As summer approaches, Denver parents can rest assured that their children and families will have ample entertainment opportunities! If you’re searching for ideas or a place to start, look no further than our varied list of the top 2023 summer events for kids in Denver.
From captivating camps to family-friendly activities, the Mile High City has a plethora of options to make the season enjoyable for everyone!
Explore our selections below to make the most of your summer break!
Parents and their little ones will discover the wonders of nature and explore books that tell the stories of the natural world, the garden, and their own backyard.
Stick around afterward to check out the adventure packs or pick out some books to read at home.
Location:
Denver Botanic Gardens York Location
DATES:
Saturdays, Now through October, 10:30 AM
Dinosaur Ridge Camps are an unforgettable adventure for kids ages 5-13!
These camps keep kids moving and discovering in the incredible setting of a National Natural Landmark. These experiences are designed to foster excitement and wonder for science, art, and the outdoors while engaging in a hands-on educational curriculum.
Location:
Dinosaur Ridge
DATES:
May 29 through August 11 | Daily from 9 AM to 3 PM
Experience Denver Botanic Gardens without the crowds during Summer Low Sensory Mornings.
This therapeutic horticulture program is intended to give individuals and families who prefer a quiet, less-crowded environment a chance to experience the Gardens with limited attendance.
Location:
Denver Botanic Gardens York Location
DATES:
June 24 | July 29 | August 19 | September 2 | 8 AM
During these ArtSPARK Camps, kids will go outside 3 times a day for lunch/snack and creative play (once a day for Preschool+K Camps).
Camps feature teacher-guided and student-led classes designed for your creative child!
Location:
artSPARK Creative Studio
DATES:
Monday-Friday 9 AM- 3 PM | 1st-5th grade: JUNE 12-16 / JUNE 19-23 / JUNE 26-30 / JULY 24-28 | 5th-8th grade: JUNE 5-9 / JULY 17-21
These Camps feature animal experiences, zoo expeditions, and hands-on, camper-driven exploration.
This Summer, kids should escape the ordinary and go WILD with Safari Camp at Denver Zoo.
Location:
Denver Zoo
DATES:
Running Weekly: June 5 – August 11, 9 AM- 4 PM
During this summer camp, kids ages 8-14 will learn how airplanes, helicopters, and experimental aircraft fly and talk to pilots who fly them!
Aviation-related projects and flight simulators make this camp something special for young aviators.
Location:
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
DATES:
Monday, June 5 to Friday, June 9 | 9 AM- 3 PM
Location:
Denver Art Museum
DATES:
Monday- Friday, 9:30 AM- 3:30 PM | June 5- July 28
Summer Day Camps at The Denver Museum of Nature and Science get brains and bodies moving!
Kids will learn and play as they experiment, create, build, ask questions, and develop a knowledge of and passion for science.
Location:
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
DATES:
June 5 – June 16 | June 20- June 23 | June 26 – August 4 | 9 AM-3:30 PM
This is a 4-day camp in which little chefs will cook many sweet and savory comfort foods, with something to please everyone—mac and cheese, homemade chocolate pudding, and pretzel bites with cheese sauce, to name a few.
Location:
Three Wishes Cooking School
DATES:
June 5-8, 10 AM- 12 PM or 1:30- 3:30 PM
During this summer camp, kids ages 8-14 will start the summer off with a blast!
Campers will learn about programming and building rockets and drones. Campers will use the engineering design process to build and launch rockets and fly small drones in a safe and responsible way.
Location:
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
DATES:
Monday, June 5 to Friday, June 9 | 9 AM- 3 PM
From plant cells to the global conservation of rare plants, kids ages 8-12 will delve into the world of botanical secrets at the Gardens.
In this week of camp, campers will learn all about what plants need to thrive.
Location:
Denver Botanic Gardens York Location
DATES:
June 12-16, 9 AM – 4 PM
During this summer camp, kids ages 8-14 will get to plot a course for aviation adventure with pilots and aviation industry professionals.
Campers will learn how to preflight an actual airplane, marshall aircraft, plot a cross-country flight, use flight simulators, and more!
Location:
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
DATES:
June 12- 16, 9 AM- 3 PM
During this session of Seedlings, families with children ages 18 months to 6 years will explore the Home Harvest Garden with their taste buds and discover how salad is more than lettuce.
