Colorado Day Free Statewide Festivities at History Colorado Museums

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Media contact: Ali Brady, [email protected]

DENVER — July 16, 2026 — History Colorado is inviting communities across the state to commemorate Colorado Day on Saturday, August 1, 2026, with statewide experiences marking 150 years of the Centennial State. This year is especially significant, as Colorado’s Sesquicentennial coincides with America’s Semiquincentennial marking a once-in-a-generation Sesquisemiquincentennial. As the only state commemorating these twin anniversaries in 2026, Colorado has a unique opportunity to reflect on our shared past, celebrate the stories that connect us, and imagine the future we will build together.

Free events will take place in communities across Colorado on Saturday, August 1, 2026, each filled with family fun and infused with local flavor. Here are a few highlights of the events:

Colorado Day Community Fest 2026 | Denver, CO

Join History Colorado and its community and cultural partners on Saturday, August 1, 2026, for a historic, once-in-a-generation commemoration: Colorado Day Community Fest 2026. From 9 am to 1 pm, Denver’s Golden Triangle Creative District will feature music, art, food, and activities that highlight Colorado’s remarkable culture. Start the morning with a free community pancake breakfast and sing-along of “Rocky Mountain High” led by Isaac Slade, formerly of The Fray; outdoor street festivities; and free admission to the History Colorado Center, the Center for Colorado Women’s History, and the Denver Art Museum.

Colorado Day Community Fest 2026 is made possible in part through the generous support of the Colorado Mining Association, Xcel Energy, and Denver7.

Statewide Colorado Day Events:

History Colorado museums across the state are offering free events and experiences across the state on Colorado Day. These free events include:

Center for Colorado Women’s History | Denver, CO

Free museum admission, interactive community art project, musicians, the grand opening of the Shared History mural, performances, games, and Open House Women’s History Tours with the Votes and Dreams exhibition. Host location for Colorado Day Community Fest. Colorado Day attractions open from 10 am to 5 pm. Free museum admission available from 10 am to 5 pm.

El Pueblo History Museum | Pueblo, CO

Free admission, live entertainment, games, crafts, food trucks, historical demos, local experts, and hands-on fun. Colorado Day attractions are open from 11 am to 4 pm. Free museum admission available from 11 am to 3 pm. Free museum admission available from 9 am to 5 pm.

Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center | Fort Garland, CO

Free admission, an artisan market, live music, food trucks, artist talk and the opening of O Say Can You See exhibition by Chloé Duplessis, flag raising by Buffalo Soldiers re-enactors, and Buffalo Soldier presentation by Dennis Moore. Colorado Day attractions are open from 9 am to 2 pm.

Georgetown Loop Historic Mining & Railroad Park | Georgetown, CO

Colorado-themed activities, gold panning, mine tours, and special educational programming with Nature Educators. Events are from 10 am to 5 pm.

Healy House Museum & Dexter Cabin | Leadville, CO

Free admission, lawn games, refreshments, and an old-time photo booth. Full tours will be regular price. Colorado Day attractions are from 9:45 am to 4 pm. Free museum admission available from 9:45 am to 4 pm.

History Colorado Center | Denver, CO

Free admission, Denver7 story hour, gold panning with the Georgetown Loop, activations and activities within exhibition spaces, face painters, history lab activities, archaeology activities, Setting Colorado’s Table: 150 Years of Agricultural Legacy book launch and mural hosted in the atrium, interactions with departments across History Colorado. Host location for Colorado Day Community Fest. Colorado Day inside the museum attractions are from 10 am to 5 pm. Free museum admission available from 10 am to 5 pm.

Trinidad History Museum | Trinidad, CO

Free admission, lawn games, the 150: Framed A Visual History community mural installation, and interactive Adobe Horno Build workshop. Colorado Day attractions are from 10 am to 3 pm. Free museum admission available from 10 am to 4 pm.

Ute Indian Museum | Montrose, CO

Free admission, outdoor and indoor scavenger hunt, film series throughout the day, kids activities and cultural workshop, naturescape playground, Ute Ethnobotany Garden, honoring 51 Native American Tribes. Colorado Day attractions are from 9 am to 4:30 pm. Free museum admission available from 9am to 4:30 pm.

