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The 9NEWS Parade of Lights is the signature event of the holiday season in downtown Denver.
In addition to the parade, there are many other ways to get into the holiday spirit. Check out elaborate lights displays, blockbuster museum exhibitions and much more. Stay for the weekend and take advantage of great hotel deals.
We strive to post the most current and accurate event information, but changes and cancellations do occur, so please check the official event website to confirm all details before attending.
Parade Details
The 9NEWS Parade of Lights is free and will make a circuit through the heart of downtown beginning at 6 p.m. on Dec. 7, 2024, featuring more than 40 units, including extravagantly illuminated floats, giant helium-filled character balloons, magnificent marching bands, traditional equestrian units and vibrant cultural displays. And, of course, a special appearance by Major Waddles the Penguin and Santa!
Parade Route
The parade begins at 14th and Bannock Streets, where you can purchase grandstand seating in front of the City and County Building. Spectators can view the parade for free along the two-mile route on Tremont Street between 14th and 17th Streets, on 17th Street from Tremont to Arapahoe Street, on Arapahoe between 17th and 15th Streets, and on 15th Street from Arapahoe to Glenarm. For more information, see the 9NEWS Parade of Lights web page.
Holiday Lights
Cherry Creek North Winter Wanderland
WHEN: Nov. 16–Dec. 24, 2024
WHERE: Cherry Creek North
Winter Wanderland displays a collection of free holiday offerings and festivities throughout the neighborhood! Festivities include a dazzling display of nearly one million twinkling lights on more than 600 trees spread throughout the walkable neighborhood and
Giving Machines — vending machines that don't dispense snacks or drinks, but instead offer the chance to make a positive impact! Throughout the holiday season, enjoy The Million Light Plug-In (Nov. 21), Small Business Weekend (Nov. 29–Dec. 1), Saturday Night Lights (Dec. 7, 14, & 21) with complimentary holiday treats and festive entertainment, a Chanukah celebration (Dec. 29), and the Cherry Creek North Holiday Market (Nov. 16–Dec. 24), where you can browse gifts from more than 40 local makers, designers and creators.
Blossoms of Light
WHEN: Nov. 20, 2024–Jan. 12, 2025
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens
Consistently lauded as one of the top holiday light shows in the nation, Blossoms of Light is a spectacular celebration that illuminates Denver Botanic Gardens' York Street location. Wander a mile-long path through immersive, luminous displays that accentuate and highlight our plant collections. A cherished holiday tradition for nearly four decades, Blossoms of Light is constantly evolving to inspire wonder and delight in even the most seasoned visitors.
Trail of Lights
WHEN: Nov. 29, 2024–Jan. 1, 2025
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms, Littleton
Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms takes you along a winding path glistening with lights that illuminate the Colorado countryside. Tucked into the foothills under the dark sky, the glow of lights can be seen for miles. Just under a mile of walking trail, the illumination of cottonwoods, boxelders and pine trees line the pathway through the Green Farm, Crossroads, Deer Creek Discovery Children's Play Area and 1880s Hildebrand Ranch homestead. There is also the option of a shorter path for those who want to take a shorter stroll. In line with the core value of sustainability, all lights used in the event are LED.
Candlelight Nights
WHEN: Nov. 30–Dec. 31, 2024
WHERE: City of Golden
Golden’s beloved Candlelight Nights returns with quaint holiday shops and festive decorations along historic Washington Avenue and thousands of twinkling lights lining the banks of Clear Creek. The annual Candlelight Walk occurs on Dec. 6, featuring revelers strolling Washington Avenue holding candles and singing carols. Golden’s Holiday Parade returns on Dec. 14, with marching bands, floats, horses, Victorian carolers, elves, fire trucks and, of course, Santa. Come back for a magical day in Golden meeting and mingling with family favorite holiday characters along Washington Avenue on December 21, during the Jingle On the Avenue.
