What holiday events are happening in Colorado in 2026?
As of November 6, 2026, the dated Colorado holiday events we could confirm with organizers include the Denver Christkindlmarket (November 20 to December 23), Denver drone shows and the Mile High Tree (November 20 to December 31), the Estes Park Catch the Glow Parade (November 27), the Georgetown Christmas Market (December 5 to 6 and 12 to 13), Electric Safari at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (December 4 to January 1), Polar Express trains in Golden and Durango, and the Breckenridge New Year’s Eve torchlight parade and fireworks.
This guide covers the stretch from Thanksgiving to New Year’s with only the dates organizers have published. Where a date or price is not yet public, we say so instead of guessing from last year.
The big Denver and ski-town staples, including Blossoms of Light, Zoo Lights, the 9NEWS Parade of Lights, Ullr Fest and the 2026–27 ski opening targets, are covered in our winter festivals guide, so we do not repeat them here. Looking further ahead? The Colorado events calendar runs all twelve months. Every fact below was checked on the organizer’s or tourism office’s own page on November 6, 2026; see the sources at the bottom and our editorial standards.
Front Range
Denver, Colorado Springs And Pueblo
Markets, lights and zoo nights along the I-25 corridor.
Nov 20 – Dec 23, 2026
Denver Christkindlmarket
Tivoli Quad, Auraria Campus, 1000 Larimer St, Denver
A German-style holiday market, free and open to the public. Hours are Monday to Thursday 1 to 9 p.m. and Friday to Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with the same 11 a.m. start for the last week (December 17 to 23). Thanksgiving Day hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Table reservations in the Festival Hall are a separate, optional booking. christkindlmarketdenver.com.
Nov 20 – Dec 31, 2026
Mile High Tree and Denver drone shows
Tivoli Quad, Auraria Campus, and the sky west of downtown Denver
Visit Denver lists the Mile High Tree installation at the Tivoli Quad (free; campus parking is paid, $10 in surface lots and $30 in the Tivoli Garage) and 42 nights of free drone shows at 7 p.m. using 600 drones. Shows can be cancelled for weather, and Visit Denver advises checking after 4 p.m. the same day. Details: Mile High Tree and drone shows.
Dec 4, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027
Electric Safari
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colorado Springs
The zoo's holiday lights event runs 28 nights and is closed December 24. General admission is 5 to 7:30 p.m. and the event ends at 8:30 p.m. Advance timed tickets are required and no walk-up tickets are sold. Non-member tickets run $19.75 to $24.75 for adults and $15.75 to $20.75 for ages 3 to 11, with the lower price Monday to Thursday. A separate 21-and-over Electric Moonlight night is listed for December 3. Official page.
Dec 4–23, 2026 (select dates)
Old Colorado City Christkindlmarket
Old Colorado City, Colorado Springs
Visit Colorado Springs lists this free market on select dates from December 4 to 23, noon to 8 p.m. Because the listing says “select dates,” confirm the days before you go. Visit Colorado Springs holiday listings.
Fri, Nov 27, 2026
Pueblo Riverwalk Holiday Lighting Extravaganza
Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo
The Riverwalk's 25th annual lighting is on its November 2026 calendar for Friday, November 27. The calendar entry does not list a start time or cost, so check with the organizer. Riverwalk event page.
Mountains and ski towns
Estes Park, Georgetown, Winter Park And Breckenridge
Small-town markets, parades and resort holiday programs.
Fri, Nov 27, 2026
Catch the Glow Parade
Estes Park
A free evening parade the day after Thanksgiving, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The Visit Estes Park listing gives the Estes Park Events Complex address, 1125 Rooftop Way. Event listing.
From Nov 21, 2026
Bond Park light display
Estes Park
A free light display in Bond Park, nightly from 5 to 9 p.m. beginning November 21. The page does not give an end date. Visit Estes Park holidays.
Dec 5–6 and 12–13, 2026
Georgetown Christmas Market
Historic Downtown Georgetown
Free admission across two weekends. The museums (Hamill House and Alpine Hose Fire Museum) are open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., outdoor stage entertainment runs 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Rose and 6th Streets and a Santa Lucia children's procession is held daily at noon. Christmas Afternoon Tea at the Snetzer Building requires reservations. The organizers advertise free parking and shuttle service but give no locations. Historic Georgetown, Inc..
Nov 28 – Dec 31, 2026
Deck the Slopes
Winter Park Resort
Winter Park's holiday season at the base area adds drone shows, a trackless train and holiday music. Dated highlights: Holiday Tree Lighting December 5 (3:30 to 5:30 p.m.), Holiday Party December 12 (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and a Holiday Party with drone show on December 19. On Christmas Eve, a Sunspot family-style dinner (reservations required; $120 adults, $55 children 12 and under) and a Torchlight Parade Snowcat Experience (3:30 to 6:30 p.m., a ticket is needed for each person) are listed. Resort events.
Thu, Dec 31, 2026
New Year's Eve in Breckenridge
Peak 9, Breckenridge Ski Resort
A torchlight parade by ski and snowboard school instructors at 6 p.m. (the Glow Worm Parade for young riders starts an hour earlier), then roughly 15 minutes of fireworks around 9:30 p.m. from the base of Peak 9. Viewing spots include Blue River Plaza and Main Street Station. Times depend on weather and no price is listed. Breckenridge Tourism Office.
