Here are some top Denver things to do this weekend, Dec. 6-8. The 9News Parade of Lights returns with countless sparkling lights, marching bands, giant balloons, majestic floats and delightful characters. It’s also a great weekend to check out holiday lights displays and enjoy ‘Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum,’ a Denver holiday tradition by Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble.
Featured Events
9News Parade of Lights (Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7)
‘Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum’
Holiday Lights
Christmas Lights of Denver (Friday, Dec. 6)
Christmas in Color (Bandimere Speedway)
Christmas in Color (Water World)
Denver Lights & Sights Walking Tour (Friday, Dec. 6)
Museum Exhibitions
Claude Monet: The Truth of Nature
Extreme Sports: Beyond Human Limits
Beer Here! Brewing the New West
Written on the Land: Ute Voices, Ute History
Colorado Abstract +10: A History & A Survey
Shantell Martin: Words and Lines
Stacey Steers: Edge of Alchemy
Arts & Culture
One Fell Swoop by Patrick Dougherty
Holiday Mercado Arts & Crafts Sale (Saturday, Dec. 7)
Free First Saturday at Denver Art Museum (Saturday, Dec. 7)
Music in the Galleries: Spektral Quartet (Sunday Dec. 8)
First Friday Art Walks (Friday, Dec. 6)
Performing Arts
‘Love Actually’ in Concert (Friday, Dec. 6)
Passport to the Holidays: Around the World With DGMC! (Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7)
Christmas With the Children’s Chorale (Saturday, Dec. 7)
John Denver Holiday Celebration With the Colorado Symphony (Saturday, Dec. 7)
Lone Tree Symphony Presents a Very Cherry Christmas (Saturday, Dec. 7 and Sunday Dec. 8)
Celtic Woman: The Best of Christmas Tour (Sunday Dec. 8)
Handel’s ‘Messiah’ (Sunday Dec. 8)
‘Santa Claus Conquers the Martians’
Dr. Seuss’ ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical’
‘A Christmas Carol – The Musical’
‘Ella Enchanted’ at the Arvada Center
The Improvised Shakespeare Company
Writes of Winter: Hidden Worlds & Strange Negotiations (Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7)
Music
Dr. Fresch (Friday, Dec. 6)
Elektric Animals Single Release (Friday, Dec. 6)
Greensky Bluegrass (Friday, Dec. 6)
Honky Tonk Holiday Party (Friday, Dec. 6)
Jaden & Willow (Friday, Dec. 6)
Shpongle (Friday, Dec. 6)
The Late Set: Dawn Clement and Anisha Rush (Friday, Dec. 6)
Vintage Trouble (Friday, Dec. 6)
Ward Davis (Friday, Dec. 6)
Mike Cooley (Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7)
Dragon Smoke (Saturday, Dec. 7)
Greensky Bluegrass (Saturday, Dec. 7)
Lettuce (Saturday, Dec. 7)
Local Set w/ Isaac Sinclair & Paul Frost (Saturday, Dec. 7)
MIDIcinal Live Band (Saturday, Dec. 7)
Sharone (Saturday, Dec. 7)
Wolf van Elfmand (Saturday, Dec. 7)
A Blind Tiger Tribute to Anita O’Day (Sunday, Dec. 8)
Surrender Signal (Sunday, Dec. 8)
The Allman Family Revival (Sunday, Dec. 8)
The Threadbarons (Sunday, Dec. 8)
Timothy P. and the Rocky Mountain Stocking Stuffers Perform
Food & Drink
Drunk Christmas (Fiction Beer Company) (Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7)
Bake Sale (Saturday, Dec. 7)
10th Anniversary 1940s White Christmas Ball (Saturday, Dec. 7)
Wine & Paint! (Saturday, Dec. 7)
Christmas Beer and Cookies (Saturday, Dec. 7)
Denver SantaCon Crawl (Saturday, Dec. 7)
RiNo Holiday Bazaar: 3 Sundays in a Row! (Sunday, Dec. 8)
Nick's Holiday Putt Club and Bar
Family-Friendly
Holiday Fair & Artisan Market (Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7)
Sensory Friendly Concerts (Saturday, Dec. 7)
Swedish Christmas Market (Saturday, Dec. 7)
Hipster Santa is Comin’ to The Source (Saturday, Dec. 7 and Sunday, Dec. 8)
Snowcats Cat Convention (Saturday, Dec. 7 and Sunday, Dec. 8)
Breakfast With Santa (starts on Saturday, Dec. 7)
Disney on Ice: Mickey’s Search Party
Holiday Family Sing-Along, A Time of Wonder
Fetch Holiday Markets (Saturday, Dec. 7 and Sunday, Dec. 8)
Denver Museum of Nature & Science Free Day (Sunday, Dec. 8)
Santa’s Village at Chatfield Farms
Film & Literature
Movie & Martinis: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (Sunday, Dec. 8)
Comedy
Brad Williams (Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7)
Christopher Titus (Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7)
Sports & Fitness
2019 Jingle Bell Run 5K (Sunday, Dec. 8)
Downtown Denver Rink at Skyline Park
4th Annual Ice Rink at Denver International Airport
Planning a future trip to Denver. See our Reclaim the Weekend page. Also see our Denver 365 Event Calendar for activities, events and other stuff to do. Denver is a sunny outdoor city, full of urban adventures for the whole family.