Blockbuster Exhibitions
Weaving a Foundation: Cornerstones of the Textile Arts Collection
WHEN: Thru Dec. 31, 2024
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
This new exhibition features 60 objects from the museum’s permanent collection, two-thirds of which have never been shown. Throughout the museum’s history, textile arts have played a fundamental role in the development of its collecting philosophies and exhibition programs. The first textile entered the museum almost 100 years ago, and since that time, textile arts have been regular additions to the collection. Among the handful of early patrons, the Douglas Family of Evergreen, Colorado, emerged as the most steadfast donors of textiles. This exhibition highlights a selection of the family’s donations that demonstrates their celebration of traditional and living cultures and the value of exhibiting them together.
By Design: Stories and Ideas Behind Objects
WHEN: Thru Jan. 1, 2025
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
Design is all around us. Whether it takes the form of objects and spaces, images and interactions, or systems and processes, design shapes our lives in fundamental ways. But what shapes design? A series of thematic installations drawn primarily from the architecture and design collection, By Design: Stories and Ideas Behind Objects illustrates the abundance and versatility of approaches to design.
The Power of Poison
WHEN: Thru Jan. 5, 2025
WHERE: Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Explore the captivating and often paradoxical world of nature’s toxic arsenal in The Power of Poison. Encounter the many plants and animals living deep in the Colombian forest that use poison as a vital tool for defense and survival. With live performances and interactive dioramas, dive deep into familiar tales of illness, enchantment and death by poison. Find out how studying poison’s effects on human cells can help scientists figure out how to protect, repair and heal our own bodies and improve our health. Whether used as a defense against predators, a source of magical strength or a lifesaving medical treatment, The Power of Poison is sure to surprise you at every turn!
Family-Friendly Events & Activities
The Polar ExpressTM Train Ride
WHEN: TBA 2024
WHERE: Colorado Railroad Museum, Golden
The story of The Polar ExpressTM is theatrically re-created and combined with a magical train ride at the Colorado Railroad Museum. Children get to meet Santa and experience all the sights and sounds of this classic tale as if happening all around them. This year, a whole host of carefully crafted updates have been made to ensure the health and safety of guests, cast and crew, so put on your pajamas and your most fashionable mask and bring the family to enjoy sharing hot cocoa and cookies together as the "Hot, Hot, Hot—Chocolate" song and dance unfolds before your eyes.
Denver Christkindlmarket
WHEN: TBA 2024
WHERE: Civic Center Park
This outdoor event brings the most beloved elements of an authentic German holiday experience to The Mile High City. Stroll through a European village decorated for the holiday season as you shop for finely crafted artisan gifts and treats at charming wooden huts. Fuel your shopping with authentic Glühwein (mulled spiced wine), German Biers and hot chocolate, and nosh on Bavarian-style pretzels, fresh smoked salmon, Knödel, Goulasch, Nürnberger Sausages, pastries, caramels and European chocolates.
Cherry Creek Holiday Market
WHEN: TBA 2024
WHERE: Cherry Creek North
The Cherry Creek North Holiday Market at Fillmore Plaza features more than 50 local artisan vendors, live music, and festive drinks and decor. The market is free, open to the public and family- and dog-friendly.
Santa's Flight Academy
WHEN: TBA 2024
WHERE: Cherry Creek Shopping Center
Your little ones can step inside a 22-foot-tall sleigh and experience the magical snowfall. They can also have their photos taken with Santa. Partake in a Sensory-Friendly Santa experience on Dec. 3 from 10–11:30 a.m. Bring your favorite furry friend to meet and have their photo taken with Santa "Paws" on Dec. 4 and 11 from 5–7 p.m. Reservations are recommended for all Santa sessions.
Downtown Denver Rink
WHEN: TBA 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.
Winter Holiday Trains
WHEN: TBA 2024
WHERE: Georgetown Loop Mining & Railroad Park
Located 45 miles west of Denver, the Georgetown Loop Railroad is one of Colorado’s most authentic living history experiences which offers daily train rides through scenic and snowy vistas on Santa’s Rocky Mountain Adventure, as well as evening journeys in Santa’s Lighted Forest, featuring more than 300,000 holiday lights.
