It’s officially the month of December and Denver is definitely celebrating the holiday season!
This weekend features events from our ‘Denver Winter Holiday Events & Festivals 2016’ guide, many new family-friendly holiday events (indoor sledding, gingerbread house making, breakfast with Santa and more), as well as Disney’s Beauty & the Beast, Home Alone, and even a Harry Potter event!
What to do with Kids in Denver this Weekend December 2nd – 4th, 2016
Holiday Flea | The Denver Flea
Photograph courtesy of ©Denver Flea
When: Friday, December 2nd through Sunday, December 4th, 2016
Where: The Sports Castle, 1000 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203
Time: Dec. 2nd 5pm – 9pm; Dec. 3rd 10am – 6pm; Dec. 4th 10am – 5pm
Cost: $30 on Dec. 2nd & $5 on Dec. 3-4
Purchase Tickets at: bit.ly/DenverHolidayFlea
Ages: All Ages
The Denver Flea is hosting its annual Holiday Flea event this weekend at the iconic Sports Castle! The weekend at Holiday Flea means full access to the vendors, drinks, tunes, and more. Finish up holiday shopping with nearly 200 local makers showcasing their wares.
WinterFest on South Pearl Street
Photograph courtesy of ©South Pearl Street
When: Friday, December 2nd & Saturday, December 3rd, 2016
Where: South Pearl Street, Denver CO 80210
Time: Dec. 2nd 5pm – 9pm; Dec. 3rd 11am – 5pm
Cost: Free
Ages: All Ages
South Pearl Street is hosting a WinterFest celebration for the entire family. WinterFest will include a Box Elder Horse and Wagon rides, a holiday market with gift and food vendors, local merchant open house, and appearances by Santa!
Live music will be filling the street, and you can enjoy a hot adult beverage as well as hot chocolate and cider for the kids. Their open Aire Market will feature a Christmas tree lot, holiday greenery, and returning farmers’ market vendors. Come out and feel the holiday cheer!
Zoo Lights 2016 | Denver Zoo
Photograph courtesy of ©Denver Zoo
When: Friday, December 2nd through Sunday, January 1st, 2016
Where: Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St, Denver, CO 80205
Time: 5:30pm – 9pm
Cost: $9 – $17
Purchase Tickets at: bit.ly/ZooLights2016
Ages: All Ages
Zoo Lights 2016 opens this weekend at the Denver Zoo and spans through 70 acres of Denver Zoo‘s campus, with nightly entertainment, animal encounters, Santa meet-and-greets and, of course, illuminated animal sculptures that swing through trees, jump across lawns hide in bushes and appear in places where they’re least expected.
Lakewood Lights
Photograph courtesy of ©City of Lakewood
When: Friday, December 2nd & Saturday, December 3rd, 2016
Where: Lakewood Heritage Center, 801 S Yarrow St, Denver 80226
Time: 5:30pm – 8:30pm
Cost: Free
Ages: All Ages
Join the City of Lakewood for Lakewood Lights, an annual free holiday celebration. Experience the Lakewood Heritage Center festively decorated with thousands of lights, alongside family-friendly activities.
Lakewood Lights will include museum tours, tractor pulled hay-wagon rides, photos with Santa, musical entertainment, hot cocoa and holiday cookies, Holiday ornament-making, and unique gift shopping.
The Nutcracker | Littleton Youth Ballet & Ballet Academy
Photograph courtesy of ©Littleton Ballet Academy
When: Friday, December 2nd through Sunday, December 4th, 2016
Where: The Theater at Colorado Heights University, 3001 S Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80236
Time: Dec. 2nd 7pm; Dec. 3rd 2pm & 7pm; Dec. 4th 12pm & 4pm
Cost: $32 Online; $34 Door
Purchase Tickets at: bit.ly/TheNutcrackerLittletonYouthBallet
This weekend, treat yourself to a magical evening with Clara and the Nutcracker as Littleton Youth Ballet and Littleton Ballet Academy cast a spell over you and your entire family with its captivating production of The Nutcracker.
Featuring a cast of over 150 children, pre-professional dancers, and professional guest artists, this delightful ballet will transport you to a simpler time and an enchanting place, where snowflakes dance, nutcrackers turn into princes, and wishes really do come true!
