One of the many perks of learning and working at CU Denver is our prime location. The Mile High City is buzzing with activity year-round—especially in the summertime. Whether you’re interested in catching live music, browsing artwork, or exploring the nearby mountains, there’s something for everyone. If you need ideas, we’ve compiled a list of activities to try this summer.
Get Outdoors
What better way to celebrate summer than to explore Colorado’s beautiful outdoors? Not only is Denver filled with more than 280 parks and recreation spaces, but our campus is also within driving distance of countless hikes with epic mountain views. If you need ideas, we compiled a short list of some of our favorite trail options along the Front Range—the closest slopes to Denver.
Enjoy Live Music
If you love outdoor concerts, City Park Jazz takes place every Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. throughout select summer months in City Park, about a 20-minute drive from campus. The free, longstanding concert series attracts Colorado-based jazz, blues, and other performers. Invite your friends, pack a picnic, and grab a seat on the grass. Use this link to view the calendar for this season’s dates and performers.
About a 10-minute drive from campus, the Levitt Pavilion (1380 W. Florida Ave.) offers free weekly concerts every summer that cover a wide array of music genres, plus community events like yoga. View the lineup here and reserve your tickets. Show shows sell out, so don’t wait to claim your spot.
If you enjoy live music year-round, check out our guide to 10 of the best music venues in Denver.
Find a Treasure at a Farmers Market
The Denver metro area has many weekend farmers markets. A few options close to campus are the Urban Market at Union Station (1701 Wynkoop St.), which takes place on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. from late May through late October (view the full schedule here). The South Pearl Farmers Market (1500 South Pearl St.) takes place on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through early November (view the vendors here). At any of Denver’s farmers markets you’ll find live music and a variety of goods, including fresh produce, ready-to-eat prepared foods, unique crafts, and more.
Peruse Local Art
If you’re interested in exploring Denver’s arts scene, you don’t have to go far. Nearby locations, including the Art District on Santa Fe and the the River North (RiNo) Arts District, host First Friday art walks the evening of the first Friday of the month. They take place year-round, but the community-based events that highlight local art galleries, studios, live music, and more are even more fun on Denver’s warm summer nights.
If you’re trying to plan a daytime outing, some local museums and attractions have special free days. To cool off indoors, find the Denver Art Museum’s upcoming free days here. If enjoying expertly tended and well-shaded urban gardens is more your speed, try the Denver Botanic Garden’s free days. Reserve your tickets early as these days tend to sell out.