Snow Days
WHEN: TBA 2024
WHERE: Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
Spend your day gliding around the ice skating rink, sledding on REAL snow, warming up by a toasty fire and much, much more.
Ice Castles in Cripple Creek
WHEN: TBA 2024
WHERE: Irene Ave. and 4th St., Cripple Creek
Each year, Ice Castles brings fairy tales to life for hundreds of thousands of families across North America. Since 2011, Ice Castles has been dedicated to creating an experience that will live on long after the ice melts. For all who enter through the icicle-adorned archways, time spent at Ice Castles is a source of joy and inspiration.
McGregor Skate
WHEN: TBA 2024
WHERE: McGregor Square Plaza
The magic of winter has made its way to LoDo with McGregor Skate, an ice skating rink for all ages. Skates are available to rent at an on-site skate shop.
More Holiday Events & Activities
Holiday Tea
WHEN: TBA 2024
WHERE: Center for Colorado Women's History
Celebrate the holiday season with your loved ones and a cozy cup of tea! Featuring a docent-led tour, the signature Lady Evans black tea and a variety of savory and sweet snacks provided by local and woman-led business, Miss Peabody’s Southern Tea Cakes, these Holiday Teas are the perfect opportunity to see the Center for Colorado Women's History in its holiday splendor. Available on select Thursdays and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m.
Tinseltown: Christmas Bar
WHEN: TBA 2024
WHERE: Denver Pavilions
It's time to make every day cheery again! Tinseltown is all about celebrating Christmas, so you can expect 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! You'll be left unable to shake the spirit and joy of our favorite season. Tickets include entry to the themed bar and a bespoke cocktail on arrival.
Music & Performing Arts
'A Christmas Carol'
WHEN: Nov. 22–Dec. 29, 2024
WHERE: Wolf Theatre
Celebrate 30 years of "A Christmas Carol" at the Denver Center! Essential to the holiday season in Denver, "A Christmas Carol" is a joyous and opulent musical adaptation for the whole family that traces money-hoarding curmudgeon Ebenezer Scrooge’s triumphant overnight journey to redemption. Based on Charles Dickens’ classic novel, the DCPA Theatre Company’s production is “a splendidly festive tradition” (BroadwayWorld) that illuminates the meaning of the holiday season in a way that has resonated for generations.
Colorado Ballet: 'The Nutcracker'
WHEN: Nov. 30–Dec. 29, 2024
WHERE: Ellie Caulkins Opera House
The beloved holiday favorite returns in a dazzling production like no one's ever seen, featuring all-new sets and costumes created especially for Colorado Ballet. A sellout every year, this magical tale of Clara, the Nutcracker and the Mouse King is going to be dreamier than ever.
Celtic Woman: White Christmas Symphony Tour
WHEN: Dec. 5, 2024
WHERE: Boettcher Concert Hall in the Denver Performing Arts Complex
Celebrate this holiday season with the celestial voices of multi-platinum Irish singing sensation Celtic Woman with your Colorado Symphony.
'Little Women'
WHEN: Dec. 5–29, 2024
WHERE: Dairy Arts Center, Boulder
“Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents.” And so begins one of the most beloved classics of American literature — a story that has warmed generations of readers since it was first published in 1868. With the men off fighting the Civil War, Marmee and sisters Jo, Beth, Amy and Meg are left to fend for themselves. They learn how to grapple with poverty, sickness and death as they each discover and embrace their destinies. Bring your family to the Dairy this holiday season and spend some time with the March family. Relive their adventures, their passionate loves, their ups and downs and their joy in being together.
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis
WHEN: Dec. 6–8, 2024
WHERE: Buell Theatre in the Denver Performing Arts Complex
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis has been America’s favorite holiday tradition for more than 35 years! Grammy Award winner Chip Davis has created a show that features Mannheim Steamroller Christmas classics in the distinctive Mannheim sound. The program includes 15 musicians playing more than 20 instruments against a backdrop of dazzling multimedia effects – capturing the spirit of the season in an immersive yet intimate setting.
A Holiday Evening with Leslie Odom, Jr.
