Leadville Ski Joring Festival (annually in March)
The Leadville Ski Joring Festival is one of the truly great annual ski competitions in Colorado. Well maybe not quite up to professional athlete standards, but what professional athlete would ever try this? Skiers are pulled at breakneck speeds by horses and attempt to spear rings that are hanging from the course as they jump over obstacles.
I don't know about you but I couldn't even do one of those things on an ice covered course. Watching athletes bring it all together is absolutely thrilling. The compeition is just as fierce as an x-games and the danger level is as extreme as it gets. The only thing missing is ESPN.
The Leadville Ski Joring Festival is a family oriented festival with many events and activities in addition to the ski joring. It's a
great way to spend a weekend in the mountains and a must see if you're a ski enthusiast who has seen enough slaloms for one season.
When:
Saturday and Sunday March 1-2, 2014.
Where:
Downtown Leadville, Co.
For more information check the Leadville Ski Joring site: 
2017 National Park Free Days
The National Park Service offers free entrance to all National Parks a few times each year. This is a great way to explore our beautiful Colorado park lands.
Colorado Mineral and Fossil Spring Show
The free Colorado Mineral and Fossil Spring Show brings gem and fossil dealers from across the U.S. to the Denver area to showcase their huge selection of amazing finds.
Up to 85 Retail / Wholesale Gem, Mineral, Fossil, Jewelry Dealers From All Over The USA
When:
April 14-16, 2017
Location:
The Crowne Plaza Dia
15500 EAST 40TH AVENUE, DENVER, CO 80239
http://www.rockygems.com/colorado-mineral--fossil-spring-show-2017.html
Morrison Nature Center at Star K Ranch, Aurora (always free)
The beautiful Morrison Nature Center is a free park in Aurora, Colorado that is definitely worth checking out when you are in the area.
Punkin Chunkin Colorado | Aurora Jack-O-Launch (annually, 2nd Saturday in October)
This October festival has become a Denver tradition.
Frozen Dead Guy Days in Nederland (Annually in March)
2014's Frozen Dead Guy Days will be celebrated March 7 through March 9. The highlight of the event is really the Polar Plunge, where anyone can sign up to take a dive in a freezing pond. Some people do it for the thrill, some do it to raise money for charities, and some are just plain nuts. There is also a coffin race, hearse parade, music, and many other bizarre activities (frozen turkey bowling???). This is one of the most popular things to do in March for front range residents with cabin fever.
This is probably the wierdest festival I've ever heard of, even wierder than Manitou's fruitcake toss or Leadville's ski Joring. Come and learn about the history of the frozen dead guy and observe some of Nederland's finest citizens enjoying a day in the mountains.
Traffic can become a real problem for the small town so plan accordingly. Parking is available on the side streets but getting to them can take a while.
When:
March 7 - 9, 2014
Where:
The event is held in Nederland, Colorado (at the top of Boulder Canyon west of Boulder).
As more people down in town learn about this festival every year, it has grown from a small event for members of the mountain community to a really crowded winter festival for everyone in the front range. If the crowds don't bother you, come check it out:
Frozen Dead Guy Days Nederland Chamber web site:
If you want to learn more before you commit to a trip to the mountains, read all about the frozen dead guy here:
Frozen Dead Guy Days Wiki:
Denver Cinco De Mayo Festival (May 3-4, 2014)
One of the best ways to experience Denver's rich Hispanic heritage is to visit the annual free Denver Cinco De Mayo Festival, one of the best things to do in Denver on a May weekend.
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Lookout Mountain Nature Center (always free)
This free nature center on top of Lookout Mountain in Golden is one of the top things to do in Colorado with the kids.
New Belgium Brewery Tours (Tuesday - Saturday)
The New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins has had to greatly modify their previously awesome tour and beer sampling system. They never said why they changed, but it was obvious what the problem was when I visited. Because of the free beer samples, the place was overrun with college kids who wanted to party hard for free.
Now to get a small free sample you must take the full brewery tour, and reservations fill up online weeks or months in advance. If you go there without being signed up for a tour, you can still buy beer at the bar for a discounted rate.
Despite the changes, this is still an excellent small brewery to see and learn about.
Location: 500 Linden Street in old town Fort Collins.
Liquid Center Hours:
Tuesday - Sunday 10am to 6pm
Closed on Sundays until Feb 9th, 2014.
Guided Tour Hours:
Tuesday - Sunday 11am to 4:30pm
Closed on Sundays until Feb 9th, 2014.
New Belgium Beer Web Site:
Avery House, Fort Collins (free Saturday and Sunday)
The Poudre Landmarks Foundation has some of the best Fort Collins attractions for history buffs. Their historic Avery House in Fort Collins offers free tours on Saturdays and Sundays from 1pm to 4pm. The tour guides provide a wealth of information about the city's early days, and what life was like in the front range in the late 1800's. This is one of the great historical things to do in Colorado, as Fort Collins has a rich and colorful early history in the settling of Colorado.
When:
Year-round Saturday and Sunday
1pm to 4pm
For 2014, the Poudre Landmarks web site is incomplete and it is unknown whether Avery House tours are still taking place. Hopefully they will release an updated schedule soon. Call them to check on the latest situation: 970-221-0533
Where:
328 West Mountain Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Avery House Web Site:
Denver Zoo Free Days
The Denver Zoo free days are by far the most popular Denver free days for families with kids, and are typically held during the fall and winter.
Shell Gas Two For One Ski Ticket
For 2014, Shell gas stations are offering 2 for 1 vouchers at several ski areas with a 10 gallon gas fill up. This means that if you buy at least 10 gallons of gas, you get a coupon good for a free lift ticket if you purchase one full price adult lift ticket. The deal is good at several ski areas.
Unfortunately, full price adult lift tickets have become so expensive that this isn't much of a "deal". But if you just want to ski one day at a participating resort this year, this will get you on the slopes for less than full price.
In Colorado, 2014's participating resorts are:
Copper Mountain
Crested Butte
Loveland
Monarch
Powderhorn
The SkiFreeDeals.com web site has a full list of participating Shell stations and ski resorts.
Learn more at skifreedeals.Com:
Liftopia Ski Discounts
Colorado resorts offering substantial Liftopia ski discounts:
Arapahoe Basin.
Copper Mountain.
Durango.
Loveland.
Monarch Mountain.
Ski Cooper.
Sunlight.
Winter Park.
Some other resorts have discounts on Liftopia that really aren't discounts at all.
Check out Liftopia:
Rentals
If you need to pick up rentals on your way to the mountain, my favorite super cheap rental shop is Maison De Ski in Idaho Springs.
Half Fast Subs (Boulder)
Half Fast Subs in Boulder has one of the largest menu choices I've ever seen at a restaurant. The hardest thing to do at this place it to make a decision between the hot subs, cold subs, veggie subs and even salads. Whatever you chose, you won't be disappointed.