Bored on a budget? You’ve come to the right place! Mile High On The Cheap is the answer for Coloradans wanting to live large for less. Luckily, Denver has much to do and see for frugal families, bargain hunters, savvy seniors and anyone who’s limited on funds — festivals, concerts, movies, workshops, tours, sporting events and more. And, for weekend planners, we’ve done all the work for you… [Read more…] about 115 Free & Cheap Things To Do in Denver This Weekend
197 Free & Cheap Things to Do This Week Around Denver
Plan your week on the cheap with this list of FREE & CHEAP things to do around Denver. The list is updated daily, so check back often. Looking for more free and low-cost things to do in the following weeks? Find additional activities on our Mile High Events Calendar, which you can view by day or month.
Looking for trivia nights? Check out this long list of trivia events.
If you don’t already, keep up with the latest deals, discounts and freebies by signing up for our daily e-newsletter. You can also follow us on Facebook. Click on each link for details, as some events may require registration.
Here’s what’s happening this week: [Read more…] about 197 Free & Cheap Things to Do This Week Around Denver
Visitors Welcome at Boulder Artists’ Studios Over Two October Weekends
Open Studios, the Boulder area’s annual fall artist tour, spans three weekends, Saturday and Sunday, October 3 & 4 and October 10 & 11, 2026, from noon to 5 p.m. each day. This FREE annual event, now in its 31st year, features more than 85 studios, homes, garages and wherever else some 125 artists create their works. The working spaces in all media are not only in Boulder but also in Erie, Louisville, Superior, Lafayette, Longmont and unincorporated Boulder County. [Read more…] about Visitors Welcome at Boulder Artists’ Studios Over Two October Weekends
Pearl Street Stampede Pep Rally for Buffs. Show The Team Your Support
CU Buffs football fans head to Downtown Boulder on the evening before every weekend home game, when the Pearl Street Stampede lights up the town. This old-fashioned parade and pep rally starts at 7 p.m. with a vintage 1948 CU fire truck leading the procession, followed by the school’s Golden Buffalo Marching Band, the CU football team and cheerleaders. No rambunctious Ralphie, however. [Read more…] about Pearl Street Stampede Pep Rally for Buffs. Show The Team Your Support
Today, Sunday! Affordable Arts Festival 2026 – All Art Costs $150 or Less. Use Our Ticket Discount Code
This post is paid for by one of our valued community partners. Their support helps us keep bringing you news about deals and events in the Denver/Boulder area. Read full disclosure here.
The annual Affordable Arts Festival is unlike any arts fest you have attended — all of the art is priced at $150 or less. Now ranked #1 in the top 200 Arts Festivals in the country, it takes place outdoors on Sunday, August 30, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Arapahoe Community College. This is the Black Friday of art sales with more than 160 artists from across the nation selling their works in a variety of mediums at amazing prices. Artists offer a selection of great deals, along with an array of pieces that are normally priced under $150. Don’t let the price fool you. This is fine art at great prices.
Salute To Seniors — Free Entertainment, Resources and More For Older Adults
Classic car show, bingo, fashion show, health screenings, snacks and drinks, and a chance to win prizes? You’ll find all this and more at the Salute to Seniors event on Saturday, August 22, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Events Center at the Greek Orthodox Assumption Cathedral in Denver. Admission and parking are FREE. [Read more…] about Salute To Seniors — Free Entertainment, Resources and More For Older Adults
Piles of Peaches at Lafayette Peach Festival This Saturday
The annual Lafayette Peach Festival turns South Public Road, the town’s main street, into one peachy carnival on Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Find truckloads of peaches for purchase at multiple locations. Peach trucks from Morton’s Orchards, Tate Orchards and Palisade Organic Peach Ranch bring in more than 30,000 pounds of certified organic peaches from Palisade. [Read more…] about Piles of Peaches at Lafayette Peach Festival This Saturday
Where To Find Cheap(er) Gas Prices In Denver-Boulder Before Filling Up
Looking for the cheap gas prices in and around Denver — and who isn’t these days? Fill your tank without totally emptying your wallet. Gas Buddy helps drivers find the cheapest fuel prices across the U.S. The service has a nifty feature allowing MHOTC to bring you (in real-time!) the current Top 10 lowest gasoline prices in the Denver metro area.
[Read more…] about Where To Find Cheap(er) Gas Prices In Denver-Boulder Before Filling Up
Daily Food & Drink Specials in the Denver/Boulder Area – Updated!