August Events and Experiences:

Colorado Day 150th Celebration Trains & Tours | Georgetown, CO

Georgetown Loop Railroad | July 31 – August 2, 10 am – 3:50 pm

Celebrate the spirit of Colorado with a day dedicated to the state’s history, wildlife, and natural beauty. Featuring special programming with Nature’s Educators and additional Colorado-themed activities, this event honors everything that makes Colorado unique. Colorado Day 150th Celebration Trains have three opportunities varying in time slots, pricing, and tour activities. Additional details for each train tour can be found on the Georgetown Loop Railroad’s Event Page. RSVP to reserve your tickets!

Monday Morning Movement & Meditation | Trinidad, CO

Trinidad History Museum | August 3, 8 – 8:40 am Join us each Monday morning for free yoga and meditation classes between May 11 and October 5 on the Trinidad History Museum’s Bloom Lawns with Jennifer Allen. Please bring a water bottle and mat or blanket. Enter through the gate on Walnut St. Please note that the class is outside and weather-dependent. Reserve your space to attend this event. For questions or more info, contact Millie Duren at [email protected].

Tuesday Night Summer Socials | Denver, CO

Center for Colorado’s Women History | August 4, 11, 18, & 25, 4 – 7 pm.

Join us at the Center for Colorado Women’s History every Tuesday evening in August for special summer hours! The museum will remain open until 7 pm for General Admission and the 45-minute Women’s History Tour. The Votes and Dreams exhibit is available to view on the first floor of the museum and is included in General Admission. Tickets can be purchased online, or in-person. For additional information, please contact Cat Jensen [email protected].

“Curiosities of Cripple Creek” Overnight | Denver, CO

History Colorado Center | August 5 – 7

Explore rich mining, railroad, and natural history of Cripple Creek and Victor, including a ride on the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad and visit to Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. Tickets are $1,045 or $800 for members.

Move & Groove: Family Fitness Class | Trinidad, CO

Trinidad History Museum | August 7 & 21, 9 – 10 am.

Join us every other Friday on the Bloom Lawns for a movement class that is fun for the whole family! Taught by Sabra Lopez, this class is open to all ages. Tickets are $5 per person, or use the discount code 2for8 at checkout, when purchasing a child and adult ticket for a total of $8. Please bring a mat and water bottle. Enter the museum grounds through the gate on Walnut Street. For more information, contact Millie Duren at [email protected].

Soiled Doves: The Working Women of Colorado’s Boom Days | Leadville, CO

Healy House Museum & Dexter Cabin | August 7, 5 – 6:30 pm Learn about the women of the Wild West who provided a certain type of companionship to the miners and other gentlemen who came seeking fortune during the Centennial State’s gold and silver rushes. From their day-to-day lives to their influence, this presentation by Julie Blanda explores the importance of these women and their rightful place in Colorado’s history. This presentation is PG-13, not suitable for young children. Tickets are $10 or free for members.

How-To: New Life for Family Heirlooms | Virtual

History Colorado | August 11, 12 – 1 pm.

Learn how to breathe new life into your family’s artifacts in this virtual workshop with History Colorado curator Dr. Rachael Storm. Match the past to the present – so those old chairs, quilts, and photographs can be a part of the next generations’ futures. Dr. Storm will also share a project she is working on: transforming a 100-year-old quilt, handed down through her husband’s family, into multiple panels for wall display. Reserve your spot in advance.

Tuesday Night Summer Socials | Denver, CO

Center for Colorado Women’s History | August 11, 18, & 25, 4 – 7 pm.

Visit the Center for Colorado Women’s History on Tuesday evenings this summer for extended hours, guided women’s history tours, and the Votes and Dreams exhibition. General admission tickets are $10 and Women’s History Tour is $15. Member tickets are free.

Museum Connections: Finding Balance: Revenue and Financial Accessibility of Educational Programs | Virtual

History Colorado | August 12, 12 – 1 pm.

