Denver Cultural Festivals

Cherry Creek North Winter Wanderland

WHEN: Nov. 20–Dec. 24, 2025
WHERE: Cherry Creek North
Winter Wanderland displays a collection of free holiday offerings and festivities throughout the neighborhood! Festivities include a dazzling display of nearly one million twinkling lights on more than 600 trees spread throughout the walkable neighborhood and Giving Machines—vending machines that don't dispense snacks or drinks, but instead offer the chance to make a positive impact! Throughout the holiday season, enjoy Small Business Weekend (Nov. 29–Dec. 1), Saturday Night Lights with complimentary holiday treats and festive entertainment (Dec. 6, 13 & 20), a Chanukah celebration (Dec. 14) and the Cherry Creek Holiday Market (Nov. 20–Dec. 24), where you can browse gifts from more than 40 local makers, designers and creators. After a long day of shopping, warm up inside the all-new Mistletoe Lounge (Nov. 20–Dec. 24), a new pop-up Christmas bar offering a festive drink menu and comfy seating in a setting that’s best described as the inside of a "real-life snow globe." 

Mile High Holidays

WHEN: Nov. 21, 2025–Jan. 1, 2026
WHERE: All over town
During the holiday season, Denver will twinkle with millions of lights all across the city. Feel the warmth of family-friendly performing arts classics, find the perfect gifts and marvel at elaborate lights displays. No other city creates holiday miracles quite like Denver. Mile High Holidays has something for everyone.

Grand Illumination of Union Station 

WHEN: Nov. 28, 2025
WHERE: Denver Union Station
Don't miss the annual lighting ceremony of Union Station’s 40-foot-tall outdoor Christmas tree, which features more than 7,000 holiday lights! The tree lighting ceremony will begin promptly at 6:10 p.m.

2025 Candlelight Walk

WHEN: Nov. 28, 2025
WHERE: Main Street, Littleton
Experience the magic of Downtown Littleton at the Candlelight Walk. Enjoy music, treats, holiday cocktails (21+), a festive parade, a dazzling drone show and photos with special guest star, Santa!

Larimer Lights

WHEN: Nov. 28–Dec. 31, 2025
WHERE: Larimer Square
Larimer Lights returns for the 2025 holiday season! Stroll the block and enjoy immersive projection mapping, festive décor, visits from Santa, live holiday carolers, seasonal treats from our restaurants and shops, and more to make your season bright.

Elitch Holidays 

WHEN: Nov. 28, 2025–Jan. 4, 2026
WHERE: Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park​
This family-friendly event brings larger-than-life holiday displays and immersive experiences for all to enjoy. It features millions of dazzling lights, a 65-foot-tall Christmas tree, twinkling snowmen who never melt, a 300-foot-long candy cane tunnel, giant presents and ornaments, a wall of lights, rides on Elitch Gardens attractions, interactive activities like a light-up hopscotch, strolling holiday entertainers, Old Saint Nick and his elves, and more. 

Hudson Holidays

WHEN: Nov. 28, 2025–Jan. 4, 2026
WHERE: Hudson Gardens & Events Center
You'll be enchanted by even more towering trees draped in thousands of colorful lights. A grove of dancing Christmas trees, a multi-colored forest inhabited by giant snowmen, the holiday light tunnel and glowing reindeer will light up Hudson Gardens into an extravaganza of holiday cheer. Purchase a delicious cup of hot cocoa or adult beverage before stopping by for a perfect free family photo opportunity with Santa.

12th Annual Tennyson Berkeley Small Business Passport Crawl

WHEN: Nov. 29–30, 2025
WHERE: Tennyson Street
Pick up your Small Business Passport at any participating shop and enjoy exclusive promotions, collecting stamps with every purchase. Each stamp earns you one entry to win a gift basket from all participating businesses! So shop small and win BIG this holiday season. Don’t miss out on the fun—grab your friends and family and make it a day to remember while supporting local small businesses!

Graveyard Markets: The Lemur and Friends Bazaar

WHEN: Nov. 29 & Dec. 14, 2025
WHERE: The Learned Lemur
The Lemur and Friends Bazaar is a monthly artist market hosted right on The Learned Lemur's back patio. The bazaar hosts all kinds of artists from across Colorado, from bakers to jewelers. Pick up that perfect unique gift or something special for yourself!

