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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
Zoo Lights
WHEN: Thru Jan. 5, 2025
WHERE: Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance
It's official: Zoo Lights has been making magic, memories, and even marriages for 30 amazing years! Presented by Your Hometown Toyota Stores, this illuminating annual event transforms Denver Zoo into Colorado's WILDEST winter wonderland. Don't miss this year's historic celebration, with more than a million lights sparkling over 80 acres—plus a host of special measures to keep your family safe and healthy.
Blossoms of Light
WHEN: Thru 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.
Hudson Holidays
WHEN: Thru Jan. 12, 2025
WHERE: Hudson Gardens & Events Center
You'll be enchanted by even more towering trees draped in thousands of colorful lights. A grove of dancing Christmas trees, a multi-colored forest inhabited by giant snowmen, the holiday light tunnel and glowing reindeer will light up Hudson Gardens into an extravaganza of holiday cheer. Purchase a delicious cup of hot cocoa or adult beverage before stopping by for a perfect free family photo opportunity with Santa.
Light the Lights
WHEN: Thru Jan. 26, 2025
WHERE: City & County of Denver Building in Civic Center Park
Starting with the kick-off celebration on Nov. 27, 2024, each night at 5:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. an eight-minute choreographed light and music holiday show will light up the night. It then goes to a festive, static holiday display until 10:45 p.m. Note: There will be no shows on Dec. 7 due to the 9NEWS Parade of Lights and on Dec. 21 for "We Will Remember: Homeless Persons' Memorial Vigil."
Blockbuster Exhibitions
Wild Things: The Art of Maurice Sendak
WHEN: Thru 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.
Cherry Creek North Winter Wanderland
WHEN: TBA 2025
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. 21–Dec. 24), where you can browse gifts from more than 40 local makers, designers and creators.
Mile High Drone Show
WHEN: TBA 2025
WHERE: Downtown
For 40 magical nights, 400 drones will soar into the sky, creating breathtaking holiday-themed animations. See these dazzling displays from across the city every night at 7 p.m. for free. From Santa and his reindeer to iconic Denver landmarks like the Mile High Tree and Denver Union Station, each night will bring a new visual experience to life.
The Mile High Tree presented by Xcel Energy & Xfinity
WHEN: TBA 2025
WHERE: Civic Center Park
Join in the free festivities at the Mile High Tree. It’s a brilliantly lit, 110-foot-tall immersive art installation that provides a dazzling lights-and-music show. You can experience two of Denver's most popular holiday attractions in one place: America’s tallest digital tree and the Denver Christkindlmarket, the city’s only authentic German holiday market.
Luminova Holidays
WHEN: TBA 2025
WHERE: Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park
This family-friendly event brings larger-than-life holiday displays and immersive experiences for all to enjoy. It features millions of dazzling lights, a 65-foot-tall Christmas tree, twinkling snowmen who never melt, a 300-foot-long candy cane tunnel, giant presents and ornaments, a wall of lights, rides on Elitch Gardens attractions, interactive activities like a light-up hopscotch, strolling holiday entertainers, Old Saint Nick and his elves, and more.
Candlelight Nights
WHEN: TBA 2025
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.
Trail of Lights
WHEN: TBA 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.
Family-Friendly Events & Activities
Winter Holiday Trains
WHEN: Thru Jan. 5, 2025
WHERE: Georgetown Loop Mining & Railroad Park, Georgetown
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. Santa will be on-board for every departure until Christmas to begin checking his list! After Christmas, the winter fun continues with the Victorian Holiday Celebration and Holiday Lighted Forest. Come see Ebenezer Scrooge and learn of his visits from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future!
McGregor Skate
WHEN: Thru Jan. 26, 2025
WHERE: McGregor Square Plaza
The magic of winter has made its way to LoDo with McGregor Skate, an ice skating rink for all ages. McGregor Skate will be open daily from Nov. 29 to Jan. 5, then Friday through Sunday until Jan. 26. Skates are available on-site for rental, or bring your own. Skating starts at just $6, with kids under age 2 and seniors age 65+ always skating for free! An outside bar will be available serving hot chocolate and more.
Downtown Denver Rink
WHEN: Thru Feb. 2, 2025
WHERE: Skyline Park
Bundle up for some free ice skating in the heart of downtown and enjoy special events. Skate rentals for adults are $12 (or $8 for military and first responders) and $9 for kids 12 and under (fourth graders skate for free!). Bring your own pair and skate for free! If you need a skatewalker for assistance, you can also rent one $6.
Snow Days
WHEN: Thru Feb. 17, 2025
WHERE: Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
Spend your day gliding around the ice skating rink, sledding on REAL snow and warming up by a toasty fire. Plus, hop on a vintage snowmobile and explore the mountains in a life-size diorama and journey to the center of the snow maze and discover the crooked cabin.
