June is almost here and with that — lots of summer festivities and activities are going on around town! Get the kiddos excited to complete summer reading challenges or spend the afternoon at the Denver Chalk Art Festival.

Lafayette Library Summer Reading Kickoff Concert 

Where? 311 South Public Road
When? May 30th

Kick off summer reading goals in Lafayette at Festival Plaza this Thursday. Jeff and Paige will perform a set to get the party started! The reading challenge runs from June 1st through July 31st, giving young readers two months to complete their personal goals. Not only does this make for a fun opportunity to earn books, it can turn reading into a regular habit and there will be Saturday special events to keep kids engaged throughout the summer. Kiddos ages 0-17 are welcome to participate and can pick up either the Passport Challenge or enroll in the Beanstalk Challenge. Ages 18 and older can sign up online for the Beanstalk Challenge.

PRO Tip: Students can set and track their reading goals throughout the summer, as well as log minutes, books, and other events and activities to earn points and badges. For every 10 points earned, the reader will win a book prize.

Park Lights and Movie Nights: The Marvels

Where? 12000 East 6th Avenue
When? May 30th

Kick the weekend off a little bit early this week with Park Lights and Movie Nights under the stars in Del Mar Park in nearby Aurora on Thursday. This free family-friendly movie event begins at 6:00 PM and attendees are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets, and treats from home so they can get cozy and enjoy the entertainment. For the upcoming event, there will be a half-hour of live musical entertainment before the movie that begins around 5:15 PM. No animals are allowed at the movie night, with the exception of service animals. The location changes each week, so keep an eye on the schedule for upcoming screenings of Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, and a Barbie finale in Larkspur Park on June 13th.

PRO Tip: Bags are subject to inspection at the park. Please leave all glass bottles and outside alcohol at home.

Garden Bros Nuclear Circus 

Where? 13801 Grant Street
When? May 30th – June 9th

Don’t miss an opportunity to check out the Garden Bros Nuclear Circus coming to town in Thornton at the Denver Premium Outlets. For general admission seating, one free kid’s ticket is valid per paid adult, and seating is first-come, first-serve unless you’ve upgraded to VIP. This action-jammed 100 minute performance features the human slingshot, wheel of death, human cannonball, and motorcycles in the sphere of fear. All of the circus classics! Performers include clowns, back-flipping dogs from America’s Got Talent, and even Olympic gymnasts. There is also a kid’s fun zone with circus ponies, a giant slide, a rock wall, and a bouncy house.

PRO Tip: No outside food and drink are allowed and bags may be subjected to a search upon entering the climate-controlled big top arena. Plenty of food is for sale on-site, with classic fare eats and sweet treats such as funnel cakes, cotton candy, and snow cones!

Little University: Family Yoga

Where? 1498 North Irving Street
When? May 31st

Participate in this family yoga activity at Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales Branch Library in Denver this Friday between 10:30 AM and 11:00 AM. Suitable for ages birth to 5 accompanied by an adult, this Little University session explores connection through a series of mindfulness activities, as well as fun stretches and relationship-building partner poses. The yoga “class” will take place on the first floor of the library, in the Lena Archuleta Community Room. As always, Little University activities are free to the public.

PRO Tip: This is not a drop-off activity. Instead, parents or caregivers are asked to remain with their children to participate with them, as this yoga session is designed as a bonding activity. If any sign language interpretation or other accommodations are needed, requests can be made via the programs department of the Denver Library.

Seedlings: Edible Flowers

Where? 1007 York Street
When? May 31st

Denver Botanic Gardens is hosting another addition to the Seedlings series — this time, children will learn how some flowers are not only beautiful, they can be useful, and even pretty tasty! The group will explore which flowers are fit for human consumption and there will be an opportunity to taste test a few. Friday’s classes will be held at 9:15 AM and 10:30 AM for children between the ages of 18 and 24 months. Wednesday and Thursday, May 29th and 30th, also have Seedlings time slots for age groups ranging from 24-36 months and 3-6 years.

PRO Tip: If this is your first visit to a Seedings activity, these classes are designed to be hands-on for kiddos to develop an understanding and appreciation of plants and their importance within our lives. The program has both indoor and outdoor components, so dress for the weather and wear something that can get a little dirty!

Game Night at iCode Cherry Creek 

Where? 760 South Colorado Boulevard Unit J
When? May 31st

This Friday, iCode Cherry Creek is hosting a game night for kiddos who love to play Minecraft, Roblox, Fortnite, and other popular games! Parents can drop the little ones off for a night of fun and excitement, as well as new friends and pizza! The cost of game night is $40 per kid and includes dinner. The event runs from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM and there are 20 slots available — so make sure to get yours booked if your kid doesn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to show off their gaming skills.

PRO Tip: If your child enjoys the iCode Game Night, consider enrolling them in a free 1-hour robotics class at the facility. These classes are great for ages 5-15 and there are openings on May 29th, 30th, and June 1st. This is a great way to introduce young students to robotics and STEM concepts.

