The Best Free & Cheap Things To Do in Denver For New Year's Eve and Day

The kids are home from school, relatives are visiting or maybe you and your special someone are just now trying to map out how to celebrate New Year’s Eve and/or New Year’s Day. You need a game plan that’s inexpensive because you broke the bank on Christmas and Hanukkah, like so many of us.

Tempting though it may be to spend big bucks on ringing in the new year, there’s really no need. We’ve compiled a list of our top picks of FREE or low-cost events and activities around town well-suited for bargain hunters.

Our list includes some things to do that normally don’t appear on our calendar, followed by the calendar list for both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Know of any we’ve overlooked? Email Laura@MileHighOnTheCheap.com with details.

We’ll keep updating this list, so check back often.

As always, to keep up with latest money-saving promos and events in the Denver/Boulder area, sign up for the daily Mile High On The Cheap e-newsletter. Trust us, your wallet will thank you.

Here’s to a happy 2022 — full of more freebies, discounts and deals!

Free & Cheap New Year’s Eve

Visit the Denver Zoo — Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Standard winter admission $10 – $15. Timed-ticket required.

Visit the Denver Museum of Nature & Science — Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Standard admission $15 – $20. Timed-ticket required.

Visit the Denver Art Museum — Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission $10 to $13. Kids under age 18 always FREE. Timed-ticket required.

New Year’s Eve Free Fireworks in Downtown Denver — Shows at 9 p.m. & midnight with best viewing along the 16th Street Mall.

New Year’s Eve at GeekOut — 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Alcohol-free event with games to play, trivia, and even Karaoke! Free to attend, donations accepted. 3200 S. Wadsworth Blvd. #C, Lakewood.

New Year’s Eve Party with Journey / Heart / The Corporation — 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Free sandwiches and snacks, Champagne toast and party favors. Tickets $10 in advance, $15 at the door. @ Cheers, 11964 Washington St., Northglenn.

New Year’s Eve Bash at Halfpenny — noon to 12:30 a.m. Celebrate New Years Eve with your favorite Halfpenny crew. Live music, Over Rice Thai food truck, raffle prizes, special beer release, and more. Keith Wren from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Electric Whiskey Experiment from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. 5150 E. Arapahoe Rd., Centennial.

New Year’s Eve at Over Yonder — noon to 1:30 a.m. Beer flows all day, creative and fun activities, dancing, live stream in the evening from MSG on the big screen (new 4K projector for the coolest experience) followed by live music with Sqwerv. Special event full food menu set-up and managed by Launch. Over Yonder Brewing Company, 18455 W. Colfax Ave., Golden.

ViewHouse Littleton: Wonderland New Year’s Eve Party — 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Two dance floors, live jazz, rooftop DJ, midnight toast, party favors, free valet parking. Tickets: $10 general admission to $45 for admission plus Champagne Dinner Buffet. 2680 Main St., Littleton.

New Year’s Eve Expansion Party at Peak View Brewing — 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Bring in the new year with a black and white themed party that also celebrates the taproom expansion. Seltzer toast. Raffle after midnight. DJ Greg will play the hottest tunes. 9672 E. Arapahoe Rd., Greenwood Village.

New Year’s Eve Party at SIP Nightclub — Hosted by Duane Taylor & DJ D-Smooth. Starts at 9 p.m. Tickets start at $10. 891 14th St., Denver.

The Black Buzzard at Oskar Blues — Monk Gyatso & Lavender Jones celebrate New Year’s Eve at The Black Buzzard. Doors open at 8 p.m. Show is at 10 p.m. Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door. 1624 Market St., Denver.

Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row Grand Opening — Officially opens tonight at 9 p.m. (first come, first served). Features music entertainment from Nashville-based musician Stephen Paul and his band from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. and long-standing Whiskey Row DJ Christopher Gray from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. $20 cover charge unless you reserve a VIP table. 1946 Market St., Denver.

80s vs. 90s New Year’s Eve Extravaganza — 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Dress in your funkiest 80s or your most outrageous 90s attire. Two rooms with music — one all 80s, one all 90s. Tickets start at $25. Full food menu available, toast, party favors. Reiver’s Bar and Grill, 1085 S. Gaylord St., Denver.

New Year’s Eve at Mountain Ski Resorts

Copper Mountain — Live music, a torchlight parade, and a fireworks show over the halfpipe in Center Village.

Eldora — Enjoy live music on the Timbers Deck and Upstairs in Indian Peaks. Pomegranate Sounds will play on Timbers Deck from noon to 3 p.m.

Granby Ranch — Stop by the mountain to watch the U.S. Olympic Moguls Team train for the Olympics, and join in for their Olympic send off party December 31st. Tom Kelly, former Executive VP of Communications for the US Ski & Snowboard Team, will be conducting live interviews with the team.

Powderhorn Mountain Resort — Hosting its annual Torchlight Parade, Children’s Torchlight Parade, and New Years Eve celebration starting at 5 p.m. The event is open to the public and free for spectators. The Children’s Parade will start at 5 p.m., followed by the annual Torchlight Parade at 5:45 p.m., concluding with the grand finale fireworks at 6:30 p.m.

Purgatory Resort — Fireworks and Torchlight Parade on December 31: Head out to The Beach at 6pm and join us for our favorite holiday tradition. Watch as patrollers and ski school instructors traverse their way down the mountain, lighting up the slopes with torchlights. When the parade arrives at the base area, enjoy a great New Year’s Eve fireworks show.

Steamboat — Kick off the evening with a Light Up Snow Cat parade featuring Steamboat Snow Sports Instructors performing synchronized skiing illuminated only by light of torches. At the conclusion of the parade fireworks will light up the sky over the resort to ring in 2022.