English Bulldog Puppies for Sale in Denver, CO

The warm weather’s back, and this week looks hot. Although the major St. Patrick’s Day events were this past weekend, the celebrations will continue today at Denver’s Irish bars. And spring will arrive on Friday (although it feels like we’ve barely had winter).

For more options, check our list of activities worth the price of admission. Now keep reading for free things to do in Denver (and beyond) this week.

This Week

Ireland in MotionDaily through March 31, dusk until midnightDaniels & Fisher Tower, 1601 Arapahoe StreetNight Lights Denver is projecting Ireland in Motion every night this month on the D&F Clock Tower. Ireland in Motion weaves together seven motion works by artists with a connection to Ireland; curator Rian Kerrane is a native of Ireland who immigrated to the U.S. over thirty years ago and teaches art at the University of Colorado Denver. “March is a time when everyone is Irish,” Kerrane explains. “There is a celebratory spirit that overtakes people with St. Patrick’s Day.”

Boulder County Recycling Center 25th Anniversary CelebrationTuesday, March 17, 9 a.m. to noonBCRC Education Room, 1901 63rd Street, BoulderThe Boulder County Recycling Center is celebrating 25-years of operations with several events, including this open house with a free showing of the movie The Lorax starting at 10:30 a.m. You’ll be able to take self-guided tours, visit educational booths and enjoy hot chocolate and coffee, too.

Intro to Kink for SeniorsTuesday, March 17, 2 to 3 p.m.The Sexploratorium, 1800 South BroadwayDesigned specifically for older adults, this workshop acknowledges changing mobility, sensitivity,and stamina while celebrating the depth of experience that comes with age. The class will discuss how to adapt intensity, prioritize comfort and negotiate play, practical safety considerations and techniques for temperature play, light impact, restraint improvisation,and teasing anticipation — all using items you likely already own.

Colorado Democratic Party Fireside ChatTuesday, March 17, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., onlineThe Colorado Democratic Party is hosting a virtual fireside chat with Colorado gubernatorial candidates Michael Bennet, Phil Weiser and Erik Underwood, as well as U.S. Senate candidates John Hickenlooper and Julie Gonzales. RSVP.

East Colfax Neighborhood Association MeetingTuesday, March 17, 6 p.m.The Street Frat, 8720 East Colfax AvenueIn 2025, the Fax Partnership conducted surveys of the East Colfax resident and business communities as five-year follow-ups of surveys conducted in 2020. At this gathering, the East Colfax community will discuss the results, and what residents do to stay resilient in 2026.

St. Patrick’s Day with Caitirona and Ré Nua Irish DanceTuesday, March 17, 7 to 10 p.m.Roxy on Broadway, 554 South BroadwayTwo dance schools come together in a modern showing of this traditional Irish art form. Admission is free; dinner and drinks will be available.

Caravan of Hope: Free Legal Services for the LGBTQ+ CommunityWednesday, March 18, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.The Center, 1301 East Colfax AvenueThe Caravan of Hope team will be at the Center on Colfax to provide free legal services for the LGBTQ+ community, whether it’s name changes, estate planning, simple divorces, legal questions or SAVE Act OD compliance help.

The Narrators: AdaptationWednesday, March 18, 8 p.m. doors at 7:30)Buntport Theater, 717 Lipan StreetThe city’s longest storytelling series devotes its March edition to the theme “Adaptation.” Hosted by Erin Rollman, Andrew Orvedahl and Ron S. Doyle, comedians, actors, writers and other fascinating folks will share true stories from their lives. You can buy a name-your-price ticket or sit on the floor for free; learn more and listen to the podcast at thenarrators.org.

