Celebrate the magic of the season in Castle Rock with our detailed event guide. Whether Castle Rock is your lifelong stage or a temporary backdrop, this guide directs your holiday performance.
Popular Events: One highlight of the holiday season is the Denver Christkindlmarket, where you can experience a traditional German market filled with festive lights and unique gifts. Unique features of the Season of the Star include dazzling light displays that transform the town into a winter wonderland. And the Polar Express Train Ride is something you definitely don't want to miss, offering a whimsical journey inspired by the beloved holiday tale. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Castle Rock
- Denver Christkindlmarket (Denver)
- Georgetown Christmas Market (Georgetown)
- The Nutcracker (Denver)
- Polar Express Train Ride (Durango)
- Season of the Star
- The Lighting of Breckenridge & Race of the Santas (Breckenridge)
- Winter Wanderland (Denver)
- Downtown Denver Rink (Denver)
- Holidays at the Colorado Symphony (Denver)
- Festival of Lights Parade (Colorado Springs)
See these and even more events listed below!
Castle Rock Holiday Light Displays
Season of the Star
What to Expect:
Community-driven holiday celebration with extensive light displays and family activities.
Description:
The Season of the Star in Castle Rock is a celebration of lights and festive events, featuring holiday decorations, family-friendly activities, and community gatherings.
Where: Castle Rock | More Info: Season of the Star
Winter Wanderland
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday celebration with over 1 million lights and live performances.
Description:
Cherry Creek North's Winter Wanderland features over 1 million twinkling lights wrapping more than 600 trees, creating a vibrant holiday atmosphere with live music, stilt walkers, and festive treats.
Where: Denver | More Info: Winter Wanderland
The Lighting of Breckenridge & Race of the Santas
What to Expect:
Hundreds of Santas racing down Main Street.
Description:
Hundreds of Santa look-alikes run down Main Street in a festive holiday race, followed by the lighting of over 250,000 LED holiday lights transforming downtown Breckenridge into a real-life holiday card.
Where: Breckenridge | More Info: The Lighting of Breckenridge & Race of the Santas
Festival of Lights Parade
What to Expect:
Large-scale holiday parade with over 100 decorated floats.
Description:
The Festival of Lights Parade is a cherished holiday tradition in the Pikes Peak region, featuring nearly 100 beautifully lighted and decorated floats that delight both young and old. It takes place on the first Saturday of December, showcasing local businesses and community organizations' creative displays.
Where: Colorado Springs | More Info: Festival of Lights Parade
Bridge of Lights at Royal Gorge Bridge & Park
What to Expect:
Drive-through holiday light display on a historic suspension bridge.
Description:
Drive across America's Highest Suspension Bridge, adorned with thousands of twinkling lights, and enjoy the festive atmosphere with hot cocoa and cookies available for purchase.
Where: Cañon City | More Info: Bridge of Lights at Royal Gorge Bridge & Park
Castle Rock Holiday Markets and Shopping
Denver Christkindlmarket
What to Expect:
Authentic German holiday market with local and European vendors.
Description:
The Denver Christkindlmarket is an authentic German-style holiday market at Civic Center Park, featuring local and European craft and food vendors, live entertainment, and festive atmosphere.
Where: Denver | More Info: Denver Christkindlmarket
Georgetown Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Traditional holiday celebration with European market and historic site tours.
Description:
The Georgetown Christmas Market is a traditional holiday event featuring an outdoor European marketplace with handcrafted gifts, an Alpine Biergarten, and additional shopping at Christmas Alley. Visitors enjoy roasted chestnuts, horse-drawn wagon rides, appearances by St. Nicholas, and a daily Santa Lucia Children’s Procession. The market also includes museum tours of historic sites like the Hamill House and Hotel de Paris.
Where: Georgetown | More Info: Georgetown Christmas Market
Holiday Arts Bazaar
What to Expect:
Three-day event featuring handmade crafts and artisan foods.
Description:
The Holiday Arts Bazaar is a three-day event showcasing locally made arts, fine crafts, and artisan foods. It features a wide variety of handmade goods, including artisan jewelry, organic body products, gourmet food, ceramics, clothing, and more.
Where: Telluride | More Info: Holiday Arts Bazaar
Evergreen Winterfest
What to Expect:
Celebration of local artisanal talent with handcrafted items.
Description:
Evergreen Winterfest is a free community event featuring an artisan gift market, holiday festival, and local artisanal talent. Enjoy live holiday music, a kid's holiday craft station, face painting, food trucks, and a hot cocoa bar.
Where: Evergreen | More Info: Evergreen Winterfest
Castle Rock Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Polar Express Train Ride
What to Expect:
Immersive theatrical re-creation of "The Polar Express" with hot chocolate and a light show.
Description:
Climb aboard a vintage steam train for a theatrical re-creation of the classic holiday story, "The Polar Express." Enjoy hot chocolate, a sweet treat, and a reading from the book as you journey to the North Pole. Upon arrival, experience an incredible light show set to holiday music and receive the first gift of Christmas from Santa.
Where: Durango | More Info: Polar Express Train Ride
The Nutcracker
What to Expect:
Classic ballet performance with elaborate sets and costumes.
Description:
Colorado Ballet's The Nutcracker is a timeless ballet tradition featuring mischievous dancing mice, sweet Sugar Plums, and a symphony of swirling snowflakes.
Where: Denver | More Info: The Nutcracker
Holidays at the Colorado Symphony
What to Expect:
Live orchestral performances of beloved holiday films and music.
Description:
The Colorado Symphony presents a diverse array of holiday-themed concerts, including Disney's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and Halloween Spooktacular, showcasing a blend of classical music and popular culture.
Where: Denver | More Info: Holidays at the Colorado Symphony
Home for the Holidays
What to Expect:
High-energy holiday entertainment with a diverse cast of performers.
Description:
Home for the Holidays is an old-school variety show featuring dancers, singers, holiday songs, and celebrity appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus. With an updated storyline and a few spectacular surprises, this event is sure to delight and put you in the holiday spirit.
Where: Lone Tree | More Info: Home for the Holidays
Castle Rock Other Holiday Activities
Downtown Denver Rink
What to Expect:
Free ice skating with optional skate rentals.
Description:
The Downtown Denver Rink at Skyline Park offers free ice skating from November to February, with skate rentals available for a fee. The rink hosts various events, including junior lessons, yoga sessions, and music parties.
Where: Denver | More Info: Downtown Denver Rink
Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade
What to Expect:
Ski instructors lighting up the mountainside with torches.
Description:
The Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade in Mountain Village features ski instructors descending the mountain with torches, creating a spectacular display of light and movement. The event starts at the top of the Gondola and proceeds down into Telluride.
Where: Telluride | More Info: Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Parker (11 miles)
- Highlands Ranch (14 miles)
- Centennial (14 miles)
- Castlewood (15 miles)
- Southglenn (16 miles)
- Littleton (19 miles)
- Columbine (19 miles)
- Ken Caryl (20 miles)
- Englewood (20 miles)
- Aurora (25 miles)
- Lakewood (26 miles)
- Denver (26 miles)
- Wheat Ridge (30 miles)
- Commerce City (30 miles)
- Arvada (32 miles)
- Golden (33 miles)
- Westminster (34 miles)
- Thornton (35 miles)
- Northglenn (36 miles)
- Colorado Springs (37 miles)
- Broomfield (40 miles)
- Brighton (42 miles)
- Security-Widefield (44 miles)
- Louisville (44 miles)
- Lafayette (45 miles)