Free Community Events This Summer!

Vol. 1, No. 4, 2025

Léalo en español

COMMUNITY EVENTS:

📅 CAC Meeting – Join us in person, food provided

Date: May 28 | Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

📍Location: National Western Center Authority, 5115 Race Ct, Denver, CO 80216

📅 We Don’t Waste, Food Market – Sign up 24 hours before!

Date: June 6 | Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

📍Location: National Western Center Authority, 5115 Race Ct, Denver, CO 80216

[Sign up here]

📅 Johnson Recreation Center Movie Night featuring “Night at the Museum”

Date: June 24 | Time: 7:00 PM

📍Location: Johnson Recreation Center, 4809 Race St., Denver, CO 80216

📅 Swansea Recreation Center Movie Night featuring “Sonic 3”

Date: July 3 | Time: 6:30 PM

📍Location: Swansea Recreation Center, 2650 E 49th Ave, Denver, CO 80216

📅 Peoples Market at The Center – FREE Campus Day with National Western Center and CSU Spur

Date: July 14 | Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

📍Location: Riverfront, 4780 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

CAMPUS EVENTS:

📅 International Jem & Jewelry Show

June 13: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

June 14: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

June 15: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

📍Location: Stockyards Event Center, 5004 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

📅 Punk in the Park

Date: July 18-20 | Time: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM

📍Location: The Yards, 5004 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

📅 Unhinged

Date: July 26-27 | Time: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM

📍Location: The Yards, 5004 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

📅Denver's Back to School Fest- Denver Days

Date: August 2 | Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

📍Location: Riverfront, 4780 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

EVENT CALENDAR

Click here for the Community Calendar.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Have ideas to make our commUNITY even better?

We're always looking for ways to grow, connect, and support one another. If you have suggestions, ideas, or feedback, we want to hear from you! Whether it's something small or a big-picture idea, your input helps shape a more inclusive and thriving environment for everyone.

Reach out to:

Lori Laurita

l.laurita@nationalwesterncenter.com

303-725-3447

Let’s build a stronger future together!

Interested in learning more or getting involved? Join us at the next CAC meeting, held on the last Wednesday of each month at the National Western Center Authority offices (5115 Race Ct., Denver, CO 80216).

VISIT OUR WEBSITE

Upcoming Procurement Opportunities at the

National Western Center

We’re preparing for an exciting year ahead and looking to partner with vendors to support operations across our growing campus. The National Western Center will soon be seeking proposals for the following services:

Campus & Event Security / Guest Relations – Including ushering, crowd control, and ensuring a welcoming experience for all guests.
Event Medics – On-site medical professionals to ensure the safety and well-being of visitors and staff during events.
Snow Removal Services – Reliable and efficient services to keep our campus safe and accessible all winter long.
Fleet Vehicles - RFP vehicles to support operations, staff mobility, and transportation across campus.
Parking App Solutions – User-friendly technology to help streamline guest parking and navigation.
Window Washing Services – Keeping our facilities looking sharp with professional, scheduled cleaning.
Janitorial Services – RFP to be issued as soon as possible. Cleaning and sanitation of public, event, and office spaces across the campus, with attention to sustainability, safety, and high-traffic area readiness.

If you're a vendor with experience in any of these areas, we’d love to hear from you! Email us at: procurements@nationalwesterncenter.com

We’re excited to invite you to be part of the debut season of the People’s Market at the Center, a new monthly community market hosted at the National Western Center in collaboration with CSU Spur’s Second Saturdays.

We’re curating a diverse lineup of vendors, including:

Art and handmade goods
Specialty packaged and prepared foods
Food trucks and beverage vendors
Wellness and lifestyle products
Community organizations and nonprofits

Space is limited, and applications are reviewed carefully to ensure a balanced, high-quality market that reflects the values of the National Western Center and GES neighborhoods. We encourage early applications for best consideration.

Be part of something meaningful.

Apply now to join this exciting new chapter in community-centered events at the People’s Market—where culture, creativity, and connection come alive.

https://bonfireeventco.com/market/peoples-market-at-the-center/

We’d love to see your business represented at the Market!

