Free things to do in Denver this week, January 10-16, 2022

Have you resolved to travel more in the new year? This weekend is a great time to make that resolution happen, with free events throughout Metro Denver, both indoors and outdoors (and online). The Boulder NAACP kicks off six weeks of events today to celebrate Black History Month, and for those with Monday off, the MLK Jr. Marade has returned!

Read on for ten of the best free events in town this week.

miracle celebration
Until Sunday, 16.01
Beaver Creek Village, Avon

A walk-in playground filled with selfie-friendly, oversized sculptures has been on display at Beaver Creek Village throughout the holiday season, but now it’s time for the art installations to really shine. During the three days of Beaver Creek Wonder, you can explore the interactive artworks and learn about them on interpretive art walks. After dark, enjoy live music, light and fire spinners, and other artists as you play among installations made of ski-shaped mirrors, a giant snow globe, cookie truck, and more. Skiing can be expensive, but this après-ski pastime is free; learn more here.

2022 New Year’s Clothing Swap
Sunday, January 16: Drop off clothes, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.; Early bird entry for clothes donors, 12pm to 1pm; Standing, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m
Grant Humphreys Mansion, 770 Pennsylvania Street

The already postponed 2022 New Year’s Clothing Swap is back – no matter what – for its sixth year, moving from History Colorado to the elegant Grant-Humphreys Mansion, a gorgeous setting for a big, inclusive girls’ party with a gift-some, take-some -Theme. You can drop off used clothing, shoes, and accessories in stores from 9:00 a.m. for an hour of early bird shopping; from 1 p.m. everyone can join the hunt. It’s all free for give and take;
Sign in and search Eventbrite for rules and regulations.

“Durango 550 – Path of the Ancestral Puebloans”
Sunday, January 16, 10 a.m., online

The Colorado Department of Transportation will release a documentary, Durango 550 – Path of the Ancestral Puebloans, which will depict how CDOT worked with archaeologists and regional Native American tribes to document discoveries made near Durango prior to work on US 550, to study and eventually share -US 160 Connection South project will break ground in 2020. “This documentary demonstrates the unique collaboration of all entities involved, laying the foundation for a new approach in archaeology, combining Western scholarship with traditional cultural beliefs” , says CDOT archaeologist Greg Wolff. Check it out on RMPBS; it is also available on the broadcaster’s website and mobile app; find out more here.

click to enlarge

The opening of Walk with me starts six weeks full of events.

Ernest Withers, Boulder NAACP

Walk with me
Opening Sunday, January 16, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m
Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut Street, Boulder (and on-line)
NAACP Boulder County hosts Walk With Me, a Black History Month event series. The heart is the Walk with me Exhibit of more than 100 historical photographs by noted photojournalist Ernest Withers from the Withers Collection Museum and Gallery in Memphis, documenting the lives of African Americans in the South in the 1950’s and 60’s. Rosalind Withers, daughter of Ernest Withers, will give the keynote speech at 1:30 p.m. and officially open it Walk with me; There will be other speakers and performances, as well as the opportunity to see the exhibition. You can also follow a live stream here. The series will continue through February 27; Get the full schedule here.

Kick-off party of the Colorado Friendship Circle
Sunday, January 16, 3 p.m
6100 East Belleview Avenue, Greenwood Village

Friendship Circle Colorado, a non-profit organization that coordinates free events for special needs children and their families, is personally hosting a kickoff party with a magic show, balloons, snacks, and an opportunity to learn more about Friendship Circle Colorado, which plans to continue to keep families -Friendly activities every other Sunday. RSVP here.

Undo the Noble Crusade
Sunday, January 16, 7 p.m

Black History Month celebrations continue at the Dairy Arts Center, which is offering virtual screenings of two films in a program inspired by a passage from Martin Luther King’s 1963 book. Why we can’t wait: “We are perhaps the only nation that has attempted to wipe out its indigenous people as part of national policy. Moreover, we have elevated this tragic experience to a noble crusade.” A short film directed by Alan O’Hash commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the Native American Rights Fund, which was established in the spirit of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. The second documentary is Beyond Sand Creek, about the Arapaho tribe’s efforts to break down stereotypes, renew their language and culture, and connect it to their traditional homeland of Boulder. to register here.

dr Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Marade
Monday, January 17, 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m
city ​​Park

The Martin Luther King Jr. Day Marade—a combination march and parade—will return in 2022. Participants in the 37th Marade will gather in City Park for speeches and head to the Civic Center for community activation, followed by a park cleanup at 1 p.m. Learn more here.

click to enlarge ARTcade is open at Understudy.  - understudy

ARTcade is open at Understudy.

understudy

Constantly:

Vida building on the CSU spur
Daily, 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m
National Western Complex, 4800 North Bettie Cram Drive

Colorado State University’s amazing new animal care facility opened in time for the National Western Stock Show, and admission is always free. (Parking at the Stock Show is also free, but you might have to walk a bit.) Inside, you can see cat and dog surgeries, see a replica children’s animal hospital, and experience virtual reality. find out more here.

Night Lights Denver


Tuesday to Sunday through January, 5:15 p.m. to 11:59 p.m
Clock Tower, 1601 Arapahoe Street

The January program of People’s Projector is underway, featuring new works by artist Danielle Cunningham. Joseph Toney and Mario Carrillo illuminate the side of the clock tower; Clayton Kenney’s 2019 crowd favorite “Snow” has also returned. Light shows continue daily (except Mondays) through January; find out more here.

ARTcade
Wednesday to Sunday through January, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m
Understudy, 890 C 14th Street

The latest venture in the Denver Theater District’s cozy arts incubator, Understudy has all the facilities of a traditional arcade — except they’ve been beefed up by a long list of participating local artists. Even the prizes are artist-made: snag a masterpiece from a claw machine or redeem coupons for enamel needles, coloring books, miniature paintings, jewelry, tea towels, art prints, small sculptures and more. The ARTcade will be open Wednesdays through Sundays through the end of January to accommodate Stock Show attendees; find out more here.

Do you know a great free event in town? We will update this list throughout the week; Send information to [email protected]

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