Sat. August 8th
2:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Commons Park & Denver Skatepark
Denver, CO
No Central Organizers * No Leaders * No Ticket Masters * No Gatekeepers * No Event Staff * No Vendors * No Money Needed
Last year, the community gathered at Commons Park and Denver Skatepark in Denver, CO to create the first-ever DIY Community Gathering that was 100% free and open to everyone. People came together to enjoy the park like any other day while sharing art, poetry, music, performances, conversations, mutual aid, and creative ideas in our public recreational spaces. This year, we're doing it again.
The DIY Community Gathering is created by the people who participate. There are no central organizers assigning activities, no applications, no permission needed to participate, and no gatekeepers deciding who belongs. If you'd like to contribute, simply show up and share something with the community while respecting the park and everyone around you.
Think of your space as a small personal area that you can comfortably carry in and set up yourself. A blanket, small table, easel, or a modest canopy (where permitted) is plenty. Whether you use a simple 4x4 space or a 10x10 canopy, keep your setup portable, self-contained, and appropriate for a public park.
Plan your own day. Create your own vision. Bring what inspires you. Create your own flyers, build your own website, invite your own community, and spread the word through your own networks. Every participant creates their own experience, and together we create the gathering.
No money needed. We cannot legally buy or sell at the park.
Performers are encouraged to create their own space and share their talents throughout the gathering. Commons Park offers several natural settings that work well for small performances, while the Denver Skatepark provides spaces that may be suitable for music later in the day.
The large stone wall overlooking the park creates a natural backdrop for poetry readings, storytelling, comedy, theater, spoken word, acoustic music, demonstrations, and other small performances. Participants are welcome to create an informal performance area while remaining respectful of other park visitors and following all Denver Parks & Recreation rules.
Community members have suggested that the gazebo or one of the skate bowls can serve as gathering points for live bands and amplified performances. Based on many conversations with regular skaters over the past several months, a common preference is to wait until around 9:00 p.m. before beginning louder amplified music. Earlier in the day, many families with young children use the skatepark, and delaying louder performances helps everyone enjoy the space together.
As always, performers are responsible for following applicable Denver Parks & Recreation rules, respecting other park users, maintaining safe walkways, and keeping sound at reasonable levels appropriate for a shared public space.
There is no official schedule. Everyone decides how they want to spend the day. Some people may demonstrate a craft, perform music, share knowledge, collaborate on projects, meet new friends, or simply enjoy spending time with the community.
The parks are surrounded by homes, businesses, and public spaces that everyone shares. As a courtesy to residents living along Little Raven Street, performers are encouraged to direct amplified sound away from the apartments and into the park whenever possible. At the gazebo, this can be accomplished by aiming speakers toward Platte Street rather than Little Raven Street. Bands performing from a skate bowl can also orient their setup so sound projects toward Commons Park. Small adjustments like these help reduce the impact on nearby neighbors while allowing everyone to enjoy the gathering.
The gathering takes place in public recreational spaces shared by everyone. Please follow all Denver Parks & Recreation rules, respect other park visitors, keep pathways open, clean up after yourself, care for the environment, and help leave the park cleaner than you found it. The continued success of this community gathering depends on everyone being good stewards of the public spaces we all share.
This is a DIY community gathering built by the community itself. We create it together through creativity, collaboration, freedom, and shared responsibility. Whether you're an artist, musician, poet, maker, builder, grower, creator, repair enthusiast, performer, neighbor, or simply curious, you're invited to help shape the day.
DenverCommons.org
2026