The holiday celebrations have arrived in Denver! Check out makers’ markets, local shopping, and all the fun and festive holiday lights.
Holiday Markets and Shopping:
Firefly Handmade Holiday Market: Nov 12-13 in Denver. Nov 21–22 in Wash Park. More than 80 artisans and live music.
Fab-YULE-us Holiday Market: Nov 14–15 at 7301 S. Santa Fe Dr. An indoor market with handmade gifts, local makers, visits from Santa, and rescue puppy yoga.
Denver Holiday Bazaar: Saturdays, Nov 14–Dec 19. Five free outdoor markets in Cherry Creek, Belleview Station, Sloan's Lake, LoHi, and Littleton, with Colorado makers and food and drink. Leashed dogs are welcome. Rain, snow, or shine.
Big Fat Holiday Market: Nov 15, 358 York St. Thrift and vintage, handmade gifts, and art in a space that celebrates bigger bodies, with sizes up to 6XL.
Cherry Creek Holiday Market: Nov 19–Dec 24. More than 50 local artisan vendors, live music and festive drinks. It's free, family-friendly and dog-friendly.
Denver Christkindlmarket: Nov 20–Dec 23, Tivoli Quad, Auraria Campus. An authentic German-style market with wooden huts selling artisan gifts, plus Glühwein, German beer, pretzels, sausages and pastries. It's at Auraria again because Civic Center Park is under renovation until spring 2027.
Winter Frenzy & Holiday Craft Fair: Nov 21, Arapahoe County Fairgrounds. More than 150 vendors with handmade gifts, boutique clothing, décor, specialty foods and candles.
Merry Market at McGregor Square: Nov 27–29, Dec 5-6, 12-13, and 19-20. A free market with local makers, ice skating, live music, and Santa photos.
Cherry Creek North Small Business Weekend: Nov 27–30. A Shop Small celebration across more than 150 locally owned shops and restaurants.
Denver Winter Market: Nov 28–29, Dec 4–6 and 11–13. A winter market at 1000 Broadway across several weekends.
Holiday Lights and Seasonal Traditions:
Mile High Drone Shows: Nov 20–Dec 31 at the Tivoli Quad and downtown. A 110-foot digital tree with a lights-and-music show. Nightly at 7 p.m., 400 drones form holiday animations over downtown. Both are free.
Blossoms of Light: Nov 20–Jan 10 at Denver Botanic Gardens. A winter light show that runs nightly from 4:30 to 9 p.m. and is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Ticket prices weren't published as of mid-October, so check the Gardens' official page.
Zoo Lights at the Denver Zoo. Select nights Nov 23-Jan 3. 80 acres, three million lights, and countless memories made among guests young and old.
Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms. Nov 21-Jan 3. Spectacular lights transform Chatfield Farms into a glittering landscape, draping the historical Hildebrand Ranch, sparkling in the cottonwood canopy and adorning the silo.
Grand Illumination of Union Station: Nov 27, 4–8 pm. The lighting of Union Station's 40-foot tree, with more than 7,000 lights. The ceremony is at 6:10 p.m.
Candlelight Walk, Littleton: Nov 27, Main Street. Music, treats, a festive parade, a drone show and photos with Santa.
November Runs and Community Events:
Denver Veterans Day Run: Nov 14, City Park. A 5K, a 10K, and a 10K Rucksack Challenge.
Girls on the Run Denver Metro 5K: Nov 15, Empower Field at Mile High. A family-friendly 5K with a 10 a.m. start, priced from $19 to $29.
Pumpkin Pie 5K/10K: Nov 21, Denver. A pre-Thanksgiving race.
Turkey Trot: Nov 26. Support United Way and get the legs moving before the big meal.
Estes Park Holiday Kickoff:
Tree Lighting: Nov 21, Bond Park. An evening downtown with the lighting ceremony, then dinner as the holiday season begins.
Catch the Glow Parade: Nov 27. An evening parade in downtown Estes Park.
Holiday Wine Festival: Nov 28. More than 20 Colorado wineries, craft and artisan vendors, and Santa.