Beyond the Western HorizonThursday, March 19, 5 to 8 p.m.Madden Gallery at Museum of Outdoor Arts, 6363 South Fiddlers Green Circle, Suite 110, Greenwood VillageThe Museum of Outdoor Arts is hosting an opening reception for Beyond the Western Horizon, an exhibit featuring 21 artists and 60 artworks depicting aspects of the American West — people, animals, landscapes and objects — in paintings as long as sculptures and mixed-media artworks. The artists include Edward Aldrich, Raj Chaudhuri, Lorenzo Chavez, Maeve Eichelberger, Ian Fisher, Bruce A. Gómez, David Kammerzell, Buffalo Kaplinski, Andrea Kemp, Corbett Kesler, Crystal Latimer, Amy Laugesen, Michael Magrin, William Matthews, Patrick Oates, David Sherwin Parker, Craig Marshall Smith, Robert Spooner, Daniel Sprick, Clyde Steadman and David Uhl. “Our exhibition will display a range of artworks from nostalgic, romantic cowboys to contemporary cityscapes executed in Realism or Expressionism. We’re exhibiting an array of sculptures: glazed clay horses, Plexiglass saddles and cast longhorn skulls encrusted in thousands of tiny glass beads,” says MOA founder Cindy Madden Leitner. “We invite visitors into Madden Gallery to drift and to dream among inspired and inspiring artworks branded by the aesthetic of American West.”

Student Installation ShowThursday, March 19, 6 to 8 p.m.Latino Cultural Arts Center, 1420 Ogden Street Suite G2For two years, the Latino Cultural Arts Center has been working with students to create immersive, full-environment installations designed to be entered and experienced — not purchased, not hung on a wall — for a one-night-only show.

Colorado Black Round Table Women’s History Month CelebrationSaturday, March 21, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.Zion Senior Center, 5151 East 33rd AvenueJoin the Colorado Black Round Table with a reception, recognition ceremony and panel discussion on “Black Women’s Perspectatives and Intergenerational Issues.” There will also be a candidates’forum.

Ongoing

Locations and dates varyThanks to the sales tax you pay into the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, many arts institutions around the metro area offer occasional free days and programs. On Friday, March 20, you can visit the CELL for free; there’s no admission charge at the Denver Botanic Gardens Plains Conservation Center in Aurora on Saturday, March 21. And mark your calendar for a free day at the Carousel of Happiness in Nederland on Monday, March 23. For more bargains, check the SCFD site.

Colorado State Capitol ToursMonday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.200 East Colfax Avenue|The Capitol is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free guided tours are available, but limited to thirty people on a first come, first served basis. Check in at the Visitor Information Desk, which opens at 9 a.m.

America 250 – Colorado 150Through 2026Around the stateHappy 150th birthday, Colorado! On August 1, 1876, Colorado became a state, and there will be celebrations all year — at the same time this country is celebrating its 250th anniversary. You can find a full list of the activities at Am250CO150.org, but don’t miss the already-open exhibits at the History Colorado Center: Moments That Made US, 38th Star: Colorado Becomes the Centennial State, and the new John Fielder show, Majestic Mountains.

Thornton Yesterday, Thornton Today, Thornton TomorrowDaily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Thornton Arts & Culture Center Annex, 9211 Dorothy BoulevardWhen Sam Hoffman purchased the land that would one day become the City of Thornton and began building homes in 1954, he envisioned a thriving community that could stand on its own — a dream realized just two years later when Thornton officially became a city in 1956. Thornton is celebrating its seventieth anniversary with Thornton Yesterday, Thornton Today, Thornton Tomorrow, an exhibit that opened January 5 and runs through the year.

Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways Photography Exhibit Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.Sangres Art Guild’s 3^rd Street Gallery, 59000 Highway 69, WestcliffeStart your celebration of Colorado’s sesquicentennial with a visit to Westcliffe, which just opened a show of 52 photographs taken along Colorado’s Scenic and Historic Byways. Frontier Pathways, Custer County Tourism and the Sangres Art Guild are hosting the Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways exhibition through April 19, with a Welcome Spring reception on March 21. Learn more at visitwetmountainvalley.com.

“We Are the Land” Denver’s YouTubeOn February 7, Landmark Preservation staff and the American Indian community celebrated the culmination of more than three years of work to preserve and celebrate the history and culture of Denver’s current American Indian population, as well as Tribal Nations with cultural and historic ties to the land that is now Denver, with the oral history project “We are the Land: American Indian Life, Legacy and Future in Denver.” The project includes an accompanying documentary produced by Off the Road Productions, “We Are the Land,” which is now available on Denver’s YouTube channel.

