The holiday season is a magical time in Denver, with the city coming alive with festive lights, seasonal activities, and events that bring the community together. At The Denver Group, we love celebrating the holidays and sharing our favorite local traditions. From sparkling light displays to cozy markets, our team has curated a list of 10 must-do holiday events that capture the spirit of the season.
Cherry Creek Holiday Market
Dates: November 21 – December 24
Location: Fillmore Plaza (between 2nd Ave and Fillmore St.) in Cherry Creek North
Celebrating the 5th Annual Shop for everyone on your list from dozens of hand-picked vendors then head on over to the Mistletoe Lounge to kick back and enjoy refreshments with family and friends. It’s a holiday tradition that has something for everyone.
Blossoms of Light
“My favorite Denver holiday event is the Blossoms of Light, it’s so beautiful and peaceful!” – JP Hachey, Broker Associate
"My favorite is the Botanic Gardens Lights, because this is my first holiday living in CO and it's the only thing I've ever done. - lol" - Brian Cebrynski, Broker Associate
Dates: Nov. 20 – Jan. 12, 4:30-9 p.m. (closed Nov. 28 & Dec. 25)
Location: Denver Botanic Gardens
Cost: $18-$31 (Get your tix HERE)
Blossoms of Light is a spectacular celebration that illuminates the Denver Botanic Gardens York Street location. Wander a mile-long path through immersive, luminous displays that accentuate and highlight 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.
Denver Christkindlmarket
Dates: November 22 - December 23
Location: Denver's Civic Center Park
Cost: Free and open to the public
The Denver Christkindlmarket is a cherished holiday tradition, bringing the magic of a German Christmas market to the heart of Denver. With its charming wooden huts, twinkling lights, and a joyous atmosphere, the market draws visitors from near and far to celebrate the season.
Christmas at the Gaylord
"Our family loves the Gaylord over the holidays because of all the festive decor and activities, like ICE!" - Melissa Whitehouse, Director of Operations
Dates: November 22 – Jan 1
Location: Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center
Cost: Varies by activity (Get your tickets HERE)
Experience So Much Christmas with dazzling displays, tempting treats, holiday shows, and festive activities.
Don’t miss the signature attraction, ICE!, featuring beloved scenes from The Polar Express™ brought to life through colorful, colossal ice sculptures.
- ICE! Featuring Polar Express
- Cirque: Frost
- Elf Training Academy
- Gingerbread Decorating
- Photos with Santa
- Mrs. Claus Christmas Traditions
- Mistletoe Scavenger Hunt
- S'mores
Denver Zoo Lights
Date: November 23–January 5: Beginning at 5:00 p.m. (Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas)
Location: Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance
2300 Steele St.
Denver, CO 80205
Cost: $18 - $28 (Non-Member pricing)
With 80 acres and over three million lights, Zoo Lights remains a Denver favorite for holiday magic. It’s the perfect destination for family fun, where traditions thrive, romance blossoms, and sparkling displays bring endless smiles.
Southmoor Park Fun Run
“My favorite holiday event is the Southmoor Park fun run, which is organized by one of our neighbors and The Denver Group sponsors.” – Jason Dalbey, Team Principal
Date: Thanksgiving Day (Nov 28th)
Location: Southmoor Park (entrance off Oneida and Peach): 10:00am
Cost: Suggested donation of $20/family
Please join us for our Thanksgiving Day 3rd Annual Southmoor Park Fun Run! We will have t-shirts (for the kids), refreshments and fun.
Route: Two laps around the park (~1.2 miles)
Charity: St. Elizabeth of Hungary Sandwich Line.
Registration: Adults do not need to register, just kids. But everyone is welcome to run/walk! We encourage you to register your kids so that we know how many T-shirts to order in advance.
Entry Fee: While the race is free, there is a suggested donation of $20.00 per family.
Awards: We will have awards for top male and female in three divisions: high school (9-12), middle school (6-8) and elementary school (k-5). We will also have medals for all children. Don't feel like running? Walkers welcome! We want to keep this fun for all involved.
Denver Union Station’s Grand Illumination
“ I always love how decorated Union Station is. Grabbing a drink there around the holidays is always so much fun!” – Amy Coloccia, Broker Associate
Date: Friday, November 29: 4pm
Location: Denver Union Station
The annual Grand Illumination event will feature an expanded lineup of family-friendly entertainment of classic holiday hits by the Denver Dolls, a visit from Santa & Mrs. Claus, and the grand highlight of the evening—the lighting of the station’s outdoor 40-foot-tall Christmas tree that features more than 7,000-holiday lights. The tree lighting ceremony will begin promptly at 6:10 PM.
Christmas in Color
Dates: Nov – Dec: Dates vary by location
Locations:
Water World
Red Rocks
Arapahoe Fairgrounds
Drive through 1M+ lights synced to music - offered at three different locations near Denver this year.
Golden’s Candlelight Walk
“My favorite holiday event is the Golden Candlelight Walk. So many fun memories made with my kiddos there!” – Jessie Streelman, Broker Associate
Date: December 6th – preshow 5pm; walk 6:30pm
Location: Washington Ave in Golden
Cost: Wax candles & glow sticks - $1-$3 (cash only)
Experience the beauty of the holiday season with a candlelit walk down Washington Avenue in historic Golden, Colorado. Sing carols with neighbors and friends and marvel as the street is illuminated by thousands of glowing candles and the warmth of the festive, small-town holiday atmosphere. Many of the shops along Washington Avenue are open and there are hot cider, cocoa, and outdoor cafes to enjoy along the way. At the conclusion of the walk, the “switch” for Golden’s 45,000 holiday lights along Clear Creek and throughout downtown will be flipped, marking the official start to Golden’s holiday season.
{Photo: https://www.visitgolden.com/olde-golden-holidays/candlelightwalk/}
9News Parade of Lights
Date: Saturday, December 7th: 6-9pm
Location: Civic Center Park
101 14th Avenue Denver, CO 80204
Cost: Free (Limited Grand Stand tickets available HERE)
The 50th Annual 9NEWS Parade of Lights will begin in front of the spectacular Denver City and County Building before traveling through downtown Denver on a two-mile parade route.
The parade then travels up Tremont Street to 17th Street where it then goes northwest for several blocks before turning onto Arapahoe Street. Finally, the parade loops back on 15th Street to Glenarm.
BONUS (Because we couldn't stop at just 10!)
Skate the Lake: New Year’s Eve Party
“On New Year's Eve, our family loves to Skate the Lake on Evergreen Lake and drink lots of hot chocolate!” – Laura Deluna, Dir. Of Business Development
Date: Dec 31: 10am – 8 pm
Location: Evergreen Lake House
29612 Upper Bear Creek Rd.
Evergreen, CO 80439
Cost: $30/person at the door; first come, first served.
Join the Evergreen Parks and Recreation and our local mountain community for the family-friendly, alcohol-free 25th annual New Year's Eve Skate the Lake event at Evergreen Lake, December 31 from 10am to 8pm. The event will go on regardless of weather. Ice skating (weather permitting) with skate rentals while supplies last. Food trucks on site with snacks and dinner available. Hot chocolate, roasting marshmallows, fire pits, and fun. Free parking and free shuttles from various locations.
From all of us at The Denver Group, we wish you a joyful and memorable holiday season—filled with the warmth of community and the spirit of Denver!
Would you like to receive future posts straight to your inbox? Click here (and select Contact)!
Follow The Denver Group on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok. , and YouTube for the latest Denver events, news, and real estate insights.
{Featured Photo: https://www.downtowndenver.com/event/grand-illumination/denver-city-and-county-building-lights/}
