Denver Events & Things to Do: Red Rocks, Sports, Breweries, Museums & Mountain Day Trips

Quick answer: The best things to do in Denver include catching a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, cheering on the Broncos, Nuggets, Avalanche, or Rockies, exploring Union Station, LoDo, Larimer Square, and RiNo, visiting Meow Wolf Convergence Station, touring world-class museums, sampling craft beer, and taking day trips into the Rocky Mountains. Denver is known for about 300 days of sunshine, and there's something happening every season.

Looking for things to do in Denver today, tonight, or with kids? The Mile High City has concerts at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, pro sports with the Broncos, Nuggets, Avalanche, and Rockies, and one of the country's best craft beer scenes. Explore Union Station and LoDo, the murals of RiNo, the Denver Art Museum and Denver Botanic Gardens, and take easy day trips into the Rockies.

Start Here: Your Denver Trip Planner

Use these Get Your Ticket guides to plan every part of your trip:

• Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre Tours & Tickets: Guided tours and outdoor experiences.
• Larimer Square Tours & Tickets: Walking tours, food stops, and local history.
• Colorado State Capitol Building Tours & Tickets: Historic tours and guided visits.
• Lower Downtown Denver (LoDo) Tours & Tickets: Top-rated tours, tickets, and experiences.
• Denver Food, Wine & Nightlife: Browse food, wine & nightlife in Denver.

Quick Links: Denver Tours & Activities • Denver Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises • Denver Food Tours • Denver Seasonal & Special Occasions

Upcoming Denver Events in 2026 and 2027

Planning a trip in the next few months? Here's what's coming up:

• Colorado Avalanche home opener: The Avs open the 2026–27 NHL season at home vs. the Los Angeles Kings on September 30, 2026.
• Great American Beer Festival: The nation's favorite craft beer celebration moves outdoors to Levitt Pavilion October 10–11, 2026.
• Broncos home games: Upcoming games at Empower Field include the Seahawks (Oct. 15), Chiefs (Nov. 1), Raiders (Nov. 22), Dolphins (Dec. 6), and a Christmas Day game vs. the Bills (Denver Broncos).
• Denver Christkindlmarket: The German-style holiday market returns November 20, 2026.
• Blossoms of Light: The Denver Botanic Gardens holiday light show runs November 20 through January 10.

Find Tickets: Denver Food, Wine & Nightlife • Denver Outdoor Activities • Denver White Water Rafting

What Is There to Do in Denver?

Denver offers much more than a stopover on the way to the mountains. All year long, visitors can find pro sports, concerts, festivals, comedy shows, breweries, food experiences, museums, immersive art, city tours, and family activities across the city.

Want to know what's happening during your visit? Explore our listings to find upcoming events and experiences for your travel dates.

Explore: Denver Sightseeing Tickets & Passes • Denver Shows Concerts & Sports • Denver Beer & Brewery Tours

Denver Sports Events & Game Day

Denver is one of only a handful of cities with teams in all four major pro leagues, and every one plays near downtown:

• Denver Broncos: NFL football at Empower Field at Mile High, one of the loudest stadiums in the league.
• Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche: NBA basketball and NHL hockey at Ball Arena. Both teams have won championships in recent years.
• Colorado Rockies: MLB baseball at Coors Field in LoDo, surrounded by bars and restaurants and famous for its purple row of seats marking one mile above sea level.
• More teams: Colorado Rapids (MLS), Colorado Mammoth (lacrosse), and Denver Pioneers college hockey.

Find Tickets: Denver Civic Center Park Tours & Tickets • Denver 16th Street Mall Tours & Tickets • Denver Art Museum (DAM) Tours & Tickets

Why Is Red Rocks Amphitheatre a Must-See?

Red Rocks Amphitheatre is about 30 minutes west of downtown in Morrison. It's one of the most famous concert venues in the world, with a stage set between massive red sandstone formations that create stunning views and natural acoustics.

Red Rocks Park is open during the day when there's no show, so you can hike, work out on the famous steps, and explore the venue. Many Denver visitors plan their entire trip around a Red Rocks concert.

Find Tickets: Denver Skydiving • Denver Center for the Performing Arts Tours & Tickets • Denver Mint Tours & Tickets

What Are the Best Neighborhoods to Explore in Denver?

• Union Station and LoDo: Denver's historic train station opened in 1881 and was reimagined in 2014. Today it's a hub for restaurants, bars, and the train to the airport. LoDo (Lower Downtown) is home to Coors Field and lively nightlife.
• Larimer Square: The oldest commercial block in Denver, lined with Victorian buildings, chef-driven restaurants, and boutiques under strings of lights.
• RiNo (River North Art District): Street murals, breweries, food halls, and galleries.
• 16th Street: Denver's main downtown promenade, freshly reopened after a multi-year renovation.
• Cherry Creek: Upscale shopping, dining, and galleries.

Explore: Larimer Square Tours & Tickets • Lower Downtown Denver (LoDo) Tours & Tickets • Denver Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises

What Are the Best Attractions and Museums in Denver?

• Meow Wolf Convergence Station: A mind-bending, multi-story immersive art experience. See Meow Wolf Denver for tickets.
• Denver Museum of Nature & Science: Dinosaurs, space, and planetarium shows, open 363 days a year.
• Denver Art Museum: One of the largest art museums between Chicago and the West Coast, with free general admission for visitors 18 and under.
• Denver Botanic Gardens: Beautiful gardens year-round and the famous Blossoms of Light each winter.
• Denver Zoo and Downtown Aquarium: Great options for families.

