Celebrate Mile High Holidays in Denver!
The Mile High City offers fun and festive events from light extravaganzas and performing arts to family-friendly activities and plenty of shopping.
1. Enjoy holiday performances!
The holiday season in The Mile High City is chock full of spectacular performances, from familiar favorites to contemporary classics. Experience the holiday sounds of the Colorado Symphony; explore Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ Camp Christmas at Stanley Marketplace; be enchanted during the tale of The Nutcracker, performed by the Colorado Ballet; or enjoy Cleo Parker Robinson Dance’s holiday favorite, Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum.
2. Experience brilliant light displays
Denver’s many lighting displays start on November 29 with the Light the Lights at the City & County Building and Grand Illumination at Denver Union Station. Gather family and friends to stroll through Blossoms of Light at Denver Botanic Gardens or Zoo Lights at Denver Zoo. This year, Denver’s holiday season just got bigger and brighter with the new 110-foot tall Mile High Tree, opening November 30 and free all season long. And, don’t forget New Year’s Eve fireworks!
3. Explore festive shopping centers, gift shops and boutiques.
Whether you’re shopping for gifts for family and friends or browsing for holiday decor, The Mile High City is the place to find what you’re looking for. Head to one of Denver’s many shopping destinations, such as Denver Pavilions, Larimer Square, Cherry Creek Shopping Center or Cherry Creek North, host to Winter Fest on December 14. Or spend an afternoon at one of the city’s many holiday markets, like Christkindl Market, Larimer Square Holiday Market or the Fetch Holiday Markets.
4. From parades and performances, don’t miss your holiday favorites
From parades to performances, there are so many holiday traditions that you just can’t miss. Create memories with a magical snow and light show inside Santa’s sleigh in Santa’s Flight Academy at Cherry Creek Shopping Center. On December 6 & 7, line up for the 9NEWS Parade of Lights. And, on December 22, bop along to your favorite holiday tunes played by 300 tuba players at Denver’s annual TubaChristmas in the Denver Performing Arts Complex.
5. Winter activities abound throughout Denver.
There’s more winter fun to help you celebrate the holidays. Tie on a pair of ice skates and go for a spin around the Downtown Denver Rink at Skyline Park or take a ride on the Denver Pavilions Holiday Carousel. And, if you are sports fans, make plans to cheer on the Denver Broncos, the Denver Nuggets or the Colorado Avalanche.