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Celebrating Christmas in Denver? Here’s a fun list of Christmassy things to do in the city.
If you want to spend your Christmas season in the Mile High City, it might be tricky to find things to do if you’re new to the area.
But have no fear, as Denver’s vibrant Winter scene and warm community make it a great spot to spend your Christmas!
Whether you’re spending a weekend in Denver or a whole week, this guide will help you choose the best activities to do with your family, including attending light shows, eating themed breakfasts, and visiting Christmas-themed bars and Christmas markets.
There are many benefits to doing activities during Christmas in Denver, Colorado, such as having more event options to choose from, experiencing Denver’s food culture, and of course, Christmas shopping!
Top 18 Things To Do At Christmas In Denver
Scratching your head at what there is to do during the Christmas period in Denver?
Well then, look no further than this comprehensive guide that will give you the inside scoop on the best 18 things to do at Christmas in Denver.
Pssst: Here’s a bunch of magical places to visit during Christmas in America
Amble Through The Denver Zoo Lights
No Christmas in Denver is complete without paying a visit to the Zoo Lights!
With over 80 acres of dazzling Animal-themed lights, viewings of Amur Tigers, an ice-carving event, a Holiday market, and a musical show, the Zoo Lights brings all kinds of fun to everyone!
The Zoo Lights occur every year from November to December at the Denver Zoo, located at 2300 Steele Street.
The tickets for non-members are $25 per adult and $15 per child. The show itself lasts from 5 PM to 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays and from 5 to 9 PM on Sundays and Thursdays.
Catch A Drink At The Miracle Pop-Up Bar
If you want to sip on some Christmas spirit, quite literally, then head on over to The Miracle Bar!
This delightful bar pops up every Christmas in Denver with a whole host of Christmas and Hannukah-themed drinks, such as the Snowball Old Fashioned.
This destination in Denver is not one to be missed with its delightfully cheesy Christmas décor, themed tables, and drinks that never cease to come!
You can make a reservation at the Miracle Bar for $2 per person at their website for when the bar starts in November.
Read next: Best Restaurants in Denver
Much On A Delicious Breakfast At The Brown Palace Hotel
There’s nothing better than eating a delectably warm breakfast on a cold winter’s morning, so when you can have Breakfast with Santa, visiting is a no-brainer!
You can book breakfast at The Brown Palace Hotel on Saturdays during December from 9 AM to 1:30 PM to meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus.
If you are more in the mood for something else, the hotel also hosts lunch and high tea from the start of noon to 4 PM, where you can dine on a wide range of pastries and drink from a selection of teas and coffee.
While you’re there, you can also catch musical performances at the Lobby Tea & Cocktails.
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Stop At The Butterfly Pavilion’s Living Lights
Suppose you’re fond of butterflies, scorpions, and all things creepy and crawly.
Why not pay a visit to the Butterfly Pavilion’s Living Lights which features giant insects covered with bright, rainbow-colored lights and glow-in-the-dark scorpions in UV light shows?
This fascinating and entertaining event takes place every year for18 nights running through December and January.
The Living Light’s event also involves a kid’s dance party, aerial artists, and various insect exhibits, so be sure to stop over at one of the best Christmas activities in Denver!
Glide On The Ice At Skyline Park
Now you can’t have a Christmas in Denver without experiencing some of the snow that this city’s known for!
Hop on to Skyline Park, which is open during Denver’s winter months for most of the week from November to February. The park is located at Skyline at 1601 Arapahoe Street, Denver.
At this lovely ice-skating rink, you can rent skates for adults at $9 or $7 for children under 7, or you can bring along your own skates.
The park also has rentable lockers for putting your valuables in, and many food stands are available where you can either pick up a snack or drink.
Gaze At The ElectriCritters in Pueblo Zoo
You should know that you are in for a real treat when you visit the ElectriCritters event held every festive season at the Pueblo Zoo for nearly 30 years.
Here you can wander through the exhibition space, which features sculptural light pieces dedicated to various animals and insects, making up over 250,000 sparkling lights present.
The Pueblo Zoo space at the time of the event is also host to a Christmas-themed café where you can grab a snack or hot cocoa.
In addition, you can also do some holiday shopping at the Pueblo Zoo Gift Shop. You can pick up non-members’ tickets for $9 and $7 per adult and child, respectively.
Read next: Christmas Towns in the USA
Attend A Show By The Colorado Symphony
Try and partake in some good, old-fashioned Christmas fun by attending ‘A Colorado Christmas,’ which consists of many musical performances held by the Colorado Symphony!
The event also includes sing-alongs of Christmas classics, including ‘‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’, ‘Joy!’ and ‘A Christmas Carol.’
Now the performances will be held in Boettcher Concert Hall on 1000 14th Street and will be 2 hours long in duration, after which you can even take a selfie with Mr. and Mrs. Clause!
The event is held through December, with concert performances weekly, though you’ll have to book before attending.
Join In The Festive Fun By Watching The Nutcracker
Now there’s nothing better than watching Tchaikovsky’s classical masterpiece ‘The Nutcracker’ during the festive season!
The Colorado Ballet performs this staple piece every Christmas in Denver at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House.
You can attend the performances during the holiday season from November to December when most tickets are around $60 per person.
The performances themselves are 1 hour and 50 minutes each, with an intermission that is 20 long. From the dazzling lights to snowflakes to costumes, it’s a real treat!
Stroll Through The Lights at Luminova Holidays
This activity will surely bring a grin to every member of the family’s face, from young to old!
With around 200,000 square feet of glittering light displays and Christmas-themed attractions, the Luminova Holidays event is hosted at Elitch Gardens annually around the festive season.
