Blossoms of Light
The Denver Botanic Gardens downtown location celebrates the holiday season with an ever-changing display of light and color, including a 360-degree immersive light experience that runs from mid-November through the first week of January. Additionally, the gardens' Chatfield Farms location transforms into a magical village of light displays and other festive activities.
Mile High Tree
Enjoy one of Denver's favorite holiday attractions at Civic Center Park from mid-November to the end of December. At 110 feet tall and surrounded by oversized holiday ornaments, this dazzling tree-shaped behemoth is magically multicolored and covered in lights. It's also the largest art installation of this type in North America.
Downtown Boulder’s Switch on the Holidays
Every night on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall is a unique experience, but Switch on the Holidays in late November is one of the best. The popular pedestrian thoroughfare crowds with people as live music fills the air and Santa counts down to the grand illumination of the street, courthouse and star atop Flagstaff Mountain.
Catch the Glow Holiday Celebration and Evening Parade
Kick off the season in Estes Park on the day after Thanksgiving with carolers, pony rides, hay rides, shopping and, of course, Santa and his elves. When dusk falls, the magical Catch the Glow Parade begins. It’s a 45-minute lighting ceremony with bands, floats and dancers.
Pueblo Parade of Lights
This event is a well-established holiday tradition in Pueblo in late November. Cheerful onlookers bundle up in coats, hats and mittens to watch nearly 100 lighted floats, antique cars and marching bands pass by. Following the parade, Santa is available to visit with children.
Greeley's Light up Lincoln
Kick off the holidays in downtown Greeley in late November, where everyone gathers at Lincoln Park for hot cocoa, carols and to see the park's trees light up.
An Extravaganza of Lights at Hudson Gardens
Walk through a winter wonderland of thousands of outdoor lights in Littleton from late November through December. Explore the trails, where bursts of light and color wrap around trees and shimmer on bodies of water.
Denver Zoo Lights
Zoo Lights has been transforming Denver Zoo into Colorado’s wildest winter wonderland for decades, starting in early December and running through the first week of January. More than 2 million lights sparkle across 80 acres amid the 3,000 residents who call the zoo home. A low-sensory night is available.
Leadville Parade of Lights
Ambling down Harrison Avenue in Leadville, floats depict a variety of popular holiday tunes and Santa and Mrs. Claus ride in the parade to the Lake County Courthouse, where they will visit with kids, listen to Christmas wish lists and pose for photos. Area businesses are competing in a holiday decorating contest, so the whole city sparkles for the occasion in early December.