This Holiday Season will look a little different from those in the past. Almost every holiday event in the Denver/Boulder Area this year will require some sort of reservation or ticket purchase, so we’re making it possible for you to plan ahead for your holiday fun! Check out the lights in Denver, the food at the Christkindle Market, the skating in Louisville and Longmont, the Polar Express in Golden, and more this holiday season in the Denver / Boulder Area!
WESTMINSTER / BROOMFIELD
Free Carriage Rides at The Orchard Town Center – Nov 20th – Dec 20th
Horse-drawn carriage rides are available free of charge for Orchard shoppers on Friday 5-9pm and Sundays 2-6pm from November 20 to December 20. Cozy up in the backseat of the carriage and experience The Orchard’s magnificent holiday lights in style. Pick-up and drop-off location is at the Macy’s courtyard on W 146th Ave.Masks are required when waiting for and riding the carriage. The carriage driver will be wearing a mask and sanitizing seats in between patrons.
Free Cocoa Fridays at The Orchard Town Center – Nov 20th – Dec 18th
Cozy up and grab a free cup of hot cocoa on Friday nights November 20 to December 18 from 6-8pm. Hot cocoa will be available near the Macy’s courtyard on W 146th Ave for Orchard shoppers. Hurry up, only the first 400 cups are available for free each night! Masks and a minimum six-foot distancing are required while waiting in line for the hot cocoa. Please take your cocoa and move away from the cart to enjoy it to allow proper distancing from other people. Our professional cocoa servers will be keeping you safe by wearing masks and gloves.
BOULDER / LONGMONT
Freezie BINGO – Boulder, CO – Nov 28th – Dec 19th
Head to Boulder for Find Freezie Bingo for a chance to win $25 gift cards from participating downtown merchants! Children of all ages are encouraged to visit with their face coverings to help everyone enjoy the holidays together safely. Check out the Visit Safe page for details.
Download a Freezie Bingo cards (coming soon!) and head downtown to the participating businesses listed here. Find enough Freezie’s to get BINGO – five in a row!
Taste of Downtown Boulder – Nov 16th – Nov 22nd
Taste of Downtown Boulder unites (in person and virtually) over 30 of your favorite restaurants. Enjoy dine-in and carryout (or delivery) specials; virtual cooking classes; behind the scenes videos and daily chances to win A Bite of Boulder cookbooks! For the love of Boulder, support local restaurants today to ensure they are here tomorrow!
Boulder Holiday Market in Central Park – November 21 & 22
The Boulder Holiday Market is a holiday shopping spectacular not to be missed, featuring an awesome selection of one of-a-kind seasonal items, high quality handcrafted goods, fabulous holiday gift ideas, delicious specialty foods, and more, made from a diverse collection of local artists and crafters. Happening during the height of the holiday shopping season. You will have the opportunity to meet and talk with the artists, enjoy a live musical performance, play in the park along the Boulder Creek, and entertain your family for free. The whole family will enjoy this unique holiday shopping experience in the heart of Downtown Boulder.
Light Up the Holidays – Boulder, CO– Nov 22nd – Jan 10th
You can still take in the sites and lights throughout downtown Boulder and Boulder’s Civic Area this season with a self-guided tour of the beautiful lighting displays planned throughout the district.
Longmont Ice Pavilion – Longmont, CO – Open starting November 20th
Located at Roosevelt Park, 725 Eighth Ave., the Longmont Ice Pavilion is a seasonal ice rink, offering public ice skating, hockey, skating lessons and party facilities throughout the winter, weather permitting. Come enjoy the ice, get some exercise, and have a great time in the facility.
LOUISVILLE / LAFAYETTE
Winter Skate – Downtown Louisville, CO – Open starting November 23rd
Historic Downtown Louisville – 824 Front Street. 303.604.1010 – Please call the rink before coming to ensure that they are open, or visit their Facebook Page for up to date information.
2020 Holiday Lights Contest – Louisville, CO – Judging on December 12th, 2020
Although Louisville can’t hold its Annual Parade of Lights, instead let’s keep our lights tradition and brighten up Louisville by decorating our homes for everyone to enjoy while having a chance to win a $100 gift card to a chamber member restaurant of your choosing for best decorated home in three categories, Most Creative, Most Lights & Best Decorated.