Holiday trains
Polar Express And Santa Trains
Three railroads run holiday rides this season.
Nov 6–8, 13–15, 20–24; daily Nov 27 – Dec 23, 2026
The Polar Express
Colorado Railroad Museum, 17155 W. 44th Ave, Golden
Evening rides at 5, 6:30 and 8 p.m. last about two to two and a half hours; parking is free. General-public tickets went on sale September 29. Performances before Thanksgiving carry a 10 percent discount; the page lists no prices. Museum FAQ.
Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027
The Polar Express
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
The railroad says it is on track to reopen the line by November 20 after flood repairs, so the start depends on that work. The ride takes about 65 minutes and an 8 percent Historic Preservation Fee applies. Fares and times are shown only in an image on the page. Railroad event page.
Nov 19 – Dec 30, 2026
Santa Express Train
Royal Gorge Route Railroad, Cañon City
Visit Colorado Springs lists departures at 9:30 a.m., 12:30, 4 and 7 p.m., with price by seat class. Confirm times with the railroad. Visit Colorado Springs holiday listings.
Plan ahead
What To Book Or Plan Now
- Train tickets. The Colorado Railroad Museum put Polar Express tickets on sale to the public on September 29, and its pre-Thanksgiving performances are discounted 10 percent. On the Durango line, cancellations are refundable (minus a $14 adult and $7 child fee per ticket) only more than 60 days before departure. Counting from today, every 2026 departure, which runs through January 2, falls inside that 60-day window, so new bookings there are not refundable. The line’s reopening after flood damage is also a factor.
- Electric Safari. Tickets are timed, advance-only and not sold at the gate. Online tickets can be refunded or exchanged up to two weeks before the event date, and the zoo prices weekend and holiday nights higher than Monday to Thursday.
- Christmas Eve at Winter Park. The Sunspot dinner requires reservations, and every person, including children, needs a ticket for the Torchlight Parade snowcat.
- Georgetown afternoon tea. Reservations are required at the Snetzer Building.
- Denver parking. Parking near the Tivoli Quad is paid ($10 campus surface lots, $30 Tivoli Garage). The Christkindlmarket and the Mile High Tree are free, and Festival Hall tables are an optional reservation.
- Weather backup. Denver drone shows and Breckenridge’s torchlight parade and fireworks can change or be cancelled for weather. Check the organizer the same afternoon.
- Driving to the mountains. Read the traction law guide before heading up I-70 to Georgetown, Winter Park or Breckenridge.
Not yet confirmed
Left Out Until Organizers Publish
As of November 6, 2026, we could not confirm an official 2026 date for several Colorado traditions, so they are left out rather than guessed: the Lighting of Breckenridge and Race of the Santas (the tourism page does not give a 2026 date we could verify), the Vail and Lionshead tree lightings, the Georgetown Loop holiday trains and Steamboat’s holiday programming. Check those organizers directly.
Common questions
Colorado Holiday Season Questions
Which Colorado holiday events are free?
Free events with 2026 dates published by organizers include the Denver Christkindlmarket, the Mile High Tree and the Denver drone shows, the Catch the Glow Parade and Bond Park lights in Estes Park, and the Georgetown Christmas Market (admission only; food, tea and some activities cost extra). Electric Safari and the Polar Express trains require paid tickets.
Do I need tickets for Electric Safari?
Yes. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo requires advance timed tickets for Electric Safari and does not sell tickets at the gate. Non-member adult tickets are $19.75 Monday to Thursday and $24.75 on peak nights, and the event is closed December 24.
Is the Durango Polar Express running in 2026?
The Durango & Silverton lists Polar Express rides from November 20, 2026 to January 2, 2027 and says it is on track to reopen the line by November 20 after flood repairs. Because that depends on the repair work, check the railroad’s page before booking or traveling.
Do the Denver drone shows run every night?
Visit Denver lists 42 nights of free drone shows from November 20 to December 31, 2026, at 7 p.m. Shows can be cancelled for weather or other unforeseen reasons, and Visit Denver recommends checking after 4 p.m. on the day of the show.
Sources
All pages below were fetched on November 6, 2026.
- Denver Christkindlmarket2026 dates, hours
- Visit Denver: The Mile High Tree2026 dates, parking
- Visit Denver: Drone Shows2026 dates, nights
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo: Electric Safaridates, prices
- Cheyenne Mountain ZooElectric Moonlight date
- Visit Colorado Springs: Christmas eventsOld Colorado City market, Santa Express
- Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of PuebloNov 27 lighting
- Visit Estes Park: Catch the Glow ParadeNov 27
- Visit Estes Park: HolidaysBond Park lights
- Historic Georgetown, Inc.: Christmas Market2026 weekends
- Winter Park Resort: Eventsholiday schedule
- Breckenridge Tourism Office: New Year's EveDec 31
- Breckenridge Tourism Office: Eventsholiday events
- Colorado Railroad Museum: Polar Express2026 ride dates
- Durango & Silverton: Polar Express2026 dates, policy