The holiday season has arrived in Denver! There are so many ways to celebrate as a family from outdoor activities to free events to elaborate light displays to cozy nights at home. Read on for 101 ways to make your days merry and bright during the holidays in Denver.
101 Things to Do During the Holidays in Denver
- Visit the ice castles in Cripple Creek.
- Learn how your favorite holiday candy is made at the Hammond’s Factory Tour.
- Experience Elitch Gardens under the lights at Luminova.
- Drive through one million lights at Christmas in Color.
- Shop for holiday gifts, hear caroling and see Santa on Dec. 2 at Holiday in the Ranch.
- Check out the ice carvings under the lights at Denver Zoo’s Zoo Lights.
- Walk through a twinkling winter wonderland at Blossoms of Light at the Denver Botanic Gardens.
- Put on your most hideous sweater for the Ugly Sweater 5k on Dec. 17 in Washington Park.
- Join the Mosaic Ornament Class at Who Gives a Scrap in Colorado Springs on Dec. 2.
- Ride the Ferris wheel at the North Pole park at the base of Pike’s Peak.
- Relive The Christmas Story at Christmas at Gaylord Rockies.
- Attend the 2023 Parade of Lights on December 2 in Downtown Denver.
- Take a ride on the Polar Express at the Colorado Railroad Museum.
- Give back at Denver’s Giving Machines.
- Experience the magic of The Nutcracker with the Colorado Ballet.
- Ride the Santa Express Train at the Royal Gorge.
- Visit the Trail of Lights (don’t miss the children’s play area) at Chatfield Farms.
- Learn the secrets of the North Pole at the North Pole Pass in Parker.
- Hunt for the ice sculptures around Evergreen City.
- Lace up your skates at the Downtown Denver ice rink.
- Ride in a horse-drawn carriage and tour Santa’s cottage at Chautauqua’s Winterfest 2023 (Dec. 8-10).
- Shop at Christkindlmarket, an authentic German-style holiday market, Nov. 17-Dec. 23.
- Witness the Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade in Telluride.
- Check out the new Bloom exhibit for early learners at the Children’s Museum of Denver.
- Kick off the holidays with the Catch the Glow Parade in Estes Park on November 24.
- Marvel at the Mile High Tree and immersive show at Civic Center Park.
- Plan a date night at Hudson Garden’s Hudson Holidays.
- Watch The Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet featuring acrobats and large puppets.
- Let it go at Disney on Ice’s Frozen and Encanto at Ball Arena.
- Go sledding at Denver’s Barnum Park.
- Celebrate the season at Christmas in Conifer, celebrating its 40th year!
- Stand in awe at the Grand Illumination at Denver’s Union Station.
- Order the Gnarly 9 Seasonal box for tasty holiday treats at Gnarly Mountain.
- Celebrate an Austrian Christmas at Schweiger Ranch on Dec. 2.
- Discover your holiday superhero power at Camp Christmas at the Stanley Marketplace.
- Commemorate the first night of Chanukah at Cherry Creek North.
- Enjoy a free night at History Colorado on Nov. 4.
- Get new Christmas decor in the cute gingerbread house store, Simply Christmas, in Estes Park.
- Dance along to the Hip Hop Nutcracker at the Buell Theatre.
- Prepare for eight crazy nights at Latkes and Lights at the JCC Denver.
- Grab your sled and head to Bison Park in Castle Rock.
- Continue a tradition with a viewing of The Christmas Carol at the Buell Theatre.
- Sign up for the Denver Nugget’s Kids Club and catch a game.
- Order holiday cookies from The Flour Shop, which also delivers locally.
- Get a babysitter and head to The Miracle Pop-Up Bar at Union Station (get reservations!)
- Ice skate at McGregor Square.
- Jingle all the way with Inside the Orchestra’s Christmas concerts for tiny musicians.
- Learn to fly at Santa’s Flight Academy in the 22-foot tall sleigh at Cherry Creek Shopping Center (reservations required).
- Attend the free holiday festival at the UTE Indian Museum on Dec. 2.
- Support your favorite Colorado non-profit on Dec. 5 in honor of Colorado Gives Day.
- Admire the beauty at Monarch Magic during November at the Butterfly Pavilion.
- Kick off the holiday season with the Hometown Holiday Parade at the Southlands.
- Go on a winter hike at Elk Meadow Park’s South Loop.
