Family Activities in Denver

This is an ongoing article with updates posted every few months. If your family would like to recommend an activity you love, please email communications@dcpplay.org.

March, April & May:  Spring Fun!

With St. Patty’s Day, Earth Day, April showers and May flowers ahead, these months are a great time to get outside (or at least out of the house!) for some fresh spring adventures!  Check out these events:

Drop Everything And READ!

A free family event on Mon, April 23 from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Children’s Museum of Denver.  Come in your pajamas and enjoy crafts, activities and a reading of this year’s Preschool One Book, One Denver selection “Maybe A Bear Ate It.”  Each child will receive a free copy of the book!  Space is limited – please RSVP to (303) 671-0499 or twilliams@tradewindspr.com by April 18, 2012.

Free Days at …

• Denver Art Museum (March 3, April 7, April 29 or May 5)
• Denver Botanic Gardens (March 27 or April 22)
• Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield (March 2 or April 6)
• Denver Museum of Nature & Science (April 22 or May 6)

$10 Shows at Denver Center for the Performing Arts!

Each Tuesday at 10 a.m., the DCPA will release ten $10 tickets for every performance in the coming week (and there can be up to 25 shows per week!)  Visit www.denvercenter.org/scfd, and use code SCFD.

‘Create Playdates’ for Ages 3-5 at the Denver Art Museum!

Drop in on the second Wednesday of each month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for art-making, story time and activities in the galleries.  Something different to see & do every time!  Upcoming themes include:  Stitch (March 9), Blink (April 13), Hug (May 11).  Enter the museum and follow signs to Duncan Pavilion.  Cost included with admission.  For more info, call 720.865.5000.

October-December:  Fall Fun!

It’s October, and that means crisp apples, pumpkin harvest festivals and curling up with some not-too-spooky monster books!

• Visit an old-fashioned apple orchard, savor some cider (or apple cider donuts) and pick a bag of heirloom apples. The YA YA Farm & Orchard in Longmont is an historic farm that practices organic growing methods and offers family-friendly activities.
• Delight your kiddos with a yummy, sticky caramel apple project.
• October is replete with Front Range pumpkin and harvest festivals. For one that’s close to home, check out the Pumpkin Festival at the Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield, Saturday, October 8 – Sunday, October 9 from 9:00 am-5:00pm (http://www.botanicgardens.org/content/pumpkin-fest), featuring a 10-acre pumpkin patch, pumpkin bowling, pumpkin decorating, face painting, amusement and pony rides and a corn maze.
• For an even-closer pumpkin fix, take a mini-fieldtrip with your kiddo to Buzz Cafe (1229 E. 6th Avenue, at Marion) before or after school for a delicious hunk of their chocolatechunk Pumpkin bread – mmmmm, happy tummies!