Christmas may be over for another year, but the holiday magic is still in full swing in Colorado!
If you're looking to fill Winter Break with a little more holiday cheer this is the post for you. I've compiled all of our favorite holiday events that are still happening in and around Denver below. I've sorted them by close date to make it easier to prioritize which events to check off your list first.
Let's take a look...
Through December 31st 2022
Christmas in Color
Too chilly to be outside but you still want to revel in the holiday spirit? Christmas in Color is the festive activity for you! Load up the car with your loved ones and experience this drive through animated light display with over a million twinkling lights choreographed to 2023's biggest hits. No need to worry about the weather or dressing up. It's the perfect way to check out holiday lights in your pajamas! You can see our visits here and here.
Too chilly to be outside but you still want to revel in the holiday spirit? Christmas in Color is the festive activity for you! Load up the car with your loved ones and experience this drive through animated light display with over a million twinkling lights choreographed to 2023's biggest hits. No need to worry about the weather or dressing up. It's the perfect way to check out holiday lights in your pajamas! You can see our visits here and here.
Christmas in Color has three Colorado locations, Water World in Federal Heights, Arapahoe County Fairgrounds in Aurora, and Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, as well as other locations around the country.
Christmas in Color runs nightly through December 31st from 5:30pm to 10pm.
Timed entry tickets must be purchased in advance at https://christmasincolor.net/.
Denver's Mile High Tree
The Mile High Tree is back again this year in Civic Center Park. Visitors can enjoy the ever changing lights on the 110ft "tree" as they twinkle in time to holiday classics. The light displays can be enjoyed from outside the tree as well as inside. Laying down inside the tree and looking up at the lights above as they swirl around and twinkle is my favorite. It's really is an experience not to miss.
The Mile High Tree is back again this year in Civic Center Park. Visitors can enjoy the ever changing lights on the 110ft "tree" as they twinkle in time to holiday classics. The light displays can be enjoyed from outside the tree as well as inside. Laying down inside the tree and looking up at the lights above as they swirl around and twinkle is my favorite. It's really is an experience not to miss.
Denver's Mile High Tree lights up nightly from 5pm to 10pm nightly through December 31st. There will be a special ball drop style countdown at 9pm on New Year's Eve.
For more information and hours visit https://www.denver.org/milehighholidays/tree/
Elfie Selfie Land
Grab your Christmas sweaters and Santa hats - there's a new festive selfie experience popping up in Castle Rock this holiday season. Located at the Outlets at Castle Rock, Elfie Selfie Land is the perfect place to take fun holiday themed photos with cheery backdrops and props galore. You can see my visit to Elfie Selfie Land here.
Elfie Selfie Land runs through December 31st with hours varying depending on the day.
For more information and to book tickets visit https://elfieselfieland.com/.
Hudson Holidays
The Hudson Gardens and Events Center in Littleton is home to Hudson Holidays. This sprawling outdoor event features over a million twinkling lights in trees and throughout garden beds, a holiday light tunnel, laser lights, glowing reindeer and so much more. Visitors can warm up with hot drinks and snacks available on site. You can see our visit here.
The Hudson Gardens and Events Center in Littleton is home to Hudson Holidays. This sprawling outdoor event features over a million twinkling lights in trees and throughout garden beds, a holiday light tunnel, laser lights, glowing reindeer and so much more. Visitors can warm up with hot drinks and snacks available on site. You can see our visit here.
Hudson Holidays runs on select days through December 31st from 5pm to 9:30pm. If you miss it, don't worry as the magic will be back with the light display Light Up the New Year from January 2nd through 28th.
Tickets must be purchased online in advance at https://www.hudsongardens.org/enjoy/christmas-lights/.
Luminova Holidays at Elitch Gardens
This holiday season Denver's favorite theme park, Elitch Gardens, comes to life with Luminova Holidays featuring millions of dazzling lights, a 65ft Christmas tree, a giant lighted snowman, a 200ft candy cane tunnel, interactive activities, and rides on limited Elitch Gardens attractions including the carousel, Big Wheel, Meow Wolf's Kaleidoscope, Tea Cups and more. You can see our visits to Luminova here and here.
This holiday season Denver's favorite theme park, Elitch Gardens, comes to life with Luminova Holidays featuring millions of dazzling lights, a 65ft Christmas tree, a giant lighted snowman, a 200ft candy cane tunnel, interactive activities, and rides on limited Elitch Gardens attractions including the carousel, Big Wheel, Meow Wolf's Kaleidoscope, Tea Cups and more. You can see our visits to Luminova here and here.
Luminova Holidays runs through December 31st from 5pm to 10pm.
Tickets can be purchased in advance online at https://www.elitchgardens.com/luminova-holidays/.
Through January 1st 2023
ICE! at Gaylord Rockies
The Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora sure knows how to make the holiday season as festive as possible with the crowd favorite ICE! immersive exhibit. This year ICE! features scenes from the classic A Christmas Story. Visitors don giant blue parkas and enter a frozen wonderland of colorful ice sculptures, ice slides and so much more. You can see our previous visits here and here.
