Celebrate the festive season in Centennial, CO, with a variety of enchanting holiday events. The Denver Christkindl Market offers a traditional German experience with handcrafted gifts and delightful food. Zoo Lights at Denver Zoo illuminates the night with over two million lights, while interactive exhibits at Winter Wonder Lights at the Butterfly Pavilion blend nature and technology for a magical experience.
From festive markets to dazzling light displays, Centennial's holiday events promise unforgettable memories for both locals and visitors. Enjoy the vibrant scenes, each filled with unique charm and community spirit.
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The Top Christmas Events in Centennial
See these and even more events listed below!Centennial Other Holiday Activities
Holiday Fantasy
What to Expect:
Miniature holiday village display with working model trains
Description:
Holiday Fantasy at the Colorado Railroad Museum brings a miniature world to life with intricate detail. Tiny snow-covered villages, complete with working model trains, captivate visitors of all ages. The display incorporates replicas of iconic Colorado landmarks, creating a whimsical blend of fantasy and local history. This exhibit pays homage to the state's rich railroad heritage, showcasing miniature versions of historic locomotives. You can marvel at the tiny ice skaters gliding across a mirror-like "frozen" pond, their movements powered by hidden mechanisms.
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Nearby Events
Denver Christkindl Market (Denver)
What to Expect:
Authentic German holiday market experience in the heart of Denver
Description:
Denver's Christkindl Market transports visitors to a traditional German holiday bazaar. Artisans showcase handcrafted ornaments and gifts while the aroma of freshly baked strudel wafts through the air. You can sip on warm Glühwein as you browse the stalls. This market pays homage to Denver's German immigrant history, which dates back to the 1850s gold rush era. Visitors can join in folk dances accompanied by live accordion music, embracing the spirit of Gemütlichkeit in the Mile High City.
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Blossoms of Light (Denver)
What to Expect:
Interactive light display synchronized to music at Denver Botanic Gardens
Description:
Blossoms of Light transforms the Denver Botanic Gardens into a luminous landscape. Thousands of color-changing LED lights adorn trees and structures, creating a mesmerizing display synchronized to music. Visitors can don HoloSpex glasses to add a new dimension to their viewing experience. This annual tradition began in 1988 and has evolved to incorporate cutting-edge lighting technology. Stroll through the Japanese Garden, where illuminated cherry blossom trees pay tribute to Denver's sister city relationship with Takayama, Japan.
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Zoo Lights (Denver)
What to Expect:
Animal-themed light sculptures and nocturnal animal encounters
Description:
Zoo Lights illuminates Denver Zoo with over two million lights, creating a vibrant nocturnal safari. Life-sized animal sculptures crafted from lights dot the pathways, offering unique photo opportunities. Visitors can observe nocturnal animals during special evening hours, a rare glimpse into their nighttime behaviors. This event, which began in 1990, supports the zoo's conservation efforts. Warm up at one of the fire pits while listening to the distant calls of wolves and lions, blending the wild with winter cheer.
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Parade of Lights (Denver)
What to Expect:
Two-mile parade route featuring illuminated floats and marching bands
Description:
Denver's Parade of Lights winds through downtown, bringing a river of light to the city streets. Elaborately decorated floats, many featuring Colorado themes, glide past cheering crowds. Marching bands fill the air with holiday tunes as they step in perfect synchronization. This beloved tradition, dating back to 1975, showcases the spirit of the Mile High City. You'll spot the parade's mascot, Major Waddles the Penguin, delighting both young and old as he waddles along the two-mile route.
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Colorado Ballet's The Nutcracker (Denver)
What to Expect:
Live orchestra and lavish sets bring the classic ballet to life
Description:
Colorado Ballet's production of The Nutcracker dazzles audiences with its grand scale and attention to detail. Lavish sets transport viewers to a Victorian-era Christmas party and the fantastical Land of Sweets. A live orchestra performs Tchaikovsky's iconic score, adding depth and richness to the performance. This production has been a Denver holiday staple since 1960, evolving each year with new choreography and costumes. Watch in awe as the Sugar Plum Fairy executes perfect fouettés, her tutu sparkling under the stage lights.
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Colorado Ballet's The Nutcracker
Winter WonderLights (Loveland)
What to Expect:
Interactive light installations at Butterfly Pavilion
Description:
Winter Wonder Lights at the Butterfly Pavilion combines nature and technology in a unique after-dark experience. Interactive light installations respond to visitors' movements, creating a dynamic and ever-changing display. Explore the tropical conservatory, where twinkling lights mimic bioluminescent insects. This event highlights the importance of nighttime pollinators and their habitats. You can create your own light painting using special photographic techniques, capturing a personalized memory of your visit.
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Santa's Village at Chatfield Farms (Littleton)
What to Expect:
Holiday activities on a historic farm setting
Description:
Santa's Village at Chatfield Farms brings holiday cheer to a rustic, 19th-century setting. Vintage tractors adorned with lights create a unique backdrop for family photos. Visitors can take a hayride through the illuminated fields, experiencing farm life with a festive twist. This event pays homage to Colorado's agricultural heritage, blending modern holiday fun with historical charm. Try your hand at candle dipping, a traditional craft that harkens back to the farm's early days.
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Santa's Village at Chatfield Farms
A Christmas Carol (Denver)
What to Expect:
Immersive staging brings Victorian London to life
Description:
The Denver Center Theatre Company's production of A Christmas Carol immerses audiences in Dickens' Victorian London. Innovative staging and special effects bring the ghostly visitations to life, sending chills down your spine. Period-accurate costumes and set designs transport you to 19th-century England. This adaptation has been a Denver tradition since 1990, evolving each year with new theatrical techniques. Listen closely for the clanking of Jacob Marley's chains, a sound that echoes through the theater and into your very soul.
