Rockies opening weekend: LoDo specials, free pop-ups and all-ages “Rockies Walk”

As baseball roars back into Coors Field on Friday, so does an opening weekend’s-worth of activities in Denver’s urban core.

The Friday, April 8, game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, scheduled to start at 2:10 p.m., leads three full days of home-opening specials, pop-ups and themed events in Lower Downtown and the surrounding area. (The other two games start at 6:10 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, and 1:10 p.m. on Sunday, April 10.)

That means face painters, street games and live music for everyone. Here are some free, cheap and family-friendly ideas to consider if you’re going to watch our home team (hopefully) sweep these sullen, gray-and-blue interlopers.

Go, Rockies!

This is the first full Colorado Rockies season to take place since the official opening of McGregor Square — a horseshoe-shaped mix of restaurants, bars, retail, residential and lodging that sits directly across the street from Coors Field (developed and co-owned by Rockies owner Dick Monfort). While it debuted during last year’s MLB All-Star Game, it’s designed especially for Rockies fans.

Owing to its 28,000 square feet of outdoor space, the complex will host several Rockies Walk events Friday through Sunday, with bars opening at 10 a.m. Drink specials from Milepost Zero and yard games will be joined by Coors Light drafts from an Airstream trailer. If you’re ticketless, you can also watch the game on McGregor’s 66-foot LED screen. mcgregorsquare.com/event-activations

The Dairy Block micro-district is always holding themed events, and its opening day lineup looks especially worthy. Entertainment includes free concerts in its upscale Alley, April 8-10, with David Lawrence (2 p.m. Friday), Wrenn & Ian (4-6 p.m. Saturday) and Blind Bigs (11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday). They’re joined by a pair of pop-up bars from Poka Lola Social Club, and $8 to-go gin lemonades from Deviation in commemorative cups, the latter starting at noon each day.

Blanchard Family Wines will be serving purple wine, baseball macarons and cake pops, specialty popcorn and charcuterie cones at Dairy Block. Kachina Cantina specials there cover Upslope Lagers or IPAs for $4, an Upslope beer bucket for $20, and a beer and carnitas taco for $6. Kachina’s Margarita on the Rockies — made with organic butterfly tea-infused tequila, agave syrup and fresh lime juice — will be available all season long for $11. Poka Lola opens early with a Coors Banquet + Butterfly Ball shot for $10, a Butterfly Ball Shot for $6, and Coors Banquet Beers for $5.

Denver Milk Market will also host pop-up bars around the food hall, with drink specials including Tito’s Capri Funs and High West Old Fashioned cocktails. Also look out for Milk Market’s grab-and-go hot dogs from its Wazee Street patio, and food-window service from Morning Jones, Cornicello and Bao Chica Bao. The attached Maven Hotel is offering a Grand Slam Stay package which, for $394 per night, gets you a room, parking, two local craft beers and “game day snacks” from Kachina (think chicharrons and Spanish peanuts). dairyblock.com

Curtis Hotel has its own Rockies-themed package, Fans in the Stands, with rooms on the Floor of Champions (one of the hotel’s 13 themed floors), a $50 brunch credit at The Corner Office, 50% off self-parking, and a game day pack with ballpark-ready brews. $155-$233. thecurtis.com

Denver Union Station’s free, family-friendly festivities kick off on the Terminal Bar patio starting at 10 a.m. and run through 2:30 p.m. on Friday. The first 50 guests to check out the baseball art installation photo booth, upload their GIFs and photos to social media, and tag Denver Union Station will nab a free slice of house-made apple pie.

The all-ages entertainment includes a house DJ set, sample brews from Tivoli Brewing, giant Jenga and cornhole games, roaming stilt walkers, and face painters (who will no doubt be stocking up on purple paint). Game-day food specials include Rockies brats, gyro tacos, breakfast burritos, and a “baseball burger and fries.” After filling up, take a free tuk-tuk to Coors Field, provided by High Noon Vodka Seltzers, which picks up directly in front of Denver Union Station. unionstationindenver.com/event/rockies-opening-day

Citizen Rail will be grilling “in the heart of the action” on its patio at 16th and Wewatta streets from noon to 3 p.m. on opening day. Grill master chef Christian Graves and his team are promising specialty kimchee hot dogs for $5 and beers to-go for $5. Citizen Rail’s signature cocktails also will be available to-go. Hope you’re walking! citizenrail.com

Nearby at Larimer Square, and just as tasty: Chef Richard Sandoval’s Tamayo is offering a combo special: Coors Light and a Perro Caliente (bacon-wrapped hot dog) for $7 all day. eattamayo.com

The upscale Bezel, on the corner of Court Place and the 16th Street Mall (inside the ground level of the Sheraton), is great for patio-people-watching and, on Friday, its live music, specials and baseball-themed menu. Offerings include The Rock Pile, a purple drink in honor of the Rockies, and Three Strike Sliders. Available 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, with the baseball games on in the lobby. $14 parking for Rockies ticket-holders. bezeldenver.com

Cherry Cricket’s Ballpark location is adding grab-and-go ballpark pretzels and queso for $6, while nearby Wynkoop Brewing Company is tapping its Lockout Maibock, a Maibock brewed during the MLB lockout “when they were not sure if the season was going to happen,” according to a press statement. Wynkoop’s also releasing its latest batch of Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout, this time brewed with 69 bull testicles. (Oh, boy!) Brunch starts at 9 a.m., with dogs and brats on the outside grill, Cracker Jacks with a special prize (free beer coupon, of course), and grab-and-go pretzels and beer cheese for $6. cherrycricket.com and wynkoop.com