Disney’s Beauty & The Beast | Vintage Theatre
Photograph courtesy of ©Vintage Theatre
When: Friday, December 2nd through Sunday, January 15th, 2017
Where: Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St, Aurora, CO 80010
Time: Dec. 2nd & 3rd 7:30pm; Dec. 4th 2:30pm
Cost: $22 – $34
Purchase Tickets at: bit.ly/DisneyBeautyandtheBeastVintage
Disney’s Beauty and The Beast, the legendary “tale as old as time” comes to the Vintage Theatre‘s stage! Join Belle, Beast, and a set of crooning kitchenware for an evening of love, intrigue, and iconic music brought to life. Directed by Clay White.
9NEWS Parade of Lights 2016
Photograph courtesy of ©Downtown Denver
When: Friday, December 2nd & Saturday, December 3rd, 2016
Where: Starting at W Colfax Ave & Bannock St, Denver, CO 80202
Time: Dec. 2nd from 8pm; Dec. 3rd from 6pm
Cost: Free; $16 – $19 Grandstand Tickets
Purchase Grandstand Tickets at: bit.ly/9NewsParadeofLights2016
Ages: All Ages
The 9NEWS Parade of Lights continues to be the signature event in Downtown Denver during the holidays. You won’t want to miss the sparkling lights, marching bands, giant balloons, dazzling floats and delightful characters as they take the streets of Downtown.
Spectator viewing for the Parade is free all along the two-mile route and grandstand tickets are available in front of the City & County Building.
Breakfast with Santa | Downtown Aquarium
When: Saturday, December 3rd, 2016
Where: Downtown Aquarium, 700 Water St, Denver, CO 80211
Time: 8:30am & 9:30am
Cost: $22.99 Adults; $20.99 Seniors; $16.99 Children (3-10)
Purchase Tickets at: bit.ly/BreakfastWithSantaAquarium
Ages: All Ages
Join Sharkey and Santa Claus for a delicious breakfast buffet at the Downtown Aquarium. The Breakfast with Santa will include red velvet pancakes, a waffle station, omelettes made-to-order, a fresh fruit display, a pastry station and more. Guests will also enjoy taking photos with Santa and may see him swim with the fish!
Free First Saturday: Cuentos del Arte Storytelling | Denver Art Museum
Photograph courtesy of ©Denver Art Museum
When: Saturday, December 3rd, 2016
Where: Denver Art Museum, 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy, Denver, CO 80204
Time: 10am – 5pm Free Day Admission; 11:30am & 1pm Cuentos del Arte Storytelling
Cost: Free
Ages: All Ages
Visit the Denver Art Museum this Saturday, enjoy free admission for the entire family, and listen to cuentistas tell the tales of artworks during the storytelling program, Cuentos del Arte. Stop by the Family Activity Cart on level 1 of the Hamilton Building to find out where to meet the cuentista.
The Beasts of Harry Potter | Denver Public Library Ross-Broadway Branch
When: Saturday, December 3rd, 2016
Where: Ross-Broadway Branch Library, 33 E Bayaud Ave, Denver, CO 80209
Time: 10am – 11am
Cost: Free
Ages: All Ages
Visit the Denver Public Library Ross-Broadway Branch for magical program, The Beasts of Harry Potter! Audience members will meet and learn about some of the animals featured in the books and movies.
Holiday Celebration at the Mansion | Highlands Ranch Mansion
Photograph courtesy of ©Highlands Ranch Metro District
When: Saturday, December 3rd, 2016
Where: Highlands Ranch Mansion, 9950 E Gateway Dr, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
Time: 10am – 3pm
Cost: Free
Ages: All Ages
Ring in the holiday season at the Highlands Ranch Mansion with their special Holiday Celebration! Horse drawn hay rides and Santa visits are just a few of the many festive activities. All ages will enjoy music, gift and craft vendors, face painting, and reindeer games with prizes. Self-guided tours of the Mansion and a Candyland-themed scavenger hunt will be highlights of the day. Food and refreshments will be available for purchase.
Christmas Caravan for Kids
Photograph courtesy of ©Christmas Caravan for Kids
When: Saturday, December 3rd, 2016
Where: Lincoln College of Technology, 11194 E 45th Ave, Denver, CO 80239
Time: 10am – 3pm
Cost: Free
Drop Off Locations: bit.ly/ChristmasCaravanforKidsDropOff
Ages: All Ages
The 14th annual Christmas Caravan for Kids, hosted by Mile-HI Jeep Club, is an annual toy drive to support the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation.
Bring your rock rods, trailer queens, and your daily drivers along with a new, unwrapped toy for donation at one of the drop-off locations, and afterwards caravan into the Lincoln College of Technology to meet with other 4×4 enthusiasts from around the state for the “meet & greet”.