- Visit with an elf, toy solider and Rudolph at the Hometown Holiday Experience in Parker.
- Skip Black Friday and spend it at the Denver Botanic Garden with FREE admission.
- Welcome Santa at Orchard Town Center with kids activities, reindeer visits and more.
- Burn the Yule log, go on a hike and enjoy roasted marshmallow for Winter Solstice at Bear Creek Lake Park.
- Discover the true meaning of Christmas at A Charlie Brown’s Christmas – Live, Nov. 14-15.
- Shop til you drop at A Very Merry Downtown Market, Dec. 2-3, in Colorado Springs.
- Line up for the Lights of December Parade in Downtown Boulder on Dec. 2.
- Experience the light festival at The Gardens on Spring Creek in Fort Collins.
- Pick up a Gingerbread Cookie Decorating Kit at Maggie & Molly’s.
- Celebrate the St. Lucia tradition with Lucia Festival at Augustana Lutheran Church on Dec. 16.
- Take part in National STEAM Day at the Children’s Museum of Denver Marsico Campus on Nov. 8.
- Get unlimited train rides and roast s’mores at the Englewood Holiday Express, tickets required.
- Travel back in time at the Littleton Museum’s Holiday Evening on Dec. 10.
- Get your cowbell for the Race of the Santas in Breckenridge on Dec. 2.
- Climb abroad the Leadville Railroad Holiday Express with lighted (and heated) train cars.
- Attend the Chanukah Menorah Lighting on Pearl in Boulder on Dec. 11.
- Delight in the holiday music by CU Presents’s Holiday Festival, Dec. 8-10.
- Watch Santa arrive in a helicopter and celebrate with families on Dec. 10 at Wings Over the Rockies.
- Drive through the Franktown Lights, a synchronized musical light show.
- Enjoy latkes, donuts, crafts and ice skating at Chanukah on Ice, Dec. 18, at the Family Sports Center in Centennial.
- Check things off your shopping list at the Holiday Bazaar in the Belmar District, Nov. 17-19.
- Remember loved ones at the Trees of Life Ceremony at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum on Nov. 11.
- Search for elves and candy canes on Dec. 1 at Winter Day in the Park in Woodland Park.
- Unlock the magic of the holidays at Park Meadows on Nov. 4.
- Burn off some calories before the big turkey dinner at the Turkey Trot Run in Denver’s Washington Park on Thanksgiving morning.
- Take your littles to the Santa James story time at Second Star to the Right Books.
- Test out your winter boots and hike at Roxborough State Park‘s kid friendly trails. Try the Willow Creek Trail.
- Schedule a prince or princess tea at the Miramont Castle.
- Eat green eggs and ham, enjoy crafts and story time at Breakfast with Santa at the Hilton City Center on Dec. 3.
- Take a day trip to the Moose Visitor Center at State Forest State Park.
- Go on a girls night night to the Sleigh Bar at Milepost Zero.
- Celebrate the end of 2023 with a Noon Year’s Eve part at the Children’s Museum of Denver Marsico Campus.
- Grab your hard-to-get reservations at YMCA of the Rockies on Cyber Monday.
- Check out the lobby of The Brown Place Hotel with impressive lights and poinsettias.
- Go on an indoor scavenger hunt at Garden of the Gods, Wednesdays in November.
- Mark the Winter Solstace Celebration at Denver Botanic Gardens with a hike, hot beverages and roast marshmellows.
- Get ready for ski season at Ski Cooper’s ski and snowboard lessons.
- Dance along with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra – The Ghosts of Christmas Eve, Nov. 18 at Ball Arena.
- Get a holiday treat at the Inventing Room (reservations required).
- Try out snowshoeing with a ranger-led walk at Rocky Mountain National Park.
- Take out your kids during the indoor snowball fight (plus Santa pics) at Noel Northglenn (Dec. 1)
- Go on an Electric Safari at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
- Choose from one of three mini golf courses all decked out for the holidays.
- Make winter-themed crafts at the Aurora Public Library branches.
- Attend the family friendly concert, A Colorado Christmas, with the Colorado Symphony.
- Travel to Estes Park for Family Day on Dec. 16, including an epic ice cream eating contest.
- Shop for unique gifts at the Georgetown Christmas Markets the first two weekends in December.
- Get cozy with hot chocolate and your favorite holiday movie an enjoy a night in as a family!
