With July coming to a close, you might be strapped for cash trying to stretch your paycheck to the end of the month, but you don’t have to subject yourself to a week of boredom. There are plenty of budget-friendly Denver food and drink events to keep you entertained. You can go to a free cheese block party, do a restaurant crawl down Colfax for only $25 or attend any one of the affordable beer dinners. Even if you don’t have a lot of spending cash, you can find a way to have fun in the Denver food scene this week.

Monday, July 24

Parents’ Night Out

Photo courtesy of Tavern Lowry on Facebook

When: Monday, July 24, 5 – 8 p.m.

Where: Tavern Lowry — 7401 E. 1st Ave., Denver

Cost: Free Admission

The Lowdown: On Monday evenings, Tavern Lowry hosts arts and crafts classes for kids 12 years or younger while parents and older children eat. Each adult entree comes with a free kids’ meal. Parents must stay on site. 

Tuesday, July 25

Charity Night with Denver Urban Gardens

Photo courtesy of 10 Barrel Brewing Facebook

When: Tuesday, July 25, 5 – 9 p.m.

Where: 10 Barrel Brewing Company — 2620 Walnut St., Denver

Cost: Free Admission

The Lowdown: All profits made during 10 Barrel’s July charity night will go to Denver Urban Garden — a nonprofit that supports community through urban agriculture and nutrition education. This charity night will specifically go toward the nonprofit’s youth programs, which help empower children in need.

Tasty Colfax Restaurant Tour

Steve’s Snappin Dogs. Photo by Rachelle Foos

When: Tuesday, July 25, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Where: East Colfax from York St. to Colorado Blvd.

Cost: $25 — tickets here

The Lowdown: During this 9th annual block party, over 20 restaurants and bars along East Colfax will be offering up samples of its dishes and drink specials. Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs, Denver Biscuit Company and Cerebral Brewing will all participate in this restaurant crawl. Ticket prices increase by $5 the day of the event.

Champagne School Series

Lindsey Bartlett

Photo by Lindsey Bartlett

When: Tuesday, July 25, 6 – 7 p.m.

Where: Nocturne — 1330 27th St., Denver

Cost: $20 — tickets here

The Lowdown: Nocturne’s series of champagne classes will begin on July 25 with an introductory course. The class will be led by Nocturne’s co-owner and sommelier Scott Mattson and includes samples of four different champagnes and several small plates. This four-part series includes three $20 classes and a final $80 dinner.

Ignite Mixology Class: From Rosé to Frosé

Photo courtesy of Yelp Denver on Facebook

When: Tuesday, July 25, 6 – 7:30 p.m.

Where: Ignite Kitchen + Cocktails — 2124 Larimer St., Denver

Cost: $15 — tickets here

The Lowdown: Yelp Denver and Ignite Kitchen are teaming up to teach a class on how to make frosé — or frozen rosé. The class takes place on Ignite’s rooftop patio and includes two drinks and some light snacks. Tickets cost $15 for one or $25 for two, so invite a friend to get a discount.

Wednesday, July 26

Cheese Block Party

Photo courtesy of Cheese+Provisions on Facebook

When: Wednesday, July 26, 1 – 4 p.m.

Where: Cheese+Provisions — 2432 W. 44th Ave., Denver

Cost: Free Admission

The Lowdown: Oldways Cheese Coalition — a nonprofit hoping to preserve traditional cheesemaking — will be hosting a free cheese party. Cheesemakers and other small-batch food producers will gather outside of Cheese+Provisions to give out samples of its goods. The block party will also feature live music, beer and wine.

Thursday, July 27

Lala’s Beer Pairing Dinner

Photo courtesy of Lala’s Facebook

When: Thursday, July 27, 6 – 9 p.m.

Where: Lala’s Wine Bar + Pizzeria — 410 E. 7th Ave., Denver

Cost: $35 — reserve by calling 303-861-9463

The Lowdown: Each dish in this four-course dinner will be paired with a different beer from Odell Brewing Co. The beer dinner will begin with bacon-corn fritters paired with St. Lupulin Extra Pale Ale and finish up with peaches and cream custard paired with Sunny Rain Golden Tart Ale.

