Denver Christmas 2026
Whimsical Christmas scene with snowmen, reindeer, and glowing lights in Denver

Denver Christmas Guide 2026

Denver's Best Christmas Events for 2026!

Six hundred drones fly over the skyline every night of the Mile High Drone Show, and it costs nothing to look up. Down on the Tivoli Quad, the Denver Christkindlmarket pours Glühwein among its wooden huts. There's also a latke contest at JCC Denver and an Ugly Sweater 5K in Washington Park. Pack layers, because the weather here changes its mind fast. Send us your corrections and favorite traditions; we refresh this list regularly during the 2026 season.

Best picks for 2026

  1. Denver Christkindlmarket

    Nov 20 – Dec 23, 2026 · Free and open to the public.

    A German-style market on the Tivoli Quad with wooden huts of local and European crafts, Glühwein, Bavarian pretzels, and bratwurst off the grill. It's free, there's a carousel, and the Festival Hall bar stays open after the vendors close.

  2. Denver Botanic Gardens Blossoms of Light

    Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027 (select dates)

    The winter gardens at Denver Botanic Gardens glow with vibrant LED displays and light installations along a path that takes about 60 to 75 minutes. Warm drinks along the route help. Buy date-specific tickets ahead, since nights can sell out.

  3. 9NEWS Parade of Lights

    Dec 5, 2026 · Free

    More than 40 illuminated floats, giant balloons, and marching bands roll along a two-mile route through downtown Denver. It's free, and for many Denver families it's a tradition across generations.

  4. The Polar Express Train Ride (Golden)

    Nov 6 – Dec 23, 2026 (select dates)

    A heated-pavilion show with cocoa and cookies, then a ride behind a coal-fired steam locomotive to the North Pole in Golden, with Santa handing out Silver Bells on the way back. Pajamas encouraged; allow 2 to 2½ hours.

  5. Mile High Tree

    Nov 20 – Dec 31, 2026 · Free

    A 110-foot conical tree on the Tivoli Quad with 60,000 LED lights and free light-and-music shows every 15 minutes. Walk underneath for the view from inside, and come back on New Year's Eve for the countdown.

  6. Season of the Star (Castle Rock)

    Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 23, 2027

    Castle Rock lights its Star and keeps the whole downtown glowing with hundreds of thousands of lights. Add free trolley rides, carriage rides, a 40-foot tree at the Starlight Market, and Reindeer Games with Santa.

  7. A Colorado Christmas

    Dec 11 – Dec 13, 2026

    The Colorado Symphony, the Colorado Symphony Chorus, and the Colorado Children's Chorale lead a carol sing-along at Boettcher Concert Hall, and Santa and Mrs. Claus drop in. Arrive early for HalfNotes, the family-friendly pre-show activity.

  8. Christmas at Gaylord Rockies (Aurora)

    2026 dates not posted yet

    Over 3 million lights, indoor snow tubing, gingerbread decorating, and ice!, a walk-through of hand-carved ice sculptures and slides kept at 9°F (parkas provided). Buy tickets online ahead, since there's no on-site box office.

On now and coming up

Quick answers

What are the best Christmas lights in Denver?

Start with Blossoms of Light at Denver Botanic Gardens on York Street and the Mile High Tree on the Tivoli Quad, a 110-foot tree with free light-and-music shows every 15 minutes. Hudson Holidays in Littleton has a 0.65-mile trail and a lighted maze, and Christmas at Gaylord Rockies in Aurora has over 3 million lights.

Where are the Christmas markets in Denver?

The Denver Christkindlmarket fills the Tivoli Quad at Auraria Campus with wooden huts, Glühwein, and bratwurst, and admission is free. The Cherry Creek Holiday Market on Fillmore Plaza has more than 45 local makers. The Denver Christmas Show at the National Western Center has hundreds of booths, and the Mile High Holiday Mart at the University of Denver has more than 100 merchants.

What Christmas events in Denver are free?

Plenty. The Mile High Tree shows, the Mile High Drone Show, the 9NEWS Parade of Lights, and the New Year's Eve Fireworks on 16th Street are all free, and so is admission to the Denver Christkindlmarket and the Cherry Creek Holiday Market. Outside the city, Castle Rock Starlighting and Lakewood Lights are free too.

Where can kids see Santa in Denver?

Hudson Holidays in Littleton offers free Santa photos in the Pavilion, and Lakewood Lights has free Santa visits in his workshop. On The Polar Express Train Ride in Golden, Santa boards the train and hands out Silver Bells. Santa Wagon Rides at the Plains Conservation Center put him on a prairie wagon, telling stories and answering questions.

What is there to do on New Year's Eve in Denver?

Downtown has two free New Year's Eve Fireworks shows, at 9 p.m. and midnight, launched from two rooftops; 16th Street is the best place to watch. The Mile High Tree on the Tivoli Quad hosts a ball drop-style countdown. In the mountains, Evergreen Lake Ice Skating has its New Year's Eve Icefest.

Where can you go ice skating in Denver for the holidays?

The Downtown Denver Rink at Skyline Park puts you on the ice among the skyscrapers, and McGregor Skate at McGregor Square near Coors Field has skate rentals. The RINK at Belmar sits in Lakewood's shopping district, and Evergreen Lake is billed as North America's largest outdoor Zamboni-groomed rink.

Where can you see The Nutcracker in Denver?

The Nutcracker by Colorado Ballet plays the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, with the Colorado Ballet Orchestra playing Tchaikovsky's score live. For a twist, the Hip Hop Nutcracker at the Buell Theatre sets the story on New Year's Eve. Outside the city, look for Nutcracker of Parker at the PACE Center and Colorado Conservatory of Dance's version at Parson's Theatre in Northglenn.

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