1) Copper Mountain Resort, has FREE live music, fine art exhibition, free rodeo and kids’ corral, free street parties and even mechanical bull rides.  Make this  Labor Day (September 4-6) event is for the entire family.    Entertaiment by Michael Martin Murphey with Pat Flynn, America, Little Feat, the Richie Furay Band, Buckwheat Zydeco, Amanda Shaw and others performing on two stages.

2) There is the Taste of Colordado at downtown Civic Center Park.   The admission is FREE and there is just too much going on to list it all here.  Check out the taste web site or here is a list of the children oriented events and activities.

July 25, 2009 – July 26, 2009
Experience Colorado’s diverse Asian Pacific American heritage by showcasing traditional and contemporary performing arts, cultural customs, cuisine, arts and crafts, in addition to two days of action-packed dragon boat races.

Sloans’ lake is just north on Sheridan from Colfax.  It’s a drive for those in the south Burbs, but could be a lot of fun.

Enter FREE on Friday from 5-6 p.m. ($8 after 6 p.m.) and FREE again on Sunday morning before 11 a.m. with two non-perishable items for the Food Bank of the Rockies (weekend one-admission is regularly $10). Children 12 and under are  FREE all weekend. The festival festures Irish sports and dance, crafts, artisans, a cultural village and kids’ activities.

Hours are 5-11 p.m. on Friday; 11 .a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday. Robert E. Clement Park is at 7306 W. Bowles Ave.

(between S. Wadsworth and S. Pierce), Littleton.

Held in the southeast area of Denver’s City Park, the festival showcases African and African-American music and visual arts. More than 80,000 people are expected to attend this FREE event which also promises amazing food — like BBQ, jerk, shaved ice — from some of Denver’s top restaurants and chefs. Gospel, jazz, reggae, hiphop, jazz and African drum & dance are all on the schedule as well as a arts marketplace, children’s pavilion, and all-star comedy show.

Festival hours: Friday noon to 7 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. 303-719-9291.