Location:
Denver Botanic Gardens York Location
DATES:
Ages 3-6 years: Tuesday and Wednesday, June 13, June 14, 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM | Ages 24-36 months: Thursday, June 15, 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM | Ages 18-24 months: Friday, June 16, 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM
Prepare to discover a whole new world at Disney’s Aladdin, the hit Broadway musical.
From the producer of The Lion King comes the timeless story of Aladdin, a thrilling new production filled with unforgettable beauty, magic, comedy, and breathtaking spectacle. This is a nice plan for a summer evening!
Location:
The Buell Theatre
DATES:
June 13- 18. 7:30 PM
During this Garden Camp, kids ages 6-8 will explore plants from root to seed and grow their love of gardening!
Campers will learn all about what plants need to thrive.
Location:
Denver Botanic Gardens York Location
DATES:
June 12-16, 9 AM – 4 PM
During this summer camp, kids ages 8-14 will learn how to build and program a variety of LEGO robotics missions and fly amazing drone challenges.
Aerobots are perfect for exploring technology and having A BLAST!
Location:
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
DATES:
June 12- 16, 9 AM- 3 PM
The Annual Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates Japanese heritage and culture through live entertainment, food and drink, a marketplace, and informative exhibits and demonstrations.
Fans of taiko drumming, teriyaki chicken, sake, and Japanese artwork and wares won’t want to miss the Cherry Blossom Festival – “Sakura Matsuri” in Japanese.
Location:
20th and Lawrence Streets
DATES:
June 17, 11 AM – 6 PM |June 18, 11 AM – 4 PM
From art and buildings to food and medicine, kids ages 6-12 will explore the ways that plants have helped people around the world for thousands of years.
They will also plant a container garden full of useful flora to take home.
Location:
Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms
DATES:
June 19-23, 9 AM- 4 PM
Kids ages 8-14 will learn the basics of building, repairing, and flying a variety of drones.
Additionally, campers will get started understanding what it takes to become a professional drone pilot!
Location:
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
DATES:
June 19- June 23, 9 AM- 3 PM
During this 4-day camp, kids ages 5-12 will learn a variety of baking techniques, including how to make cream horns, scones, pop-tarts, and more!
Location:
Three Wishes Cooking School
DATES:
June 19 – 22, 10 AM- 12 PM or 1:30 PM- 3:30 PM
During this Make and Take, families will discover how plants communicate with pollinators at the Gardens and BEE inspired to create a pollinator-friendly feeder to take home!
Location:
Denver Botanic Gardens York Location
DATES:
June 25, 9:30 AM or 11 AM
During this summer camp, kids ages 8-14 will learn more about space travel, rocket design, and what it takes to live on the moon.
What does it take to live on the moon and explore Mars and more? These are the questions NASA and the engineers and scientists with the Artemis project seek to answer.
Location:
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
DATES:
June 19- June 23, 9 AM- 3 PM
Little chefs will be making everyone’s favorite comfort food—pretzel bites with homemade cheese sauce!
Location:
Three Wishes Cooking School
DATES:
June 24, 10:30 AM- 12 PM
During this Garden Camp, kids ages 6-12 will get lost in the mystical world of plants while creating flora-inspired artworks.
Campers will explore plant mythologies, hone their artistic skills, and plant a magical mini garden to take home.
Location:
Denver Botanic Gardens York Location
DATES:
June 26-30, 9 AM- 4 PM
During this summer camp, kids ages 8-14 who are interested in flying will learn about the four forces of flight and build and fly a ton of different aircraft including models, gliders, paper airplanes, kites, and more.
Location:
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
DATES:
June 26- June 30, 9 AM- 3 PM
During this Farm Camp, kids ages 6-12 will explore the Hildebrand Ranch and learn about life on a farm. Campers will meet the farm animals, learn what it takes to make vegetables grow and discover how everything we eat is connected to the farm.
Location:
Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms
DATES:
June 26-30, 9 AM- 4 PM
During this session of Seedlings, families with children ages 18 months to 6 years will investigate the power of the sun!
Location:
Denver Botanic Gardens York Location
DATES:
Ages 3-6 years: Tuesday, June 27 and Wednesday, June 28: 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM | Ages 24-36 months: Thursday, June 29, 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM | Ages 18-24 months: Friday, June 30, 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM
During this Garden Camp, kids ages 8-12 will delve into the world of botanical secrets at the Gardens.
