Whether you want to cuddle up at home or hit the town, there are plenty of great ideas for celebrating New Year’s Eve in Denver.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY NEW YEAR’S ACTIVITIES
SKATE THE LAKE – NEW YEAR’S EVE FESTIVAL
WHEN: Dec. 31, 2019
WHERE: Evergreen Lake
Join the Evergreen Chamber and their local mountain community for the family-friendly, alcohol-free 24th annual New Year’s Eve Skate the Lake event at the Evergreen Lake. There will be opening skating, fireworks at 8 p.m., broomball, firepits, marshmallows, Mini Putt-Putt, games and more. Tickets $20 in advance, $30 at the door / Children 5 and under are free.
CHRISTMAS IN COLOR
WHEN: Nov. 22, 2019–Jan. 24, 2020
WHERE: Water World and Bandimere Speedway (Morrison)
Load up your friends and family into the van (or car, or truck) and experience the holiday season like never before. Drive through acres of more than 1.5 million lights perfectly synchronized to holiday music you’ll hear right through your radio. You’ll drive by giant candy canes, snowmen, arched pathways and more. It’s like being immersed in another world. You can experience the attraction at two locations. (Closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.)
ICE SKATING AT DOWNTOWN DENVER RINK AT SKYLINE PARK
WHEN: Nov. 26, 2019–Feb. 16, 2020
WHERE: Corner of 16th and Arapahoe
Take a spin on the ice — for free! Grab your family and friends and head to 16th and Arapahoe in downtown Denver to the Downtown Denver Rink at Skyline Park in Downtown Denver! Skate rentals are $7-$9, or bring your own pair and skate for free. Free days for kids will take place throughout the season. Look for regularly scheduled entertainment and activities each week, including Friday night DJs; Saturday morning skating lessons; Saturday night concerts; and Sunday afternoon family entertainment.
BLOSSOMS OF LIGHT
WHEN: Nov. 29, 2019–Jan. 3, 2020
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens
Denver Botanic Gardens is proud to host Blossoms of Light, an annual family-friendly event that has become a tradition for people across Colorado. Come interact with incredible light displays — a large field of sound-reactive, animated LED lights — plus sip warm drinks and nibble on tasty treats as you stroll.
OLDE GOLDEN CHRISTMAS
WHEN: Nov. 30–Dec. 31, 2019
WHERE: 1010 Washington Ave., Golden
Olde Golden Christmas includes a community candlelight walk, Victorian carolers, free Newfoundland dog-pulled cart rides, a holiday art market, parades, shopping, music and theater productions, Santa Claus, holiday lights and more!
MILE HIGH TREE
WHEN: Nov. 30, 2019–Jan. 31, 2020, 5 p.m.–10:30 p.m., free shows every evening
WHERE: Sculpture Park at the Denver Performing Arts Complex
Join in the free nightly festivities at Denver’s newest holiday attraction, the Mile High Tree. It’s a brilliantly lit, 110-foot-tall immersive art installation that provides dazzling lights and music shows every 15 minutes throughout the evening. At 39-feet in diameter, the conical structure can host up to 140 guests at a time for an immersive viewing experience within the tree itself. There will be areas to purchase both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks as well as holiday treats.
A HUDSON CHRISTMAS
WHEN: Dec. 6–8, 13–24 and 26–31, 2019
WHERE: Hudson Gardens & Events Center
Bundle up for a visit with Santa at Hudson Gardens in Littleton. After sharing your list with Ol’ Saint Nick, sip hot chocolate as you stroll the outdoor paths lined with trees decked with more than a million twinkling lights.
DENVER PAVILIONS’ HOLIDAY CAROUSEL
WHEN: Dec. 20, 2019–Jan. 2, 2020
WHERE: Denver Pavilions
Create Memories for years to come at the Denver Pavilions beautiful downtown Holiday Carousel. Throughout December, families can enjoy the magic of the holidays from the perch of a horse on a beautiful carousel. $3 per ride. The carousel was featured in the film “Selena” starring Jennifer Lopez. Partial proceeds benefit Food Bank of the Rockies.
BUNK WITH THE BEASTS
WHEN: Dec. 31, 2019-Jan. 1, 2019
WHERE: Denver Zoo
Children are invited to celebrate New Year’s Eve with a sleepover at Denver Zoo’s Bunk with the Beasts adventure! They will explore Zoo Lights, and celebrate the new year in a safe and fun environment, while parents get a night out on the town! The evening will include a pizza dinner, an evening snack and a warm morning breakfast.
NOON YEAR’S EVE
WHEN: Dec. 31, 2019
WHERE: Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
Children can experience the excitement, thrills and festive fun of New Year’s Eve in Times Square right here in Denver — all before bedtime! Noon Year’s Eve celebrates the New Year with glittery ball drops, rainbows of confetti and huge sheets of bubble wrap (the museum’s version of fireworks) for kids to stomp on. After the ball drops, the celebration keeps going with sparkling art projects and heaps of activities on the plaza.
NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS IN DENVER
WHEN: Dec. 31, 2019
WHERE: 16th Street Mall
The sky will once again sparkle over downtown at the close of 2019 with the New Year’s Eve Fireworks Downtown. The two spectacular fireworks shows will occur at 9 p.m. and midnight. For the best viewpoints, stand along the 16th Street Mall. The identical fireworks shows will be synched to a music playlist from live DJs along the mall. Each show will run for about eight minutes and can be viewed from anywhere along the mall. The DJs will play tunes from 8 p.m. to midnight.
Please note, between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m., RTD Light Rail trains will not cross the 16th Street Mall, and MallRide shuttles will stop temporarily during the two fireworks shows.
RESOLUTION NYE 2019
WHEN: Dec. 31, 2019
WHERE: McNichols Civic Center Building, Denver Arts and Venues
This New Year’s bash boasts three floors of DJs, dance parties, live music, art installations and open bars. Don’t want to miss the fireworks? You don’t have to! The McNichols Building offers a direct view of the Denver New Year’s Eve Fireworks show.
NEW YEAR’S EVE WITH DENVER UNION STATION
WHEN: Dec. 31, 2019
WHERE: Denver Union Station
Ring in 2019 with three rollicking New Year’s Eve parties at Denver Union Station.
DENVER’S GRANDEST NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY
WHEN: Dec. 31, 2019
WHERE: Grand Hyatt Denver
Can’t decide what to do for NYE? Enjoy four parties in one at the Grand Hyatt Denver! Rock out to the sounds of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s with the Nacho Men; dance to today’s hottest sounds with Club X Band, visit the Silent Disco or there’s karaoke in the lobby bar. Denver’s Grandest New Year’s Eve Party includes an open bar with premium pour, a dinner buffet, balloon drops and a champagne toast at midnight.
-Happy New Year!
-Visit Denver
Author: Amber Johnson
Amber is the founder and editor of Mile High Mamas, travel writer and former columnist for The Denver Post. She is a passionate community builder and loves the outdoors. She has two awesome teens and is happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin.