Beer & Cheese with Great Divide

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Photo by Alysia Shoemaker

When: Thursday, July 27, 7 – 9 p.m.

Where: The Denver Bicycle Cafe — 1308 E. 17th Ave., Denver

Cost: $20 — tickets here

The Lowdown: Great Divide’s cheese expert Nate Cougill has selected specific cheeses to go with different five-ounce samples of its beers. On top of choosing the samples, Cougill will lead a lesson on cheese. If you want to get a discount, you should buy tickets before the day of the event when the price increases to $25.

Friday, July 28

Denver Summer Brew Fest

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Photo by Alysia Shoemaker

When: Friday, July 28 and Saturday, July 29, 7 – 10 p.m.

Where: Mile High Station — 2027 Old West Colfax Ave., Denver

Cost: $35 – $45  — tickets here

The Lowdown: For $35, you can get into Denver’s Summer Brew Fest featuring live music and samples from over 40 breweries. To get in an hour early and experience an exclusive beer and cheese pairing, you can purchase the $45 VIP tickets. Both tickets will be $10 more expensive on the day of the event, but all proceeds will support Swallow Hill Music — a nonprofit that fosters community through music.

Saturday, July 29

Preserving with Tea

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Photo by Ryan Murphy

When: Saturday, July 29, 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Where: Tea Bar by Teatulia — 2900 Zuni St., Denver

Cost: $25 — reserve by calling 303-573-0710

The Lowdown: Every month, the Tea Bar hosts a different tea-centered class. This installment focuses on how to preserve fruit using tea. Kathy Lee — former owner of Modern Gingham preserves — will teach participants how to pickle peaches with tea as a flavoring agent. On top of trying several Teatulia Organic Teas, attendees will also take home a homemade jar of quick-pickled peaches, a variety of tea samples and preserving recipes.

Ghost Pepper Wing Challenge

Photo courtesy of Paramount Cafe on Facebook

When: Saturday, July 29, 6 – 7 p.m.

Where: Paramount Cafe — 519 16th St., Denver

Cost: $15 — reserve by calling 303-893-2000

The Lowdown: Considering ghost peppers are one of the hottest peppers in the world, this wing challenge seems like it might cost you more than just the $15 entry fee. However, whoever can eat the wing order the fastest will win prizes such as a cooler with Bluetooth speakers, cash and free beer.

Rebel Two Year Anniversary

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The whole lamb’s head at Rebel Restaurant. Photo by Danielle Herzog

When: Saturday, July 29, 6 – 11 p.m.

Where: Rebel Restaurant — 3763 Wynkoop St., Denver

Cost: Free Admission — reserve by calling 303-297-3902

The Lowdown: To celebrate two years of business, Rebel Restaurant will be hosting a karaoke night and serving up a special sushi menu. The menu will include sushi rolls with a twist such as a beet cured spicy tuna handroll with popped rice and sake-pickled cucumbers.

Sunday, July 30

Live Music and Brewsy Brunch

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Beer flight at Seedstock. Photo by Alysia Shoemaker

When: Sunday, July 30, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Where: Seedstock Brewery — 3610 W. Colfax Ave., Denver

Cost: Free Admission

The Lowdown: This Sunday is your last opportunity to take advantage of one of Seedstock Brewery’s July brewsy brunches. Starting at 11 a.m., Altitude food truck will begin serving a special brunch menu including tacos, burritos, chilaquiles and huevos rancheros. Seedstock will also provide beer all morning, and live music will start at 1:30 p.m.


Mark Your Calendars

Mariachi On The Rocks

When: Friday, August 4, 3 – 6:30 p.m.

Where: Crested Butte Mirror Palace — 32-38 Emmons Rd., Crested Butte

Cost: $20 — tickets here

Denver BrunchFest

When: Sunday, August 27, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Where: Civic Center Park — Broadway and Colfax Ave., Denver

Cost: $55 – $95 — tickets here