chatfield Farms
| Date | Notes |
|---|---|
| Monday, January 19 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
| Thursday, February 12 | |
| Monday, March 9 | |
| Wednesday, April 22 | Earth Day |
| Tuesday, June 9 | |
| Wednesday, July 1 | |
| Tuesday, August 25 | |
| Friday, November 27 | Day after Thanksgiving |
Bonus: Denver Botanic Gardens offers free admission every Wednesday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (weekly, year-round).
Plains Conservation Center (Aurora)
Free days at this joint Aurora/Denver Botanic Gardens facility:
| Date | Hours |
|---|---|
| Thursday, January 15 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. |
| Thursday, February 19 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. |
| Saturday, March 21 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. |
| Thursday, June 11 | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. |
| Saturday, July 11 | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. |
| Thursday, August 20 | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. |
| Saturday, November 14 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Indigenous People's Month) |
| Thursday, December 10 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Holiday themed) |
Clyfford Still Museum — 2026 Free Days
Free walk-in admission on select dates, often tied to community celebrations.
| Date | Notes |
|---|---|
| Sunday, April 26 | Dia del Nino Celebration & Program |
| Sunday, June 14 | Denver Pride Month |
| Sunday, July 26 | Disability Pride Month Celebration & Program |
| Saturday, September 19 | 15th Anniversary Community Celebration |
| Saturday, November 7 | Night at the Museums (Denver Arts Week) |
Children's Museum of Denver — 2026 Joy Park Free Nights
The Children's Museum offers free outdoor Joy Park Free Nights on the third Friday of each month, May through September. Play runs 4:30–8 p.m. (or dusk).
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
| Friday, May 22 | 4:30 – 8 p.m. |
| Friday, June 19 | 4:30 – 8 p.m. |
| Friday, July 17 | 4:30 – 8 p.m. |
| Friday, August 21 | 4:30 – 8 p.m. |
| Friday, September 18 | 4:30 – dusk |
Note: These are outdoor Joy Park events only, not full museum access.
Colorado Railroad Museum — 2026 Free Days
Free admission on select Thursdays throughout the year. Boulder County residents with proof of address get additional free days (dates TBA).
National Parks — 2026 Fee-Free Days
Not SCFD-funded, but worth knowing: the National Park Service waives entrance fees at all national parks (including Colorado's Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison) on these dates:
| Date | Occasion |
|---|---|
| Monday, February 16 | Presidents' Day |
| Monday, May 25 | Memorial Day |
| Sunday, June 14 | Flag Day |
| Friday–Sunday, July 3–5 | Independence Day weekend |
| Tuesday, August 25 | NPS Birthday (110th) |
| Thursday, September 17 | Constitution Day |
| Tuesday, October 27 | Theodore Roosevelt's birthday |
| Wednesday, November 11 | Veterans Day |
- Link: nps.gov — Fee-Free Days
Colorado State Parks — 2026 Free Day
Colorado Parks & Wildlife offers free admission to all 42+ state parks on Colorado Day:
- Saturday, August 1, 2026
(See also State Parks & Outdoor Recreation for the $14 Centennial Pass for EBT holders and Library Pass Programs for free library checkout passes.)
Tips for Maximizing Free Days
- Plan your calendar. Between SCFD free days, library passes, and EBT discounts, you can visit most major Denver venues multiple times per year without paying full price.
- Register early for Denver Zoo. Free day tickets release 2 weeks before the date and sell out fast.
- Denver Botanic Gardens releases tickets 3 months at a time on the 1st of each month — set a reminder.
- Evening events count. Several DMNS and Clyfford Still free days are evening-only — great for families who work during the day.
- Night at the Museums (November 7, Denver Arts Week) is a unique opportunity — multiple venues are open late and free on the same night.
- National Park fee-free days save $25–$35 per vehicle — worth planning a day trip to Rocky Mountain National Park.
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