Santa at the Station

WHEN: Nov. 30, Dec. 7, Dec. 14 & Dec. 21, 2025
WHERE: Denver Union Station
Denver Union Station is thrilled to host FREE visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. All visits take place indoors, within The Great Hall of Union Station, and photos will be taken by Santa’s helpers on your personal phone or camera. All free visits are honored on a first-come, first-served basis. Not keen on waiting in line? No problem! Guests have the option of reserving a specific time slot by purchasing a “St. Nick Express Pass,” which will be honored within a 15-minute window of your selected time slot.

Metal & Beer Festival

WHEN: Dec. 5 & 6, 2025
WHERE: The Fillmore Auditorium
Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest: Denver is tapping the Fillmore Auditorium as this year’s home of the world’s loudest, heaviest, most extreme craft beer festival. Freshly reunited sludge/doom legends Acid Bath make their first Denver appearance in over 30 years to headline Saturday night, while Denver’s own death metal space force Blood Incantation will perform their first hometown show in over two years with an epic headlining performance on Friday night. But that’s just the (sober) half of it! America’s most metal breweries—and meaderies—will descend upon the beer capital of the U.S. to provide the essential suds to the soundtrack of crushing metallic thuds!

Winter Fair and Artisan Market

WHEN: Dec. 5 & 6, 2025
WHERE: The Denver Waldorf School
The Denver Waldorf School invites the community to experience the magic of the season at its 51st Annual Winter Fair and Artisan Market, a cherished Denver tradition that transforms the entire school into a festive winter wonderland. The fun begins Friday, December 5, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with UnWined, an adults-only evening with artisan shopping and wine. The activities continue on Saturday, December 6, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., when families are welcomed to enjoy a full day of holiday cheer. This year’s Winter Fair showcases: 50+ artisan merchants, children’s activities, hand-decorated wreaths and Christmas trees for purchase, food trucks and musical and instrumental performances by Denver Waldorf students. Admission to artisan shopping and performances is free. Children’s activities require a $25 wristband.

9NEWS Parade of Lights 

WHEN: Dec. 6, 2025
WHERE: Downtown Denver
This free holiday spectacular features more than 40 units, including extravagantly illuminated floats, giant helium-filled character balloons, magnificent marching bands, traditional equestrian units and vibrant cultural displays. And, of course, special appearances by Major Waddles the Penguin and Santa!

Latkes and Lights Hanukkah Celebration

WHEN: Dec. 7, 2025
WHERE: Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center
The fourth annual Latkes and Lights Hanukkah event includes Hanukkah fun and food, including a latke competition where guests can taste and judge latkes to determine who has the best from local Denver restaurants. There will also be a separate latke competition from community members’ family recipes, as well as a makers mart craft fair featuring local vendors, Hanukkah games, a pita and olive oil tasting, a light room for kids and live music.

Chautauqua WinterFest

WHEN: Dec. 13, 2025
WHERE: 900 Baseline Road, Boulder
Create unforgettable memories at WinterFest, Chautauqua’s annual holiday celebration! Enjoy festive food and drinks, live music, horse-drawn carriage rides, and a variety of family-friendly activities. From exploring the holiday market to crafting ornaments, there’s something for everyone. 

Noon Years Celebration

WHEN: Dec. 31, 2025
WHERE: The Shops at Northfield
Ring in the New Year early at the Noon Year’s Celebration from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Bring the whole family for a festive countdown to noon featuring a dazzling balloon drop, fun activities, live entertainment, face painting and more. It’s the perfect way to welcome the New Year together—family fun without staying up late!

National Western Stock Show & Rodeo

WHEN: Jan. 10–25, 2026
WHERE: National Western Complex
Held every January at the National Western Complex, it's the nation's premier livestock, rodeo and horse show, serving agricultural producers and consumers throughout the world. Enjoy rodeos featuring top-notch bull riders, horse shows, livestock competitions and auctions. And don’t miss acres of shopping at Colorado’s largest Western trade show. 

No Man’s Land Film Festival

WHEN: March 7, 2026
WHERE: 2644 West 32nd Ave.
No Man’s Land Film Festival has celebrated the full scope of athletes and adventurers by undefining femininity in adventure, sport, conservation and film since 2015. Based out of Denver, NMLFF meets a need and desire to highlight and connect women + gender-nonconforming communities in pursuit of the radical.