If you’re considering the Hammond’s Candies factory tour while visiting Denver, it’s a quick, free experience that gives you a surprisingly interesting look at how old-school candy is still made by hand.
I wasn’t totally sure what to expect from the Hammond’s Candies factory tour. Part of me thought it might feel a little too geared toward kids, but I ended up really enjoying it. If you like food, candy, or seeing how things are actually made, it’s a fun little stop.
Hammond’s has been making candy in Denver for more than 100 years. The company officially started in 1920, although founder Carl Hammond had already been working in candy factories for several years before that.
Over time, Hammond’s became known for hand-pulled lollipops, candy canes, caramel marshmallow treats, and other old-school sweets. A lot of the candy is still made using traditional techniques, which is really what makes the tour interesting.
If you’re trying to decide where this fits into a Denver trip, I included it in my Top Things to Do in Denver Colorado because it’s free, short, and completely different from the city’s bigger attractions.
You can book the Hammond’s Candies factory tour online, with tour times generally available about every 30 minutes.
The tour is free, which makes it very easy to work into a Denver itinerary.
Hammond’s recommends reserving ahead of time, and its tour information notes that reservations generally require about 24 hours’ notice. If you are trying to visit the same day, you may still be able to get a spot by calling.
Tours typically run Monday through Saturday between 9:15 AM and 2:15 PM.
Because the tour only takes about half an hour, it works well if you have other plans that day and do not want to commit several hours to another attraction. If you’re building out a shorter trip, my The Perfect 3 Days in Denver Colorado guide can help you decide what else makes sense to group around it.
The tour starts with a short video covering Hammond’s history and how the company got started. After that, you head into the factory viewing area where you can watch the candy makers working.
This was definitely my favorite part because you actually get to see how much goes into making these candies by hand.
During our visit, we watched them make taffy, Christmas candy, and candy canes.
One thing that surprised me was how long some of the processes take. These are not just candies moving through a completely automated production line. A lot of them are still made using traditional methods, and some of the original machines are still in working order, which I thought was really cool.
Seeing the equipment and the handmade process made the Hammond’s factory tour more interesting than simply hearing how the candy is made.
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Our Hammond’s factory tour lasted about 30 minutes, which felt like the right amount of time.
It was long enough to learn something and actually watch part of the candy-making process without turning into an all-day activity.
If you are building a fairly full Denver itinerary, this is an easy stop to fit between other things. My The Perfect 24 Hours in Denver Colorado guide is another useful option if you’re trying to prioritize a shorter list of stops.
Yes, and obviously my favorite part ha. Visitors receive a candy sample, although what you get can change depending on the day and what is being made.
That means your sample may be completely different from what someone else receives.
Getting a free piece of freshly made candy at the end is definitely not the worst way to finish a factory tour.
No. Kids would definitely enjoy this candy factory tour in Denver, but I found it interesting as an adult too.
I liked seeing the handmade process and learning how some of the candies are still produced using older techniques. Watching the candy makers work gives you a much better understanding of how much effort goes into some of these seemingly simple candies.
That said, I also really like food experiences, so watching people make candy from scratch was basically always going to work for me.
If you have absolutely no interest in food production or candy, you probably do not need to make this a priority. But it is definitely not an attraction that only works for families with children.
If food is a major part of your Denver plans too, my DIY Denver Food Tour: Best Places to Eat in Denver Colorado covers more stops I’d build into the trip.
After the tour, you can shop in the Hammond’s Candy Factory store. There is a huge selection of classic Hammond’s candies along with chocolates, taffy, lollipops, candy bars, and seasonal treats.
There is also an “Oops” section with discounted candy that may not look perfect but apparently still tastes exactly the same, which I always appreciate because I do not need my candy to be photogenic.
We bought a signature chocolate caramel marshmallow, a candy bar, and a salted caramel, which was insanely delicious. We also tried some of their taffy.
The store is definitely dangerous if you walk in immediately after watching candy being made because suddenly buying several different kinds of candy feels extremely reasonable.
I think so. I probably would not drive more than an hour out of my way specifically for the Hammond’s Candy Factory Denver tour, but if you are already in Denver or nearby, it is a fun stop.
The tour is free, only takes about 30 minutes, and gives you a look at a candy company that has been operating in Denver for more than a century.
The combination of the history, watching the candy being made, seeing some of the original equipment still in use, and getting a sample made it more interesting than I expected.
I went in thinking, “This might be mostly for kids,” and left thinking, “Okay, that was actually pretty cool.”
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If Denver is part of a bigger Colorado trip, compare rental car prices through Discover Cars.
For a longer itinerary that combines Denver with nearby stops, see my Spend a Week in Colorado: The Perfect Denver and Golden Itinerary.
You can compare Denver hotel options through Booking.com or Hotels.com.
For a downtown hotel I personally stayed at, read my The Maven Hotel Denver Review: What to Expect.
If you want more food-focused experiences in Denver, you can browse options through Secret Food Tours.
For another very different Denver experience, see my Red Rocks Amphitheatre Guide: What to Know Before You Visit.
If you’re planning more time downtown, my A Weekend in Denver Colorado: The Perfect First-Time Itinerary gives you a broader plan for putting the city together.
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