December
WHEN: Thru Dec. 30, 2023
WHERE: Water World (Denver), Arapahoe County Fairground (Aurora), Bandimere Speedway (Morrison)
With not one but three locations, Christmas In Color at Water World , Arapahoe County Fairground and Bandimere Speedway is a can't-miss holiday lights experience! Drive through millions of lights perfectly synchronized to holiday music you’ll hear right through your radio. Drive by giant candy canes, snowmen, arched pathways and more. Take your time enjoying this lighting extravaganza – we won’t judge you if you join the kids with your face pressed against the window!
WHEN: Thru Dec. 30, 2023
WHERE: Downtown Denver
This holiday season, embark on a fun-filled, 90-minute Denver holiday lights bust tour as you take in all of the magic and cheer of this festive time of year in The Mile High City. Enjoy the unique history, architecture and beauty of Denver’s holiday lights and top sights at night during this limited-run Denver holiday lights experience! This experience was designed to give you views and great photo opportunities of Denver’s most beautiful and famous landmarks, magnificently lit up for this cheery time of year. Besides getting the inside scoop on the famous and incredibly lit-up sights, you'll hear about holiday traditions that got their start right here in Denver.
WHEN: Thru Dec. 30, 2023
WHERE: Denver Pavilions
Tinseltown is coming, just in time for winter! The all-encompassing Christmas-themed pop-up is overflowing with holly jolly Christmas spirit, with Santa, elves, presents, tinsel, festive tunes and lots of winter warmer drinks, including a fabulous Christmas cocktail menu! The halls are more than fully decked with baubles, bows, hanging trees, wreaths and just about every festive goodie ever. Tickets include entry to the themed bar and a bespoke cocktail on arrival.
WHEN: Thru Dec. 31, 2023 (closed Christmas Day)
WHERE: Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, Cañon City
In an experience sure to become a time-honored Christmas tradition, you're invited to drive across the Royal Gorge Bridge, 1,000 feet above the Arkansas River, while it's decked out in thousands of holiday lights. Driving across the Royal Gorge Bridge is not regularly offered outside of pre-arranged car club groups, so this is truly something special! Guests can purchase hot cocoa, coffee or cider in a Bridge of Lights souvenir cup and holiday cookies to enjoy while driving through the light display. Hours: 5:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; 5:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
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: Hudson Gardens & Events Center
You'll be enchanted by even more towering trees draped in thousands of colorful lights. A grove of dancing Christmas trees, a multi-colored forest inhabited by giant snowmen, the holiday light tunnel and glowing reindeer will light up Hudson Gardens into an extravaganza of holiday cheer. Purchase a delicious cup of hot cocoa or adult beverage before stopping by for a perfect free family photo opportunity with Santa.
WHEN: Thru Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park
This family-friend 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. 1, 2024; 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (closed December 25)
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms, Littleton
Stroll through the Colorado countryside along a winding path glistening with lights. Features this year include singing Christmas trees, three-sided light tunnels, illuminated antique and model tractors, a children's play area with synchronized music, and warm holiday food and drink for purchase.
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.
WHEN: Thru Jan. 7, 2024
WHERE: Denver Zoo
It's official: Zoo Lights has been making magic, memories and even marriages for more than 30 amazing years! 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 60 acres — animated animal sculptures, Santa and Mrs. Claus visits, animal encounters, exciting entertainment and treats for kids of all ages.
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.
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 $5.
WHEN: Thru Feb. 23, 2024
WHERE: Irene Avenue and 4th Street, Cripple Creek
Each year, Ice Castles brings fairy tales to life for hundreds of thousands of families across North America. For all who enter through the icicle-adorned archways, explore ice tunnels and glide down ice slides, time spent at Ice Castles is a source of joy and inspiration.
WHEN: Dec. 30–31 2023
WHERE: Colorado Convention Center
America's biggest electronic New Year's celebration is the two-night event of the (end of the) year you won't want to miss! Get your two-day pass and dance your way into 2024.
WHEN: Dec. 31, 2023; 9 p.m. and midnight
WHERE: Downtown
The sky will once again sparkle over downtown at the close of 2023 with the New Year’s Eve Fireworks. The two 8-minute spectacular fireworks shows will occur at 9 p.m. and midnight. The identical fireworks shows can be seen near the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel and near the middle of downtown near Curtis Street. For the best NYE experience in downtown, book a restaurant reservation before the show and then stay the night at a hotel! The fireworks are presented by the Downtown Denver Partnership and co-sponsored by VISIT DENVER and the Downtown Denver Business Improvement District.
WHEN: Dec. 31, 2023; 8 p.m.
WHERE: Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park
The Luminova Holidays celebration is getting an extra kick with a New Year's Eve fireworks show at 8 p.m.
WHEN: Dec. 31, 2023; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
WHERE: Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
In conjunction with Snow Days, get all the glitz and glam of New York City's Times Square before bedtime! There will be ball drops at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m., plus music, tasty treats from The Teaching Kitchen and more.
WHEN: Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: Downtown Aquarium
Ring in the New Year with Downtown Aquarium's mascot, Sharkey! Celebrate with a delicious buffet, a balloon drop, contests and giveaways for the kids! Reservations required.
WHEN: Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: Asterisk Denver
The Denver NYE Black Tie Party is the perfect way to ring in the new year in style. Enjoy an open bar all night, live music from an incredible local cover band, and top live DJs spinning top 40s, EDM, old school hip hop, R&B, and all your classics. You'll also find Vegas-style casino games and prizes for the top chip holder, as well as a complimentary photo booth and custom selfie stations to capture all of your memories. And when the clock strikes midnight, there will be a giant 2,000-balloon drop on the main floor, along with NYE party favors for everyone.
WHEN: Dec. 31, 2023; 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
WHERE: The Clocktower Cabaret, D&F Tower
The Clocktower Clockettes present their best and brightest acts from the past year, with the sassy, classy, high-altitude attitude audiences scream for. This top-shelf, all-star lineup is the best of the best together for one night to ring in the new year! Acts range from classic to modern, from smolderingly sensuous to laugh-out-loud hilarious counting down to a midnight toast and downtown fireworks!
WHEN: Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: FIRE at the ART hotel
Ring in the New Year with a legendary experience at our second annual FIRE & ICE New Year's Eve Bash at FIRE Restaurant. Perched above Broadway, FIRE offers beautiful views and an elevated atmosphere with beautiful works of art housed in the hotel. Reserve a spot for all your friends and enjoy craft cocktails, bubbly, bottle service, a DJ, live music, dancing and more! Enjoy a complimentary welcome cocktail to kick off your evening celebration. Late-night snacks will be available to purchase if you get hungry.
WHEN: Dec. 31, 2023; 5:45 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.
WHERE: Nocturne
On a night when we pull out all the stops, sip the night away with Champagne and sublime cocktails and enjoy delectable plates created by Nocturne's culinary team as you take in the sounds of the ever-swinging Wil Swindler/Marion Powers Quintet. With two seatings to choose from, you can get your big night kicked off at Nocturne, or make it your final New Year's destination and join the countdown into 2024 (with a Champagne toast, of course)!
WHEN: Dec. 31, 2023
WHERE: 221 E Kiowa St., Colorado Springs
It's time for the grand finale of 2023! This momentous event will be a night to remember as we ring in the new year.