In addition to abundant nightly happy hours — usually early and sometimes again late in the evening — a growing number of restaurants and clubs offer food and/or drink specials every week.
As you’d assume, there are many out there — too many to list. We’ve rounded up some of the best by day of the week, arranged alphabetically and have also included location (when possible.) Please know most specials are not valid on major holidays and only valid at participating locations. [Read more…] about Daily Food & Drink Specials in the Denver/Boulder Area – Updated!
Spring Kids Consignment Sales In Denver And Beyond
Spring consignment sales — “spring” being a relative term — are starting in Denver, Boulder and beyond (from Castle Rock to Loveland and all points in between). Save loads of money on clothes for yourself and your kids, as well as household items, toys and gear. Admission to all events is FREE unless otherwise noted.
MHOTC Tip: Multi-day sales often heavily discount unsold merchandise on the last day or two. [Read more…] about Spring Kids Consignment Sales In Denver And Beyond
This Weekend! 65+ Easter Egg Hunts, Festivals & Bunny Photos Around Denver + Interactive Map!
The Front Range is hopping with Easter Egg Hunts! Here’s the latest, based on what we could dig up. Some are hosted Easter weekend, others the weekend prior. Hunts are sorted by date and city. Most are FREE, unless otherwise noted. Remember to bring some sort of basket or bucket for the kids to collect their eggs and treats.
Be sure to note the time and date of all events, as some divide the hunt based on age. And, since candy-seeking kids can sweep an entire field of treats clean in a matter of minutes, we suggest arriving early to nab a good spot. Happy Egg Hunting! [Read more…] about This Weekend! 65+ Easter Egg Hunts, Festivals & Bunny Photos Around Denver + Interactive Map!
Easter Sunrise Service at Red Rocks 2026
Of all the Easter services around, the annual sunrise service at the landmark Red Rocks Amphitheater is especially magical! This Easter service is definitely worthy of your bucket list. Sponsored by the inter-denominational Colorado Council of Churches, it takes place on Sunday, April 5, 2026, the service and parking are FREE. [Read more…] about Easter Sunrise Service at Red Rocks 2026
Free & Cheap Mardi Gras Celebrations In Denver, Also Where To Get King Cake
This article contains affiliate links. When you click on them and make a purchase, we might earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Read full disclosure here.
Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, commences this year on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. But while the New Orleans holiday and the city’s famous parade prove far from Denver, the Mile High City has plenty of ways to celebrate right here.
For starters, get a king cake. Next, hit up a crawfish boil and dig in like they do in the South. Or, join one of the many fetes around the city, beads and masks encouraged. Laissez les bons temps rouler! [Read more…] about Free & Cheap Mardi Gras Celebrations In Denver, Also Where To Get King Cake
Denver Area Summer Camps For 2026. Registrations Now Open
Have a child or two or an entire squad? Time to start planning for the summer break. For a lot of Denver/Boulder area families that means summer camps, and there are so many to choose from. Some are all about getting outside and exploring, while other focus on different art aspects and some get your kid moving. [Read more…] about Denver Area Summer Camps For 2026. Registrations Now Open
Denver Area Thrift and Consignment Stores You Need To Check Out. Print Out Our List, Too!
Bargain hunters, this is for you. Here’s a long list of thrift and consignment stores in Denver, Boulder and beyond. There’s a fine line between a thrift store and a vintage store and we’ll take the heat if you think we’ve inaccurately categorized a specific retailer. We don’t pretend this list is comprehensive. There are certainly others out there. [Read more…] about Denver Area Thrift and Consignment Stores You Need To Check Out. Print Out Our List, Too!
Ho, Ho, Hurry! Book Your Santa Photos at Denver Area Malls. Use Our Promo Code For Free Photo!
This post is sponsored by Cherry Hill Programs. All opinions are our own. Read full disclosure here.
Getting photos with Santa at the mall is a timeless tradition, and a great way to celebrate the holiday season. No lines, no fuss. Just friendly staff, a jolly Santa, a professional to take the pics and heartwarming photos to capture the moment! The closer we get to Christmas, the busier photos with Santa events get.
It can be hard enough to get a good photo with Santa with kids (or your furry “four-legged” kids) — between nap time, meal times and sometimes fear of strangers, parents never know what to expect with Santa pictures. One tip is to schedule the pics around the best times for your kids or pets. [Read more…] about Ho, Ho, Hurry! Book Your Santa Photos at Denver Area Malls. Use Our Promo Code For Free Photo!
