Denver Art Museum Family-Friendly Programming: Día del Niño Celebration, Create & Play, Summer Camps, and More!

Denver Preschool Program (DPP) is grateful to continue partnering with Denver Art Museum (DAM) by offering a fun, interactive celebrity book reading at DAM’s 23rd Annual Día del Niño (Day of the Child) Celebration on Sunday, April 27, 2025. DAM’s Día del Niño Celebration is an annual event that features music, live dance performances, and bilingual activities in celebration of all children. 

Since 2011, DPP has offered a live celebrity book reading as part of the celebration. The book reading is in Spanish and English, and attendees receive a free copy of the book to take home. 

“We love working with DPP as we try to make the celebration inclusive of all forms of art,” said Clara Ricciardi, Senior Spanish Language and Community Engagement Liaison at DAM. “The reading and sharing of resources with families makes the event a cohesive experience for all.” 

Throughout the years, DPP has hosted celebrities including former Denver7 News Anchor Jessica Crawford, KNRV Radio Host Rodolfo Cardenas, and Voice of the National Western Stockshow Luis Canela, to read during the Día del Niño Celebration. DPP is also on hand throughout the day to answer questions about preschool tuition credits. 

“The day is about connecting with different communities, and the shared experience DPP creates by reading the book and interacting with families really fosters that connection,” Ricciardi said. “We appreciate the collaboration with DPP and look forward to partnering for years to come.”  

DAM’s 23rd Annual Día del Niño Celebration is from 10 am–5 pm on Sunday, April 27, 2025. Admission is free for everyone on April 27 as one of DAM’s annual free days. Admission for children 18 and under is always free at the Denver Art Museum. 

Family-friendly Activities and Programming at Denver Art Museum 

DAM’s Día del Niño Celebration is just one of the many examples of how Denver Art Museum creates engaging, interactive family-friendly activities. 

“We strive to continue to earn the trust and loyalty of families throughout Colorado and the Mountain West Region as a national leader in family-friendly programming,” said Grace Hanover, Associate Director of Youth & Community Engagement at DAM. “We want to break down preconceived notions of museums being static, stuffy, and quiet by making art interactive and engaging.” 

Family-friendly programming at DAM is continually evolving to meet the needs of children and families. Thanks to Bellco Credit Union’s support, admission to DAM is free for kids 18 and under year-round. 

“We know that art and creativity are essential to brain development, social-emotional learning, and more,” Hanover said. “Our programming aims to ensure that there is something for every age and there are plenty of opportunities for engaging with and making art, not just viewing it.” 

DAM’s family-friendly programming geared toward preschool-aged children includes: 

• Sensory-Friendly Mornings: Developed for children with neurodiversity or sensory processing disorders, this quarterly event is held at 9 am (an hour before the museum opens) on the second Sunday of the month in April, July, October, and January. With dimmed lights, reduced sounds, and extra support for a safe, sensory-friendly experience,  Sensory-Friendly Mornings offer an opportunity for people of all ages to connect in a comfortable environment. Programming is offered in English and Spanish. Admission is free but registration is required. Learn more and register for the upcoming Sensory-Friendly Morning on Sunday, April 13. 
• Create & Play: Great for children ages 0-5, Create & Play is a fun opportunity to combine time in the museum’s galleries with artmaking and performance art. Offered from 10am-12pm on the third Thursday October through May, Create & Play will incorporate a short, interactive theater program starting in May. Admission for children is always free at DAM. Adults will need to pay for DAM general admission. Registration for Create & Play is required. 
• Summer Camps: It’s never too early to start thinking about summer camps. DAM offers a variety of camps for children ages 5-14. Art and nature, patterns, and mixed media are just some of the fun themes for DAM’s 2025 Summer Camps. 
• Foxy and Shmoxy: Art Detectives: Find a clue, offered in both English and Spanish, and experience art in new ways with Foxy and Shmoxy on the second Sunday of each month from October through May. With two performances, one at 10:30 am and another at 11:30 am, children and their caregivers start the fun by reading a clue in the fox box located in either the Hamilton Building or Martin Building entrances. 

“In general, even when we don’t have a special program, we have a lot of physical spaces that are perfect landing pads for families, like the Hamilton Building’s Wild Studio and the Creative Hub in the Martin Building,” Hanover said. “Almost every floor has a connection point for families and tactile engagement opportunities.” 

Learn more about family-friendly activities and programming DAM offers year-round. And don’t forget to join Denver Preschool Program at DAM’s 23rd Annual Día del Niño Celebration from 10 am–5 pm on Sunday, April 27, 2025.