There will be local 4×4 related vendors on display, food trucks, free raffle, bounce house, a car track for kids and much more!
A Colorado Christmas | Four Mile Historic Park
Photograph courtesy of ©Four Mile Historic Park
When: Saturday, December 3rd, 2016
Where: Four Mile Historic Park, 715 S. Forest St., Denver 80246
Time: 12pm – 4pm
Cost: $5 Adults; $3 Children (3-17); Free for Children (0-2) & Members
Ages: All Ages
Four Mile Historic Park will be be ringing in the season in Victorian style. Help them decorate the Four Mile tree and partake in holiday crafts, traditional games, music, and storytelling. Father Christmas will even drop by for a visit.
Make It Merry Gingerbread House | Michaels
Photograph courtesy of ©Michaels
When: Saturday, December 3rd, 2016
Where: Michaels, 2780 S Colorado Blvd #306, Denver, CO 80222
Time: 1pm – 3pm
Cost: Free to Attend; $7.49 for Wilton® Pre-Baked Gingerbread House Kit
Ages: Children ages 3+
Michaels‘ Make It Merry Gingerbread House is an event that brings, and kids at heart, together to create masterpieces that are (almost) too good to eat. This event will delight the cookie architect in everyone, featuring colored frosting and lots of decorative options. Leave with sticky fingers and a gingerbread house your family and friends can admire all season long.
Psst… For every person who attends this event, Michaels will donate $1 to the Starlight Children’s Foundation!
Shield the Tree Toy Ride | Town Center at Aurora
When: Saturday, December 3rd, 2016
Where: Salvation Army, 802 Quari Ct, Aurora, CO 80011 & Town Center at Aurora, 14200 E Alameda Ave, Aurora, CO 80012
Time: 1pm – 2:30pm
Cost: Free
Ages: All Ages
Salvation Army has partnered with members of a local motorcycle club to host a toy ride, as part of the Angel Tree efforts. The toy ride will take place from Salvation Army to Town Center at Aurora, and will be escorted by the Aurora Police Department.
Everyone is welcome to join in on the ride, there will be a tree outside of the food court entrance and those participating in the ride will drop off their toy as they enter the food court breezeway in hopes of “burying the tree” with toys.
Visit the stationary Angel Tree located inside the mall on the lower level to select a tag that lists items you can purchase for the toy ride.
Psst… All proceeds go to the Angel Tree program and to help those in need this holiday season!
Christmas with the Children’s Chorale
Photograph courtesy of ©Colorado Children’s Chorale
When: Saturday, December 3rd & Sunday, December 4th, 2016
Where: Boettcher Concert Hall, 1000 14th St, Denver, CO 80202
Time: Dec. 3rd 1pm & Dec. 4th 6pm
Cost: $19 – $75
Purchase Tickets at: bit.ly/ChristmasChildrensChorale
Christmas with the Children’s Chorale, presented by Colorado Children’s Chorale, combines 400 young singers full of holiday spirit with traditions and stories of the season from around the world.
From sacred to silly, old favorites to new, Santa Claus and a surprise visitor, you don’t want to miss this popular holiday tradition.
Frost Fest | SNÖBAHN at The Streets at SouthGlenn
Photograph courtesy of ©SNÖBAHN
When: Sunday, December 4th, 2016
Where: SNÖBAHN, 6955 S York St #404, Centennial, CO 80122
Time: 4pm – 6pm
Cost: $35
Register at: bit.ly/FrostFest2016
Ages: Children ages 4 to 10
Frost Fest is a drop-off festival for children ages four to ten at SNÖBAHN, the Indoor Ski & Snowboard School, located at The Streets at SouthGlenn. Frost Fest is hosted by Anastasis Academy and will include sledding, hot chocolate, a winter craft, a storyteller, and a picture with Santa!
Parents can shop at SouthGlenn while kids have fun.
Psst… All proceeds benefit local Anastasis Academy, a K-8 school located in Centennial!
“Home Alone” Pizza Party | Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
When: Sunday, December 4th, 2016
Where: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 7301 S Santa Fe Dr, Littleton, CO 80120
Time: 12:30pm
Cost: $37 Admission with Mug & Props; $12 Admission with Props
Purchase Tickets at: bit.ly/HomeAlonePizzaParty
Ages: Children ages 6+
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is hosting a special Pizza Party Screening of “Home Alone” that will include interactive props!