The summer season kicks off this weekend with Memorial Day leading the way — a holiday set on Monday to celebrate veterans who gave their lives for the country.

The national holiday comes with a plethora of closings and events.

Most government agencies and buildings will be closed on Monday in observance of Memorial Day, a federal holiday. Mail services will also be postponed during the holiday. Most businesses and restaurants will remain open on Monday — though some may operate with altered schedules. People should check specific business websites before traveling to them.

All 24-hour agencies — like emergency services and the Denver International Airport — will remain fully operational on Monday.

Government and city buildings in Denver, Adams, Jefferson and Douglas counties will be closed on Monday. Denver libraries will also be closed. All buildings will reopen on Tuesday and resume a normal operation schedule. 

Denver street parking will be free on Monday for the holiday. Denver public transportation will be affected, though, with the Regional Transportation District operating on its holiday schedule.

Boulder parking will also be free on city streets and in all city-owned lots and downtown garages Monday. Paid parking is in effect near Chautauqua Park on the holiday, though.

While all state parks, county parks, campgrounds and boat ramps will remain open through the holiday, a bevy of scenic drives will not be operable during the holiday due to delayed openings. 

For example, the iconic Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain National Park usually opens for Memorial Day weekend. This year, hammering snow has left snow plow operators continuing to work through May.

The Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway will also remain closed during the holiday, set to tentatively open on May 31. 

Drivers planning on beautiful drives through Colorado’s famous mountain ways should look into specific paths before heading out this weekend. Use Colorado Department of Transportation’s trip planner cotrip.org.

Events

Though government agencies and buildings will be closed for business Monday, the city will not sleep. Many Memorial Day events honoring past military personnel will take place throughout metro Denver all weekend:

Colorado’s largest Memorial Day parade will kick off in Commerce City at 9:30 a.m. Monday. The parade will start at E. 64th Avenue and Newport Street and head down E. 64th, Holly Street and E. 62nd before ending at Veterans Memorial Park for a free concert at 11:30 a.m.

Bethany Lutheran Church, at 4500 E. Hampden Avenue, will hold its 25th Veterans Memorial Day Tribute on Saturday at 10 a.m. The ceremony will feature speeches, biographies and music.

The Colorado Freedom Memorial’s 11th anniversary commemoration ceremony, “Colorado Remembers,” will take place Saturday at 8 a.m. at Aurora’s Springhill Park at 756 Telluride Street and will include a ceremony and free breakfast.

Fort Logan National Cemetery — located at 4400 W. Kenyon Avenue — will host a Memorial Day wreath laying ceremony at 11 a.m. on Monday.

Lakewood Cemetery will also be hosting a Memorial Day service throughout the entire day on Monday, starting at 10:30 a.m. at 7777 W. 29th Avenue. 

Plenty of other events unrelated to Memorial Day will be happening around the city as the summer season rises from the horizon.