Last updated on December 4th, 2024 at 08:22 pm
The holiday season is upon us! This is my absolute favorite time of year and I always strive to take advantage of Christmas in Denver as much as possible. From Christmas bars to holiday markets and light displays, this guide is perfect for planning the best ways to celebrate the holiday season in Denver!
Holiday Markets in Denver
If you are looking for specialty gifts, shop at these markets for cute, unique, and often handmade gifts from small businesses. There are also plenty of gifts perfect for foodies.
Sugar Plum Bazaar
The Sugar Plum Bazaar takes over The Arvada Center with over 75 vendors this year. I have gotten so many gifts here in the past. The Sugar Plum Bazaar offers many cute and unique gifts from local artisans. This is the perfect place to shop for foodies as well as they have several stands dedicated to decadent treats.
Location: The Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80003
Times: November 23 – 24, 2024, 10 AM – 4 PM
Looking for a winter wonderland getaway? Check out my favorite things to do in Estes Park.
Cherry Creek Holiday Market
Fetch Markets provides an opportunity to shop during the holiday season, this year with the Cherry Creek Holiday Market. They have many local vendors and there will be music, food, and drinks. Not to mention that Cherry Creek will be decked out in almost 1 million holiday lights this year. This is not one to miss if you are eager to get in the holiday spirit. I also got many of my Christmas presents here last year.
Location: Fillmore Plaza, 105 Fillmore St, Denver, CO 80206
Times: November 21 – December 24, 2024
Sunday – Wednesday 12 PM – 7 PM
Thursday – Saturday 11 AM – 9 PM
Thanksgiving and Christmas 12 PM – 3 PM
Urban Holiday Market
The earliest event out of all of these, the Urban Holiday Market is for people, like me, who can’t wait for the holiday season to get started. Support local vendors and get your shopping done ahead of time at this holiday market in Denver. It is a bit smaller than some of the others, but still worth a visit.
Location: Wynkoop Plaza at Union Station, Denver, CO 80202
Times: November 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 2024, 11 AM – 5 PM
Denver Christkrindl Market
The Christkrindl Market is the place to go if you are looking for a traditional German holiday market. It is my favorite Christmas market in Denver and I make a point to visit every year. This feels like you just stepped off a plane into another country. Eat spätzle, drink beer or glühwein out of a signature mug, and shop around for Christmas ornaments. They have many German food and drink options, as well as plenty of cute Christmas gifts. Don’t miss this one!
Location: Civic Center Park, 101 West 14th Avenue, Denver, CO 80202
Times: November 22 – December 23, 2024
Sunday – Wednesday: 11 AM – 7 PM
Thursday – Saturday: 11 AM – 9 PM (Festival Hall open until 10 PM)
Thanksgiving Day: 11 AM – 4 PM
December 15 – 23: 11 AM – 9 PM
Check out other things to do in Denver in the winter!
Horseshoe Holiday Market
Handmade and vintage goods as well as food, drinks, and live music will be available at the Horseshoe Holiday Market. I visited this Christmas Market for the first time last year but I loved it. There were a ton of vendors selling unique gifts and I had to really exercise control to not buy everything for myself. There is also the opportunity to donate money to Denver Public Schools. This year, the Horseshoe Holiday Market will have holiday markets on two different weekends and locations.
Denver: November 30 – December 1, 2024, 10 AM – 4 PM at Highlands Masonic Temple, 3550 Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80211
Littleton: December 7 – 8, 2024, 10 AM – 4 PM at Breckenridge Brewery, 2920 Brewery Ln, Littleton, CO 80120
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry
There is no shortage of Christmas cheer in Denver this year! Whether you prefer your cheer in a warm cup or with a shot of whiskey, these are the perfect ways to celebrate Christmas in Denver.
Miracle
Miracle is a pop-up Christmas cocktail bar that provides decadent holiday-themed drinks in a setting decked out in Christmas decor. This holiday season they are bringing many pop-up bars to Colorado, with locations in Denver, Golden, and Colorado Springs. See all the locations below. This is a great way to get into the festivities, so don’t miss out! I recommend making reservations ahead of time. Last year featured Christmas cookies to go with the festive cocktails as well as Christmas glassware for purchase.
Locations:
Denver: Terminal Bar, Union Station, Denver, CO 80202
Golden: The Eddy Taproom & Hotel, 1640 8th St, Golden, CO 80401
Colorado Springs: Jax Fish House, 11 S Tejon St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Dates:
Denver: Opens November 15, 2024
Golden: Opens November 21, 2024
Colorado Springs: Opens November 18, 2024
Sippin’ Santa
Brought to you by Miracle, Sippin’ Santa is a Christmas Tiki bar. If that doesn’t sound like an intriguing way to celebrate Christmas in Denver, I don’t know what is. I recommend the Shaka Kalikimaka, a frozen tiki drink with gin served in a large tiki mug, and the Christmas Eve of Destruction. Reservations are required for Sippin’ Santa and available starting November 11, 2024.
Location: The Arvada Tavern, 5707 Olde Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80002
Dates: November 26 – December 31, 2024
Season’s Greetings at Death & Co. Denver
How many Christmas Pop-Up bars is too many? In Denver, the answer is no such thing as too many. Death & Co.’s intimate cocktail bar, Suite 6A, is also doing a Christmas Pop-Up featuring festive drinks. Death & Co. was one of the best bars in the world in 2011, so the drinks are always good. This is a smaller space and it is walk-in only. Make a day of it and explore RiNo Art District while you are in the area!
