7 Free Things to Do Around Colorado This January

Fitness and Dance Fest | January 1
Whether you’re embarking on new fitness goals in 2020 or just looking to try something new, kick off your new year at the East Boulder Community Center’s Fitness and Dance Fest—a day dedicated to getting up and moving, with the chance to sample any of the classes the center offers. So if some yoga is calling your name to decompress after the holidays, or you’re dying to try ballroom dance or logrolling, there’s an activity for any age or ability level (and even free childcare for the day, if you’re looking to get more of a solo workout in.) East Boulder Community Center, 5660 Sioux Drive, Boulder; 8 a.m.–4 p.m.; Find schedule information and register for the event online

Women’s Bean Project Tour | January 3 
Celebrate 30 years of empowering women with the Denver nonprofit Women’s Bean Project, which has strived toward exactly that, creating employment opportunities to break Colorado women from the cycle of poverty. Take a tour of the facility to see the nonprofit’s mission at work, sample the tasty tidbits made and sold by the Women’s Bean Project (anything from baking mixes to healthy snacks and more), and hear firsthand from CEO Tamra Ryan and one of the women working for the Project. 3201 Curtis St; 12–1 p.m.; Find more information and RSVP online

Bloodies & Bluegrass | January 4, 11, 18 & 25
Warm up your weekend with some live Bluegrass and Americana sounds at Mile High Spirits’ weekend tradition—a laid-back, family friendly affair with a rotating lineup of local artists like Buffalo Commons, the Wrecklunds, and the Blind Pigs. Come for the free tunes, or splurge for a $20 wristband for bottomless Bloody Mary’s to really start your Saturday on a spicy note. 2201 Lawrence St; 12–5 p.m.; Find more information online

The Subjective Lens – Through the Eyes of Veterans | January 11 through February 15
We might never be able to walk a mile in veterans’ shoes, but this showcase at the Colorado Photographic Arts Center offers the chance to see the world through their lenses. The collection of photos features work from 10 Denver-area artists who have all served in the U.S. military and participated in CPAC’s Veterans Workshop Series—a free, five-month program of photography courses offered to veterans interested in the visual medium. 1070 Bannock St; Find more information on opening reception and daily viewing hours online 

Stillness: Meditation in the Galleries | January 12
Find your zen in the new year with the monthly guided meditation sessions amongst the art at the Clyfford Still Museum. Open to anyone with or without prior meditation experience and led by experts from Zen Center of Denver and the Shambhala Meditation Center of Denver, these sessions offer the perfect chance to clear your mind after a hectic holiday season. Clyfford Still Museum, 1250 Bannock St; 8:45–10:00 a.m.; To register, get tips, and find more information on what to expect, visit their website

X Games Aspen | January 23–26
Catch some of the world’s top winter sports athletes in action as they compete in skiing, snowboarding, snow biking, and more. The gravity-defying competitions and mind-blowing stunts are free to watch—or you can opt to spend a little extra to get in on the other festival hype, with tickets to live performances throughout the weekend from artists like Rae Sremmurd and Alesso. Buttermilk Ski Area, Aspen; Find competition schedule and more information online

Breckenridge International Snow Sculpture Championships | January 20–29
Witness competitors from all around the world turn Colorado’s preferred precipitation into massive works of frozen art at Breckenridge’s 30th annual International Snow Sculpture Championships. The 16 teams will converge from around the globe to hand-carve the 20-ton blocks of snow into unique works of their imagination and transform historic downtown Breckenridge into a winter wonderland gallery. Riverwalk Center, 150 West Adams Ave, Breckenridge; Find more information on viewing schedule and events online