Denver’s holiday season is underway, and the city is rolling out classic traditions, festive markets, and big-ticket performances throughout December. Here are some of the most notable events happening across the metro area, all based on confirmed announcements.
9NEWS Parade of Lights Returns December 6
The city’s signature holiday parade will light up downtown on December 6, 2025, starting at 6 p.m. Families can line the streets to watch illuminated floats, giant character balloons, marching bands, equestrian units, and Santa’s grand finale.
According to the Downtown Denver Partnership, the full route and event details are available directly on their site at the 9NEWS Parade of Lights page.
Denver Christkindlmarket Runs Through December 23
The annual Denver Christkindlmarket brings a traditional European-style holiday village to the Auraria Campus, featuring handcrafted goods, Glühwein, German food stalls, live music, and festive vendor chalets.
Event hours, vendor lists, and programming can be found on the official Christkindlmarket Denver website.
Larimer Lights Brighten Larimer Square All Month
Larimer Square’s seasonal tradition continues with Larimer Lights, filling the historic block with winter décor, projection displays, carolers, and special holiday experiences from local businesses. Full information is listed on the Visit Denver guide at the page covering Denver holiday traditions.
Major Holiday Shows and Performances Across the City
Denver’s performing arts scene also brings back several seasonal staples:
- The Colorado Ballet is staging The Nutcracker at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, with showtimes listed on the Visit Denver performance calendar covering holiday theatre, music, and dance.
- The Denver Center for the Performing Arts is presenting A Christmas Carol at the Wolf Theatre, with ticketing available on the DCPA’s official events & tickets page.
- Several additional concerts and seasonal performances are highlighted throughout Visit Denver’s holiday arts listings.
Wrap-Up
From downtown parades to immersive markets and classic holiday theatre, Denver’s December calendar is full of ways to celebrate the season. Keep an eye on official venue and city event pages as dates approach—many of these events draw large crowds and may require advance planning or ticket reservations.