Budget-Friendly Recipes Based On This Week’s Grocery Sales & Seasonal Produce
Grocery prices keep going up, up, up — with little relief in sight! While Mile High On The Cheap (MHOTC) publishes a weekly list of the best grocery deals at local supermarkets, readers can maximize the weekly savings by using some budget-friendly items in lots of tasty recipes — from dinners to desserts and everything in between. [Read more…] about Budget-Friendly Recipes Based On This Week’s Grocery Sales & Seasonal Produce
23 Best Public Playgrounds Around Denver – Updated!
The Denver metro area is home to more than 700 public playgrounds — some small, some large, some broken-in and some freshly-built. Below are some of our favorites. Chances are you have never heard of these parks, but all are all well worth a visit even if you live a few miles away.
[Read more…] about 23 Best Public Playgrounds Around Denver – Updated!
Ways To Save at Christmas at Gaylord Rockies, Including Up To 24% Off ICE!
This article contains affiliate links. When you click on them and make a purchase, we might earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Read full disclosure here.
Find the holiday spirit this year at Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, where one of the biggest holiday extravaganzas in the state takes place. We’re talking frozen sculptures, gingerbread house decorating, an elf academy, high-flying entertainment and so much more starting November 22, 2024. Tickets are on sale now and there are some great deals to be found through Groupon.
[Read more…] about Ways To Save at Christmas at Gaylord Rockies, Including Up To 24% Off ICE!
Free Tastings at Metro Denver Wineries and Stores
One of the best ways to improve your palate is to do a tasting at the winery and chat with the winemaker as you taste. We have a page listing regularly scheduled FREE wine tastings at metro area specialty wine retailers and liquor stores. Most wineries charge a tasting fee, but some are very affordable and a very few are FREE. Examples? The family-owned Balistreri Vinyard’s Denver winery offers a complimentary tasting of its award-winning wines and a tour of the wine cellar and winemaking facilities. In addition, Balistreri has a gift shop and serves lunch seven days a week. 1946 E. 66th Ave., Denver, 303-287-5156. ♦ Tasting at Augustina’s Winery in Boulder, is not free, but it is cheap: $3 to taste up to five wines and $5 to taste 10 wines, and the fee is refunded with a purchase. 4715 N. Broadway, Unit B-3, 303-520-4871. Augustina’s also has a booth at the Saturday and Wednesday Boulder farmers’ market. ♦ The Turquoise Mesa Winery tasting room, which is open Thursday through Saturday from 1 to 6 p.m., charges just $5. 11705 Teller St., Unit C, Broomfield, 303-653-3822.
Denver Airport Transportation & Parking Options
Denver International Airport is undertaking a major renovation of its main terminal, which means travelers ought to leave additional time to navigate the ever-changing detours. Click here for alerts on terminal and roadway conditions.
RTD‘s A Line to Denver International Airport provides travelers with an increasingly popular option getting to and from DIA from Union Station and intermediary stops.
When deciding on which option is best for you and your party, think not only money, but also time. Calculate how many of you will be traveling. And remember that you won’t just be going to the airport but returning from it.
Unless you choose to drive, you can mix and match. Here are the current ground transportation and parking options (please let us know at info@milehighonthecheap.com if you find any changes is services or rates). [Read more…] about Denver Airport Transportation & Parking Options
Senior Deals and Discounts in Denver
Nowadays, there are many advantages to becoming a “senior citizen,” but the one bargain hunters appreciate the most are the discounts offered by many retailers and restaurants. We’ve rounded up a few deals around town for the “older crowd.” [Read more…] about Senior Deals and Discounts in Denver
Walk With A Doc In Boulder
As part of the “Walk with a Doc” movement, the City of Boulder and Boulder Community Health promote this FREE community program that combines the health benefits of walking with the chance to have questions answered by local physicians. At each walk, participants can learn about a current health topic, walk and talk with a local doctor, and enjoy free refreshments, blood pressure checks and giveaways.
[Read more…] about Walk With A Doc In Boulder
20 Beers for 20 Bucks in Boulder
The 2020 Boulder PubPass is a small book that gets you a FREE beer at 20 of the Boulder area’s fine bars and breweries, including Collision Brewing, Endo Brewing, Gunbarrel Brewing, Liquid Mechanics and more. It’s formatted like a passport, with a page for each participating bar. Get the $20 passport stamped after receiving each free beer. There’s no additional shipping charge wither. You have all of 2020 to use it so you can explore the city and try beers at your own pace. Great stock stuffer for the beer on your list. Click here to purchase.