Last updated: November 11, 2024
Ready for the holidays, Parker? Our guide has everything you need for a festive season. From longtime Parker residents to temporary visitors, our guide reveals both popular attractions and hidden treasures.
Popular events like the 41st Annual Festival of Lights Parade brighten the streets with dazzling floats and community spirit. Unique features of the Bridge of Lights at Royal Gorge Bridge & Park include breathtaking views adorned with festive lights, making evening strolls a seasonal treat. And the Camp Christmas is something you definitely don't want to miss, as it offers immersive holiday experiences for all ages. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Parker Holiday Light Displays
41th Annual Festival of Lights Parade
- What to Expect
- Large-scale holiday light display with community participation.
- Description
- The 41st Annual Festival of Lights Parade is a cherished holiday tradition in the Pikes Peak region, featuring nearly 100 beautifully lighted and decorated floats that delight both young and old. The parade route is transformed into a vibrant display of lights and decorations, showcasing local businesses and community organizations' creative efforts.
- Where
- Colorado Springs | More Info : 41th Annual Festival of Lights Parade
Luminova Holidays
- What to Expect
- Immersive light displays and interactive activities for all ages.
- Description
- Luminova Holidays at Elitch Gardens features over 4 million dazzling lights, a 65-ft. Christmas tree, and interactive activities like light-up hopscotch and giant light swings. The event includes visits with Santa Claus, a 300-ft. candy cane tunnel, and festive rides.
- Where
- Denver | More Info : Luminova Holidays
Season of the Star
- What to Expect
- Community-driven holiday celebration with extensive light displays and family activities.
- Description
- The Season of the Star in Castle Rock, CO, is a celebration of lights and festive events featuring holiday decorations, family-friendly activities, and community gatherings.
- Where
- Castle Rock | More Info : Season of the Star
Winter Wanderland
- What to Expect
- Dazzling display of one million lights illuminating the neighborhood.
- Description
- Cherry Creek North transforms into a dazzling holiday destination with over 1 million twinkling lights, live music, and various festive activities.
- Where
- Denver | More Info : Winter Wanderland
Blossoms of Light
- What to Expect
- Immersive, luminous displays highlighting plant collections.
- Description
- Blossoms of Light is a spectacular holiday event at the Denver Botanic Gardens, featuring a mile-long path through immersive, luminous displays that accentuate and highlight the gardens' plant collections. The event is a cherished holiday tradition, consistently lauded as one of the top holiday light shows in the nation, and it showcases sustainability by using 100% LED lights. Holiday treats and warm drinks are available for purchase at Offshoots Café and the Hive Garden Bistro.
- Where
- Denver | More Info : Blossoms of Light
Zoo Lights
- What to Expect
- Holiday celebration in a zoo setting
- Description
- Denver Zoo Lights features over 3 million LED lights illuminating the zoo's 80 acres, including animal habitats and themed displays. The event offers a variety of attractions like ice sculpting, a train ride, and special nights for those with sensory processing disorders.
- Where
- Denver | More Info : Zoo Lights
Parker Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Christmas at Flying W Ranch
- What to Expect
- World-class Western music and festive dining in a stunning, well-lit rock formation setting.
- Description
- Celebrate the holiday season at Flying W Ranch with a festive Christmas Chuckwagon Supper Show featuring the world-renowned Flying W Wranglers. Enjoy a delicious meal of smoked center-cut Angus strip steak and smoked Berbere chicken, followed by a musical show that will captivate audiences of all ages.
- Where
- Colorado Springs | More Info : Christmas at Flying W Ranch
Camp Christmas
- What to Expect
- Immersive holiday experience with craft cocktails and Santa visits.
- Description
- Camp Christmas at Stanley Marketplace is a 15,000-square-foot, 360-degree kaleidoscope of yuletide cheer featuring nostalgic scenes, craft cocktails, and a visit with Santa. It's a surreal mashup of playful pun trees and holiday superpowers, perfect for reconnecting with the joy of the season.
- Where
- Denver | More Info : Camp Christmas
A Classic Parker Holiday
- What to Expect
- Traditional carols and orchestral music by local community groups.
- Description
- The Parker Chorale and Parker Symphony Orchestra present a cherished annual celebration featuring traditional carols, familiar songs, and a few surprises, bringing joy to audiences through their musical performances.
- Where
- Parker | More Info : A Classic Parker Holiday
Festive Sounds for the Holiday
- What to Expect
- Holiday-themed musical performances with community participation.
- Description
- The Town Hall Arts Center presents a variety of holiday-themed shows, including "Meredith Willson's Miracle on 34th Street: The Musical," which brings the classic tale to life with music and drama. The season also features "A Christmas Carol Participation Play," offering a unique theatrical interpretation of the beloved story.
- Where
- Littleton | More Info : Festive Sounds for the Holiday
Holiday Celebration
- What to Expect
- Family-friendly holiday event with local youth choirs and festive treats.
- Description
- Local youth choirs sing and dance, accompanied by hot chocolate and cider, in a family-friendly event at Centennial Center Park.
- Where
- Centennial | More Info : Holiday Celebration
A Christmas Carol
- What to Expect
- Family-friendly musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic novel.
- Description
- A Christmas Carol is a joyous and opulent musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic novel, tracing Ebenezer Scrooge's triumphant overnight journey to redemption. Based on Dickens' timeless tale, this production is a splendidly festive tradition that illuminates the meaning of the holiday season in a way that has resonated for generations.
- Where
- Denver | More Info : A Christmas Carol
The Nutcracker
- What to Expect
- Elaborate sets and costumes.
- Description
- Colorado Ballet's The Nutcracker is a timeless ballet tradition featuring mischievous dancing mice, sweet Sugar Plums, and a symphony of swirling snowflakes, set to Tchaikovsky's enchanting score.
- Where
- Denver | More Info : The Nutcracker
Polar Express
- What to Expect
- Interactive theatrical train ride with Santa and hot chocolate.
- Description
- The Polar Express Train Ride at the Colorado Railroad Museum features a three-part theatrical show with holiday caroling, hot chocolate, and Santa, recreating the story of "The Polar Express." Guests enjoy a ride to the North Pole aboard vintage coaches pulled by an authentic coal-fired steam locomotive, culminating in a visit with Santa and the distribution of a Silver Bell.
- Where
- Golden | More Info : Polar Express
Parker Other Holiday Activities
Holiday Evening at Rock Ledge Ranch
- What to Expect
- Historic holiday festivities with interactive activities and traditional crafts.
- Description
- Celebrate the holiday season at Rock Ledge Ranch with St. Nicholas, wagon rides, old-time musical entertainment, historic cabin tours, Blacksmith Shop demonstrations, and festive celebrations in the 1880s Rock Ledge House and 1907 Orchard House.
- Where
- Colorado Springs | More Info : Holiday Evening at Rock Ledge Ranch
Downtown Denver Rink
- What to Expect
- Free ice skating with optional skate rentals.
- Description
- The Downtown Denver Rink at Skyline Park offers free ice skating from November to February, with special events and skate rentals available.
- Where
- Denver | More Info : Downtown Denver Rink
Chanukah Celebration in Cherry Creek
- What to Expect
- Traditional Hanukkah celebration with a latke contest.
- Description
- Join the JCC Denver for a Hanukkah Celebration filled with food, tradition, and camaraderie. Enjoy a latke contest and share in the joy of the Festival of Lights.
- Where
- Denver | More Info : Chanukah Celebration in Cherry Creek