COLORADO, USA — Colorado celebrates winter's arrival with holiday lights, holiday shows and more.
Denver Zoo Lights, Hudson Holidays, Luminova Holidays, and Winter Wonderlights are just some of the must-see traditions in Colorado this weekend along with the return of "A Christmas Carol" and "The Nutcracker" in Denver. Newer Colorado traditions such as "Ice! at Gaylord Rockies," "Cirque: Spirit of Christmas" and "Camp Christmas" are helping to spread the magic of the season.
Celebrate the holiday season this weekend by experiencing the unique culture, food and geography that makes Colorado so special at one of these fun events this December weekend.
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Colorado Christmas lights 2023
Christmas Lights
COLORADO — Piling into the car, singing carols, sipping on hot chocolate and looking for houses with the most festive Christmas lights is one of the best ways to celebrate the holiday season. If you're looking for a little help planning your holiday light viewing route, we have some suggestions to hit the most popular displays.
If you have a favorite display, add it to the "Near Me" section of the 9NEWS app. Your photos will be added to a statewide map highlighting the best places to see light displays around the state.
A Christmas Carol
DENVER — A Colorado tradition has returned to the Denver Performing Arts Complex. The Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) Theatre Company will stage "A Christmas Carol" through Sunday at the Wolf Theatre. Based on Charles Dickens' classic novel, the Denver musical adaptation traces curmudgeon Ebenezer Scrooge's triumphant overnight journey to redemption. Tickets are on sale now at denvercenter.org.
Six
DENVER — The Broadway smash hit musical "Six" is at Denver's Buell Theatre on its national tour. "From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the 'Six' wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21st century girl power!" said producers. "Six" won 23 awards in the 2021/2022 Broadway season, including the Tony Award for Best Original Score. "Six" plays the Buell Theatre in Denver through Sunday.
The North Pole: Santa's Workshop
CASCADE — This is the final weekends to experience Santa's Workshop at the most festive time of year. Colorado's North Pole will be open most days through Dec. 24 before Santa must depart to deliver gifts to the children of the world. Santa's Workshop, an outdoor park outside of Colorado Springs, offers rides, live shows, gift shops, Santa's house and more. Tickets can be found at NorthPoleColorado.com. Reservations are required on Peak Days.
New England Patriots vs. Denver Broncos
DENVER — The Denver Broncos (7-7) and New England Patriots (3-11) are ready to meet in a primetime Christmas Eve game. The Broncos and Patriots will kick off at 6:15 p.m. Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High. The Broncos are looking to win their last three games to inch closer to a playoff berth. The Broncos will wear their "snowcapped" white helmets.
Georgia Swarm vs. Colorado Mammoth
DENVER — The Colorado Mammoth will play their first home game of the season Friday night in Denver. The Mammoth will face the Georgia Swarm at the "Loud House" Ball Arena at 7 p.m. Friday. Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster.com.
Arizona Coyotes vs. Colorado Avalanche
DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche are playing two games at Ball Arena this week. The Avs face the Ottawa Senators at 7 p.m. Thursday and the Arizona Coyotes at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Golden State Warriors vs. Denver Nuggets
DENVER — The NBA Champion Denver Nuggets will be in front of the eyes of the nation this year on Christmas Day. The Nuggets host the Golden State Warriors at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Christmas Day, at Ball Arena in Denver. Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster.com.
Merry & Bright Lights
DENVER — Merry & Bright Lights transforms the exterior of Denver’s Union Station into a spectacular canvas spreading holiday cheer. This outdoor light show features interactive visual imagery created by local Denver artists projected across the Station’s historic façade. With holiday music accompanying the imagery, Merry & Bright Lights is a holiday experience that continues through Dec. 26.
Alamosa Christmas Lights Parade
ALAMOSA — The 2023 Alamosa Christmas Light Parade will take place on Saturday at 6 p.m.
Elf in Concert
DENVER — The Colorado Symphony will be performing the score to "Elf" while the Will Ferrell classic plays on four giant screens. "Elf in Concert" will be performed at Boettcher Concert Hall in Denver at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Trail of Lights
LITTLETON — Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield Farms has been transformed into a glistening path of lights. The Trail of Lights holiday experience offers singing Christmas trees, synchronized music in a children's play area, light tunnels, model tractor displays, hot beverages, nuts, kettle corn and more. Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms will be open various evenings through Jan. 1. Tickets are sold at BotanicGardens.org.