ICE! at Gaylord Rockies runs through January 1st.
Tickets can be purchased online at https://christmasatgaylordrockies.marriott.com/all-activities
Trail of Lights
Denver Botanic Gardens offers two events over the festive season. Along with Blossoms of Light mentioned above, there's also Trail of Lights at the gardens' Littleton location, Chatfield Farms. This family friendly exhibition features a mile of dazzling light displays, a children's play area with synchronized music, antique tractors and farm machinery, an 1880s ranch homestead, and hot drinks and snacks to purchase.
Trail of Lights runs through January 1st from 5pm to 8:30pm.
Tickets can be purchased online in advance at https://www.botanicgardens.org/events/special-events/trail-lights.
Through January 7th 2023
Blossoms of Light at Denver Botanic Gardens
Denver Botanic Gardens is a beautiful place to visit at any time of year, but during the holiday season it really comes to life thanks to the evening event Blossoms of Light. The actual blossoms may be gone for the Winter and the trees may be bare, but there is plenty of color to be seen thanks to thousands of twinkling lights that set the gardens aglow. Rug up in your Winter woolies, sip a hot chocolate and take a walk through the gardens where you'll be mesmerized by the sparking light displays, the glowing orbs that seem to float on the frozen ponds, the fascinating light sculptures and the fields of light that twinkle in time to music. You can see our visit here.
Denver Botanic Gardens is a beautiful place to visit at any time of year, but during the holiday season it really comes to life thanks to the evening event Blossoms of Light. The actual blossoms may be gone for the Winter and the trees may be bare, but there is plenty of color to be seen thanks to thousands of twinkling lights that set the gardens aglow. Rug up in your Winter woolies, sip a hot chocolate and take a walk through the gardens where you'll be mesmerized by the sparking light displays, the glowing orbs that seem to float on the frozen ponds, the fascinating light sculptures and the fields of light that twinkle in time to music. You can see our visit here.
Blossoms of Light runs nightly through January 7th from 4:30pm to 9pm.
Timed entry tickets must be purchased online in advance at https://www.botanicgardens.org/events/special-events/blossoms-light.
Zoo Lights at Denver Zoo
Denver Zoo is a favorite with Colorado families at anytime of year, but during the holiday season is when it really shines. Literally! With over 2 million lights spread over 80 acres, Zoo Lights is a spectacle that the whole family will love. Add on activities such as giraffe feedings, train rides, and carousel rides are available for an extra charge. You can see our previous visit to Zoo Lights here.
Denver Zoo is a favorite with Colorado families at anytime of year, but during the holiday season is when it really shines. Literally! With over 2 million lights spread over 80 acres, Zoo Lights is a spectacle that the whole family will love. Add on activities such as giraffe feedings, train rides, and carousel rides are available for an extra charge. You can see our previous visit to Zoo Lights here.
Zoo Lights runs nightly through January 7th.
Timed entry tickets must be purchased in advance online at https://denverzoo.org/events/zoolights/.
Through January 21st 2023
Light the Lights at Denver City Council Building
Denver's City Council Building is gorgeous any time of year, but during the holidays it comes to life with a colorful light display in the evenings. Light the Lights runs through January 21st. The façade of the building will be lit up until 10:45pm most evenings. At 5:45pm and 6:45pm Tuesdays through Sundays there will be an 8 minute long light and music show for a little extra sparkle and magic.
For more information click here.
Through February 11th 2023
Downtown Denver Rink
Downtown Denver's outdoor ice skating rink is back again this year with ice skating fun for the whole family. This little rink is located just off 16th Street Mall behind the bell tower and is available on a first come, first served basis for free. If you don't have your own skates to wear, rentals are available on site for a small fee. Skate among the towering skyscrapers and the twinkling lights that come to life as the sun sets. In the evenings you'll be able to watch the illuminations on the nearby clock tower as you skate.
Downtown Denver Rink is open through February 11th with hours varying between 10am and 10pm depending on the day.
For more information visit https://www.winterindenver.com/rink.
Through February 14th 2023
Olde Golden Christmas
The town of Golden really knows how to celebrate the holiday season with a wealth of activities on offer for locals and visitors alike. Thousands of twinkling lights illuminate parks, historic buildings and along the creek each night through February 14th. The lights are so pretty and make for a lovely night time walk in Golden.
There's so much more on offer throughout the holidays in Golden so make sure to visit
https://www.visitgolden.com/olde-golden-christmas/ to check out all the events.
Through February & Maybe March
Ice Castles
Ok, so this one is not strictly a holiday event, but it is the perfect way to celebrate Winter and I'm super excited that it's back after a two year hiatus. Ice Castles returns to Colorado with a new location south of Denver in Cripple Creek. Visitors will be amazed by the hand grown ice structures that glisten in the sun and glow at night thanks to colorful LED lights built into the ice.
As always, there's no set end date for Ice Castles as its season is completely dependent on the weather. Generally it runs at least through the end of February and maybe into March.
For more information and to book tickets visit https://icecastles.com/colorado/.
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