The last weekend of July is a strong one for COS families. There's a milestone birthday celebration, a final shot at the summer's most popular zoo event, a free backpack giveaway timed almost perfectly for the first day of school, and a handful of no-cost outdoor options scattered across the city. Here's what's worth knowing before the weekend starts.

For the full list of things to do with kids in Colorado Springs this weekend, including events updated through the weekend, visit Springs Daily. For specifically free things to do this weekend, that page surfaces the no-cost options. And for everything happening this weekend across the city, the main events feed has it all.

Colorado 150th Birthday Celebration at Pioneers Museum — Saturday, August 1 (FREE)

Colorado is celebrating its 150th birthday this year, and the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum is hosting a family celebration on Saturday, August 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event includes live music, food trucks, family activities, and birthday cake. Admission is free.

Colorado's 150th birthday — also called its sesquicentennial — is a once-in-a-generation occasion, and a free community event at a museum dedicated to the city's history is about as fitting a way to observe it as exists in COS. Kids who participate in this kind of civic celebration tend to remember it, even at a young age.

CMZoo Dog Days Friday — Friday, July 31

This is the last Dog Days Friday of summer 2026 at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. The event runs Friday, July 31 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and dogs are welcome — but canine tickets must be purchased in advance at cmzoo.org. Walk-up dog tickets are not sold at the gate. Adult admission is $34.75 (peak pricing), and children ages 3 to 11 are $29.75.

Dog Days Fridays are a summer staple for COS families with pets. If you've been planning to bring your dog to the zoo and haven't done it yet, this Friday is the final opportunity this summer.

Bear Creek Nature Center Evening Program — Friday, July 31

Bear Creek Nature Center is running an evening program for children ages 7 to 11 on Friday, July 31 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Activities include hiking, nature games, and hands-on learning. The cost is $25 per child ($20 for member children). This is a smaller, more structured program — registration or advance contact with Bear Creek Nature Center is recommended to confirm availability.

Hanging with Heroes — Saturday, August 1 (FREE)

Hanging with Heroes is a free outdoor event at the First and Main Town Center on Saturday, August 1. The event is no-cost for families and is one of several free weekend options this Saturday.

What's Next

Saturday is the big day for COS families this weekend — Backpack Bash Central opens at 9 a.m., the Pioneers Museum birthday celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Hanging with Heroes is also Saturday. D49 families should treat Saturday as their prep day: pick up a free backpack in the morning, and use the rest of the weekend to get everything ready for school on Monday. For D11 and D20 families, this is a lower-pressure weekend with more time before school starts — a good opportunity to enjoy one of these events without the first-day-of-school urgency. Check cosbackpackbash.com and cmzoo.org for any day-of updates.