December Colorado Events

Colorado has a lot of reasons to celebrate with festivals in December. The ski season is officially underway and the holidays are just around the corner. Celebrate New Year’s Eve in style in downtown Denver with fireworks.Exciting events include the Georgetown Christmas Market which features an outdoor European marketplace and Vail Snow Daze which has three free nights of concerts.

Here’s a look at the top annual December events in Colorado, in chronological order:

Warren Miller Film Tour

• Date: late October through December, 2o24
• Address: Multiple showings across Colorado
• About: An annual film tour following skiers and snowboarders as they take on the snow. From backyard hills to mega mountains, this tour kicks off the winter season with a bang.

Denver Botanic Gardens Blossoms of Light

• Date: Fri-Sun, November 20, 2024 – January 12, 2025 (closed Nov. 28 and Dec. 25)
• Address: Denver
• About: A stroll through the Denver Botanic Gardens is a delightful way to celebrate the holiday season. The Blossoms of Light extravaganza is a twinkling and breathtaking way to spend a winter evening.

Denver Christkindlmarket

• Date: Fri-Sat, November 22-December 23, 2024
• Address: Civic Center Park, 101 14th Ave, Denver
• About: 24th year for the month-long Christkindl Market in downtown Denver. Experience old German traditions with authentic cuisine, live music, holiday drinks, and an artisan marketplace.

Polar Express Train Ride

• Date: Fri-Sun, November 22, 2024 – January 1, 2025
• Address: Durango
• About: Aboard the Polar Express Train Ride, you and your family will be swept away into an elaborate holiday fantasy complete with hot chocolate, a light show, holiday music, and, of course, Santa.

Winter on the Mountain

• Dates: Saturday, November 23 and 30, Saturday, December 7, 14, and 21, Sunday, December 22, 2024
• Address: Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, Glenwood Springs
• About: Holiday festivities at over 7,000 feet on Iron Mountain. See more than 500,000 lights, meet Santa and listen to live music at Winter on the Mountain.

Mind Blown Telluride

• Date: Fri-Sat, late November 2024 through March 2025
• Address: Telluride
• About: Taking place at The Peaks Resort & Spa, Ty Gallenbeck puts on a 75-minute magic performance that makes guests question the known.

Colorado Springs Record Show

• Date: TBD 2024
• Address: Colorado Springs
• About: With dozens of vendors and thousands of records, CDs, LPs, cassettes, 8-tracks, and more, if you love music and the sound of vinyl, this is a must-attend event.

Holiday Arts Bazaar

• Date: Fri-Sun, December 6-8, 2024
• Address: Telluride
• About: A 3-day holiday market that sells an array of locally made and handcrafted items including jewelry, food, clothing, and ceramics.

The Lighting of Breckenridge & Race of the Santas

• Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024
• Address: Breckenridge
• About: Kick off December with the family by participating in this holiday event. Watch the town light up as hundreds of Santas run through the streets.

Festival of Lights Parade

• Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024
• Address: Tejon Street, Colorado Springs
• About: Colorado Springs starts its holiday season off by illuminating the town with the Festival of Lights Parade. Bring the family and enjoy the festivities as Santa and a myriad of floats wander down the road.

Georgetown Christmas Market

• Date: Sat-Sun, December 7-8 and 14-15, 2024
• Address: 6th Street, Georgetown
• About: 64th annual Christmas Market is held on the first two Saturdays and Sundays in December. Celebrations include a European outdoor marketplace, holiday entertainment, horse-drawn wagon rides, Saint Nicholas, Christmas museum tours, high tea at Grace Hall, wassail crawl, hot roasted chestnuts, and Santa Lucia Children’s Procession.

Ullr Fest

• Date: Thurs-Sat, December 12-14, 2024
• Address: Breckenridge
• About: Festival celebrating the winter god of Norse mythology, now in its 61st year. Shenanigans include frying pans, Viking hats, “Ullympic” competitions and a floats parade.

Christmas in the Gold Camps

• Date: Thur-Sat, December 12-14, 2024
• Address: Cripple Creek
• About: Get into the holiday spirit by enjoying a weekend of fun full of festive activities, a winter parade, and a light show.

Evergreen Winterfest

• Date: Saturday, December 14, 2024
• Address: Evergreen
• About: Community arts festival showcasing handmade gifts at the Center for the Arts Evergreen.

Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade

• Date: Tuesday, December 24, 2024
• Address: Telluride
• About: The Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade in Telluride lights up the mountain in a red hue as resort employees come down the slopes carrying flares and ride into the village, bringing with them, the holiday spirit.

New Year’s Eve Fireworks

• Date: Sunday, December 31, 2024
• Address: 16th Street Mall, Downtown Denver
• About: Celebrate the new year with fireworks in downtown Denver. There are two spectacular shows at 9 pm and midnight. The 16th Street Mall offers optimal viewing.

Holidays at Outlets at Castle Rock

• Date: TBD 2024
• Address: Outlets at Castle Rock, Castle Rock
• About: Head to the Outlets at Castle Rock from the beginning of November to December for great shopping deals and holiday festivities.

Vail Film Festival

• Date: TBD 2024
• Address: Vail
• About: An annual 4-day film festival showcasing independent movies and screenplays.

Parade of Lights

• Date: TBD 2024
• Address: Denver
• About: Denver comes alive each year for multiple nights during the first days of December with twinkling lights and pageantry at the city’s largest, longest, and most exciting parade of the year.

Christmas at Schmid Ranch

• Date: TBD or cancelled indefinitely
• Address: Telluride
• About: Telluride kicks off the month of December with an old-fashioned tradition sure to put everyone in the holiday spirit.

12 Days of Aspen

• Date: TBD or cancelled indefinitely
• Address: Aspen
• About: The 12 Days of Aspen festival is more than a set of events for the community and visitors to participate in. It’s a holiday mindset that brings everyone together to celebrate the season and new beginnings.

​Vail Snow Days

• Date: TBD or cancelled indefinitely
• Address: Vail
• About: Vail Snow Days kickoffs the winter season at the popular I-70 ski resort. It lasts for 4 days and features headlining concerts, après, and even a large expo village to explore.

Noel Night

• Date: TBD or cancelled indefinitely
• Address: Durango
• About: The largest shopping night of the year in Durango full of music, treats, decorations, and holiday festivities.

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