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Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms (Littleton)
What to Expect:
Light displays integrated with natural landscape and historic structures
Description:
The Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms weaves holiday illuminations through the natural beauty of the Colorado landscape. Light displays are thoughtfully integrated with the farm's historic structures and native plants, creating a uniquely Western holiday experience. Visitors can warm up in the restored 1880s homestead, decorated as it would have been in its heyday. This event showcases the intersection of Colorado's agricultural past and its innovative present. Stroll along the illuminated creek, where lights reflect off the water's surface, creating a mesmerizing display.
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Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms
Mile High Tree (Denver)
What to Expect:
110-foot tall digital tree with immersive light shows
Description:
The Mile High Tree stands as a towering testament to Denver's holiday spirit. This 110-foot tall digital tree, the tallest of its kind in North America, captivates with its immersive light shows. Visitors can step inside the tree's base, surrounded by a swirling vortex of lights and colors. The tree's shows are choreographed to a mix of holiday classics and contemporary hits, creating a multi-sensory experience. You can witness this marvel of technology, which uses energy-efficient LED technology to create its dazzling displays.
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The Polar Express Train Ride (Golden)
What to Expect:
Interactive train ride based on the beloved children's book
Description:
The Polar Express Train Ride brings the classic children's book to life on the rails of the Colorado Railroad Museum. Passengers board vintage train cars, greeted by characters from the story in full costume. The train whistle echoes through the night as you journey to the "North Pole." This event takes place on historic railroads, connecting visitors to Colorado's rich railway heritage. Sip on hot chocolate served in souvenir mugs as you listen to a reading of the beloved story, feeling the gentle sway of the train beneath you.
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Georgetown Christmas Market (Georgetown)
What to Expect:
Victorian-era holiday market in a historic mountain town
Description:
The Georgetown Christmas Market transports visitors to a Victorian-era holiday celebration in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Roasted chestnuts and carol singers fill the air with nostalgic charm. Visitors can ride in horse-drawn carriages through the snow-dusted streets of this historic mining town. This market has been a tradition since 1960, honoring Georgetown's rich silver mining history. Browse artisan crafts displayed in wooden stalls lining the streets, just as they would have been over a century ago.
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Brewery Lights at Anheuser-Busch (Fort Collins)
What to Expect:
Holiday light display at a working brewery with beer tasting
Description:
Brewery Lights transforms the Anheuser-Busch facility into a winter wonderland with a twist. Massive fermentation tanks serve as canvases for projected light displays, creating a unique industrial-chic holiday atmosphere. Visitors can sample a variety of seasonal brews while strolling through the illuminated grounds. This event highlights the brewery's 50-year history in Fort Collins, blending holiday cheer with brewing tradition. Watch the iconic Clydesdale horses parade through the grounds, their harnesses adorned with jingle bells and lights.
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Brewery Lights at Anheuser-Busch
Santa Express Train (Cañon City)
What to Expect:
Scenic train ride through Royal Gorge with onboard holiday activities
Description:
The Santa Express Train whisks passengers through the stunning Royal Gorge, offering breathtaking views enhanced by holiday cheer. Elves lead onboard singalongs and serve hot cocoa as the train winds through the Colorado wilderness. Visitors can marvel at the engineering feat of the tracks, which have clung to the canyon walls since 1879. This journey combines natural beauty with festive fun, creating a uniquely Colorado holiday experience. You'll feel a rush of excitement as the train crosses the dizzying heights of the Royal Gorge Bridge.
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Colorado Christmas at Bandimere Speedway (Morrison)
What to Expect:
Drive-through light display on a professional racetrack
Description:
Colorado Christmas at Bandimere Speedway puts a high-octane spin on holiday light viewing. Visitors drive their own vehicles around the professional racetrack, following a course lined with elaborate light displays. The speedway's towering grandstands serve as a backdrop for projected light shows. This event repurposes the iconic drag strip, which has been a Colorado landmark since 1958. Tune your car radio to a special frequency to hear holiday music synchronized with the light displays as you cruise around the track.
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Colorado Christmas at Bandimere Speedway
Breakfast with Santa at the Aquarium (Denver)
What to Expect:
Festive breakfast surrounded by marine life
Description:
Breakfast with Santa at the Downtown Aquarium combines holiday cheer with underwater wonder. Diners enjoy a festive meal while surrounded by massive aquarium tanks teeming with colorful marine life. Santa makes his appearance by scuba diving in one of the main tanks, waving to delighted guests through the glass. This unique event highlights the aquarium's commitment to marine education and conservation. You can watch mesmerized as sharks and rays glide past your table, adding an element of aquatic magic to your holiday meal.
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Breakfast with Santa at the Aquarium
Holiday Flea (Denver)
What to Expect:
Curated marketplace featuring local artisans and vintage goods
Description:
The Holiday Flea transforms a Denver landmark into a bustling marketplace showcasing the best of local creativity. Artisans and vintage collectors display their wares in a carefully curated selection that spans from handcrafted jewelry to upcycled furniture. Live music from local bands fills the air, creating a festive atmosphere. This event celebrates Denver's thriving maker culture and entrepreneurial spirit. Visitors can chat with creators about their craft while sipping on locally brewed beer, fostering a sense of community and supporting small businesses.