CHEAP CHECKLIST>>
Rocky Mountain Record Show
Vinyl is back in a big way. And for music collectors, it’s a dream come true at the Rocky Mountain Record Show on April 6 and 7 at The Denver Sports Castle (1000 Broadway). The show brings more than 75 vendors together to offer more than 150,000 records in a fun atmosphere, celebrating collecting culture. While the show focuses on vinyl, there will be other recorded media for sale, as well as music memorabilia and ephemera. Shop to the tunes of vinyl-only DJS on site. A full bar and food trucks will also be available. Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $10 on Saturday. If you’re on a budget, entry is free on Sunday. However, you must RSVP in advance, with a two-ticket limit. rockymountainrecordshow.com
Dairy Queen BOGO Blizzard
DQ fans, get ready for a blizzard of new treats and savings. The ice cream shop is offering a special deal for Blizzard fans. Customers can enjoy a buy-one-get-one free Blizzard from April 1 to 14. DQ just introduced three new limited-time seasonal flavors for its 2024 Summer Blizzard Treat menu: Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Party, Picnic Peach Cobbler and Ultimate Cookie. The BOGO is a sweet excuse to try out the new flavors or returning favorites from previous years. The offer is only available via the DQ app. dairyqueen.com
Shredding and recycling at Northfield
Get your spring cleaning started at The Shops at Northfield (8340 Northfield Blvd.) in Denver by shredding old documents and recycling electronics on April 6. The free event runs from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Drive-up mobile units will be in the East parking lot, between Off Broadway and Old Navy. The trucks will be on site until they are full or the event ends, whichever occurs first. Note: There is a $50 fee on box-style TVS. Plus, paint recycling will be offered from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the same location. shopsatnorthfield.com/events
Boulder County Farmers Market
Sunny skies mean farmers markets are on the list again for a leisurely weekend adventure. Boulder County Farmers Markets kicks off the season on April 6, when its Boulder and Longmont locations open with a bounty of locally grown fresh produce, fruit, meats, locally produced packaged goods, plants and more. It’s an opportunity to support local farmers and the community, as well as take home fresh produce at reasonable prices. Each week enjoy live music, kids crafts, first-tasteof-the season product sampling and more. Customers shopping with SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) receive up to $20 in additional incentives to purchase Coloradogrown fruits and vegetables. bcfm.org
Colorado State Button Society’s Annual Button Show
Zip over to the Colorado State Button Society’s Annual Button Show at Embassy Suites by Hilton (4444 Havana St.) in Denver on April 13 and 14. Crafters and collectors alike can explore thousands of vintage, antique and contemporary buttons displayed by dealers from across the United States. There are also educational displays, programs and crafts. Society members will be on hand to answer your burning button questions. Plus, find lots of unique buttons for sale. The buttoned-up affair runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Admission and parking are free. coloradobuttons.com/events
Arvada Kite Festival
The Arvada Kite Festival is set to fill the skies on April 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Stenger Soccer Complex (11200 W. 58th Ave.). The high-flying event will thrill all ages with the artistry of kite flying and friendly competition. Bring your own kite or buy one on-site. When you aren’t looking up, there will be plenty of fun to enjoy on the ground, including entertainment, more than 70 local vendors, kids’ activities, kite demos, food trucks and more. Gates open at 9:45 a.m. No dogs or barbecue grills allowed. Admission is free and parking is first-come, first-served. Those who ride a bike can use the complimentary bike valet. arvadafestivals.com/ arvada-kite-festival
Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day
Everyone screams for ice cream — even more when it’s free. To thank customers, Ben & Jerry’s sets aside a day every year to happily scoop its popular ice cream at no cost. This year’s annual Free Cone Day is on April 16 from noon to 8 p.m. Enjoy a complimentary scoop at the company’s Scoop Shops. Get there early or prepare for long lines. Lick a long-time favorite or try one of the ice cream giant’s new limited-time flavors. There are three participating shops in Colorado: Boulder (203 Pearl St.); Denver (2339 E. Evans Ave.) and Fort Collins (1 Old Town Square). benjerry.com/ scoop-shops/free-cone-day
Record Store Day
Get ready for the largest single-day music event in the world. Record Store Day is April 20 with local record shops offering discounts, free gifts, giveaways and entertainment. However, the day is really all about introducing hundreds of new releases on vinyl by big-name stars, as well as new artists — all supporting the resurgence of vinyl and the real brickand-mortar record store. Because all stores are independently owned, each store sets its own celebratory hours, events and giveaways. In the Denver metro area, participating stores include Angelo’s CDS & Records, Black & Red, Chain Reaction Records, Twist & Shout and Wax Trax Records. However, there are more locations throughout Colorado. Check each store’s website for details and hours. recordstoreday.com
Swap N’ Sip
Upcycled clothing is all the rage. You can join the trend at Swap N’ Sip, a clothing swap at Town
Hall Collaborative (525 Santa Fe Drive) in Denver. On April 20, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., shop the swap and customize your new finds. The cost of entry is one bag of adult-size clothing in good condition or $15 (collected at the door). Make sure what you bring has no excessive pilling or pet hair, is freshly washed and is from a smoke-free home. Entry includes full access to shop the swap and to a DIY “upcycle” station to bleach, tie dye, crop, block print or add a patch to your new finds. The clothing swap is free of gender, but please no children or babies clothing. All leftover items will be sorted and donated to charity. fruitsofourlabor. co/2024-swap-n-sip
Boulder Bike Swap
Looking to upgrade your bike gear at a discount or have the kids outgrown their bikes? The Boulder Junior Cycling Bike Swap is on April 21 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Boulder Elks Lodge (3975 28th St.) The free event is open to the public for the buying and selling of cycling gear for all ages. Commonly sold items include bikes of all kinds, wheels, bike shoes, pedals, helmets, pumps, bike racks and more. Those wishing to get rid of unwanted gear have two options: donate your gear to Boulder Junior Cycling or sell it on consignment. Drop off gear to sell on April 20 (from 4 to 6 p.m.) or April 21 (from 10 a.m. to noon) at the Boulder Elks Lodge. Unsold gear must be picked up on Sunday between 4 and 6 p.m. after the swap. Items must be in good to excellent condition and no more than five years old. boulderjuniorcycling.org/bike-swap
Lakewood’s Earth Day Celebration
Lakewood hosts its Earth Day Celebration with lots of family fun for all. The event takes place on April 27 at Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park (801 S. Yarrow St.) with live music, entertainment, educational exhibits, family activities and more, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Kids, adults and pets can wear their favorite plant or animal costume to participate in the Parade of Species. Other activities include animal yoga, a costume contest and photo ops with Smokey Bear. The celebration is also an opportunity to test drive an electric vehicle and ask owners about their experience. Enjoy lots of local vendors and food trucks, too. lakewood.org
Tulip Fairy & Elf Festival
No need to go to Holland to see tulips in a rainbow of colors. Just head to Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall, where more than 15,000 tulips will be blooming in time for the annual Tulip Fairy and Elf Festival on April 28 from 1 to 5 p.m. The free, family-friendly event features the Tulip Fairy fluttering among all the little ones dressed as fairies and elves. Activities include face painting, kid-friendly performances, crafts projects, entertainment, foam sword dueling and more. Plus, don’t miss the photo-worthy Tulip Fairy parade, leaving from the performance stage at 1:45, 2:45 and 3:45 p.m. Parking is free on Sundays at all Boulder municipal garages and street meters. boulderdowntown. com/events/tulip-festival