The Scientific & Cultural Facilities District is a voter-approved special district in the seven-county metro area that provides a stable source of supplemental funding to more than 300 scientific and cultural organizations inside the district’s boundaries. The SCFD collects a one-tenth of 1 percent sales-and-use tax (or one penny on every $10 spent), providing approximately $40 million each year to area cultural attractions both small and large.
Museum Admission is free on the dates listed below. To add a temporary exhibit, IMAX or Planetarium show, purchase tickets at the Museum on the Free Day; upgrade rates apply. Reservations and amenities (lunchroom, coat and lunch storage, bus drop off, etc.) for school groups are not available on SCFD Community Free Days.
Due to COVID restrictions, most of the Free Days require tickets or sign ups that must be secured prior to your visit. Please click on the venue name to check the ticket/sign up requirements.
2021 SCFD Community Free Days
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver | (303) 370-6000
A special note: Families who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits can visit the museum any time throughout the year and pay just $1 per person (up to 10 family members) when they show their EBT card. Admission can not be paid with the EBT card; it is simply proof of program participation.
- Monday, January 4
- Sunday, January 24
- Monday, February 8
- Sunday, February 28
- Sunday, April 25 – Dia Del Nino
- Sunday, May 23 – Space Day
- Wednesday, June 30 – Free Night
- Wednesday, August 11 – Free Night
- Wednesday, September 1 – Free Night
- Monday, September 20
- Monday, October 4 – Out at the Museum: LGBTQ Community Day
- Saturday, November 6 – Night at the Museums
- Monday, December 6
Denver Zoo
2300 Steele St., Denver | (720) 337-1400
*On select Share the Love Days in 2021, the zoo is giving that love right back to their community with 125 FREE TICKET VOUCHERS for every 15-minute admission window. See how to win free tickets here.
A special note: Families who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits can visit the Zoo during the off-season (typically August through April) and pay just $1 per person (up to 10 family members) when they show their EBT card. Admission can not be paid with the EBT card; it is simply proof of program participation.
- January 16 – the lottery is January 6-8
- February 7 – the lottery is January 28-30
- February 14 – the lottery is February 4-6
- April 8 – the lottery is March 29-April 1
- Watch the website for future dates.
Four Mile Historic Park
715 S. Forest St., Denver | (720) 865-0800
- January 8th
- February 12th
- March 12th
- April 9th
- May 14th
- June 11th
- July 9th
- August 13th
- September 10th
- October 8th
- November 12th
- December 10th
History Colorado Center
1200 Broadway, Denver | (303) 447-8679
A special note: Families who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits can visit the Museum any time throughout the year and pay just $1 per person (up to 10 family members) when they show their EBT card. Admission can not be paid with the EBT card; it is simply proof of program participation.
- April 25
- August 1
- November 6 (from 5-10 pm)
Always Free: Aurora History Museum, Hudson Gardens, and Museum of Outdoor Arts.
Additionally, you can request free passes for a variety of area museums through the Culture Pass offered by your local library. Passes are for general admission for a specific day and are very limited in quantity.
Participating venues include Butterfly Pavilion, Clyfford Still Museum, Denver Firefighters Museum, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, History Colorado Center, Molly Brown House Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, and Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum.
