🎁Colorado’s Holiday Magic: The Only Guide You’ll Need    ❄️ 

Ho-ho-HOLD onto your hot cocoa, Colorado — because the holiday season is about to explode with twinkle lights, parades, cocoa-fueled adventures, and memory-making magic! 🎄✨

Whether you're a “hit every event we can” family or a “something free and festive, please” crew, this guide has 70+ Colorado-only holiday events to make your season shine brighter than Santa’s sleigh headlights.

From stunning light displays and classic parades to Santa sightings, concerts, free community traditions, and twinkle-lit small towns — this guide is your all-in-one cheat sheet for turning December into pure joy.

Get ready, busy families — your holiday bucket list starts right now. 🐝💛

1. Denver Parade of Lights
Dec 7 • Downtown Denver • Free • Giant floats, lights, and holiday performers in Denver’s signature parade.

2. Castle Rock Starlighting
Nov 23 • Castle Rock • Free • Annual lighting of the star with vendors, music, and fireworks.

3. Colorado Springs Festival of Lights Parade
Dec 7 • Downtown Colorado Springs • Free • Marching bands, floats, dancers, and light displays.

4. Pueblo Parade of Lights
Nov 30 • Downtown Pueblo • Free • A festive nighttime parade and community celebration.

5. Manitou Springs Christmas Parade
Dec 14 • Manitou Springs • Free • Cozy, quirky small-town holiday parade.

6. Old Colorado City Christmas Stroll
Dec 14 • Old Colorado City • Free • Shopping, performers, music, and lights.

7. Palmer Lake Yule Log Celebration
Dec 8 • Palmer Lake • Free • Historic community tradition with the famous Yule Log hunt.

8. Denver Zoo Lights
Nov 29–Dec 31 • Denver Zoo • $$ • Walk-through light displays and holiday animal-themed installations.

9. Electric Safari (Cheyenne Mountain Zoo)
Dec 6–Jan 1 • Colorado Springs • $$ • Over 60 light sculptures and breathtaking city views.

10. Blossoms of Light (Denver Botanic Gardens)
Nov 15–Jan 7 • Denver • $$ • Immersive light experience with tunnels, colors, and music.

11. Trail of Lights (Chatfield Farms)
Nov 29–Jan 5 • Littleton • $$ • Outdoor light stroll with synchronized displays.

12. Glen Eyrie Castle Christmas Lights Tour
Dec 1–23 • Colorado Springs • $$ • Castle tour and illuminated grounds.

13. Colorado Springs Christmas Market at Acacia Park
Weekends Nov–Dec • Colorado Springs • Free entry • Vendors, music, and winter activities.

14. Denver Christkindlmarket
Nov 22–Dec 23 • Denver • Free entry • German holiday market with food, gifts, and performances.

15. Broadmoor Holiday Lights Display
Dec • Colorado Springs • Free • Iconic Broadmoor resort decorated with thousands of lights.

16. Pikes Peak Center: Nutcracker Ballet
Dec 13–15 • Colorado Springs • $$ • Traditional holiday ballet by local performing companies.

17. The Nutcracker (Colorado Ballet)
Nov 30–Dec 29 • Denver • $$–$$$ • Highly acclaimed professional production.

18. Cirque Dreams Holidaze
Dec 28–29 • Colorado Springs • $$ • Acrobatic holiday show spectacular.

19. Trans-Siberian Orchestra Concert
Dec 21 • Denver • $$–$$$ • Rock-symphony holiday show.

20. Holiday Pops Concert (CS Philharmonic)
Dec 21–22 • Colorado Springs • $$ • Festive orchestral classics.

21. Donkey Derby & Christmas Parade
Dec 7 • Cripple Creek • Free • Donkey races and holiday cheer.

22. Cripple Creek Ice Festival (Holiday Edition)
Select dates Dec • Cripple Creek • Free • Ice sculptures and winter activities.

23. Canon City Parade of Lights
Dec 7 • Canon City • Free • Community parade with illuminated floats.

24. Woodland Park Yuletide Festival
Dec 14 • Woodland Park • Free • Crafts, performances, and lights.

25. Denver Downtown Ice Rink
Nov–Feb • Denver • Free (rentals $$) • Outdoor rink in the city center.

26. Acacia Park Holiday Ice Rink
Nov–Jan • Colorado Springs • $$ • Family-friendly seasonal skating.

27. Colorado Springs Philharmonic Messiah Sing-Along
Dec 15 • Colorado Springs • $ • Community participation concert.

28. Manitou Springs Luminaria Walk
Dec 7 • Manitou Springs • Free • Luminary-lit walk through downtown.

29. Christmas at the Ranch
Dec 1–24 • Flying Horse Ranch • $$ • Horse-drawn rides, petting zoo, photos.

30. North Pole – Santa’s Workshop
Nov–Dec • Cascade • $$ • Christmas theme park with rides and Santa.

31. Denver Union Station Holiday Lights
Nov–Dec • Denver • Free • Iconic building lit with large-scale projections.

32. Christmas at Gaylord Rockies: ICE!
Nov 22–Jan 5 • Aurora • $$–$$$ • Ice sculptures, slides, and immersive exhibits.

33. Georgetown Christmas Market
Dec 7–8 & 14–15 • Georgetown • Free entry • Victorian-era Christmas market in historic town.