Plan ahead

The Future in Motion: A Community Transit Town HallMonday, March 23, 5 to 6:30 p.m.Servicios De La RazaRTD’s district C is the focus of this final community town hall on Denver transit issues. While the focus is on west and north Denver, anyone from the city is welcome to come discuss RTD and transit in general. A light dinner will be provided, as will transit passes. RSVP here.

Songwriters at the SpeakeasyTuesday, March 24, 7 to 9:30 p.m.Roxy on Broadway, 554 South BroadwayLongtime musician (and sometime Westword contributor) Marty Jones has started a songwriter speakeasy with Baggs Patrick, who ran the famed open-mic at Cricket on the Hill for three decades. Next up: Patrick will host songwriters Evan VK and Sarah Moranville. The evening is held twice monthly in the intimate basement space at the Roxy, and there’s no cover.

Table of Contents

Denver, Colorado, continues to emerge as one of the most attractive U.S. markets for franchise development. With steady population growth, a highly educated workforce and a business-friendly environment, the city supports a wide range of franchise categories, including food and beverage, health and wellness, home services and education.

As more residents relocate to the Denver metro for its quality of life and job opportunities, entrepreneurs are finding strong consumer demand and favorable market conditions. With a and continued expansion across industries like technology, aerospace and healthcare, Denver offers franchisees both stability and long-term growth potential.

Why Start a Franchise in Denver

. This influx of new residents — particularly young professionals and families — continues to fuel demand for everyday services, dining and lifestyle brands.

The region’s economy is diverse and resilient. Key industries include technology, energy, aerospace, healthcare and tourism, creating a strong employment base and consistent consumer spending. .

Denver’s culture also plays a major role. With an emphasis on health, wellness and outdoor living, the market is particularly well-suited for fitness concepts, better-for-you dining, pet services and home improvement brands. At the same time, suburban expansion across areas like Aurora, Lakewood and Centennial is creating new territory opportunities for service-based franchise models.

Featured Franchise Opportunities in Denver

The following 1851 Franchise brands are expanding in Denver and the surrounding Colorado market:

TruBlue, a senior-focused home services franchise, is well-positioned for Denver’s aging population and increasing demand for aging-in-place solutions.

Caring Transitions, a leader in senior relocation and estate services, is expanding in Colorado as demographic trends like “Peak 65” continue to reshape service demand.

Pet Wants, a pet health and nutrition franchise, aligns with Denver’s pet-friendly culture and is targeting expansion in markets with strong demand for premium pet products.

Children’s Lighthouse is growing nationwide and targeting high-income suburban markets like Denver, where demand for early education continues to rise.

Sola Salons, a salon suite franchise, continues to expand in lifestyle-driven markets like Denver, where independent beauty professionals are seeking flexible ownership opportunities.

Popular Industries for Franchises in Denver

Why Invest Through 1851 Franchise

1851 Franchise offers more than just a directory of brands. Through its , prospective franchisees gain access to tools, insights and guidance designed to simplify the franchise discovery process.

Growth Club helps entrepreneurs evaluate their goals, investment level and preferred industries while connecting them with brands that align with their vision. This is especially valuable in a competitive and fast-growing market like Denver, where multiple industries present strong opportunities.

In addition, 1851 Franchise provides in-depth brand pages that go beyond surface-level information. These pages include investment ranges, leadership insights, development strategies and franchisee experiences, giving users a clearer understanding of each opportunity.

For those looking to invest in Denver, 1851 serves as a centralized platform to explore, compare and connect with brands actively expanding in the region.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best franchise opportunities in Denver, Colorado?

Denver offers strong opportunities across food and beverage, health and wellness, home services and child education. Brands that align with the city’s active lifestyle and growing population tend to perform particularly well.

How much does it cost to start a franchise in Denver?

Costs vary depending on the concept. Service-based franchises may require lower initial investment, while restaurant and brick-and-mortar concepts typically require higher capital for buildout and real estate.

Which industries are growing in Denver for franchises?

Health and wellness, home services, pet services and fast-casual dining are among the fastest-growing franchise categories in the Denver market.

How can I apply for a franchise opportunity?

You can visit a brand’s franchise development page on 1851 Franchise to learn more and submit an inquiry, or use Growth Club to get matched with opportunities that fit your goals.