Denver Christkindlmarket
WHEN: TBA 2025
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.
The Polar ExpressTM Train Ride
WHEN: TBA 2025
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.
Cherry Creek Holiday Market
WHEN: TBA 2025
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 2025
WHERE: Cherry Creek Shopping Center
There's lots to celebrate at Cherry Creek Shopping Center!
- Capture the magic of the season during a one-of-a-kind, immersive Santa photo experience Nov. 7–Dec. 24 that enables children to dance in Santa’s magic mirror and turn into elite cadets to help Santa power his sleigh and chart his course for delivering presents to children around the world. The experience ends with a magical snowfall dance party inside Santa’s 22-foot-tall sleigh! (Reservations are recommended for all Santa sessions.)
- Bring your favorite furry friend to meet and have their photo taken with Santa "Paws" on Dec. 9 from 5–7 p.m. (Reservations are recommended for all Santa sessions.)
- Get into the holiday spirit with weekly live entertainment Nov. 29–Dec. 24 on Fridays (3–6 p.m.), Saturdays and Sundays (1–4 p.m.), plus Monday, Dec. 23 (3–6 p.m.) and Tuesday, Dec. 24 (1–4 p.m.).
- Partake in a Sensory-Friendly Santa experience on Dec. 8 from 9–10:30 a.m. (Reservations are recommended for all Santa sessions.)
Christmas In Color
WHEN: TBA 2025
WHERE: Water World (Denver) , Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre (Morrison) , Arapahoe County Fairground (Aurora)
With not one but three locations, Christmas In Color is a can't-miss holiday lights experience! Drive through millions of lights perfectly synchronized to holiday music you’ll hear right through your radio. Drive by giant candy canes, snowmen, arched pathways and more. Take your time enjoying this lighting extravaganza — we won’t judge you if you join the kids with your face pressed against the window!
Larimer Lights
WHEN: TBA 2025
WHERE: Larimer Square
Enjoy visits from Santa, live holiday carolers, unique shopping from local artisans at the Holiday BAZAAR, and seasonal treats from top restaurants.
Santa's Little Man Ice Cream Factory
WHEN: TBA 2025
WHERE: Little Man Ice Cream
Little Man Ice Cream's famous dairy can in Lower Highland (LoHi) is getting converted into Santa's Factory and will be all decked out for the holidays with twinkling lights and ornaments. The magical slide is returning this year along with a Grinch Who Stole Christmas theme. Recurring signature events include photos with Santa, bingo with Mrs. Claus, private ice cream-making parties, gingerbread house building, letters to Santa craft stations, live holiday music, community caroling, Santa Baby Swing, Feliz Navidad Latin Night, and all of the holiday cheer and homemade sweet treats any kid or kid-at-heart could dream up. Santa’s Factory will sell holiday gifts with signature Little Man swag, frozen pint containers, and a variety of artisanally crafted candy perfect for stocking stuffers, made by the master chefs in Mrs. Claus’s Sweet Shop at Little Man. And there will be holiday-themed ice cream flavors such as Egg Nog, Gingersnap and White Chocolate Candy Cane, plus special-release ice cream pies.
More Holiday Events & Activities
Holiday Tea
WHEN: TBA 2025
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.
Music & Performing Arts
'Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum'
WHEN: TBA 2025
WHERE: Cleo Parker Robinson Dance
Celebrate the magic of the season through dance, music and spoken word as Cleo Parker Robinson Dance explores holiday traditions from around the world! The 33rd anniversary presentation of this Denver family favorite will have you dancing in your seat! Guided by the Three Angels of the Rainbow, Granny visits Africa, the Americas, Mexico, Asia and the Caribbean to celebrate the joy of the holidays. From the African Harvest to Kwanzaa, from the Chinese New Year to Junkanoo, it's a celebration of both diversity and oneness!
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis
WHEN: TBA 2025
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 Christmas Carol'
WHEN: TBA 2025
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: TBA 2025
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.
Museum & Gallery Exhibitions
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.
Animals of the Rainforest
WHEN: Thru Jan. 19, 2025
WHERE: Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Discover the wonders of the rainforest and meet its incredible inhabitants. You'll encounter fascinating live animals, from sloths to reptiles and amphibians; witness expert animal care demonstrations; learn about conservation efforts; and get up close with these extraordinary creatures. For families, there's plenty to explore. Climb on life-sized animal replicas and tree sculptures for a fun and memorable experience. Don't miss this unique opportunity to experience the rainforest's biodiversity and have a blast doing it!
Migrants, a Tale of Two Hearts
WHEN: Thru 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.
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.
Movements Toward Freedom
WHEN: Thru 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.
Wild Things: The Art of Maurice Sendak
WHEN: Thru 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.
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.