Location: Death & Co. Denver 1280 25th St, Denver, CO 80205
Dates: Opens December 5, 2024, Thursday – Sunday, 5 PM – 10 PM
The Krampus Room at The Electric Cure
If Christmas is a little too cheery for you, and you prefer something more… edgy, The Krampus Room is your place to indulge in holiday fun! The Electric Cure is a self-proclaimed “authentically weird little rum bar with Satanic & Bird undertones.” It is open (and strange) year-round, but it becomes even more unique around the holidays with The Krampus Room!
It is not for everyone (see the part about Satanic undertones). However, I love this wacky corner in Sloan’s Lake and have visited many times. The Krampus Rooms is one of my favorite holiday bars because the theme is excellent, and the craft cocktails are amazing. They have a creative tiki menu, and the drinks often have a shock-and-awe feature, like being set on fire or served in a Grinch mug. It is a good time. Check it out when celebrating Christmas in Denver!
Location: The Electric Cure, 5350 W 25th Ave, Edgewater, CO 80214
Dates: November 26 – December 31, 2024
Holiday Tiki Bar at Hell or High Water
Hell or High Water Tiki Bar is one of my new favorite bars in Denver. It is a haunted, gay pirate, tiki bar (yes, you read that correctly) located inside Honor Farm. The two bars and Electric Cure are related, calling themselves “The Unholy Trinity of Bars” according to their Instagram.
Hell or High Water has many theme menus throughout the year that are fun. The two themes I have most recently visited were Sponge Bob and Beetle Juice. Both were great from the decor to the garnishes on the drinks. Their holiday tiki bar this year will be “How the Grinch Stole Tiki” which sounds excellent! I can’t wait to try it out.
Location: Upstairs Mezzanine of Honor Farm, 1526 Blake St, Denver, CO 80202
Dates: November 26 – December 31, 2024
Tea at the Brown Palace
Okay, you can get tea at the Brown Palace year-round, but the best time to do that is when it is all decorated for Christmas. They go all out with the holiday decorations. So put on your best afternoon tea outfit to enjoy tea, scones, and finger sandwiches and delight your eyes with the beauty that is the Brown Palace. If tea is not your preference, you can also get cocktails in the atrium. Reservations are required during the holiday season and they tend to fill up fast so book early in advance. Reservations open in June each year. You can always stop by the Brown Palace to see the ornate decor or check out one of their other restaurants if you aren’t able to get a reservation.
Location: Brown Palace 321 17th St, Denver, CO 80202
Dates: November 13, 2023 – January 21, 2024
Monday – Friday 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM and Saturday – Sunday 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM for Afternoon Tea
4:30 PM to 8:00 PM Monday – Saturday for cocktails
Zeppelin Station Holiday Pop-Up Bar
For the last few years, Zeppelin Station in RiNo has put on a holiday pop-up bar. It is different every year! We went in 2022 and the theme was Nightmare Before Christmas. It was fun and created many core Christmas memories, like doing a shot-ski for the first time and limboing under a giant candy cane. This year the theme is Disco Wonderland!
This is a ticketed event but usually includes one drink. The menu is always on theme, although I found the drinks to be a bit lacking compared to the other Christmas bars in Denver.
Location: Zeppelin Station, 3501 Wazee Street, Denver, CO
Dates: Daily starting November 29th, 4 PM to midnight.
Christmas Lights
What’s a better way to celebrate than enjoying Christmas lights and decorations, while you sip on steaming hot chocolate? Here are some of the best light attractions around Denver.
Grand Illumination
After Thanksgiving, Denver gets lit up at Union Station, the City and Country Building, and other major landmarks. This year the Grand Illumination at Union Station will include holiday music performed by the Denver Dolls, seasonal beverages, and the lighting of a 40-foot-tall Christmas tree with over 7,000 holiday lights. After this date, Union Station will be lit up throughout the holiday season.
Location: Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop Street, Denver, CO 80202
Date: November 29, 2024, 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Lighting begins at 6:10 PM.
Parade of Lights
A traditional Denver Christmas, the Parade of Lights is taking place for the 50th time this December. This is a classic way to celebrate the holidays in Denver, so if you haven’t been yet you need to go this year. This parade usually includes over 40 units and includes a variety of floats, balloons, marching bands, and Santa. If you are unable to go in person, you can always watch the live broadcast on 9News.
Location: Civic Center Park, 101 14th Ave, Denver, CO 80204
Date: December 7, 2024, 6:00 PM
Denver Zoo Lights
This is a holiday tradition that has been around for a long time. I have been going to the Denver Zoo Lights since I was little and I still look forward to it every year. Make sure you find time to squeeze in this holiday festivity. There is an entrance fee to visit the Zoo Lights and tickets are available through most of the holiday season, but they sell out quickly.
Location: Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St, Denver, CO 80205
Dates: November 23, 2024 – January 5, 2025
Sunday – Thursday 5:00 – 8:00 PM
Friday – Saturday 5:00 – 9:00 PM
A Hudson Christmas
The Hudson Gardens also puts on a light display for Christmas, which includes meeting Santa. This is a great one for kids. Personally, I prefer Zoo Lights, but the light decorations at Hudson Gardens were beautiful as well and there were fewer crowds. This is a ticketed event.
Location: Hudson Gardens & Events Center, 6115 S Santa Fe Dr, Littleton, CO 80120
Dates: November 29, 2024 – January 12, 2025, 5:00 – 9:00 PM
Blossoms of Light
Blossoms of Light is another holiday light display at Denver Botanic Gardens that is worth visiting. Explore the interactive LED lights while you warm up on hot cocoa. I particularly enjoyed the way the Christmas lights reflected in the ponds within the park. This is a ticketed event.
Location: Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St, Denver, CO 80206
Dates: November 20, 2024 – January 12, 2025, 4:30 – 9:00 PM (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas)
Which of these holiday activities do you plan to visit this year? Do you have a favorite way to spend Christmas in Denver?
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