PHOTO: THE DENVER ARTS FESTIVAL
Is it just me, or is this the time of year when the energy in Denver really starts to pick up? Even after a non-winter like the one we just had, there’s a change in the air when the days are getting longer and the prospect of summer is on the horizon.
For me personally, summer means more time with my son. When the schedule loosens up, we get to slow down together. Pool afternoons, festival wandering, hitting a trail, grabbing food outside somewhere and not rushing anywhere after. And lucky for us, we live in a neighborhood (and a city) that makes that easy.
Here’s what we’re looking forward to the most this summer!
1. The Central Park Pools
This is the one my son starts asking about in April. The seven Central Park pools open on Memorial Day weekend and stay open through Labor Day weekend (and sometimes a little longer, weather and staffing permitting). The MCA website has lots of official details and my colleague Kailee Ackerman shares tons of insider info about all the pools here.
2. Farmer’s Market Season
There’s no better Sunday morning routine than walking over to Founders’ Green with a tote bag and coming home with fresh Colorado peaches. The Central Park Farmers Market kicks off on Sunday, June 21st from 8:30am to 12:30pm on the South Green and runs every Sunday through October 11th. We love all the options for local Colorado produce and the variety of different vendors! Other Denver markets to check out, starting for the season soon: Cherry Creek Fresh Market, City Park, and South Pearl Street.
3. Festivals
This is one of my favorite things to do with my son: just show up to a festival, wander around, eat something delicious, and let the day take us wherever it goes! Here’s what has us excited this year: the Denver Arts Festival comes to Conservatory Green in Central Park on Memorial Day weekend. It’s a widely celebrated outdoor festival featuring artists, interactive installations, and live performances. There are plenty more big happenings to look forward to this summer, including Denver PrideFest, Juneteenth Music Festival, the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, and City Park Jazz.
4. Hiking
These are some of our favorites. Trading Post Trail at Red Rocks in Morrison goes through iconic red rock formations right next to the amphitheater and is manageable for almost all ages and fitness levels. Lookout Mountain in Golden offers stunning views—it’s a vigorous climb, though you can also drive to the top. Bear Creek trail at Lair O’ the Bear park in Idledale is next to a creek that allows fishing, and there’s also a 3.5 mile bike-only trail, Rutabaga Ride.
5. Restaurants at the Stanley
Some of our happiest summer plans include meeting friends for a meal outside. Some spots worth checking out include the Stanley Marketplace, where you can grab a beer at Stanley Beer Hall, sit outside at Annette for some of the best “scratch-to-table” cooking in the city, swing by Boychik for phenomenal dips and mezze, or hit up Molino Chido for tacos. Bring your food out to their outdoor common spaces and let the kids run around while you enjoy your meal. (For even more outdoor dining spots, check out my colleague Stephanie Airman’s post.)
Summer in Central Park is something special, and I feel lucky every year that this is where we get to spend it. If you have a favorite summer spot, hike, market, or festival we didn’t mention, let us know!