34. Estes Park Catch the Glow Parade
Nov 29 • Estes Park • Free • Holiday parade with mountain charm.

35. Longmont Lights
Dec 13–14 • Longmont • Free • Fireworks, live music, parade.

36. Loveland Festival of Lights
Dec 7 • Loveland • Free • Stage entertainment and lights.

37. Boulder Lights of December Parade
Dec 7 • Boulder • Free • Local floats and holiday performers.

38. Windsor Wonderland
Dec 7 • Windsor • Free • Santa visits, fireworks, and winter fun.

39. Frederick Festival of Lights
Dec 7 • Frederick • Free • Tree lighting and performances.

40. Brighton Festival of Lights Parade
Dec 14 • Brighton • Free • Traditional night parade.

41. Parker Holiday Carriage Rides
Dec weekends • Parker • Free • Horse-drawn rides through downtown.

42. Pueblo Mall Santa Experience
Nov–Dec • Pueblo • $$ for photos • Santa meet-and-greets.

43. Denver Ballet Folklórico Holiday Show
Dec 14 • Denver • $–$$ • Cultural holiday performance.

44. Durango Polar Express Train Ride
Nov–Jan • Durango • $$–$$$ • World-famous themed train experience.

45. Colorado Springs Santa Express Train
Nov–Dec • Royal Gorge Route • $$–$$$ • Train ride to Santa’s village.

46. Festival of Trees at Broadmoor World Arena
Nov 29–Dec 7 • Colorado Springs • Free • Decorated trees and family events.

47. A Merry Little Christmas Concert (Stargazers Theatre)
Dec 12–15 • Colorado Springs • $–$$ • Local musical holiday show.

48. Pikes Peak Library: Holiday Storytimes
Dec • Multiple branches • Free • Themed storytimes for young children.

49. Peterson Space Force Base Tree Lighting
Dec 5 • Colorado Springs • Free (base access required) • Lighting and family activities.

50. Monument Small-Town Christmas
Dec 7 • Monument • Free • Vendors, Santa, music, and carriage rides.

51. Fountain Christmas Tree Lighting
Dec 6 • Fountain • Free • Lighting ceremony and kids activities.

52. Arvada Center Holiday Craft Fair
Dec 6–8 • Arvada • Free entry • Artisan shopping event.

53. Holiday Evening at Rock Ledge Ranch
Dec 14 • Colorado Springs • $$ • Caroling, lantern tours, historic crafts.

54. Lights at The Ranch
Dec • Loveland • Free • Large community light installation.

55. Downtown Denver New Year’s Eve Fireworks
Dec 31 • Denver • Free • Family-friendly midnight and early fireworks.

56. Colorado Springs New Year’s Eve Drone Show
Dec 31 • Downtown Colorado Springs • Free • Lighted drone art show.

57. Denver Ballet’s “Clara’s Tea Party”
Dec 8–22 • Denver • $$ • Interactive Nutcracker tea event.

58. Pueblo Riverwalk Holiday Lights
Dec • Pueblo • Free • Walk-through illuminated river experience.

59. Thornton WinterFest
Dec 13–15 • Thornton • Free • Fireworks, lights, and ice carving.

60. Greeley Lights the Night Parade
Nov 30 • Greeley • Free • Parade and Christmas festivities.

61. Holiday Market at CO Springs Event Center
Dec 14–15 • Colorado Springs • Free entry • Large indoor vendor fair.

62. Denver Holiday Carousel
Dec 14–Jan 1 • Denver Pavilions • $ • Seasonal downtown carousel.

63. Pueblo Gingerbread House Party
Dec 8 • Pueblo Library • Free • Family craft event.

64. Winter Wonderlights
Nov 16–Dec 31 • Loveland • Free • Animated light show synchronized to music.

65. Colorado Springs Holiday Food Truck Rally
Dec 7 • COS • Free entry • Food trucks + holiday music.

66. Aurora Municipal Center Winter Lights
Dec • Aurora • Free • Illuminated outdoor light walk.

67. Highlands Ranch Winter Festival
Dec 14 • Highlands Ranch • Free • Sleigh rides and kids activities.

68. Centennial Holiday Tree Lighting
Dec 6 • Centennial • Free • Santa visits and hot cocoa.

69. Fort Collins Garden of Lights
Dec 6–Jan 1 • Fort Collins • Free • Light tunnels and glowing flower sculptures.

70. Holiday Handmade Market (CS)
Dec 7–8 • Colorado Springs • Free entry • Handmade crafts and artisan gifts.

And there you have it — 70 magical, memory-making, Colorado-only holiday events to sprinkle joy all over your season. Whether you’re building new traditions or sticking with your favorites, Colorado knows how to do the holidays right. 🎄

Keep this guide bookmarked, shared, saved, printed, tattooed (okay maybe not tattooed) — because new events pop up all the time, and the Buzzy B is always buzzing around gathering more. 🐝✨

Now bundle up, grab some cocoa, warm up those cheeks for a million photo ops, and get out there to make this holiday season your most magical one yet.

And remember:
Wherever the lights glow, the cocoa flows, and families go — Buzzy goes too. 💛✨