What are the best things to do in Denver at Christmas?
Catch the 9NEWS Parade of Lights through downtown, with more than 40 illuminated floats, or ride The Polar Express Train Ride behind a steam locomotive in Golden. Run or walk the Ugly Sweater 5K Run/Walk in Washington Park, go skating downtown, and end the season with the New Year's Eve Fireworks on 16th Street.
Parade of Lights (Louisville)
Louisville's Parade of Lights rolls down Historic Main Street with illuminated floats, marching bands, and participants covered in twinkling lights, and Santa closes it out riding a fire truck. Before the parade, look for a holiday photobooth, a spot to write and mail letters to Santa, and dance and choir performances. Local vendors sell hot chocolate and treats. It's free to watch, and the Main Street restaurants and shops are handy before or after.
Homes for the Holidays Tour (Boulder)
Historic Boulder's Homes for the Holidays Tour opens six historic homes in the Newlands neighborhood, each decorated for the holidays. Tour at your own pace, take in the architecture and the decor, and pick up some local history along the way. A ticket gets you into the homes on either day of the tour. The organizer, Historic Boulder, is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the city's built environment and history.
Hotel Clio Holiday Wreath Workshop
Hotel Clio in Cherry Creek hosts a Holiday Wreath Workshop where you make your own fresh holiday wreath with expert instruction. All materials are included, and the hands-on session takes place in an elegant hotel setting. Bring a friend, and you both head home with a fresh wreath for the front door.
9NEWS Parade of Lights
The 9NEWS Parade of Lights is Colorado's two-mile holiday parade through downtown Denver, with more than 40 illuminated floats, giant balloons, marching bands, and cultural performance groups such as Mestizo dancers. Along the route, activation zones offer festive experiences, product sampling, and giveaways. It's free, and for many Denver families it's a tradition across generations. Reserve and prepay downtown parking through SpotHero, or try the street meters.
The Polar Express Train Ride (Golden)
The Polar Express Train Ride at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden starts in a heated pavilion with caroling, cookies, hot cocoa, and a dramatic re-enactment of the story. Then everyone boards vintage coaches behind a coal-fired steam locomotive bound for the North Pole, where elves sing and dance. On the way back, Santa hands each passenger a Silver Bell. Plan on 2 to 2½ hours, and pajamas are encouraged. Standard seats are $80 for ages 2 to 15 and $100 for 16 and up.
New Year's Eve Fireworks
Downtown Denver rings in the new year with two free fireworks shows, at 9 p.m. and midnight, launched from two rooftop locations. The best spot to watch is 16th Street, where the synchronized displays light up the skyline. It's a city tradition spanning more than two decades. Pick the early show if the little ones won't last until midnight.
McGregor Skate Grand Opening & Tree Lighting
McGregor Square's Skate Grand Opening & Tree Lighting is part Broncos watch party, part holiday kickoff. Watch the Denver Broncos game on the 66-foot Big Screen, see the tree lit at halftime, then stay for Elf on the same screen. Denver Colorado FSC performs on the ice before McGregor Skate opens for the season, and local vendors line Wynkoop for a holiday market. Dinger poses for photos in a Santa suit. The event is free; skate admission and rentals are separate.
Downtown Denver Rink at Skyline Park
The Downtown Denver Rink at Skyline Park is a seasonal outdoor rink right in the heart of downtown, with city lights and skyscrapers all around. It's a popular central skating spot, and it gets especially lively on weekends and holidays. If you like a little more elbow room on the ice, a weeknight visit might suit you better.
Georgetown Loop Railroad Santa Trains (Georgetown)
The Georgetown Loop Railroad runs two Santa trains in Georgetown. Santa's Lighted Forest is a nighttime ride through over 300,000 lights with Santa on board, and Santa's Rocky Mountain Adventure is a daytime ride with holiday fun and scenic mountain views. It's a classic Colorado holiday train trip either way, so choose lights or scenery. Santa rides both.
Ugly Sweater 5K Run/Walk
The Ugly Sweater 5K Run/Walk follows a certified course in Washington Park, staged from Mount Vernon Garden, with a party-like atmosphere on the course and at the finish line expo. Run it or walk it, with no time limit, and bring a leashed dog or a stroller if you like. Registration includes a race shirt, finisher medal, food tables, and free photo downloads. The race goes on in cold, snow, rain, or wind, so a sweater is a smart call either way.
Evergreen Lake Ice Skating (Evergreen)
Evergreen Lake is billed as North America's largest outdoor Zamboni-groomed ice rink, with natural ice for skating, hockey, and broomball in a mountain setting. Look for the New Year's Eve Icefest, a special celebration that makes the lake a holiday destination. Up here, the mountains do most of the holiday decorating and the ice does the rest.