WHEN: Dec. 7, 2024
WHERE: Boettcher Concert Hall in the Denver Performing Arts Complex
Leslie Odom, Jr. is a multifaceted performer, Tony® winner, GRAMMY® winner, and a three-time Emmy® Award nominee recognized for his work on the Broadway stage, on television, in film and as a recording artist. For his critically acclaimed performance as legendary soul singer Adam Cooke in Regina King's "One Night in Miami," Odom Jr. was nominated for the Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor. He received a second nomination in the same year as a songwriter for co-writing the film's original song, "Speak Now." Best known for his breakout role as Aaron Burr in the hit musical "Hamilton," Odom Jr. returns to Denver to perform holiday favorites, selections from his 2020 release titled "The Christmas Album" and more.
'The Story of the Nutcracker'
WHEN: Dec. 7–28, 2024; Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
WHERE: Miners Alley Playhouse, Golden
When Marie’s gift from her Godfather Drosselmeier on Christmas Eve gets broken, she tries to find and fix the Nutcracker. Instead, he comes alive, and a story-within-the-story begins! Become a part of the Nutcracker tale and see if everyone gets to live happily ever after in this Theatre for Young Audiences performance.
Museum & Gallery Exhibitions
Lumonics Immersed
WHEN: Thru Dec. 28, 2024
WHERE: Lumonics Light & Sound Gallery
“Entering a performance at Lumonics Light & Sound Gallery is like stepping through a looking glass and into a sci-fi wonderland. The gallery’s Lumonics Immersed installation was originally created by the late Dorothy and Mel Tanner, pioneering light artists whose singular style fuses elements of light, music and sculptures to produce captivating experiences for the audience.” – Denver Westword
Museum of Illusions
WHEN: Thru Dec. 31, 2024
WHERE: Museum of Illusions
Discover a brilliant collection of perspective-changing rooms, enthralling installations, and spellbinding images. The mesmerizing exhibits will teach you that nothing is ever quite as it seems, especially in the Museum of Illusions Denver.
Danielle SeeWalker: But We Have Something to Say
WHEN: Thru Dec. 31, 2024
WHERE: History Colorado Center
Danielle SeeWalker is a Húŋkpapȟa Lakȟóta citizen from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. She is an artist, writer, activist and boy mom of two, based in Denver. This exhibition uses storytelling to explore a variety of issues important to Indigenous peoples and communities. Striking nineteenth-century hair ornaments, beaded spoons and moccasins are paired with SeeWalker’s art in ways that illuminate censored and erased histories.
Shadow and Light: Patrick Marold
WHEN: Thru Jan. 5, 2025
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens
Explore a site-specific installation highlighting the ever-changing qualities of light and shadow. Created specifically for Denver Botanic Gardens, Shadow and Light is an immersive sculptural installation integrating the poetics of space with the luminosity of light. Discover an exhibition that changes with every visit, highlighting the shifting mood of light throughout the day and across the seasons.
Dialogue and Defiance: Clyfford Still and the Abstract Expressionists
WHEN: Thru Jan. 12, 2025
WHERE: Clyfford Still Museum
Clyfford Still withdrew his paintings from the Betty Parsons Gallery in 1951, refusing to participate in a market prioritizing the fame of an artist and the price of their artworks. The following year, he surprised many by agreeing to participate in a group show at the Museum of Modern Art. His rationale for doing so was because the curator, Dorothy Miller, agreed to show Still’s works together in their own gallery. As Still saw it, his work could be viewed on its own terms and not in direct comparison to other artists—but visitors could still see the scope of American painting in the mid-century. Even with his turn away from the art world, Still saw himself participating in something larger and remained in dialogue with his contemporaries. This exhibition considers the nuanced ways in which Clyfford Still was part of an artists’ community in the late 1940s and early 1950s, despite his protestations to the contrary, and how his paintings, through their scale and composition, promote ideas of community.
