Free Things to Do in Winter Park Colorado in Summer

Mud season is over and now you're ready to get out and play in Colorado's Rocky Mountains. If you are saving money with a "staycation" this summer and fall, there are plenty of things to do for free in Winter Park / Fraser. No need to be limited to any one area or activity. There is something for everyone!

Winter Park Resort Events
Winter Park Resort is well known for its downhill mountain biking action in summer. For those who choose not to partake of some single-track you are not left out. Come explore Winter Park Resort's free offerings in summer. You may want to bring a light jacket or chairs for the evening events.

Village Cabriolet - Bring the family and ride the lift between the Vintage parking lot and Winter Park Village for free. Maximum of 8 people per car.

Cowboy sing a long- Come crowd around the campfire outside the Discovery Center. Rediscover all those favorite campfire songs. Held every Tuesday late June through August. 4:30 - 6:30 PM.

Family Movie Night - Every Friday evening there will be a kid-friendly movie in The Village at Winter Park. Bring chairs and head to the lawn next to the Discovery Center. Movies start after sunset. July - Labor Day.

Wild Nights - Come discover the wildlife and plants of the Fraser Valley from the experts. Hear family friendly seminars by Rocky Mountain National Park, U.S. Forest Service, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Wild Bear Center for Nature Discovery, Colorado Field Ornithologists, and the Raptor Education Foundation experts. Held at the Gazebo Plaza from 4:30 - 6 PM every Wednesday, July through mid-August.

The Village Friday Music Series - Live music from 4:30 to 7:30 in the Discovery Center Plaza. Every Friday, July - Labor Day.

Star Safari - Come hear the experts from the CU Fiske Planetarium give a two hour astronomy program. Look through telescopes and identify stars. Select Thursday evenings.

Crankworx Colorado - Come witness action-packed downhill mountain biking. Spectators can watch all the action for free at the base area. The worlds best come to Winter Park to compete for over $35,000 in prize money. Don't miss the Slopestyle Finals. July 29th to August 1, 2010.

In Town - Winter Park & Fraser Activities
Winter Park and Fraser are essentially the same town and share many city services. Between these two mountain towns you'll have numerous free activities.

Fourth of July Celebration & Fireworks - Come to the community picnic and activities at the Fraser Valley Sports Complex in Fraser. The festivities start at 4pm and ends with a fireworks display.

Winter Park Craft Fair - Come explore the vendor booths scattered amongst the trees in the park space on the west end of town. One can find anything from fine art to folk art. This is a popular annual craft fair. Held August 14-15, 2010. Hours: 9am - 5pm.

Fraser River Days & Lumberjack Show - Celebrate the Fraser River and Winter Park's lumberjack history. Competitions will feature logrolling, axe-throwing, chainsaw cutting, and more. There will be guided hikes, raptor education seminars, and fly-fishing demonstrations. Free entertainment for the entire family.

Hideaway Park - Hideaway Park has been given a total facelift. It now has a concert amphitheatre, children's playground, large new restroom facilities, shelters, and a skate park.

Hideaway Park Concerts - Bring your blankets and chairs. There are quite a few free concerts scheduled for Hideaway Park. The Winter Park Music Festival and the High-Note Thursdays Concert Series.

Cooper Creek Square Events - Winter Park
- Music on the Mall - Free live music every Friday from 5-7 PM.

- Carriage rides - every Saturday.

- Free face painting - Saturdays, 12-3 PM, Sundays 11-3 PM

- Celebrate Father's Day - There will be live music, games, free entertainment, and much more. Sunday, June 20th, 2009. 12pm-3pm. All free.

- 9th Annual Ice Cream Social - Free ice cream, live music, face painting, photo booth, games, clowns, and more. Saturday, July 10th. Held from 1-4 PM. A favorite annual tradition in Winter Park.

- 4th Annual Labor Day Block Party - Come celebrate summers end with a bang in Winter Park. Bluegrass music and a variety of entertainment. Sunday, September 5th, 2010 1pm-4pm

Old School House Park in Fraser - Come hear free live music in Fraser at the Tuesday Picnic in the Park Concert Series from 5-7 PM in July. The park has a children's play area, picnic tables, and tennis courts.

Walk-Through History Park - Come learn about the early history of the Fraser Valley. Bet you didn't know that Jim Bridger came through the valley. There is a tribute to mountain man John Johnson whose life was the basis for the fictional character Jeremiah Johnson.

Winter Park Visitors Center - A must visit when you get to Winter Park. Pickup free restaurant menus, free mountain bike and trail maps, visitor guides, event schedules, restaurant coupons, and much more. Open daily, 9-5 MT U.S. Highway 40, Downtown Winter Park. 800.903.7275 Email: visitorcenter@playwinterpark.com

Fraser Visitors Center - 120 Zerex Ave., Fraser, 970.726.8312

Free daily newspaper - pick up your free copy of the Sky-Hi Daily News at one of the many kiosks around Winter Park Resort, Winter Park, and Fraser.

Free Pizza at The Winter Park Pub - A tradition at The Pub. Free pizza every Monday evening from 7-9 PM.

Fraser Valley Library - free wireless internet access, free use of computers, library cards are free for Colorado Library Card holders. Library card members can take advantage of the 'Check Out the Music Program'. It allows adult and child card holders to check out guitars, basses, keyboards, and drumpads through a program with the Grand County Blues Society. School-aged kids can also get free monthly guitar lessons through the Society.

Surrounding area activities
Being surrounded by Arapahoe National Forest has its advantages. Most of them are free too!

Cozens Ranch Open Space - Come biking, hiking, and wildlife viewing in this local park. Access points are from the Fraser River Trail, off Rendezvous Road, or from the Lions Ponds.

Rollins Pass Road - This historic railroad grade was formerly the highest railroad grade in North America until the line was abandoned upon completion of the Moffat Tunnel. The grade was then turned into a summer only passenger car road to Rollinsville. With the collapse of Needles Eye Tunnel in 1991, the complete route can no longer be made. Follow the signs with the train emblem up to the Continental Divide. This bumpy route is fine for cars till you reach treeline. High clearance four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended above treeline. The entrance is across the highway from the ski resort.

Hiking trails - Put on your hiking boots and come enjoy the great outdoors in Colorado's Rocky Mountains. Free maps of local trails can be picked up at the Winter Park Visitors Center.

Mountain biking trail system - Bring your bike and pick up a free map of the local mountain bike trails at the Winter Park Visitor Center. Come explore the Fraser Valley.

Wildlife viewing - The Fraser Valley is home to a variety of wildlife. Bring some binoculars and see elk, moose, mountain goats, raptors, black bears, mule deer, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, and white pelicans. Pick up a copy of the free Grand County GuestGuide to find the best viewing areas.

Think like a local when it comes to weather in Winter Park / Fraser. This is Colorado and the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Wait five minutes and you may experience Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter! It can snow any month of the year here. Lightening is also a hazard. It's best to be off high peaks by noon. Wildlife is generally harmless with a few exceptions - keep away from moose, and keep children in the middle of a hiking group. Mountain lions are more prone to attacking children hiking at the back of groups.

Playwinterpark.com
http://guestguidepublications.com/publications
Winterparkresort.com
http://coopercreeksquare.com/calendar.php
http://www.wplbo.com/julyevents.php
http://www.grand-county.com/calendar.html