In addition to simply being a beautiful place to explore, Colorado State University has tons of free stuff to do, ranging from a variety of performances to art galleries.
To help you explore everything CSU has to offer, here’s a list of different activities that are either free or very cheap for students and the community alike.
Free stuff to do at the University Center for the Arts
This CSU building, located at 1400 Remington St., houses numerous free arts and history exhibits. The building itself was the original Fort Collins High School from 1924 to 1995, and there’s still lots of history and memorabilia remaining in the original location of the Lambkins.
These days, the building is used for CSU performing arts and design students.
Read on to see all of the free exhibits and performances open to CSU students below:
Gregory Allicar Museum of Art
Free to all visitors, this art museum includes over 10,000 square feet of gallery space and constantly shifting exhibits from artists of all time periods, geographies and cultures, guaranteeing a full day of free entertainment.
See what exhibits are currently displayed on their website.
Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising
The Avenir features three galleries displaying clothing from all over the world as old as the 19th century, and as recent as this semester’s CSU design students’ projects. It also hosts free lectures, clothing mending events, and more.
Check out what they have to offer on their website.
School of Music, Theatre and Dance
Most students are aware that they can reserve CSU athletics tickets for free, but did you know this is also true for CSU School of Music, Theatre, and Dance performances?
Check out their events calendar here, and save your spot for the next free symphony, dance recital, play and more.
CSU Flower Trial Gardens
This colorful outdoor display is in bloom from late May to October. Located right in front of the UCA, the gardens are a great way to spend a sunny day smelling the flowers, observing pollinators and chatting with other visitors.
More info about the garden’s history and purpose is on its website
Free stuff to do at the Lory Student Center
Like its name suggests, the LSC is a center for many student activities and resources. It’s home to guest speakers, events, community lounge areas and more – meaning there’s almost always something going on in this campus building like …
Art displays
The LSC has three full galleries, and additional art pieces spread throughout all three floors of the building. See more details on LSC galleries and collections here.
Public events
The rentable rooms on the 300 level of the LSC constantly host free events, including various fairs, club meetings and guest speakers.
Most events can be found on the University Events Calendar.
Free museums near the CSU Campus
Museum of Art Fort Collins
This art museum is completely free for CSU students, as well as anyone under the age of 18.
The museum is located in the heart of Old Town at 201 S. College Ave. – right above Blue Agave Grill. With rotating exhibits, free community events for all ages and the annual fundraising community art event known as “Masks,” this museum always has something worth checking out.
More information is available on their website.
Global Village Museum of Arts and Culture
Located just a 20-minute walk from the CSU campus at 200 W. Mountain Ave., this museum includes exhibits, art and archeological artifacts from cultures all over the world. For just $3 (ok, this one isn’t totally free but it’s pretty cheap), students with an ID can experience a wide variety of exhibits celebrating diverse perspectives and global understanding.
Find more information here.
First Friday Art Walk
From 6-9 p.m. on the first Friday of every month, Old Town Fort Collins hosts a self-guided art walk showing off a variety of works from local artists. This event is a great way to explore the downtown area, support some local artists and hang out with the wider community.
Here are all the details.