2020 Santa Parade – Louisville, CO – December 5th
Although Louisville can’t hold its Annual Parade of Lights, instead let’s keep our lights tradition and brighten up Louisville by decorating our homes for everyone to enjoy while having a chance to win a $100 gift card to a chamber member restaurant of your choosing for best decorated home in three categories, Most Creative, Most Lights & Best Decorated.
ARVADA / LAKEWOOD / GOLDEN
Hot Chocolate With the Elves – Christmas at the Farm – Arvada, CO – Dec 5th, 2020
The farm will be decorated as a winter wonderland, complete with real live ELVES! You’ll walk through the farm and see Christmas ornaments, decorated trees, themed props, and multiple photo opportunity areas. Enjoy your farm visit at one of the fire pits, warm your hands under one of the outdoor heaters, and enjoy complimentary hot chocolate and Christmas treats – ALL WHILE SUPPORTING THE RESCUE ANIMALS!
Each ticket includes:
– Hot chocolate
– Christmas treats
– Keepsake Farm Tree ornament
Olde Town Square Skating Rink – Arvada, CO
The Olde Town Arvada Business Improvement District is excited to bring a synthetic skating rink to Olde Town Square for the first time! Join us for safe, outdoor fun for the whole family! Reservations will be limited to one hour time slots. Pre-registration is encouraged.
The Rink at Belmar – Lakewood, CO – Closed for 2020.
The Polar Express Train Ride – Golden, CO – November & December
Departing Select Dates November & December, 2020! The Colorado Railroad Museum is pleased to announce a revised and updated show for THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train RIde in 2020! They have been working closely with their local health officials, and can assure you that the SHOW IS STILL ON! Casting auditions have been held, and a whole host of carefully crafted updates have been made in order to ensure the health and safety of guests, cast and crew.
Holiday Art Market – Golden, CO – November 19th – December 29th
The 2020 Annual Holiday Art Market (HART) at Foothills Art Center (FAC) is the premier venue for fabulous fine arts and crafts, handmade in Colorado. This is the 46th HART and it will be open through the holiday season from November 19 – December 29, 2020. Admission is free to the public. Artwork by the selected artists is displayed attractively in a festive gallery setting.
Golden Pop-Ups Ice Scupltures & Art Displays – Golden, CO – December 5th – December 26th
Each Saturday, Golden will unveil a fun artistic pop-up. Plan a trip on your own to Golden to shop, dine and enjoy a festive outing with family and friends. Check visitgolden.com for specifics.
DENVER
Christmas In Color (Federal Heights) – Denver, CO – November 20th – January 3rd
Immerse yourself in holiday cheer and watch in awe as 1.5 million Christmas lights dance around you to some of your favorite holiday tunes. This drive-through, socially distanced experience at Water World in Federal Heights (Denver area) is back by popular demand for a third year.
Winterskate Old Fashioned Outdoor Ice Skating (The Shops at Northfield) – November 20th – February 28th
Enjoy an Old Fashioned Outdoor Ice Skating Rink. Open from November 20 – February 28.
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday (School Days): 4 pm – 9 pm / Saturdays and All School Holidays: 11 am – 10 pm / Sundays: 11 am – 7 pm /Thanksgiving Day: 1 pm – 10 pm / Christmas Day: 1 pm – 10 pm / New Year’s Eve: 11 am – 7 pm / New Year’s day: 1 pm – 10 pm
Tickets and Pricing: $10.00 All Ages. Includes Skate Rental. Click here to purchase tickets.
Mile High Tree (16th Street Mall) – Denver, CO – November 20th – January 2nd
Create a new family tradition and join in the free nightly festivities at Denver’s latest holiday attraction, which returns after making its debut last year. The Mile High Tree puts on a dazzling music and lights show.
It’s the largest installation of its kind in North America. The tree was created by ILMEX Illumination, a globally renowned decorative lighting production company in Spain. Madrid-based Brut Deluxe handled the lighting design using pixel-mapping technology.
9News Parade of Lights – Reimagined for 2020 – Nov 27th – December 31st
The public will be able to view eight floats from the 9NEWS Parade of Lights at locations throughout downtown Denver. The floats will be available for viewing for five weeks from Friday, Nov. 27 through Thursday, Dec. 31 at locations including Denver Pavilions and Denver Union Station.