In this week of camp, they learn all about what plants need to thrive and help take care of the gardens and plant their own mini garden to take home.
Location:
Denver Botanic Gardens York Location
DATES:
July 10-14, 9 AM- 4 PM
During this summer camp, kids ages 8-14 will learn the basic tools for generating 3D models and 3D-printed objects as well as unique and interesting aerospace art projects.
Location:
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
DATES:
July 10- July 14, 9 AM- 3 PM
During Summer Fun Food, kids ages 5-12 will focus on the best foods of summer, like homemade ice cream, pasta salad, and all kinds of foods for a picnic.
Location:
Three Wishes Cooking School
DATES:
July 10 – 13, 10 AM- 12 PM or 1:30 PM- 3:30 PM
From art and buildings to food and medicine, kids ages 6-12 will explore the ways that plants have helped people around the world for thousands of years.
Plant a container garden full of useful flora to take home!
Location:
Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms
DATES:
July 17-21, 9 AM- 4 PM
This summer camp for kids ages 8-14 is all about tech!
Campers will learn how to design, build and launch model rockets using 3D printing technology to create fins, nose cones, and more! Campers will also program and code LEGO robotics to accomplish out-of-this-world missions!
Location:
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
DATES:
July 17- July 21, 9 AM- 3 PM
Kids ages 6-12 will discover the wonders of water and aquatic habitats during this week of Farm Camp!
Campers will immerse in nature along the banks of Deer Creek and the wetland ponds while observing frogs, insects, and birds of prey.
Location:
Denver Botanic Gardens York Location
DATES:
July 17-21, 9 AM- 4 PM
Kids ages 5-12 will enjoy a perfect summer treat—homemade ice cream and Snickerdoodle cookies!
Location:
Three Wishes Cooking School
DATES:
July 15, 10:30 AM- 12 PM
During this session of Seedlings, families with children ages 18 months to 6 years will discover the smell, feel, and color of the lovely lavender plant.
Location:
Denver Botanic Gardens York Location
DATES:
Ages 3-6 years: Tuesday, July 11 and Wednesday, July 12: 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM | Ages 24-36 months: Thursday, July 13, 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM | Ages 18-24 months: Friday, July 14, 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM
This summer camp for kids ages 8-14 is a combination of Mad Max and Frankenstein!
Leonardo Da Vinci, Burt Rutan, Elon Musk, Richard Branson, and others share a vision of unique aerospace ideas. Campers can use this inspiration to design, build and paint model aircraft to meet creative design specs.
Location:
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
DATES:
July 17- July 21, 9 AM- 3 PM
During this camp for kids ages 6-12, kids will immerse in nature at the Gardens and explore the connections to local habitats and global ecosystems by learning about the different gardens in-depth through nature play, science experiments, and art projects.
Location:
Denver Botanic Gardens York Location
DATES:
July 17-21, 9 AM- 4 PM
During this session of Seedlings, families with children ages 18 months to 6 years will peek into the depths of Pipsqueak Pond to discover water plants and animals!
Location:
Denver Botanic Gardens York Location
DATES:
Ages 3-6 years: Tuesday, July 18 and Wednesday, July 19: 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM | Ages 24-36 months: Thursday, July 20, 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM | Ages 18-24 months: Friday, July 21, 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM
Kids will get lost in the mystical world of plants while creating flora-inspired artworks during this camp!
They will explore plant mythologies, hone their artistic skills, and plant a magical mini garden to take home.
Location:
Denver Botanic Gardens York Location
DATES:
July 24-28, 9 AM- 4 PM
Campers will explore constellations, galaxies, legends, rocketry, telescopes, moons, aliens, and more.
They will learn about NASA, rovers, and what it takes to become an astronaut.
Location:
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
DATES:
July 24- 28, 9 AM- 3 PM
This session is perfect for new or returning chefs (AGES 512).
Kids will practice knife skills and kitchen safety while creating delicious dishes using seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Location:
Three Wishes Cooking School
DATES:
July 24 – 27, 10 AM- 12 PM or 1:30 PM- 3:30 PM
During this session of Seedlings, families with children ages 18 months to 6 years will meet the lemon and explore citrus trees as they learn how to make their tart fruit into a sweet refreshing treat.
