Plan Ahead: Don’t wait until the last minute for all your New Year’s Eve party favors. Check out these goofy 2023 New Year’s Eve glasses, plastic disposable champagne flutes for your kids’ Martinelli, and this fun New Year’s Eve party kit for kids.
Scroll down for our Denver guides to the holidays!
NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS IN DENVER
WHEN: Dec. 31, 2022; 9 p.m. and midnight
WHERE: 16th Street Mall
The sky will once again sparkle over downtown at the close of 2021 with the New Year’s Eve Fireworks. 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.
WHEN: Thru Dec. 31, 2022
WHERE: Skyline Park
Bundle up for some free ice skating in the heart of downtown and enjoy special events.
NOON YEAR’S EVE
WHEN: Dec. 31, 2022; 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
WHERE: Children’s Museum of Denver
The museum is bringing in the sights, sounds and excitement of Times Square to the Children’s Museum – all before bedtime! Their celebration is filled with countdowns and ball drops each hour from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., rainbow confetti, bubble wrap fireworks, crafts, music and more. This year’s celebrations will take place in their winter experience, SNOW DAYS. Prepare for a celebration unlike any other year with sock skating, sledding and fun surprises! Reservations required.
CHRISTMAS IN COLOR
WHEN: Nov. 19, 2021–Jan. 2, 2022
WHERE: Water World, Aurora 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.)
A HUDSON CHRISTMAS: EXTRAVAGANZA OF LIGHTS
WHEN: Nov. 25–Dec. 31, 2022 (on select days)
WHERE: Hudson Gardens & Events Center
Hudson Christmas is back after two long years. You’ll be enchanted by even more towering trees draped in thousands of colorful lights. A grove of dancing Christmas trees, a multi-colored forest inhabited by giant snowmen, the holiday light tunnel and glowing reindeer will light up Hudson Gardens into an extravaganza of holiday cheer. hudsongardens.org
SKATE THE LAKE NEW YEAR’S EVE
WHEN: Dec. 31, 2022
WHERE: Evergreen
Join the Evergreen Chamber and our local mountain community for the family-friendly, alcohol-free 25th annual New Year’s Eve Skate the Lake event at Evergreen Lake, on December 31 from 6 to 10 pm. Fireworks at 8:00 pm then open skate under the lights until 10, skate rentals while supplies last. Food trucks on site with snacks and dinner available. Hot chocolate, fire pits, and fun. Free parking and free shuttles from various locations. members.evergreenchamber.org/
HOLIDAY LIGHTS MINI GOLF
WHEN: December 2022
WHERE: Adventure Golf & Raceway, Westminster
During the holiday season, Buccaneer Bay, Adventure Cove and The Lost Continent transform into beautiful holiday-themed light displays with more than 100,000 interactive lights on all three courses! adventuregolfandraceway.com/attractions/holiday-lights-mini-golf/
MCGREGOR SKATE
WHEN: Dec. 2–31, 2022; 12–9 p.m. Monday–Thursday, 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Friday–Saturday, 12–6 p.m. Sunday
WHERE: McGregor Square plaza
The magic of winter has made its way to LoDo with McGregor Skate, an ice skating rink for all ages. Skates are available to rent at an on-site skate shop. Enjoy hot beverages from the upcoming holiday pop-up bar: Sleigh Bar at Milepost Zero. Note: The rink is closed on Dec. 24 and 25 and closes early at 4 p.m. on Dec. 31 for the Drop New Year’s Eve event. mcgregorsquare.com
Denver New Year’s Eve Lights
THE MILE HIGH TREE
WHEN: Nov. 18–Dec. 31, 2022
WHERE: 16th Street Mall at Welton Street
Join in the free festivities at this festive holiday attraction, the Mile High Tree. It’s a brilliantly lit, 110-foot-tall immersive art installation that provides a dazzling lights-and-music show. denver.org
BLOSSOMS OF LIGHT
WHEN: Nov. 18, 2022–Jan. 7, 2023 (closed Nov. 25 and Dec. 25)
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. Pre-purchased timed tickets are required. botanicgardens.org
ZOO LIGHTS
WHEN: Dec. 3, 2022–Jan. 15, 2023
WHERE: Denver Zoo
It’s official: Zoo Lights has been making magic, memories, and even marriages for 30 amazing years! Presented by Your Hometown Toyota Stores, this illuminating annual event transforms Denver Zoo into Colorado’s WILDEST winter wonderland. Don’t miss this year’s historic celebration, with more than a million lights sparkling over 80 acres—plus a host of special measures to keep your family safe and healthy. denverzoo.org
2022 ANNUAL HOLIDAY LIGHTING
WHEN: Nov. 24, 2022–Jan. 22, 2023; 5:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m each night
WHERE: City & County of Denver Building
Each night, at 5:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m., an interactive holiday show will occur for 7-9 minutes, and then goes to a static holiday look until 10:45 p.m.
LUMINOVA HOLIDAYS
WHEN: Nov. 25, 2022–Jan. 1, 2023
WHERE: Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park
Making its Colorado debut, this family-friend event brings larger-than-life holiday displays and immersive experiences for all to enjoy. It features more than 3 million dazzling lights, a 65-foot-tall Christmas tree, a 25-foot-tall snowman that never melts, a 200-foot-long candy cane tunnel, giant ornaments, a wall of lights, rides on limited Elitch Gardens attractions, train rides for the kids (and the kids at heart), interactive activities like a light-up hopscotch, strolling holiday entertainers, Old Saint Nick and his elves, and more. www.elitchgardens.com
TRAIL OF LIGHTS
WHEN: Nov. 25, 2022–Jan. 1, 2023
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms
Stroll through the Colorado countryside along a winding path glistening with lights. Features this year include a three-sided light tunnel, illuminated antique and model tractors, a children’s play area and warms holiday food and drink. Visitors must purchase a ticket online for a specific day and time. botanicgardens.org
NIGHT LIGHTS DENVER
WHEN: Permanent installation
WHERE: Daniels & Fisher Tower
Night Lights Denver features rotating content designed by local artists and the community and projected on the Arapahoe Street side of the Daniels & Fisher Tower every Tuesday through Sunday evening.
Guide to the Holidays in Denver
Guide to Denver holiday events and light displays
Colorado Holiday Gift Guide with 50+ ideas
Denver’s best holiday markets and craft fairs
7 Best Christmas tree farms in Denver
15 holiday toy drives in Denver.
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Author: Mile High Mamas