Joy Park Workshop: Adventure Forest Immersion

Where? 2121 Children’s Museum Drive
When? June 1st

Guests of the Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus are invited to meet the “Council of Creatures” this Saturday and work to decode a secret language. Attendees will take a deep dive into the story of the 500-foot-long adventure course and immersive art installation and challenge themselves to conquer the zipline and brave the 70-foot slide after climbing to the tip top of the lookout. Adventure Forest Immersion is scheduled for 3:00 PM to 4:15 PM — grab your tickets now!

PRO Tip: To ensure everyone’s safety, Adventure Forest will close if there is inclement weather. All participants must be 44 inches or taller OR at least 5 years or older on the date of the immersion experience.

Fun at the Firehouse

Where? 1326 Tremont Place
When? June 1st

This week’s Fun at the Firehouse will be held at 10:00 AM at the Denver Firefighters Museum. The cost of attendance is $15 per child, which includes the program as well as admission to the museum. Families are encouraged to take the time to explore exhibits after the activity wraps up with a free guided tour of the museum for the whole family. Accompanying adults and seniors are free with paid admission. The activity is set to last for approximately one hour on Saturday.

PRO Tip: Reservations are required to participate in Fun at the Firehouse. This allows event organizers to ensure that there are appropriate amounts of supplies for that day’s craft project. When signing up for the event, there will be a place to input how many people will be attending — both children and adults.

Denver Chalk Art Festival

Where? 123 West 12th Avenue
When? June 1st & 2nd

Over 150 artists are expected to participate in this year’s Denver Chalk Art Festival! This festival began in 2003 and has recently relocated to the Golden Triangle in 2022. Come check out this exciting artwork display in the creative district this weekend from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The festivities will take place rain or shine, though artists will pause their work if it begins to rain. The event takes place two blocks from Civic Center Park and there will be a youth challenge taking place where area schools and youth groups can compete for cash prizes! Little ones are invited to the kid’s corner where they can draw their own temporary masterpieces from 10-6 daily.

PRO Tip: Those planning to ride their bikes to the Chalk Art Festival will find bike corrals throughout the Golden Triangle district, as well as protected bike lanes on 14th Avenue. There are several vehicle parking lots near the event, including a garage on 12th Avenue and Broadway.

Dinosaur Express Train 

Where? 17155 West 44th Avenue
When? June 1st & 2nd

Dinosaurs are making a comeback to Golden! Hop aboard the Dinosaur Express Train on Saturday and Sunday, June 1st and 2nd. Spot dinosaur tracks along the railroad at the Colorado Railroad Museum. The ride itself spans a half-mile circle, with the express train departing the station every half-hour from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Children can track down dinosaur footprints across 15 acres of property, with replica model trains, locomotives, rail cars, and cabooses spread throughout. There will be dinosaur-themed activities hosted by Dinosaur Ridge, as well as a visit from the museum’s mascot — Spike, the Railroad Dog, and the beloved Mr. Bones. Attendees can enjoy food, drink, and sweet treats available for purchase.

PRO Tip: Capacity at this event is limited, so book your tickets ASAP to ensure you get a spot onboard the Dinosaur Express Train! Ticket prices cost $7 for kids ages 2 to 17 and $14 for adults. Members of the museum and little ones under the age of 2 ride for free.

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical 

Where? 9900 East Colfax Avenue
When? June 1st (Recurring)

Aurora Fox is excited to announce their newest musical performance — The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical! Beginning on Saturday, June 1st, and running through Sunday, June 23rd, there will be plenty of time to catch one of the showings of your kiddo’s favorite book series based on Greek mythology legends. Performances are set to run on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2:00 PM. In the musical, Percy Jackson will be on a time crunch to find Zeus’s stolen lightning bolt and bring peace back to Mount Olympus. In order to succeed, your favorite half-blood will have to work with his sidekicks to solve riddles and complete his quest before time is up.

PRO Tip: The musical will have you on the edge of your seat with dazzling special effects and a raucous pop-rock score — so make sure to grab some popcorn! The musical is designed to be appropriate for all ages. Tickets range in price from $17 for kiddos 12 and under to $30 for adult mezzanine seats.

Joy Park Workshop: Camp Throwback

Where? 2121 Children’s Museum Drive
When? June 2nd

On Sunday, join your friends at Denver’s Children’s Museum for another rendition of the popular Joy Park Workshop series. Camp Throwback is an outdoor event that introduces kiddos to the world of summer camps. Activities will include creating friendship bracelets, learning helpful outdoor tips, tricks, and skills, and making delicious snacks in a solar oven. This event is best suited for participants ages 3 and up. Camp Throwback is scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM and wrap up at 2:00 PM.

PRO Tip: Can’t make it to Sunday’s Camp Throwback event? No worries. There’s another one scheduled for June 22nd — so mark your calendar now and start getting the little one excited to meet new friends at “camp!”