Location:
Denver Botanic Gardens York Location
DATES:
Ages 3-6 years: Tuesday, July 25 and Wednesday, July 26: 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM | Ages 24-36 months: Thursday, July 27, 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM | Ages 18-24 months: Friday, July 28, 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM
During this summer camp, kids ages 8-14 will learn more about aircraft of the past, present, and future.
Designed for campers interested in aviation careers, military aircraft, or who are captivated by movies like “Top Gun: Maverick”.
Location:
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
DATES:
July 31- August 4, 9 AM- 3 PM
Kids will explore the Hildebrand Ranch and learn about life on a farm.
They will meet the farm animals, learn what it takes to make vegetables grow, and discover how everything we eat is connected to the farm.
Location:
Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms
DATES:
Jul 24-28, 9 AM- 4 PM
During this session of Seedlings, families with children ages 18 months to 6 years will explore the many wonders, big and small, of the sunflower.
Location:
Denver Botanic Gardens York Location
DATES:
Ages 3-6 years: Tuesday, August 1 and Wednesday, August 2: 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM | Ages 24-36 months: Thursday, August 3, 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM | Ages 18-24 months: Friday, August 4, 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM
Kids will get to create miniature lands for their mystical garden friends!
They will discover which plants fairies fancy as they design, plant, and, landscape a tiny fairy oasis.
Location:
Denver Botanic Gardens York Location
DATES:
August 5 and 6. 10 AM and 1 PM
During this summer camp, kids ages 8-14 will learn how airplanes, helicopters, and experimental aircraft fly and talk to pilots who fly them!
Aviation-related projects and flight simulators make this camp something special for young aviators.
Location:
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
DATES:
August 7- August 11, 9 AM- 3 PM
This camp will have the chefs (ages 5-12) making all kinds of kid favorites (grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken nuggets, etc.) and then adding their personal twist on a variety of dips!
Location:
Three Wishes Cooking School
DATES:
August 7 – 10, 10 AM- 12 PM or 1:30 PM- 3:30 PM
During this session of Seedlings, families with children ages 18 months to 6 years will discover how berries have a tasty way of putting color into the world.
Location:
Denver Botanic Gardens York Location
DATES:
Ages 3-6 years: Tuesday, August 8 and Wednesday, August 9: 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM | Ages 24-36 months: Thursday, August 10, 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM | Ages 18-24 months: Friday, August 11, 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM
During this summer camp, kids ages 8-14 who are interested in flying will learn about the four forces of flight and build and fly a ton of different aircraft including models, gliders, paper airplanes, kites, and more.
Location:
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
DATES:
August 7- August 11, 9 AM- 3 PM
During this session of Seedlings, families with children ages 18 months to 6 years will take an up-close look at an ear of corn and discover its many unusual uses!
Families will discover its artful side and explore the parts and creative uses of the corn plant.
Location:
Denver Botanic Gardens York Location
DATES:
Ages 3-6 years: Tuesday, August 22 and Wednesday, August 23: 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM | Ages 24-36 months: Thursday, August 24, 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM | Ages 18-24 months: Friday, August 25, 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM
During this session of Seedlings, families with children ages 18 months to 6 years will explore the life cycle of a butterfly and discover the magnificent monarch!
Location:
Denver Botanic Gardens York Location
DATES:
Ages 3-6 years: Tuesday, August 29 and Wednesday, August 30: 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM | Ages 24-36 months: Thursday, August 31, 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM | Ages 18-24 months: Friday, September 1, 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM
For this class, chefs aged 5-12 will be making peach cobbler with sweet, juicy Palisade peaches, topped with homemade creme anglaise.
Location:
Three Wishes Cooking School
DATES:
August 12, 10:30 AM- 12 PM
During this session of Seedlings, families with children ages 18 months to 6 years will explore the sounds of nature and the music of plants!
Location:
Denver Botanic Gardens York Location
DATES:
Ages 3-6 years: Tuesday, August 15 and Wednesday, August 16: 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM | Ages 24-36 months: Thursday, August 17, 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM | Ages 18-24 months: Friday, August 18, 9:15 AM or 10:30 AM
During this class, kids ages 5-12 will make delicious homemade chicken nuggets and a dip with their choice of ingredients.
Location:
Three Wishes Cooking School
DATES:
August 12, 10:30 AM- 12 PM