Explore: Denver Art & Culture • Denver Natural Attractions • Denver Outdoor Activities

Denver Food, Breweries & Nightlife

Denver is one of America's great beer cities, home to dozens of breweries and the famous Great American Beer Festival. Nearby Golden is home to the Coors Brewery Tour.

You'll also find award-winning restaurants, Colorado green chile, food halls like Denver Milk Market and Avanti, rooftop bars, and a lively comedy and nightlife scene.

Explore: Denver Food, Wine & Nightlife • Denver Seasonal & Special Occasions • Denver Sightseeing

Day Trips From Denver

Denver is the perfect base for exploring the Rockies:

• Rocky Mountain National Park: About two hours northwest through Estes Park. Timed-entry reservations are required in peak season.
• Breckenridge and the ski towns: Breckenridge, Keystone, and Vail are about two hours west along I-70.
• Golden and Boulder: Brewery tours, college-town charm, and the Flatirons, all within 30 to 45 minutes.
• Colorado Springs: Garden of the Gods and the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, about an hour south.

Explore: Rocky Mountain National Park Tour From Denver • Breckenridge Tour From Denver • Lookout Mountain Tours & Tickets

Things to Do in Denver With Kids

Traveling with kids? Denver has plenty of family-friendly attractions and activities, including the Denver Zoo, the Museum of Nature & Science, the Children's Museum, Meow Wolf, the Downtown Aquarium, free kids' admission at the Denver Art Museum, holiday lights at the Botanic Gardens, and family-friendly games at Coors Field and Ball Arena.

Families can mix museums, animals, sports, and mountain day trips to build a trip everyone will enjoy.

Explore: Denver Art & Culture • Denver Sightseeing Tickets & Passes • Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave Tours & Tickets

Free Things to Do in Denver

• Red Rocks Park: Hike the trails and see the amphitheater on non-show days.
• RiNo Art District: Blocks of murals, galleries, and breweries.
• Colorado State Capitol: Free tours and the famous mile-high step.
• Union Station and the 16th Street area: A restored rail hall with bars and shops.

Things to Do in Denver for Adults & Couples

• Red Rocks concert: The top bucket-list show in Colorado.
• Brewery hop: Great Divide, Denver Beer Co., and dozens more.
• Larimer Square nights: Cocktail bars and restaurants under string lights.
• Game day at Ball Arena or Coors Field: Nuggets, Avalanche, and Rockies.

Things to Do in Denver This Weekend & Today

Denver weekends often mean a game or a Red Rocks show, brunch in LoHi or RiNo, and a mountain drive. Check Red Rocks' concert calendar early, since popular summer shows sell out.

Browse Now: Denver Tours & Activities • Molly Brown House Museum Tours & Tickets • Denver Unique Experiences • Denver Classes & Workshops

Popular Denver Questions

What are the best free things to do in Denver?

Free favorites in Denver include Red Rocks Park, RiNo Art District, Colorado State Capitol, and Union Station and the 16th Street area. See the free things to do section above for details.

What are the best things to do in Denver for adults and couples?

Popular picks for adults and couples in Denver include Red Rocks concert, brewery hop, Larimer Square nights, and game day at Ball Arena or Coors Field.

Why is Denver called the Mile High City?

Denver's official elevation is exactly one mile (5,280 feet) above sea level. The 13th step on the west side of the Colorado State Capitol marks the spot.

How do you get from Denver International Airport to downtown?

The RTD A Line train connects the airport to Union Station in about 37 minutes, making it one of the easiest airport-to-downtown trips in the country.

When is the Broncos Christmas Day game?

The Broncos host the Buffalo Bills at Empower Field at Mile High on Friday, December 25, 2026.

How far is Red Rocks from downtown Denver?

Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison is roughly 30 minutes west of downtown by car. Plan extra time on concert nights, and consider a shuttle or rideshare.

When is the Great American Beer Festival 2026?

The 2026 Great American Beer Festival is October 10–11, 2026, held outdoors at Denver's Levitt Pavilion for the first time.

When is the best time to visit Denver?

Denver is a year-round city. Summer and early fall bring Red Rocks concerts, Rockies games, and patio season. Fall means football, the Beer Festival, and golden aspens in the nearby mountains. Winter brings Nuggets and Avalanche games, holiday markets, and quick trips to the ski resorts.

What is there to do in Denver this weekend?

Browse Denver tours and activities for experiences you can book for your dates.

Explore Nearby

• Colorado Events & Things to Do
• Breckenridge Events & Things to Do

Plan Your Denver Trip

Denver is a city you can experience differently every time you visit. See a show at Red Rocks, cheer on the Broncos, Nuggets, Avalanche, and Rockies, explore Union Station and RiNo, step into Meow Wolf, raise a glass at the Great American Beer Festival, or head into the Rockies for the day.

Start exploring Denver with Get Your Ticket and discover your next game, concert, tour, or adventure.

Keep Exploring Colorado: Colorado Tours & Activities • Colorado Tours & Sightseeing

More Denver Experiences: Denver Transfers & Ground Transport • Denver Segway Tours • Denver Water Sports

Get Travel Tips & Event Guides: Read the Get Your Ticket Blog