The much-anticipated Free Days calendar from the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District has been released for 2024, covering the metro area’s biggest nonprofit institutions, from the Denver Art Museum and the Denver Botanic Gardens to the Denver Zoo.

Those are considered Tier 1 organizations in SCFD’s sales-tax-enabled funding, and with another great haul in its most recent annual report — as well as $83 million handed out to nearly 300 nonprofit orgs — it is poised to support even more metro area arts and culture groups.

Here are the highlights for Tier 1 organizations. Note that some organizations are free every day, such as the Broomfield Veterans Museum, city of Lakewood art exhibitions, Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park, Foothills Art Center, Colorado Music Hall of Fame, the Aurora History Museum, and Louisville History Museum, according to SCFD.

Check scfd.org/find-culture/free-days for the full, updated list, and a printable bookmark for the institutions listed below. Many require online reservations, and all events are subject to change or cancellation.

Denver Art Museum free days

Jan. 27
Feb. 13
March 12 and 24
April 9 and 28
May 14
June 11
July 9
July 21
Aug. 13
Sept. 7 and 10
Oct. 8
Nov. 2 and 12
Dec. 10

Note: General museum admission is free every day for kids 18 and younger. Free days do not include admission to ticketed exhibitions. Call 720-865-5000 or visit denverartmuseum.org for more.

Denver Zoo free days

Due to demand, tickets will not be available at the gate. Instead, all reservations must be made online. More info via 720-337-1400 or denverzoo.org/free-days

Feb. 11
April 7
Nov. 3, 9 and 17

Denver Botanic Gardens at York Street and Chatfield Farms free days

Feb. 15
March 9
April 22 (Earth Day)
June 5
July 3
Aug. 28
Nov. 29

For more information, go to botanicgardens.org or call 720-865-3500.

Denver Center for the Performing Arts free days

There will be $10 DCPAccess tickets for “Emma” (April 5-May 5) and “Where Did We Sit on the Bus?” (April 19-June 2). Also available are $10 student  tickets to Denver Center Theatre Company shows, with ID, and  20% to 50% off tickets for military members (with online code BLUESTAR). 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org

Denver Museum of Nature & Science free days (and nights)

Jan. 28
Feb. 25
April 28 (Día del Niño)
June 4* and 19
Aug. 21*
Sept. 10* and 30
Nov. 2* and 18
Dec. 8

* Free only from 5 to 10 p.m. Free admission does not include IMAX or the Planetarium. More info: 303-370-6000 or dmns.org

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