Holiday Favorites
WHEN: Thru Dec. 24, 2023
WHERE: Cherry Creek North
Winter Wanderland displays a collection of free holiday offerings and festivities throughout the neighborhood! Festivities include a dazzling display of nearly one million twinkling lights on more than 600 trees spread throughout the walkable neighborhood. Throughout the holiday season, enjoy Saturday Night Lights with complimentary holiday treats and festive entertainment, a Chanukah celebration, and the Cherry Creek North Holiday Market, produced by Fetch Markets.
WHEN: Thru Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: Civic Center Park
Join in the free festivities at the Mile High Tree. It’s a brilliantly lit, 110-foot-tall immersive art installation that provides a dazzling lights-and-music show. And, for the first time, you can experience two of Denver's most popular holiday attractions in one place: America’s tallest digital tree and the Denver Christkindlmarket, the city’s only authentic German holiday market.
WHEN: Thru Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park
This family-friendly event brings larger-than-life holiday displays and immersive experiences for all to enjoy. It features millions of dazzling lights, a 65-foot-tall Christmas tree, twinkling snowmen who never melt, a 300-foot-long candy cane tunnel, giant presents and ornaments, a wall of lights, rides on Elitch Gardens attractions, interactive activities like a light-up hopscotch, strolling holiday entertainers, Old Saint Nick and his elves, and more.
WHEN: Thru Jan. 7, 2024
WHERE: Denver Zoo
It's official: Zoo Lights has been making magic, memories, and even marriages for 30 amazing years! Presented by Your Hometown Toyota Stores, this illuminating annual event transforms Denver Zoo into Colorado's WILDEST winter wonderland. Don't miss this year's historic celebration, with more than a million lights sparkling over 80 acres—plus a host of special measures to keep your family safe and healthy.
WHEN: Thru Jan. 7, 2024 (closed Dec. 25)
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens
This annual holiday lights extravaganza transforms Denver Botanic Gardens into a twinkling winter wonderland. Sip warm drinks and nibble on tasty treats as you stroll.
Light the Lights
WHEN: Thru Jan. 21, 2024
WHERE: City & County of Denver Building in Civic Center Park
This festive lights and music show begins with a kick-off celebration at 5:15 p.m. on November 22 hosted by Denver7 anchor Micah Smith and featuring the Colorado Children's Chorale. For the remainder of the season, each night at 5:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m., an eight-minute choreographed light and music holiday show will light up the night. The City and County Building will showcase a festive, static light display before, between and after the two nightly shows until 10:45 p.m. The light and music shows will not play on Mondays because of City Council meetings, but the static light display will still shine. There will be a special light schedule on December 2 to highlight activities as the 9 News Parade of Lights begins in front of the City and County Building. Note: The building will remain completely dark for an annual memorial vigil from 5 to 7 p.m. on December 21, honoring persons experiencing homelessness. The lights will be turned back on after the event is over.
Performing Arts
The Polar ExpressTM Train Ride
WHEN: Thru Dec. 23, 2023
WHERE: Colorado Railroad Museum, Golden
The story of The Polar ExpressTM is theatrically re-created and combined with a magical train ride at the Colorado Railroad Museum. Children get to meet Santa and experience all the sights and sounds of this classic tale as if happening all around them. This year, a whole host of carefully crafted updates have been made to ensure the health and safety of guests, cast and crew, so put on your pajamas and your most fashionable mask and bring the family to enjoy sharing hot cocoa and cookies together as the "Hot, Hot, Hot—Chocolate" song and dance unfolds before your eyes.
'A Christmas Carol'
WHEN: Thru Dec. 24, 2023
WHERE: Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ Wolf Theatre
Essential to the holiday season in Denver, "A Christmas Carol" is a joyous and opulent musical adaptation that traces money-hoarding curmudgeon Ebenezer Scrooge’s triumphant overnight journey to redemption.
'Camp Christmas'
WHEN: Thru Dec. 24, 2023
WHERE: Stanley Marketplace
Welcome back to Colorado’s campiest, quirkiest holiday tradition! Make merry and immerse yourself in a 15,000-square-foot, 360-degree kaleidoscope of yuletide cheer. It’s fun, it’s fleeting and just the right amount of camp; it’s everything you love about the holidays wrapped into one sparkling experience. Leave your worries behind, discover your holiday superpower, visit Santa, and sample craft cocktails from the Base Camp and Fairy Bars. Wander through a surreal mashup of nostalgic scenes, scratch your head at playful pun trees, and, most importantly, reconnect with the joy of the season.
Colorado Ballet: 'The Nutcracker'
WHEN: Thru Dec. 24, 2023
WHERE: Ellie Caulkins Opera House
The beloved holiday favorite returns in a dazzling production like no one's ever seen, featuring all-new sets and costumes created especially for Colorado Ballet. A sellout every year, this magical tale of Clara, the Nutcracker and the Mouse King is going to be dreamier than ever.
Santa Sightings
Downtown Aquarium Breakfast with Santa
WHEN: Thru Dec. 24, 2023 (recurring weekly on Sunday and Saturday at 10 a.m.)
WHERE: Downtown Aquarium
Santa is once again stopping by the aquarium. Dine with him and the aquarium's mascot, Sharkey, and enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet, exhibit discounts and more! Reservations are required.
More Holiday Fun
WHEN: Thru Feb. 14, 2024
WHERE: Skyline Park
Bundle up for some free ice skating in the heart of downtown and enjoy special events. Skate rentals for adults are $11 and $9 for kids 12 and under. Bring your own pair and skate for free! If you need a skatewalker for assistance, you can also rent one for $5.
WHEN: Thru Feb. 25, 2024
WHERE: McGregor Square
McGregor Skate is LoDo’s newest skating rink located in the bustling McGregor Square plaza. Open daily, McGregor Skate is the perfect winter activity for guests of all ages. With skates available on-site, the rink can be enjoyed by locals and travelers alike.
