Kim’s Colorado Holiday Bucket List

The holidays fill up quickly. Between work, gatherings, shopping, and everything else on the calendar, it’s easy to reach January and realize you never made time for the things you wanted to do.

I put this list together to help you make room for a little fun along the way. Maybe that’s a holiday market with a friend, an evening looking at lights, or a weekend in the mountains with your favorite people.

You don’t have to do everything. Pick a few things that make you smile and start there.

Light up your holiday plans

  • Walk through Blossoms of Light at Denver Botanic Gardens.

  • Explore Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms.

  • Plan an evening at Denver Zoo Lights.

  • See Electric Safari at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

  • Visit Hudson Holidays at Hudson Gardens.

  • Experience Christmas in Color at Water World.

  • Check out Christmas in Color at Red Rocks.

  • Watch the Mile High Drone Show.

  • Explore NoCo Winter Wonderland.

  • Make a night of Elitch Holidays.

  • Look for holiday experiences at Gaylord Rockies.

  • Check out Magical Winter Nights at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

  • Try holiday lights mini golf.

  • See the gingerbread display at The Broadmoor.

Meet me at the holiday market

  • Browse the Denver Christmas Show.

  • Shop the Vibe Artisan Market.

  • Visit the Cherry Creek Holiday Market.

  • Explore Denver Christkindlmarket.

  • Find handmade gifts at Boulder Firefly Handmade Market.

  • Shop Denver Firefly Handmade Market.

  • Browse the Grand Junction Fine Art & Craft Fair.

  • Explore the Winter Frenzy & Holiday Craft Fair.

  • Visit the Denver Winter Market.

  • Browse the Winter Horseshoe Market.

  • Shop the Holiday Horseshoe Market.

  • Visit the Belleview Station Holiday BAZAAR.

  • Explore the Highlands Square Holiday BAZAAR.

  • Browse the Sloan’s Lake Holiday BAZAAR.

  • Shop the LoHi Holiday BAZAAR.

  • Visit the Littleton Holiday BAZAAR.

  • Make a day of the Georgetown Christmas Market.

  • Explore the Old Colorado City Christkindl Market.

  • Visit the Colorado Springs Holiday Food & Gift Festival.

  • Browse Vail’s Kris Kringle Market.

  • Check out the seasonal markets at Nick’s Garden Center.

Put something festive on the calendar

  • Watch the Castle Rock Starlighting.

  • Celebrate Switch on the Holidays on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall.

  • Experience Grand Illumination at Denver Union Station.

  • Watch the 9NEWS Parade of Lights in Denver.

  • Attend the Littleton Candlelight Walk.

  • Enjoy Sparkle & Stroll in Littleton.

  • Catch Dickens Carolers and roaming Santa performances on Littleton’s Main Street.

  • Visit Festival of Trees in Estes Park.

  • Watch the Estes Park Glow Parade.

  • Attend Flip the Switch in Loveland.

  • Enjoy Loveland’s Festival of Lights.

  • Visit Santa’s Workshop in Loveland.

  • See Trees of Life in Colorado Springs.

  • Celebrate the Downtown Grand Junction Tree Lighting.

  • Watch the Grand Junction Parade of Lights.

  • Explore the Holiday Ramble in Idaho Springs.

  • Attend Palisade’s Olde Fashioned Christmas.

  • Experience Longmont Lights.

  • Watch the Merry Memories Parade in Longmont.

  • Attend the Village at the Peaks Tree Lighting.

  • Join the festivities at The Orchard Town Center Winterfest.

  • Watch the Southlands Hometown Holiday Parade.

  • Celebrate Latkes and Lights.

  • Attend the Cherry Creek Chanukah Celebration.

  • Enjoy the Old Fashioned Christmas Celebration in Pagosa Springs.

  • Check out the Cherry Creek tree lighting and holiday bazaar.

Cozy plans with something to take home

  • Make a seasonal candle at The Weathered Wick.

  • Take a Hammond’s Candies factory tour.

  • Try a chocolate-making class at Bibamba.

  • Take an ice cream-making class at Little Man Ice Cream.

  • Book a cooking class at Food Lab in Boulder.

  • Tour Celestial Seasonings.

  • Shop for ornaments and decorations at St. Nick’s Christmas & Collectibles.

  • Try a Colorado Railbike holiday ride.

Lace up and laugh a little

  • Go skating at McGregor Square.

  • Plan a skating outing at Evergreen Lake, when conditions allow.

  • Visit Louisville’s seasonal ice rink.

  • Check out skating at Denver’s Skyline Park.

  • Skate at Southlands.

  • Enjoy a seasonal skating outing in Fort Collins.