Explore Your Options Today

Denver offers a dynamic, growing market for franchise investment, with strong demand across multiple industries and expanding opportunities in suburban territory.

Explore franchise opportunities on 1851 Franchise and take the next step toward building your business in Denver.

Every great franchisee had help buying a franchise. Want to learn more about how 1851 helps franchisees find the right opportunity? Visit and start your journey.

DENVER — Winter returned to Colorado overnight Saturday, just days before near 90-degree temperatures are expected to arrive in the Mile High City.

Most of the metro area picked up 2-3 inches of much-needed snow as a strong cold front moved in, producing a brief burst of snow.

Meanwhile, the Palmer Divide area saw a stronger impact, with 3-5 inches of fresh snow in some locations.

As a result, a winter weather advisory is now in effect for the Palmer Divide.

In addition to the metro and Palmer Divide areas, mountain areas experienced intense snow squalls with whiteout conditions.

By 7 a.m., snowfall had ended across Denver and the Front Range, leaving cloudy skies and cold temperatures.

Even as snow tapers off, very strong winds will continue on the plains through midday, gusting 50–55 mph, possibly higher near the I‑70 corridor, before easing this afternoon.

Looking ahead, a steady warming and drying trend will take hold, with near-90-degree temperatures expected later in the week.

Here are the latest snow totals reported to the National Weather Service as of Sunday morning. Scroll down for 24-hour snow reports from Colorado ski resorts.

3 SSW Castle Pines, CO 3.9

4 ESE Foxfield, CO 3.7

3 E Monument, CO 3.7

4 NE Nederland, CO 3.5

3 WSW Aurora, CO 3.2

2 W Lone Tree, CO 3

Woodland Park, CO 3

1 NNE Edgewater, CO 2.7

2 NNW Sheridan, CO 2.5

2 SE Buffalo Creek, CO 2.5

5 S Manila Village, CO 2.3

4 WSW Arvada, CO 2.2

1 W Wheat Ridge, CO 2.1

5 SSE Air Force Academy, CO 2.1

1 NE Littleton, CO 2

3 NNW Sheridan, CO 2

2 N Black Forest, CO 2

3 NW Columbine, CO 1.9

3 W Westminster, CO 1.8

2 ESE Lakewood, CO 1.8

2 NE Cherry Hills Villa, CO 1.5

4 ENE Cedar Point, CO 1.5

2 ENE Vail, CO 1.2

1 WSW Aurora, CO 1.2

1 WNW Boulder, CO 1

2 W Vail, CO 1

1 SSW Denver Intl Airpo, CO 0.9

2 N Lyons, CO 0.5

Hugo, CO 0.5

2 N Longmont, CO 0.4

1 SSW Fort Collins, CO 0.1

3 SSE Laporte, CO 0.1

COLORADO SKI AREA SNOW REPORTS

Eldorahttps://www.eldora.com/the-mountain/conditions-weather/current-conditions-forecast

Keystonehttps://www.keystoneresort.com/the-mountain/mountain-conditions/snow-and-weather-report.aspx

Loveland Ski Areahttps://skiloveland.com/snow-report

Steamboat https://www.steamboat.com/the-mountain/mountain-report

Winter Parkhttps://www.winterparkresort.com/the-mountain/mountain-report

Wolf Creek Ski Areawolfcreekski.com/wcs-snow-report/

Copyright 2026 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

When Thornton enacted a Stage 1 drought declaration last week, it became the first city in metro Denver to place a mandatory twice-weekly limit on outdoor watering for the upcoming hot season. But the northern suburb likely won’t be the last.

Metro cities and utilities are starting to lay out various defensive strategies against what has become a crispy-dry 2026, starting with an alarmingly warm and dry winter in Colorado that’s been marked by one of the worst snowpacks in recorded state history.

Denver Water, which serves 1.5 million people, could follow a similar track to Thornton’s by month’s end. Aurora Water, which is relied upon by 400,000 people, may be right behind with its own Stage 1 drought declaration in early April.

“We’re looking for a 20% reduction in outdoor irrigation compared to last year,” said Shonnie Cline, an Aurora Water spokeswoman.