Education programs can be an important source of revenue for an organization while remaining financially accessible to those who need it the most. Join History Colorado’s April Legg, chief education officer, for a discussion about how History Colorado balances revenue generation and financial accessibility for several marquee education programs. Each month a new topic will be covered that focuses on fundamentals of museum work as well as new and innovative solutions. Each class is $10 per person and open to museum volunteers and professionals from all backgrounds and institution sizes. All classes are free for members of History Colorado’s Affiliates Program.

Colorado’s State Residential Historic Preservation Tax Credits Webinar | Virtual

August 12, 12 – 1 pm.

Learn how Colorado’s State Residential Historic Preservation Tax Credit can support home rehabilitation projects during this free informational webinar. Register here.

Wildlife Weekend | Georgetown, CO

Georgetown Loop Railroad | August 14 – 16, 10 am – 3:50 pm Experience Colorado’s wildlife up close with Nature’s Educators, a nonprofit conservation group. Guests will meet native bird and reptile species, learn about Colorado wildlife, and enjoy live flight demonstrations with select birds. A perfect blend of education and adventure for all ages. The Wildlife Weekend Train and Tours have varying time slots and pricing, tickets and additional information is available here.

Music on the Lawn | Trinidad, CO

Trinidad History Museum | August 20, 5:30 – 7 pm Bring a blanket, lawn chair, and snacks to enjoy live music on the Bloom Lawns at the Trinidad History Museum. This evening will feature a performance by Slim & Maria de Cessna. Enter through the gates on Walnut or Chestnut Street. RSVP in advance for free admission. This event is recurring every Third Thursday from May through September, and admission is free!

Wild West Days | Georgetown, CO

Georgetown Loop Railroad | August 22 – 23 & 29 – 30, 10 am – 3:50 pm.

Ride through towering evergreens, over iconic trestles, and along mountain vistas aboard the Georgetown Loop’s historic narrow-gauge railroad. For two weekends in June, the Wild West Trains invite you to step back into the days of the Old West! Meet Wild West reenactors, witness a lively train robbery, and try your luck at a Faro game in the saloon. Guests will receive a custom 2026 Wild West Days Faro Chip as part of this action-packed experience. Wild West Day trains vary in pricing and tour activities. Additional information is available on the Georgetown Loop Railroad’s Events Page. RSVP to reserve your spot today!

Women’s Equality Day | Denver, CO

Center for Colorado Women’s History | August 26, 11 am – 3:30 pm.

Celebrate Women’s Equity Day with a free museum tour, live music, ie, and community activities at the Center for Colorado Women’s History. Register here.

Colorado Centennial Farms & Ranches | Pueblo, CO

Colorado State Fairgrounds | August 28, 11 am – 1 pm.

Celebrate Colorado’s agriculture heritage as History Colorado honors this year’s Centennial Farms & Ranches families, individuals, and organizations at the Colorado State Fair. Register here.

“Afroconstruct: Black Boulder” Bus Tour | Denver, CO

History Colorado Center | Sept 19, 9 AM – 4 PM, Deadline is September 4.

How does experience relate to placemaking? Where do buildings and ideas come together? Join us as we learn about the stories and landmarks that built Black life in Boulder in the 19th and 20th centuries. Together, we will explore the social and cultural centers that Black residents in Boulder lived, worshipped, and celebrated in, reflecting how communities build “place” through practices, beliefs, and meaning-making. The tour will conclude with a conversation on the present and future of Black experiences in the city. Register for tickets by September 4th to reserve your spot on this tour.

About History Colorado:

History Colorado is a 146-year-old institution that offers access to our state’s history through enriching experiences at eleven museums and historic sites. As an agency of the State of Colorado and a non-profit organization, History Colorado is committed to serving all Coloradans through generational work that centers communities, deepens knowledge and catalyzes the transformative power of history.

History Colorado is also home to a free public research center, people-centered preservation work done by the State Historical Fund and the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of the State Archaeologist, the State Historians Council, and many other community-driven public history projects such as the Museum of Memory. History Colorado stewards more than 15 million objects, photographs, and archival resources that make up the State’s collection, and serve tens of thousands of learners of all ages each year. History Colorado is one of only six Smithsonian Affiliates in Colorado. Visit HistoryColorado.org, or call 303-HISTORY, for more information. #HistoryColorado