Here you can visit giant snowmen, explore candy-cane-themed tunnels, take a selfie with Santa, catch a snack, or ride the Ferris Wheel.
You can also catch a glimpse at the holiday performers dressed up as elves and Old Saint Nick, as well as the occasional caroler dressed in typical 19th-century fashion.
Watch Disney’s A Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert
If you or the kids are fans of the childhood classic, the Muppets, then why not attend Disney’s a Muppet Christmas Carol In Concert?
It features Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Fozzie Bear as the characters of Dicken’s ‘A Christmas Carol,’ which follows the notorious Ebenezer Scrooge’s tale of redemption.
The concert is annually held in Boettcher Concert Hall in Denver in December, and the price of tickets per adult is $23 and $8.50 per child.
You can expect to experience two and a half hours of the heart-warming tale of ‘A Christmas Carol’ set to live musical compositions at the concert!
Take A Gander At The Christkindlmarket
Now for one of the most fun Christmas things to do in Denver, why not pay a visit to the Christkindlmarket?
The market is an authentically German-style Christmas Market where you can sip on some traditional Glühwein as you nibble on a delicious, salted pretzel and take in the festive scenery!
The market is during the Festive season, typically during November and December, with free entry.
You can expect to find stalls selling artisan goods and European delicacies as the event features many local and international small food businesses.
Also, don’t miss the many live performances!
Experience The Blossoms Of Light
At the annual Blossoms of Light, you can marvel at the magical transformation of the Denver Botanic Gardens by adding over half a million colorful light displays covering the trees and walkways.
The snow that Denver often experiences makes the display even more breathtaking and transforms the landscape into a winter wonderland!
The event has been held in Denver Botanic Gardens every night of December, except Christmas Day and January, since 1988.
The Blossoms of Light receives thousands of visitors annually, so it’s not something to miss when you have your Christmas in Denver. Be sure to book your tickets early!
Meet Santa On The Polar Express Train Ride
The Polar Express Train Ride is truly a one-of-a-kind experience for both kids and adults alike!
At Colorado Railroad Museum, one can catch a ride to the North Pole in a 19th-century style steam train, complete with elf performances, making it one of the best things to do in Denver for Christmas!
Once you’ve returned, you can even meet Santa! This train ride also starts with some delicious hot cocoa and cookies to make sure it’s an extra special experience!
The train ride is available in November and December, and the starting price of a standard ticket per person is $80.
Witness The Holiday Lights
With the help of the snow and some Christmas Spirit, the Adventure Golf and Raceway every Christmas season becomes the wintery paradise that is the Holiday Lights Mini Golf!
You can gaze in wonder at the three themed mini golf courses, which thousands of rainbow lights have transformed.
Once you’ve headed off there, you can also grab a bite to eat or some hot cocoa to help keep you warm as you stroll through the park.
Tickets for those aged 13 to 59 years cost $10 each and are $8 for children aged 4 to 12 years. Seniors over 60 are $8 each, and toddlers under three can attend for free.
Ride The Denver Pavilions Holiday Carousel
Christmas comes with the opportunity to spend more time with loved ones, so why not bring the family along to the Denver Pavilions Holiday Carousel?
This pretty carousel ride is decked out with the typical antique-style horses surrounded by garlands of lights, so it’s a perfect spot to snap some selfies!
The carousel is located at 500 16th Street in Denver and is surrounded by many shops and boutiques in 16th Street Mall, which offer many Christmas-themed trinkets and gifts for you to buy.
So, when you visit, just dress warmly and bring along your Christmas spirit!
Wonder Around The Cherry Creek North Winter Wanderland
If you want a sure-fire photo opportunity, pop over to The Cherry Creek North Winter Wanderland.
Here you can walk through a Winter Wanderland, which consists of nearly a million glittering lights covering over 600 trees and 16 blocks!
It also features eight light displays synced to holiday music.
The venue also holds several Creos light displays, which consist of 120 dominoes that are draped with colorful lights and have unique sounds.
The Wanderland, like many other festive events in the area, is held from November to December and is located in Cherry Creek North in Denver.
Visit The Four Mile Historic Park
For the history buffs, we’d recommend looking at The Four Mile Historic Park, home to a preserved 19th-century farmstead where you can pet baby goats and horses.
You can take a guided historical tour with staff dressed in 19th-century clothing, making for an immersive experience!
To make it an even more memorable Christmas in Denver, you can also hop on board a wagon ride that is pulled by a tractor, along with a complimentary hot chocolate!
To top it off, you can even attend one of the many fireworks shows and live performances that the site frequently hosts.
Attend the Mile High Tree Light Show
This Christmas tree is definitely not like the others! Every December, the Mile High Tree light show features a magnificently bright Christmas tree that towers above at an impressive 110 feet!
You can even access the tree’s interior to get an understanding of the tree’s colorful light displays work.
Every quarter of an hour, the Mile High Tree Light Show also features a fun and impressive lights experience, making it one of the most popular Christmas things to do in Denver.
If you’re feeling thirsty, you can always grab a drink from one of the nearby vendors.
More Things To Do At Christmas In Denver:
Don’t miss the nightly light show at Denver Union Station during December.
Drink hot cocoa at Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park and check out Lonnie Hanzon’s fantastical wonderland of lights, decorations, and memorabilia.
Get into the holiday spirit by wandering the glistering trail at the Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms.
Check out the 9NEWS Parade of Lights in Downtown, a fun holiday tradition.
Be in awe at the annual holiday lights extravaganza on York Street.
Wrapping Up on Christmas in Denver
Hopefully, you now know how many things there are to do at Christmas in Denver.
In a nutshell, you’ve probably come to find that Denver is brimming to the top with holiday activities to do, regardless of your interests, time, or budget!
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