The Aurora City Council is set to have a study session on the city’s water situation on March 23, followed by a council vote on potential watering restrictions on April 6.

“We’re at the lowest snowpack we’ve been at since 1978,” Cline said.

Locally, that also translates to abysmal conditions in the Clear Creek basin, where Westminster gets most of its water. Last week, the Westminster City Council discussed enacting a drought watch — a less severe step than a Stage 1 declaration that would rely on voluntary cutbacks.

“The current trend is tracking just above the 2002 line for the Clear Creek basin, which is the driest year on record,” Westminster Mayor Claire Carmelia said.

Broomfield was the first metro city to declare a drought watch, on Feb. 9.

Jason Ullmann, the state engineer for the Colorado Division of Water Resources, said the drought of the last quarter century in the southwestern United States is believed to be the worst in the last 1,200 years. Things are particularly strained this year, with Colorado’s snowpack measuring in at just 61% of median levels for this time of year as of late last week.

Earlier this month, federal forecasters projected that the Colorado River this spring will deliver 2.3 million acre-feet of water to Lake Powell, one of the river system’s largest reservoirs and downriver from much of the mountain states’ snowmelt. That’s just 36% of the median of 6.4 million acre-feet recorded annually between 1991 and 2020.

Closer to home, the latest monthly bulletin from the National Weather Service painted a grim weather picture based on conditions in Denver. Last month was the third-warmest and second-driest February in the city, while it was the least-snowiest February on record for Denver, tying 2009’s equally snow-starved February.

Exactly when the city — and region — will finally shake off their dessicated state is unknown, Ullmann said.

“There’s no guarantee we’re going to have a better year next year, so we can’t count on that,” he said.

What water managers can control sits on the demand side of the water ledger.

Thornton gets the bulk of its water from the Upper South Platte River and Clear Creek watersheds, which are both at “record low levels,” according to a memo accompanying last Tuesday’s council meeting.

Emily Hunt, Thornton’s interim infrastructure director, says the concern lies not so much with the summer ahead but with the summers to follow, assuming precipitation stays meager. Colorado’s sixth-largest city is presently at 83% of storage capacity across the 19 reservoirs that hold its water. It stores a large portion of the water it consumes in Standley Lake, which is also a water source for Westminster and Northglenn.

“We’re going into the summer with good storage, but with this snowpack, we’re not going to be able to top off our reservoirs the way we normally would,” Hunt said. “We’re basically trying to keep the year in balance so that if the drought continues into next year, we’ll be in pretty good shape.”

Thornton’s new rules stipulate that watering can occur only between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. Violations of the twice-weekly schedule, which goes into effect May 1, will result in a warning for a first infraction. If not remedied within 10 days, households face a $100 fine, while commercial customers will pay a $250 fine. Repeated infractions, including the failure to address leaky pipes, will result in heavier fines.

The city provides a guide for optimum watering times, which differ depending on the type of sprinkler head that’s used. Residents will be able to choose which two days of the week they water their lawns.

Denver Water operates in a forward-looking manner as well. Greg Fisher, its manager of demand planning and efficiency, said Colorado’s largest water supplier is taking on this summer’s challenges with 2027 and 2028 in mind.

“We are very much in drought preparation,” he said.

The good news is that Denver Water’s storage capacity is at around 80% — just a little lower than the 85% it typically sits at this time of year, Fisher said. And efficiencies in landscaping and indoor water use are a world away from where they were in 2002, with the average household using 35% less water than it did 24 years ago.

Fisher expects the utility’s Board of Water Commissioners to make a drought declaration by the end of March.

“With these dry conditions, I think we’re headed to a Stage 1 declaration,” he said.

Aside from a mandatory twice-weekly outdoor watering schedule under a Stage 1 declaration — Denver Water would assign watering days to households in its service area — the utility would also ask restaurants not to serve water to customers unless requested, and to ask hotels not to wash sheets or towels unless requested.

“If we get better weather, we can scale back on restrictions,” Fisher said.

But even under a mandatory water reduction scenario, green thumbs can still make their front and backyards sing this summer, said Cassey Anderson, a horticultural specialist with Colorado State University Extension in Adams County.

“You don’t have to water a lot to water well,” she said.

