COLORADO, USA — It's the holiday season, the most wonderful time of the year.
And so to help make sure you make the most of it, we've put together this guide to make sure you know where to find Santa, the best places to celebrate the season and when to ship your gifts so they arrive on time!
Start making your plans now! From holiday markets to Christmas concerts, there's a lot going on in Denver and around Colorado this holiday season.
The 9NEWS Holiday Guide is always a work in progress. We'll be adding helpful links, recipes and Colorado-specific winter season events throughout the season, so bookmark this page and check back often.
Holiday celebrations
Were you hoping to take your family or a special someone to a Christmas concert, musical or play this holiday season?
From presentations of "The Nutcracker" to a visit from Trans-Siberian Orchestra and tree lightings and outdoor celebrations, Colorado has no shortage of places to soak in the sights, sounds and smells of the holiday season.
Christmas Lights Map
Homes are twinkling through the night with gorgeous holiday displays across Colorado. Many Coloradans spend weeks putting together elaborate designs that dance to music, project scenes, or include interactive experiences.
If there's a house you love to visit every year or if you're especially proud of your decorations, submit the address, a description and a photo of the home here, and it will be added to our Christmas lights map.
With your help, we are compiling all the best holiday displays around Colorado so you can start planning your holiday light viewing route. Search for homes in your area here.
Shopping season
Getting the perfect gift for that special someone or the person in your family who is difficult to shop for can be stressful, but that doesn't mean picking out gifts can't be fun. Here are resources to help you navigate the holiday season in stores.
Holiday television & movies
Would you rather spend your holiday season snuggled up under a blanket with a mug of hot chocolate watching movies? Here's what will be on.
Christmas music
There's no better way to get in the holiday spirit than by listening to the classics of Bing, Dino, Burl, Mariah, Barbra, Bublé, Mathis and Groban.
Denver's KOSI 101.1 and stations across Colorado provide us with 24/7 Christmas tunes and we gladly accept.
Food and recipes
Food is also a big part of the Christmas season. Here are some must-try holiday recipes.
Giving back
While you're out grinding the shopping aisles trying to find the perfect gift or chowing down some delicious food, remember: Not everyone is as fortunate. The holidays are the perfect season for giving back.
Travel
Before you head to Grandmother's house for the holidays, make sure you're prepared at the airport and on the roads so you can avoid unnecessary holiday stress.
Shipping deadlines
We are well into the holiday season and shoppers are taking their shopping lists and checking them twice, but do you know the shipping deadlines to ensure your gifts arrive on time for Christmas?
Here is a list of shipping deadlines to keep in mind if your want your package to be delivered before Dec. 25.
Christmas trees
From Rockefeller Center and Washington, D.C. to Castle Rock and Kremmling, massive Christmas trees are a festive sign of the season.
9NEWS Parade of Lights
The 45th annual 9NEWS Parade of Lights brought sparkling lights, marching bands, giant balloons and colorful floats to the streets of downtown Denver on Dec. 6 and Dec. 7. The Colorado holiday tradition is the largest and most-watched parade in the Rocky Mountain region.
WATCH: 9NEWS Parade of Lights 2019
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving arrives late this year, on Thursday, Nov. 28, but you can still count on turkey, stuffing, 5K runs, football and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on 9NEWS.
The 9NEWS Holiday Guide is always a work in progress and we'll be adding helpful links, recipes, events and Colorado-specific Christmas season events.
What would you like to see in our Holiday Guide? What part of the holidays in Colorado are you curious to know more about? Drop us a line at webteam@9news.com!
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