What To Do In Denver This Holiday Season | 2019 Guide

October saw record-low temperatures and lots of snow here in Denver. In fact, it was the 12th snowiest October on record–and the snowiest since 2009.

Winter weather like that can make those of us who love the holiday season pretty excited. And when we get excited, we like to play a little Nat King Cole on Spotify, sip hot-chocolate, start a fire in the fireplace, and think about the holiday decorations sitting in storage, just waiting to be put up.

And when the flakes are flying, maybe we do more than just think about decorating. (So, yeah, maybe we have the tree up already…)

We also start making plans for the holiday season and as you certainly know, when you live in a pretty big city like Denver, there is no shortage of holiday events, concerts, and happenings to fill you with holiday cheer.

Here’s my 2019 Guide for things to do in the Denver Metro Area this holiday season. Of course, there’s so many events, I’m certain I didn’t hit them all. So if I’ve missed any of your favorites, please let me know!

Be sure to check with the event’s/venue’s website for all specific dates, times, and locations.

HOLIDAY LIGHTS AND PARADES

Did you know the first use of electric Christmas lighting was by Thomas Edison in the early 1880s? Up to that time, people would place small candles on their christmas trees, but in 1882, Edison’s company put on a show with electric lights–showing the “practical application of electricity to the celebration of Christmas.”

Public Christmas tree lightings followed in the early 20th century, including the lighting of the National Christmas Tree in Washington D.C. (1923), and the lighting of the tree in Rockefeller Center in New York City (1931).

Today’s holiday-season lighting events not only include trees, but also public buildings, city parks and streets, and other public areas. Combined with holiday-themed parades, and you’ll find the Denver Metro Area provides a plethora of places to enjoy this magical time of year.

Christmas tree with lights in Stapleton, Denver

November 7, 2019
Night Lights Denver | Daniels & Fisher Tower

November 8, 2019 – January 1, 2020
Light! At Gaylord Rockies | Gaylord Rockies Resort

November 22, 2019
Winter Welcome | Stapleton

November 22, 2019
Santa’s Arrival and Tree Lighting | The Streets at SouthGlenn

November 23, 2019
Castle Rock Starlighting | Castle Rock

November 24, 2019
Switch on the Holidays | Boulder

November 27, 2019
The Orchard Winterfest | Westminster

November 29-30, December 6-8, 13-24, 26-31, 2019
A Hudson Christmas | Hudson Gardens & Events Center

November 29 – December 22, 2019
Santa’s Village at Chatfield Farms | Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms

November 29 – December 30, 2019
Zoo Lights | Denver Zoo

November 29, 2019 – January 3, 2020
Blossoms of Light | Denver Botanic Gardens

November 29, 2019
Candlelight Walk and Tree Lighting | Littleton

November 29, 2019
Light the Lights | Denver City and County Building

November 29, 2019
Downtown Denver Grand Illumination | Union Station

Christmas Tree with colorful decorations at Union Station, Denver

November 29, 2019
Mayor’s Holiday Lighting | Parker

November 30 – December 31, 2019
Olde Golden Christmas | 1010 Washington Ave., Golden

November 30, 2019 – January 31, 2020
Mile High Tree | Sculpture Park at the Denver Performing Arts Complex

December 3, 2019
Holiday Tree Lighting | Aurora Municipal Center

December 6, 2019
Christmas Lights of Denver | History Colorado Center

December 6, 2019
Holiday Walk | Evergreen

December 6-7, 2019
9News Parade of Lights | Downtown Denver

December 6, 2019
Holiday Lighting Ceremony | City and County of Broomfield

December 7, 2019
Holiday Lighting Ceremony | City of Westminster

December 7, 2019
Parade of Lights | Louisville

December 14, 2019
Festival of Lights Parade and Winter Festival | Brighton

MUSIC AND PERFORMANCES

What are the holidays without music? You’ll find more concerts and shows listed here than you can shake a yule log at. From classical to rock-and-roll, and everything in between, there is something for everyone. So find your favorites, buy your tickets, and have a merry musical holiday!

Girl playing cello with Christmas lights behind

November 16, 2019
Trans-Siberian Orchestra | Pepsi Center

November 22, 2019 – January 4, 2020
Cirque Dreams Holidaze | Gaylord Rockies Resort

November 30 – December 29, 2019
Colorado Ballet’s The Nutcracker | Elle Caulkins Opera House

November 29, 2019
Home Alone in Concert | Boettcher Concert Hall

December 3-8, 2019
Dr. Seuss How the Grinch Stole Christmas | Buell Theatre

December 4, 2019
FACE Vocal Band Holiday Concert | Boulder Theatre

December 5, 2019
A Drag Queen Christmas – The Naughty Tour | Fillmore Auditorium

December 6, 2019
Love Actually In Concert |Boettcher Concert Hall

December 6-8, 2019
Holiday Festival 2019 – CU Presents | Boulder

December 7, 14, 21, 2019
Inside the Orchestra’s Christmas Tiny Tots Concerts | Denver

December 7, 2019
John Denver Holiday Celebration | Boettcher Concert Hall

December 7, 2019
Christmas with the Children’s Chorale | Boettcher Concert Hall

December 8, 2019
Celtic Woman: The Best of Christmas Tour | Boettcher Concert Hall

December 9, 2019
~~Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas Rocks Tour~~ ~~| Paramount Theatre~~ [CANCELLED due to performer illness]