Trees should be a focus, Anderson said, with the most effective watering applied on the ground in a radius from the trunk all the way out to the tips of the branches. Kentucky bluegrass, a notoriously thirsty grass that has become a villain in the eyes of water experts and policy makers, will go dormant without water — but will be primed to bounce back in more auspicious conditions.

“You aren’t going to kill it by not watering it for a season,” she said.

Anderson cautioned that this summer might not be the time to put in a new drought-tolerant or native garden, given that new plantings require extra water to establish themselves properly.

Carmelia, the Westminster mayor, says there is nothing to do but hope that the supply side of the water ledger eases up after the start of spring on Friday.

“The silver lining is that March and April are typically the wettest months of the year, and there’s still time for Mother Nature to come through for us,” she said.

More blizzards hit Colorado between March 12 and March 18 than any other week, and there have been some big ones in recent years.

DENVER — A blizzard is the true all-around display of power from a winter storm. It's a combination of both wind and snow creating low visibility for several hours.

Many of Colorado's most historic blizzards have happened between March 12 and March 18, and since 2006, there have been more blizzard warnings issued in northeast Colorado during that week than any other.

There is only one storm prospect in the forecast for Colorado this week, however, and it won't be a blizzard this time around. There will be some wind and some snow on Sunday, but the forecast is only calling for 20-40 mph winds and 0-2 inches of snow. Respectable, but not quite a blizzard.

While this Sunday's storm won't be a blizzard in Colorado; there are blizzard warnings posted for parts of South Dakota and western Minnesota.

When looking back at Colorado's most infamous blizzards during this week of March, you've got to start with the 14th day of the month, also known as Pi Day. It’s the day that math nerds celebrate the number Pi, but it's been pretty darn blizzardy on the Front Range a couple times.

It's known as the original Pi Day Blizzard. At times, the snow fell at rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour with 30 mph sustained winds and gusts of 40-60 mph. Visibility was zero for hours.

It ended up officially being Denver’s 4th biggest snow total in history with 27.1 inches. The Front Range foothills got 2-4 feet of snow, with the Buckhorn Mountain area of Larimer County reporting the biggest total of 48.5 inches.

Three years later, it was March 14 again. This blizzard is known throughout the region as Pi Day 2.0.

The Denver metro area got covered with more than a foot of snow across the board, but the bullseye for that one was the foothills. Four to six feet of snow paralyzed highways for the entire day.

An area in Gilpin County known as Aspen Springs reported 61.5 inches of snow and the Clear Creek County foothills reported 61 inches not far from Evergreen.

In 2019, a historic blizzard hit just one day before Pi Day. The storm we call the Bomb Cyclone, was officially the strongest storm to ever hit Colorado. It broke the record for the lowest pressure ever measured in the state with a barometric pressure of 970 millibars measured in Lamar.

The term bomb cyclone comes from a meteorological phenomenon known as bombogenesis, which refers to the rapid intensification of a mid-latitude cyclone. In general, it's when the lowest atmospheric pressure drops 24 millibars or more in 24 hours or less.

The winds were clocked at 60 to 100 mph. Colorado Springs Airport measured a gust of 96 mph, which was a record-breaking gust. An 80-mph gust at Denver International Airport was the 3rd strongest gust on record.

The wind made it nearly impossible to measure snow totals, but 1-3 feet was reported. The big impact was the 10-foot snow drifts that buried cars and trucks stranded on roads in the southeast Denver metro and in the Colorado Springs area.

The biggest March blizzard to ever hit Denver and the 2nd biggest snowstorm in the city's history happened on March 18, 2003. It was also a drought-buster, breaking 19 consecutive months of below normal precipitation in Denver.

You could call it the mother of all March blizzards. Denver officially recorded 31.8 inches of snow at Stapleton International Airport. Only the 45.7-inch storm in December of 1913 could top it.

The 2003 storm may have also covered more ground with big snow than any other storm in history, hitting the Front Range, foothills and mountains hard. 4-7 feet of snow was reported in the foothills, with 87.5 inches of snow reported near Rollinsville in Gilpin County.

80 inches of snow was reported at Eldora ski area, 76 inches at Loveland ski area, and 71 inches of snow fell at Winter Park resort.