Dairy Block Holiday Market – LoDo – November 27th – December 20th
Love Après lifestyle, but can’t get to the mountains this holiday season? Good news — you can enjoy an Après ski vibe paired with a European holiday market in the heart of LoDo with the special AF Holiday Market at Dairy Block, running every weekend from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
Inspired by a European ski village, the AF Holiday Market at Dairy Block will feature 12 vendors offering a wide variety of clothing, home goods, sports gear and more, representing both local Colorado businesses and top national retailers, along with food and drink specials.
Denver Christkindl Market – Nov 20th – Dec 23rd
Sip, shop and savor the season. The Denver Christkindl Market combines an artisan marketplace with authentic German cuisine, beer, schnapps, hot chocolate, European confections, live music, and more!
This is Fetch Holiday Market (Denver Sports Castle) – Nov 30th – Dec 13th
For three weekends this winter, that gigantic, historic building on Broadway will be your home for all things holly-jolly. This is so much more than shopping, though. It will be filled with festive drinks, activities, and gifts for everyone on your list! It’s going to be the kind of Christmas party you wish your company could throw — with hundreds of makers, artists, creators and YOU.
Downtown Denver Ice Rink – Closed for 2020
Blossoms of Light (Denver Botanic Gardens) – Nov 20th – Jan 16th
The Gardens’ signature event for over three decades, this annual holiday lights extravaganza transforms our York Street location into a twinkling winter wonderland. Join us for this family-friendly event that has become a holiday tradition for thousands of Front Range families.
Trail of Lights (Chatfield Farms) – November 27th – Jan 3rd
Spread throughout Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms, Trail of Lights offers visitors a choice of paths; a shorter route takes visitors directly through the children’s play area, while an extended path allows visitors to explore the outside area of the Green Farm Barn and silo before continuing through the children’s area and 1880s homestead.
Fun features this year:
- Synchronized music in children’s play area
- Three-sided light tunnel
- Illuminated antique and model tractors on display
Zoolights (Denver Zoo) – Nov 23 – Dec 31st
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.
PLEASE NOTE: Tickets are ONLY available online, and Zoo Lights sells out every year. Be sure to secure your spot ASAP.
Larimer Square Holiday Market – December 4th – December 13th
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.
PLEASE NOTE: Tickets are ONLY available online, and Zoo Lights sells out every year. Be sure to secure your spot ASAP.
Cherry Creek Holiday Market – Nov 19th – Dec 23rd
Located just West of 1st Ave and the Cherry Creek Shopping Center Fillmore Plaza will be blocked off to traffic between 1st and 2nd avenue, to hold the 1st annual Cherry Creek Holiday Market. 30 local makers, designers, and creators present a one-stop-shopping experience for all of your gifting needs this holiday season.
Cherry Creek Gift Festival – Denver, CO – November 14 – December 24th
Holiday Craft Fair featuring 75 Exhibitors inside the prestigious Cherry Creek Mall in a highly visible beautiful 15,000 Sqft Retail Space.
16th Street Mall Holiday Festival – Denver, CO – Nov 13th – Dec 20th
The 16th Street Mall Holiday Festival is a the Holiday shopping event of the year taking place on the historic 16th Street Mall in Downtown Denver. This highly attended curated marketplace will feature an awesome selection of one of-a-kind seasonal items, high quality handcrafted goods, fabulous holiday gift ideas, delicious specialty foods, home décor, and unique holiday gifts. Located in the Center of the Winter in the City attractions including a 100 foot LED Christmas Tree and floats from the Parade of Lights.
Holiday Food & Gift Festival – Denver, CO – Nov 20th – Nov 22nd
The 34th Annual Holiday Food & Gift Festival returns to Denver on November 20-22 at the National Western Complex. Face mask and contact tracing is required for entry. Booths will be six feet a part as we abide by the health department guidelines. Safely shop hundreds of exhibitors and local artisans for arts, crafts, jewelry, clothing, woodcraft, music, photography, toys, Christmas décor, and much more. Discover one-of-a-kind gifts, support small businesses, and complete your holiday shopping early. There is a large gourmet food area where you can purchase a wide range of food items including tea, chocolates, pasta, soups, dips, meats, coffee, jams, shortbread, salsas, oils & vinegars, honey, sauces and many more delights!
Leave a Reply