That is why a free day at the zoo on Tuesday was such a great opportunity for the Walker family to go and bring a big group of friends along.

“It’s great. It is a huge savings. That is why the kids got to bring their friends!” said Antoine Walker.

Judy Lichtbach and Jane Wilson spent Tuesday afternoon walking around the zoo. They say watching the animals beats watching their investment portfolios tank.

“I went to work today and watched the market drop 300 then 500 points. It occurred to me that it was a free day at the zoo so I thought I would come enjoy my tax dollars at work. I would rather watch the real predators and the prey than the investors and Wall Street,” said Lichtbach.

The Denver Zoo offers a number of free days through the year. The next one is on Sunday, Nov. 2.

The Botanic Gardens in Denver offers a free day on Oct. 18.

On Oct. 22, you can go to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science for free.

No admission will be required for anyone who wants to visit the Denver Art Museum on Saturday, Nov. 1.

The Denver Mint offers free tours everyday. You can see how money is made without spending any.

You can also tour places like Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Dinosaur Ridge for free.

Many local bars and restaurants provide free music or trivia nights. Squire Lounge in Denver offers free comedy every Tuesday night.

Every day is free day at the Denver Central Library, and other libraries in the state.

“During tough economic times libraries all over the state see an increase in the number of people using the services,” said Denver Library spokesperson Celeste Jackson.

In addition to books, it offers music, movies and free Internet service to the public.

“They can all be borrowed for free. We have every genre you could think of and a huge selection of movies. It is the best deal in town,” said Jackson.

There are also after school programs for children, story times and craft days. There are adult programs too, like cooking and gardening workshops and classes to learn computer skills. All of them are free.

We know that communities all over the state offer other wonderful opportunities to have fun without spending any money. We invite you to share your favorites on the comment section.

The Web site for the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District also lists all the free days for their organizations at http://www.scfd.org.?page=home&sub=4.

Suite101.com offers free sightseeing activities or outdoor pursuits you can enjoy in Denver.

Another site that offers suggestions for free events is http://www.thescen3.org/. Click on the “free” ticket on the home screen.

Click here for more free event ideas.