City and County Building Holiday Lights
The City and County Building downtown kicks off Denver's holiday season with the annual Light the Lights Celebration, a live ceremony with remarks from Mayor Mike Johnston and the first lighting of the season. After that, the building lights up nightly with a light and music show of classic holiday songs arranged with an epic, cinematic twist. It's free, and the ceremony streams on Denver 8 TV and the city's Facebook page.
Englewood Holiday Express (Englewood)
The Englewood Holiday Express fills Belleview Park with holiday lights and unlimited rides on the Englewood Train. Make crafts, roast s'mores, visit with Santa, and buy hot cocoa or warm drinks. Your ticket time is your entry time (slots run every half hour), and once inside, trains leave about every 15 minutes, so ride as often as you like. Tickets are $15 per person, kids under two are free, and the train has an accessible ramp.
Holiday's Evening (Littleton)
Holiday's Evening at the Littleton Museum brings 19th-century Christmas to the living history farms, with costumed interpreters and buildings from the 1860s and 1890s. Take a horse- or mule-drawn wagon ride, warm up at three bonfires, and watch the blacksmiths at the forge. Father Christmas, in a green robe and holly crown, gives each child a candy cane or a wooden top. Hot cider, gingersnaps, and cornbread are complimentary, and kids can write letters to Santa.
Highlands Ranch Mansion Holiday Celebration (Highlands Ranch)
Highlands Ranch Mansion opens up for an old-fashioned Holiday Celebration, with self-guided tours of the historic Mansion (volunteer docents on hand) and artisan and community vendor booths. Kids can visit Santa, take horse-drawn hayrides, get their faces painted, and play reindeer games on the lawn, while school choirs, Nutcracker selections, and story times keep things lively. It's free. Park in the west lot at Mountain Vista High School and take the shuttle, since Mansion parking is for placards only.
Candlelight Walk (Littleton)
Littleton's Candlelight Walk fills downtown with festive performers, holiday music, and a holiday parade. Stop for photos with Santa along the way, sip free hot cocoa or warm cider, and stay for the drone show that lights up the night sky as the finale. The light rail stops in historic Downtown Littleton, which spares you the parking puzzle, and downtown is fully pedestrian friendly once you're there.
Lights of December Parade (Boulder)
Downtown Boulder's Lights of December Parade brings out floats decorated by local businesses, churches, schools, community groups, and nonprofits, plus marching bands, lit fire engines, and holiday carolers. Santa Claus is the grand finale. Stand near the reviewing stand at Broadway and Pearl to hear announcements about each group, and grab a warm drink nearby. Stay behind the fencing for the whole parade, and stop by the Visitor Center for a Downtown Dash stamp.
The RINK at Belmar (Lakewood)
The RINK at Belmar turns the plaza in Lakewood's Belmar shopping district into an outdoor ice rink for the season. It's a family-friendly spot with a lively atmosphere, and shopping and dining are right nearby. Skate a few laps and then hunt for gifts, or shop first and save the ice for dessert.
Wheat Ridge Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting (Wheat Ridge)
Wheat Ridge's Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting fills The Green at 38th with roaming carolers, stage entertainment, choir and a cappella performances, and the annual tree lighting. Kids can ride the trackless train, take a hayride, decorate cookies, and make s'mores, and the community Festival of the Trees shows off decorated entries. Seated Santa photos are free but need a ticket, handed out first-come, first-served, so get there early. It goes on rain, snow, or shine.
Downtown Castle Rock Holiday Carriage Rides (Castle Rock)
Downtown Castle Rock's holiday carriage rides leave from Festival Park by the decorated Christmas tree, then circle the core of downtown past the holiday lights in an open-air, horse-drawn carriage. Most rides last about 10 minutes. One $59 ticket reserves the whole carriage for up to 4 people, tickets must be bought in advance, and payment is credit card only. It's open air, so bring blankets, hats, or handwarmers.
L'Esprit de Noël Holiday Home Tour
The Central City Opera Guild's L'Esprit de Noël Holiday Home Tour opens five private homes in the Denver Country Club neighborhood, decorated for the holidays by local florists and table designers. Walk through for floral arrangements, dining table layouts, and ideas to take home. This is the tour's 50th year, and proceeds benefit Central City Opera's education and community engagement programs. Tickets are $50, or $40 for Guild members.