ICE! at Gaylord Rockies
AURORA — More than two million pounds of ice has been transformed into a winter wonderland at Gaylord Rockies at "ICE!," the Aurora resort's annual holiday exhibition. Forty artisans have been working for weeks to create the 17,000-square-foot frozen attraction which celebrates the 1983 holiday classic "A Christmas Story." Colored ice, clear ice and LED lights create 10 scenes from the movie, including the old man's major award, Aunt Clara's pink nightmare, the ultimate triple dog dare and more.
The environment is kept frozen by a state-of-the-art chilling system that maintains the attraction’s temperature at 9 degrees Fahrenheit. Guests get to wear a blue parka to stay warm inside the exhibition. The exhibition also has two-story-tall ice slides, ice tunnels and arches and a separate area dedicated to a Nativity scene. The resort's Christmas-season events run through Monday, Jan. 1.
Cirque: Spirit of Christmas
AURORA — Gaylord Hotels is ready for the holiday season with a circus production returning to its Aurora resort. "Cirque: Spirit of Christmas" is back for a second holiday season at the Bubly Theater at Gaylord Rockies. Performances feature high-flying stunts, acrobatic feats, and an original score. Gaylord Rockies said the show features a cast of 25 artists from Germany, Hungary, Portugal, Ethiopia, Czech Republic, Mongolia, Russia, and the United States. "Cirque: Spirit of Christmas" will be open through Jan. 1.
Yippee Ki Yay – The Die Hard Parody
DENVER — Acclaimed "Die Hard" parody "Yippee Ki Yay" is now playing at Denver's Garner Galleria Theatre. The funny show arrives in Colorado after rave reviews for its premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe and 2023 U.K. tour. When gunmen seize an L.A. skyscraper, off-duty policeman John McClane is the hostages’ only hope. The uplifting action romp, and unauthorized parody, pays affectionate tribute to the '80s favorite. "Yippee Ki Yay" plays through Saturday.
Colorado Ballet’s The Nutcracker
DENVER — Colorado Ballet will perform "The Nutcracker" for a 63nd year this holiday season. Colorado Ballet’s production returns to its home at the Denver Performing Arts Complex for 28 performances. "The Nutcracker" runs through Sunday at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Tickets range from $40 to $175 at ColoradoBallet.org. For a third year, "The Nutcracker" will showcase its new sets and costumes created especially for Colorado Ballet by designers Thomas Boyd and Holly Hynes. The production will feature five different casts of dancers and live music performed by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra.
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Christmas in Color
FEDERAL HEIGHTS — Denver's biggest drive-through Christmas light displays are open for the season. Christmas in Color will have displays at Water World in Federal Heights, Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, and at Aurora's Arapahoe County Fairgrounds. The displays each feature more than one million LED lights arranged into tunnels, trees, giant candy canes, snowflakes and more, all synchronized to festive holiday music on the FM radio dial. Tickets are on sale at ChristmasinColor.net.
Camp Christmas
AURORA — The season’s campiest, quirkiest holiday tradition has returned to its original location at Stanley Marketplace. "Camp Christmas" is a 15,000-square-foot, 360-degree immersive experience and kaleidoscope of yuletide cheer. Created by Camp Director Lonnie Hanzon, the experience lets guests wander through a surreal mashup of nostalgic scenes, scratch their heads at playful pun trees, and reconnect with the joy of the season. "Camp Christmas" runs through Sunday. Get your tickets at DenverCenter.org.
Christkindlmarket
DENVER — The 23rd annual Denver Christkindlmarket is now open at Denver's Civic Center Park. The traditional European market is located under the lights of the Denver City and County Building and alongside the Mile High Tree. The Christkindlmarket has local and international merchants selling gifts and food in wooden huts. The market will be open daily through Saturday.
Mile High Tree
DENVER — America's tallest digital tree is back in downtown Denver this holiday season. The Mile High Tree — a seven-story tall, 39-foot diameter conical structure — features light shows choreographed to multi-cultural holiday music on the tallest pixel LED technology tree in the country. The Mile High Tree will be lit up nightly through Sunday, Dec. 31, from 5 to 10 p.m. Entry to see the tree is free and open to the public.
Winter Wonderlights
LOVELAND — Winter Wonderlights — a walkable holiday lighting attraction at Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra — has been lit for the season. Each night, visitors can walk through 200,000 holiday lights including LED mappable snowflakes and illuminated African stone sculptures. There are 30-minute music and light shows every night. The light and music show features nine songs and moving lights on a 23-foot-tall LED Christmas Tree.
