Explore Colorado’s Winter Art Scene

Check out a variety of artistic and creative experiences, both indoors and out — and some where you’re the artiste.

Outdoor Arts

Zip up your favorite puffer and check out some uniquely Colorado art experiences that are worth braving chillier temps.

Tour the striking Dillon Ice Castles (open late December through early March as weather allows) and sit on a grand throne, crawl through wintry tunnels or glide down frosty slides — all built from hundreds of thousands of icicles. You’ll find yourself awed in the evenings when the palatial ice sculptures light up in glowing rainbow hues. Note: The Dillon Ice Castles will not be open for the 2022–2023 season.

Each holiday season, the Denver Botanic Gardens transforms into Blossoms of Light (Nov.–Jan.), an immersive winter wonderland with breathtaking, twinkling light displays. Get yourself a cup of hot cocoa to sweeten the experience.

Near Loveland, the Berthoud Snowfest (Jan.) turns the town into a winter wonderland with snow-sculpting competitions, a lighted parade and an artisan market for gift shopping.

Or watch sculptors in action at the Cripple Creek Ice Festival (Feb.) as they chip and saw away at glacial blocks to create interactive sculptures. Make your way through an icy maze or relax with a cocktail from the Ice Martini Bar.

Out west in Alamosa, check out a live ice-sculpting event downtown that kicks off the annual Rio Frio Ice Fest (Jan.). The weekend’s events also include a 5k fun run on a frozen-over Rio Grande, illuminated cross-country skiing and a polar plunge for those crazy, we mean, brave enough.

Indoor Arts

You can visit one of Colorado’s many indoor art institutions for special winter exhibits.

The Denver Art Museum boasts an amazing permanent collection ranging from Asian and Indigenous arts to textiles and fabrics. And there's always something new to see thanks to a rotation of astounding exhibitions.

Denver's Meow Wolf promises hours of fun as you tour immersive art exhibits in shocking colors and interarct with the artwork. It’s full of surprises and giving too much away would ruin the fun.

In Pueblo, the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center hosts numerous art exhibits annually along with frequent interactive exhibits for kids at the Buell Children’s Museum.

If cars are more your speed, visit the ultimate roadside attraction in Trinidad. The Art Cartopia Museum 25 art cars on display ranging from “EyeVan” (just like it sounds: a van studded with fake eyeballs) to “Cardi Gras,” a car decked out in all kinds of Mardi Gras memorabilia.

Step inside the immersive Wonder Wonder art show in Boulder for weird and wild experiential entertainment. From walls adorned with translucent and reflective textures to colorful lighting and a rainforest of faux foliage, your Instagram won’t know what hit it with the immersive photo ops inside this creative space.

Check out the historic Hippodrome Arts Centre’s schedule in Julesburg for winter-themed live theater performances and movies throughout the season.

The gallery at Blue Sage Center for the Arts in downtown Paonia features rotating displays inspired by Colorado’s Western Slope and made by local artists.

DIY Arts

Feeling inspired to express your own creativity? These Colorado-owned businesses offer plenty of ways to design our own creations.

Paint a lovely piece of pottery to use or display at home at Arts on Fire in Castle Rock or Highlands Ranch. Don’t worry, they have plenty of examples to get your creative juices flowing. A visit to Upstairs Circus, in Denver's LoDo and Tech Center areas, delivers arts-and-crafts entertainment for all ages — and a full bar (for those 21 and over).

If painting isn’t your style, try crafting with amazing handmade paper — everything from marbled sheets to crepe — from Two Hands Paperie in Boulder. Or give needle felting a try at The Felted Dog in Pueblo for something totally different. You can pick your project online and attend a class in person. Yampa Valley Fiberworks mills natural fibers like wool, alpaca and mohair in Craig. Stock up on yarn for projects at home or attend a class to learn knitting, spinning, weaving and more.

Feeling creative on the fly? You can make something whenever the mood strikes at FingerPlay Studio, which offers open studio sessions in Louisville, in addition to scheduled knitting classes.

Want More?

Find some of the best things to do in Colorado year-round >>
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Photo Credits: Denver Botanic Gardens, Rio Frio Fest, Denver Art Museum, Dallas Williams/Hippodrome Arts Center