Santa Wagon Rides (Aurora)
At the Plains Conservation Center in Aurora, Santa Wagon Rides take you across the prairie with Santa Claus along for the trip. He tells stories and answers questions, and cocoa and treats are included on the ride. Take in the prairie scenery, and have the kids ready with anything they've ever wanted to ask Santa. He's heard it all.
Parade of Lights (Erie)
Erie's Parade of Lights travels through Downtown Historic Erie in the evening, with walkers heading toward Coal Creek Park and floats continuing north on Briggs Street. Before it starts, take a free carriage ride, visit Santa and Mrs. Claus, try the open skating, and hear local school choirs inside Orchard Community Church. Free hot chocolate and snacks are at the church, and food is for sale. Park on residential streets or in the Town Hall lot (not in alleys).
Noel Northglenn (Northglenn)
Noel Northglenn kicks off the holiday season at the Northglenn Recreation Center with carriage rides, an indoor snowball fight, and free crafts and games for kids. Visit Santa Claus and snap a photo on your own phone, or pay $5 for one from the event photographer. Free s'mores roast over the fire on the Festival Lawn, and there's an NSO bake sale and food trucks. Admission and parking are free. Indoor snowballs: all of the fun, none of the wet mittens.
Broomfield Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony (Broomfield)
Broomfield's Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony at the George Di Ciero City and County Building gathers everyone to welcome Santa Claus and watch the Mayor light the community holiday tree. Local school children sing carols, the Community Park trees are all decorated, and families can ride the holiday wagon. Kids get a chance to talk with Santa, and local food trucks cover dinner. It's outdoors on a December evening, so bundle up.
Tebo Train's Snowflake Express (Boulder)
The Tebo Train's Snowflake Express is a 100% electric train that chugs along Pearl Street in Boulder, boarding in front of Wells Fargo at 1242 Pearl Street. It's for children 10 and under riding with an accompanying adult. There's a suggested donation of $5 per group, and if you're doing the Downtown Dash, show your train sticker at the Visitor Information Center for a stamp. Bad weather can cancel the ride.
Olde Fashion Christmas (Northglenn)
Olde Fashion Christmas takes place inside the Stonehocker Farmhouse, Northglenn's oldest standing building. Local acts including the Northland Chorale, Gentlemen Fourté, Gracie & Blue, and the Stukey Elementary School Choir perform holiday music. Kids head upstairs for photos with Santa and get a free book afterward. The Northglenn Historic Preservation Commission sells baked treats and affordable stocking stuffers, so you can check a few names off the list.
Holiday Tree Lighting (Aurora)
The City of Aurora's annual Holiday Tree Lighting at the Aurora Municipal Center lights up thousands of strands of lights and the light displays around the Municipal Center. Expect sweet treats, holiday activities for all ages, performances by Aurora Dance Hearts, and a visit from Santa Claus. It's free, with free parking in the east, west, and lower south lots, or take the R-Line to Aurora Metro Station and walk over. Pets stay home (service animals excepted).
Brunch with Father Christmas
Four Mile Historic Park hosts Brunch with Father Christmas, a seated brunch buffet with traditional visits from Father Christmas himself. Festive entertainment and family activities round out the event, all in a charming historic setting with plenty of holiday atmosphere. It's a buffet, so come hungry, and bring the kids for the family activities.
Winter Solstice Night Brunch
Four Mile Historic Park celebrates the winter solstice with a Night Brunch, a special evening of festive dining and live entertainment on the longest night of the year. Expect seasonal food, live performances, and a celebration of winter traditions. Brunch after dark? On the longest night of the year, it makes perfect sense.
The Official Christmas Bar Crawl
The Official Christmas Bar Crawl starts at The Passport Denver on Market Street and leads you through a lineup of Denver bars and venues decorated for the holidays. Expect drink specials, party wristbands, and a guided crawl through holiday-themed spots. It's a grown-up celebration, so plan your ride home before the first round.
Very Merry Karaoke at Punch Bowl Social
Punch Bowl Social on Broadway hosts Very Merry Karaoke, holiday karaoke nights with arcade games, drink specials, and festive fun. New attendees get a free arcade card, so first-timers can warm up on the games before the microphone. Pick your holiday ballad on the drive over, and maybe practice the high notes.
Fresh Holiday Wreath Workshop (Parker)
Pine Lane Nursery in Parker hosts a hands-on Fresh Holiday Wreath Workshop. You build your own wreath from fresh greens and berries, finished with a festive bow, and all the supplies plus expert instruction are included. It's a good pick for crafters and anyone after unique holiday decor. Bonus, it's one decoration you can say you made yourself.