Hudson Holidays
LITTLETON — Hudson Gardens & Event Center will host the "Hudson Holidays" light show through Dec. 31. Santa will make an appearance most evenings for free photo opportunity for families. Hudson Gardens said Nixon’s Coffee will be on site during the displays offering coffee and hot cocoa. Adults will also be able to purchase beer, wine and cocktails as well as food concessions. Tickets can be reserved at HudsonGardens.org.
Ice Castles
CRIPPLE CREEK — After two winters away, a magical frozen attraction is back in Colorado. The Ice Castles has opened this year in a new location in Cripple Creek. The castles exhibition is made up ice-carved tunnels, caverns, fountains, slides, frozen thrones, towers and crawl spaces. The acre-sized winter playgrounds are illuminated at night by color-changing LED lights embedded inside the ice. Tickets for the exhibition are on sale now.
Blossoms of Light
DENVER — The signature event at Denver Botanic Gardens is back this holiday season. Blossoms of Light transforms the York Street gardens into a twinkling wonderland. More than one million lights are used to highlight the Gardens' winter beauty. The Gardens said treats and warm drinks will be available for purchase at Offshoots Café and the Hive Garden Bistro during Blossoms of Light. Ticket reservation windows can be purchased at BotanicGarden.org through Jan. 7.
Zoo Lights
DENVER — Denver Zoo is illuminated for its annual season Zoo Lights. The Colorado tradition features over three million lights over the zoo's 80 acres. There will be ice carving artisans, seasonal cocktails and holiday treats. Zoo Lights will be lit through Jan. 7. Most evenings sell out in advance and tickets will not be available at the door. Reserve your tickets at DenverZoo.org.
PHOTOS: Zoo Lights at the Denver Zoo
Electric Safari
COLORADO SPRINGS — The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's Electric Safari is back with 85 light sculptures illuminating the zoo's 50 acres. Along with the warming fires throughout the zoo, displays will fill you with warmth and holiday spirit as you gaze out at the sparkling lights of Colorado Springs. Electric Safari is open through Sunday and select nights through Jan. 1. Reserve your passes at CMZoo.org.
ElectriCritters
PUEBLO — ElectriCritters will be delighting kids of all ages for a 30th year at the Pueblo Zoo. The Pueblo Zoo tradition features 150 magical light creations, hot cocoa, tasty treats and holiday shopping. On select dates there will be free photos with Santa Claus. The event continues through Dec. 27. Visit PuebloZoo.org for tickets.
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Bridge of Lights
CAÑON CITY — The Royal Gorge Bridge & Park is ready for its biggest and brightest event. Guests will be able to drive across the Royal Gorge Bridge — 1,000 feet above the Arkansas River — amidst thousands of twinkling lights. Bridge of Lights is a drive-through event and all guests must stay in their vehicles. Driving across the Royal Gorge Bridge is not regularly offered outside of pre-arranged car club groups. The park will also be playing holiday music throughout the drive on the park-wide sound system. Bridge of Lights will run select dates through Dec. 31.
Wild Color
DENVER — The Denver Museum of Nature & Science has opened its newest temporary exhibition: "Wild Color." The exhibition celebrates the vibrant and untamed beauty of the natural world, showcasing a diverse collection of vivid flora and fauna. Wander through rooms, each dedicated to a hue from the rainbow and grasp the profound roles colors play in the natural world. From the mystery of creatures that change color to shades that the human eye can't perceive, "Wild Color" promises to be a transformative experience.
Movies this weekend
“Wonka” debuted with $39 million in box office sales last weekend. That made it a strong start for Timothée Chalamet's Willy Wonka musical.
For Warner Bros., it’s the first in a trio of holiday releases, to be followed by “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” on Friday and the musical “The Color Purple” on Christmas Day.
Opening this weekend
- Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
- American Fiction
- Anyone But You
- The Iron Claw
- Migration
- The Color Purple (Dec. 25)
- Ferrari (Dec. 25)
- The Boys in the Boat (Dec. 25)
Last weekend's box office
- “Wonka,” $39 million.
- “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” $5.8 million.
- “The Boy and the Heron,” $5.2 million.
- “Godzilla Minus One,” $4.9 million.
- “Trolls Band Together,” $4 million.
- “Wish,” $3.2 million.
- “Christmas With the Chosen: Holy Night,” $2.9 million.
- “Napoleon,” $2.2 million.
- “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,” $2 million.
- “Poor Things,” $1.3 million.
> Would you like to see your favorite Colorado festival, fair, expo, concert, drama, musical, ballet, run or event listed in 9Things? Send it to alexander.kirk@9news.com.
Have a magical weekend!
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