Blog > Top 10 Holiday Light Shows in Denver and the Front Range This Year

Top 10 Holiday Light Shows in Denver and the Front Range This Year

by Art of Home

Happy Holidays! There is practically nothing we love more than driving around Denver and the Front Range, looking at all the cheerful holiday decorations. After extensive research, we’ve drawn up a list of our TOP 10 holiday light shows in the Denver Metro Area. Grab your mittens and some hot cocoa and get ready to feel the holiday spirit!

1. Denver Zoo Lights – 30th Anniversary – Nov. 18 – Dec. 31, 2021

This year marks the Denver Zoo’s 30th anniversary of its illuminating, family friendly holiday light show. With more than 2 million LED lights twinkling over 80 acres, the Denver Zoo is pulling out all the stops this year. See the Zoo’s famous Amur tiger, Bactrian camel, Przewaskli’s horse, pachyderms, otters, fishing cats, and the Tropical Discovery animals (frogs, snakes, lizards, capybaras and sloths). And definitely check out the nightly ice-carving demonstrations!

2. The Mile High Tree – 16th Street Mall & Welton Street – Nov. 19, 2021 – Jan. 1, 2022

This gorgeous and interactive light installation is the largest of its kind in North America. A dazzling show of lights and songs, you will love this FREE exhibit. Grab photos for your holiday cards or stop by while strolling the 16th Street Mall promenade. Open nightly.

3. Blossoms of Light – Denver Botanic Gardens – Nov. 19, 2021 – Jan. 8, 2022

Denver Botanic Gardens is back and better than ever with its signature holiday event for over 3 decades. See your favorite exhibits, and – new this year – a spectacular tunnel of lights. The O’Fallon Perennial Walk is a 200-foot-long, 17-foot-tall tunnel of animated lights, perfect for your holiday photos.

4. Luminova Holidays – Elitch Gardens – Nov. 24, 2021 – Jan. 2, 2022

Come to Elitch’s this season for the theme park’s FIRST EVER holiday light show. Featuring over 3 million lights, a 65-foot tall Christmas tree, a 25-foot snow man that never melts, a 200-foot long candy cane tunnel, ornaments and gifts scaling over 16 ft. tall, rides on select attractions, train rides, games, entertainers, Santa Claus and his Elves, and more.

5. Night Lights Denver – Daniels & Fisher Tower – Permanent Installation Every Tuesday-Saturday Starting at Sunset

Stop by 16th Street Mall and Arapahoe Street for the bright and beautiful light show projections onto the Daniels & Fisher Clock Tower. This year-round projection-mapped installation is put on by the Denver Theatre District every Tuesday through Saturday evening. Featuring creative animations and videos designed by local and national artists, with a holiday twist for the season!

6. Light the Lights & Christkindlmarket at Denver City and County Building – Civic Center Park – Nov. 25, 2021 – Jan. 23, 2022

Stop by the Denver Christkindlmarket at Civic Center Park for holiday shopping, tasty treats, and a fabulous light display at the Denver City and County Building. The light display is a free, nightly event from 5:45-6:45pm, with interactive holiday lights and music. The Christkindlmarket is free and open daily until December 23rd, featuring delicious European cuisine and a holiday Artisan Marketplace.

7. Trail of Lights – Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield Farms – Nov. 26, 2021 – Jan. 2, 2022

Take a holiday stroll through the countryside at Denver Botanic Gardens Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms. Enjoy holiday foods, hot beverages, nuts, and kettle corn, while exploring the three-sided light tunnel, illuminated antique and model tractors, and play area for the kids.

8. Winter Wanderland – Cherry Creek North – Nov. 18 – Dec. 31, 2021

Explore the 16-block Cherry Creek North neighborhood, decked out in half a million twinkling holiday lights, over 600 decorated trees, and the debut of internationally acclaimed interactive art installation, domino effect, with 120 brightly colored dominos, each with their own sound profile. Search for 8 musical singing trees and enter to win a $1000 shopping spree to Cherry Creek North. Stop by for Saturday Night Lights (Dec. 4, 11, and 18) for free holiday treats and entertainment.

9. Christmas in Color – Water World & Bandimere Speedway – Nov. 19, 2021 – Jan. 2, 2022

Back with their famous drive-through light show, Christmas in Color is open for the holidays with acres of more than 1.5 million lights synchronized to holiday music. Play the tunes through your car radio and stay snuggly while experiencing the holiday cheer with your loved ones. Drive through arched pathways of giant candy canes, snowmen, and more.

10. A Hudson Christmas Extravaganza of Lights – Hudson Gardens – Nov. 26 – Dec. 31, 2021 (on select days)

Celebrate the holidays at the Hudson Gardens Event Center and enjoy towering trees draped in thousands of colorful lights, a grove of dancing Christmas trees, a multi-colored forest inhabited by giant snowmen, a holiday light tunnel, and glowing reindeer.