Vanity & Vice: American Art Deco
WHEN: Thru Jan. 12, 2025
WHERE: Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art
Vanity & Vice: American Art Deco explores the dynamic designs that emerged during the rebellious years of 1920–1933. American women were enjoying more independence inside and outside the home. Cutting hair into a chic bob, wearing rouge on lips and cheeks, hosting cocktail parties, and publicly consuming alcohol and tobacco all reinforced what it meant to be a modern woman. American designers and manufacturers responded to these societal changes with fashionable perfume atomizers and vanity sets and drinking and smoking accessories in the latest styles. This exhibition invites visitors into two distinct spaces occupied by a progressive Prohibition-era woman: her boudoir and a speakeasy. Explore the Art Deco objects that filled these rooms and how they reflect a time of freedom and change.
Flow: On the River with John Fielder
WHEN: Thru Jan. 27, 2025
WHERE: History Colorado Center
This exhibition focuses on the many uses and importance of the Colorado River, taking visitors inside majestic canyons and atop the most awe-inspiring vistas along the Yampa, Gunnison and Dolores Rivers as they flow toward their confluence with the Colorado. Flow: On the River with John Fielder features a number of iconic large-format Fielder prints, as well as quotes from the renowned landscape photographer gathered carefully from his publications and interviews over the years.
Rumors of Bloomers
WHEN: Thru March 30, 2025
WHERE: Center for Colorado Women's History
Rumors of Bloomers explores women’s experiences as expressed through undergarments. Using rarely displayed objects – such as corsets, bloomers, swimming costumes, petticoats and Mother Hubbard gowns – the exhibition highlights the ways “unmentionables” have given form and shape to bodies, while also expressing identity, autonomy, agency, and protest.
Owl Club of Denver: Legacies of Excellence
WHEN: Thru May 10, 2025
WHERE: History Colorado Center
Explore the rich traditions of a prominent all-Black debutante cotillion club in The Mile High City. Built from oral histories, and featuring a remarkable collection of photographs, Owl Club of Denver: Legacies of Excellence recounts the rarely told history of debutante culture from the perspective of African Americans who were historically excluded from the beauty standards of this European-born tradition.
The Life and Art of Tokio Ueyama
WHEN: Thru June 1, 2025
WHERE: Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art
The Life and Art of Tokio Ueyama features more than 40 paintings loaned to the museum by the Japanese American National Museum and Ueyama’s family, whose combined efforts to preserve his work have allowed the story of this accomplished and cosmopolitan artist to be told at the DAM for the first time. Born in Japan, Tokio Ueyama moved to the United States in 1908 at age 18, where he made a home until his death in 1954. This exhibition tells the story of Ueyama’s life, including his early days as an art student in San Francisco, Southern California, and Philadelphia; his travels abroad in Europe and Mexico; his role as artist and community member in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles; and his unconstitutional incarceration during World War II at the Granada Relocation Center, now the Amache National Historic Site, in southeast Colorado.
Movements Toward Freedom
WHEN: Sept. 20, 2024–Feb. 2, 2025
WHERE: MCA Denver
This exhibition explores the power, possibility and vulnerability of bodily movement in contemporary life. Showcasing recent work and new commissions that span genres of performance, sculpture, video, painting and installation, Movements Toward Freedom considers the ways that physical movement plays an integral role in exercising personal and collective agency, as a means for community-building, civic change and liberation, as well as serving as an antidote to strife and a vehicle for healing and care.
Migrants, a Tale of Two Hearts
WHEN: Oct. 10, 2024–Jan. 26, 2025
WHERE: Museo de las Americas
The journey of migrants to the U.S. is full of internal changes taking place in the physical body and mental state. This exhibit will explore the internal and external experiences of the immigrant who leaves home in search of a new and better life.
Wild Things: The Art of Maurice Sendak
WHEN: Oct. 13, 2024–Feb. 17, 2025
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
Named after Maurice Sendak’s “Where the Wild Things Are,” the beloved children’s book he authored in 1963 that became a cultural touchstone, this exhibition presents more than 400 of Sendak’s creations. Visitors will see unique examples of Sendak’s timeless art, such as the final artworks for the book, and get a sense of his extraordinary skill and deep understanding of the process of creating picture books and designs for the stage, television and film productions.