Late November and December are a great time to be in Colorado. Here are some of the events worth putting on your calendar with a mix of free and ticketed options. Dates are as published by event organizers; it's always worth checking the official event page before heading out.
Boulder County
Switch on the Holidays (Sunday, November 22)
Downtown Boulder's season begins with a Cookie Crawl starting at 11 a.m., followed by the lighting of the Pearl Street Mall and the Boulder County Courthouse at 5 p.m., with performances and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
St. Nick on the Bricks (November 27–28, December 5 and 12)
Kids of all ages can visit Santa for free at the Downtown Boulder Visitor Information Center, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Sundays (November 29, December 6 and 13) the electric Tebo Train becomes the Snowflake Express, weather permitting.
CU Presents Holiday Festival (December 4–6)
A decades-old tradition at Macky Auditorium, with student choirs, bands, and orchestras alongside faculty performers.
Lights of December Parade (Saturday, December 12, 6 p.m.)
Boulder's small-town-style evening parade, with marching bands, lit fire engines, carolers, and homemade floats. It starts at 15th and Walnut.
Longmont Lights (December 11–12)
The free festival is Friday, December 11, and the parade is Saturday, December 12. The lights in Roosevelt Park twinkle nightly beginning in late November, and the Longmont Ice Pavilion is nearby if you want to skate. Note that Longmont's parade and Boulder's parade fall on the same evening, so pick one.
Boulder County Farmers Market
The Saturday market runs through November 21; a winter market has traditionally followed in early December, so check the market's website for this year's date.
Denver
Denver Christkindlmarket (November 20–December 23)
The German-style market is free to enter and sits on the Tivoli Quad at Auraria Campus this year. Next door, the 110-foot Mile High Tree and a nightly 7 p.m. drone show (November 20–December 31) are also free.
Cherry Creek Holiday Market (November 19–December 24)
More than 40 local makers, free to browse, in a walkable neighborhood decorated with nearly a million lights.
9NEWS Parade of Lights (Saturday, December 5)
Free along a two-mile downtown route, with more than 40 lighted floats, bands, and balloons.
Blossoms of Light (November 20–January 10) and Zoo Lights (November 23–January 3)
Both are ticketed and popular, so buying ahead is wise. Blossoms of Light at Denver Botanic Gardens and Zoo Lights at the Denver Zoo are both closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Trail of Lights (November 21–January 3)
A quieter option at Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms in Littleton, with a shorter path available for little legs.
If you only pick a few, a good mix might be Boulder's light-up on November 22, a Saturday afternoon at the Christkindlmarket, and the Denver parade on December 5. Bundle up, bring a thermos, and give yourself extra time for parking.
One of the nicest things about living here is how many of these traditions are still small enough to feel like neighbors getting together. Whichever ones you choose, I hope they're a good excuse to get outside, see friends, and enjoy the season