December 12, 2019
A Kantorei Christmas | Lone Tree Arts Center

December 12, 2019
David Benoit: A Charlie Brown Christmas | Newman Center

December 13-14, 2019
Sound of the Rockies, The Secret of Christmas | Newman Center

December 13-14, 2019
Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker | Paramount Theatre

December 13-15, 2019
A Colorado Christmas | Boettcher Concert Hall

December 13, 2019
An Irish Christmas in America | The Soiled Dove Underground

December 14, 2019
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas | Buell Theatre

December 14, 2019
Holiday BrassFest | Denver Performing Arts Complex

December 14, 2019
KS Classic Christmas | Fillmore Auditorium

December 18, 2019
An Irish Christmas | Paramount Theatre

December 18-22, 2019
Home for the Holidays | Lone Tree

December 19, 2019
Holidays with the 5 Browns | Newman Center

December 19, 2019
Hazel Miller Christmas Show | The Soiled Dove Underground

December 20, 2019
Holiday Cheer! with the Denver Philharmoni c | Central Presbyterian Church

December 20-21, 2019
Longs Peak Chorus 2019 Christmas Concert | Longmont

December 21-22, 2019
Twas the Brass Before Christmas | Newman Center

December 21, 2019
FACE Holiday Show | Paramount Theatre

December 22, 2019
Holiday Brass | Boettcher Concert Hall

Decembre 22, 2019
Annual Tuba Christmas | Denver Performing Arts Complex

December 22, 2019
A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage | Paramount Theatre

December 24, 2019
Twas the Night Before Christmas | Paramount Theatre

December 27, 2019
Jim Brickman | Paramount Theatre

FESTIVALS, MARKETS AND OTHER HOLIDAY EVENTS

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there’s a feeling of Christmas
Silver Bells, by Jay Livingston and Ryan Evans

From early November through the end of the year, holiday revelers across Denver and the Front Range love to spend their time shopping, crafting, and celebrating the holidays with friends and family.

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Festivus, you’ll find a festival, market, or other holiday event to help you enjoy the season.

Couple in outside Christmas market looking at lights and gifts

November 9-10, 2019
Rox Arts Council Holiday Art Show & Sale | Roxborough State Park

November 9, 2019
Winterfest | Center for the Arts, Evergreen

November 9, 2019
Country Christmas Craft Bazaar | Brighton

November 15-17, 2019
Holiday Food & Gift Festival | Hall of Education National Western Complex

November 16-17, 2019
It’s Begining to Look a lot Like Christmas Holiday Craft & Décor | Lakewood

November 16, 2019
Girl Scout Craft Fair | Cherry Hills Village

November 21, 2019 – January 5, 2020
Camp Christmas | Stanley Marketplace, Aurora

November 22, 2019 – January 5, 2020
Christmas at Gaylord Rockies | Gaylord Rockies Resort

November 22 – December 23, 2019
Denver Christkindle Market | 1515 Arapahoe, Denver

November 22-23, 2019
L’Esprit de Noel 2019 | University Park

November 23, 2019
Fall Frenzy & Holiday Fair | Arapahoe County Fairgrounds

November 23, 2019
Handcrafted Holiday Market | Longmont

November 24, 2019
Champagne Cascade | Brown Palace

Holiday festive party-goers enjoying drinks and the Christmas decorations

November 24, 2019
Snow Much Fun | Boulder

November 26, 2019 – February 16, 2020
Ice Skating | Skyline Park, Denver

November 29, 2019
Stapleton Holiday BAZAAR | The Shops at Northfield, Stapleton

November 30 – December 1, December 6-8, 13-15, 2019
Fetch Holiday Markets | Denver Sports Castle

November 30, 2019
2019 Holiday Craft Show and Mini-Market | Jeffco Fairgrounds, Golden

December 6, 2019
South Pearl Street Winterfest | Denver

December 6, 2019
Castle Rock Holiday & Home Show | Castle Rock

December 6, 2019
Hometown Holiday and Winter Market | Highlands Ranch

December 8, 2019
Boulder Holiday Gift Festival | Boulder

December 7, 2019
1940’s White Christmas Ball | Hyatt Regency Denver

December 8, 2019
Hanukkah Gift Market | Denver

December 8, 2019
Dolls’ Tea Party at the Oxford Hotel |Denver

December 11-15, 2019
Larmier Square Holiday Market | Denver

December 13, 2019
WinterFest | Thornton

December 20, 2019 – January 2, 2019
Holiday Carousel | Denver Pavilions

December 21, 2019
Hanukkah Storytime in Parker | Parker

December 21, 2019
Scandinavian Christmas Party | McGuckin Hardware, Boulder

December 22, 2019
Menorah Making at the JCC Denver | Denver

Demceber 23, 2019
Family Chanukah Celebration | Aurora

December 23, 2019
Major League Dreidel | Denver

December 30, 2019
Celebrate Kwanzaa: Nia (Purpose) | Denver

December 31, 2020
New Year’s Eve Fireworks | Denver

HOLIDAY RUNS

With all that holiday food, you’ll definitely need a way to burn calories and keep your mind and body happy and healthy throughout the season.

Fortunately, opportunities abound to work off the tons of turkey, multitude of mashed potatoes, gobs of gravy, and of course, pounds of pie. (Did you know that the average American will consume 3000-4,500 calories on Thanksgiving? On Christmas, it can be even more… Yikes).

Check out these holiday runs happening around town this season.