CSU Spur Activities

Family Cooking Class: Caribbean Night (paid registration)

Dates: June 7 & June 27

Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Location: Terra @ CSU Spur, 4780 National Western Drive

Family Cooking Class: Culinary Herd Highlights (paid registration)

Date: June 26

Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Location: Terra @ CSU Spur, 4780 National Western Drive

2nd Saturday: Plant Sale & Pollinators Celebration

Date: June 14

Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Location: CSU Spur, 4780 National Western Drive

CSU Spur Event Calendar

Want to stay in the loop? Follow us on social for all the latest updates!

FREE Ticket Giveaways!

If you’re interested in attending any of the events listed below, email Lori Laurita at l.laurita@nationalwesterncenter.com to get your tickets. We’ve got a limited number of FREE tickets available for upcoming events at the Stockyards Event Center just for our community - Spots filled in order of registration!

Punk in the Park Tickets

July 18–19, 2025

Stockyards Event Center

Click here to sign up for free Punk in the Park tickets

Unhinged Fest Tickets

July 26-27, 2025

Stockyards Event Center

Click here to sign up for free Unhinged Fest tickets

THE LOCAL SCOOP: Community Resources

In partnership with We Don’t Waste, the May Food Market, we served a total of 3,351 individuals.

Breakdown of those served:

737 Families
840 Children
38 Households from the 80216-zip code

Next Food Market

June 6 | 11 AM – 1 PM

National Western Center (5115 Race Court, Denver)

Spots must be reserved- visit wedontwaste.org for details.

Join us for the People's Market kick-off, June 14th. In collaboration with CSU Spur and second Saturdays, we are hosting a monthly Riverfront market, FREE and open for all!

📅 Date: Saturday, June 14, 2025

🕙 Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

📍 Location: Riverfront, 4797 National Western Dr., Denver, CO. 80216

This market will feature vendors offering:

Art and handmade good
Specialty packaged and prepared foods
Food trucks and beverage vendors
Wellness and lifestyle products
Community organizations and nonprofits

This isn’t your typical vendor market. The People’s Market is designed to reflect the rich diversity of our region and is rooted in values of equity, inclusion, and cultural connection. We’re creating an intentional space where small businesses, artists, food entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and community groups can share their work, tell their stories, and connect directly with the public in a welcoming, family-friendly environment.

🔗 Learn more: bonfireeventco.com/market/peoples-market-at-the-center

Help us spread the word! Everyone is welcome, and no registration is required.

You're Invited: Denver’s Back to School Fest – Saturday, August 2nd!

Two of the city's most cherished back-to-school events are joining forces for one incredible celebration. The Silva Family Foundation’s Back to School Festival at Sloan’s Lake and Birdseed Collective’s celebration at GES are teaming up with Denver Days to host a citywide event designed to support families and students as they head into a new school year.

Join us for a fun, resource-filled day that brings our community together!

📅 Date: Saturday, August 3, 2025

🕙 Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

📍 Location: National Western Center, 4797 National Western Dr., Denver, CO. 80216

This free, family-friendly event will feature:

Free backpacks and school supplies for students
Health and wellness resources
City and community resources
Live music and performances
Fun games and activities for all ages

We’re bringing together city agencies, nonprofits, and community partners to support Denver families with everything they need to start the school year strong. Everyone is welcome, and no registration is required.

🔗 Learn more: denvergov.org/denverdays

Let’s come together, celebrate community, and set our students up for success!

Text Platform

Community Connection Space at the NWC Hub

The National Western Center’s new Hub offers a free community connection space, available for community groups, organizations, and residents to use. Whether you're planning a meeting, hosting a workshop, or throwing a celebration, this versatile space is perfect for bringing people together within our community. It’s the perfect place to connect, collaborate, and create great experiences.

To reserve your space or for more details email, Lori Laurita at l.laurita@nationalwesterncenter.com.

Volunteer Spotlight:

At this year’s Mother’s Day Mother Earth Celebration, we’d like to give a special shoutout to Chris Harm, who generously volunteered his time to support our sustainability initiatives.

Chris helped direct waste disposal and took the time to educate attendees on where their waste goes, making a real impact and helping us all stay mindful of our environmental footprint. Thank you, Chris!

Mother's Day, Mother Earth Celebration Recap

Thank you to everyone who made this event one to remember! We’re grateful for our incredible sponsors, partners, and community members who came together to celebrate mothers and our planet! From local vendors to hands-on activities and vibrant performances, it was a day filled with connection, celebration, and sustainability.

Watch the recap video below!