The big Front Range holiday light shows open between Nov. 20 and Nov. 27, 2026, and most run into early January. Ticketed shows like Blossoms of Light, Zoo Lights and Trail of Lights sell timed tickets that go on sale in early November. Free options include the Mile High Tree in Denver and the Schweiger Ranch display in Lone Tree. Here's what's on, where and when, from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs.
When do holiday light shows open in 2026?
- Nov. 20: Blossoms of Light (Denver Botanic Gardens, York Street), the Mile High Tree (Auraria Campus) and Christmas at Gaylord Rockies (Aurora)
- Nov. 21: Trail of Lights (Chatfield Farms, Littleton)
- Nov. 23: Zoo Lights (Denver Zoo)
- Nov. 25: Magical Winter Nights (Denver Museum of Nature & Science)
- Nov. 26: Schweiger Ranch Holiday Display of Lights (Lone Tree)
- Nov. 27: Hudson Holidays (Littleton) and Elitch Holidays (Denver)
Which light shows need tickets, and when do they go on sale?
Blossoms of Light (Denver)
Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St. Open nightly 4:30 to 9 p.m., Nov. 20, 2026 through Jan. 10, 2027, and closed Nov. 26 and Dec. 25. There's a sensory-friendly night on Dec. 1. Public tickets go on sale Nov. 9. Visit Denver describes the route as a mile-long path through the gardens. Blossoms of Light details
Zoo Lights (Denver)
Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St. Select nights Nov. 23 through Jan. 3, 4:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 4:30 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It's closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Timed tickets go on sale Nov. 5 and cost $25.95 to $29.95 for adults and $18.95 to $22.95 for youth; kids 2 and under are free. Zoo Lights details
Trail of Lights (Littleton)
Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms, 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Road. Various evenings from Nov. 21 through Jan. 3, 5 to 8:30 p.m. It's closed Nov. 26, Nov. 30, Dec. 1, Dec. 7, Dec. 8 and Dec. 25. Public tickets go on sale Nov. 9 at 10 a.m.; 2026 prices hadn't been posted when we checked. The walk is just under a mile, with a shorter path option. Trail of Lights details
Hudson Holidays (Littleton)
Hudson Gardens, 6115 S. Santa Fe Drive. Select nights Nov. 27 through Jan. 3, 5 to 9 p.m., with a lighted maze, themed exhibits and free photos with Santa. Dated tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $15 for kids 3 to 12; kids 2 and under are free. Buy online or at the door (presale runs Nov. 6 to 8). Dec. 2 is a sensory-friendly night. Hudson Holidays details
Christmas at Gaylord Rockies and ICE! (Aurora)
Gaylord Rockies Resort, 6700 N. Gaylord Rockies Blvd. Nov. 20 through Jan. 3. This year's ICE! features Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, along with more than 3 million lights, gingerbread and Santa photos. Snow tubing and the carousel run Nov. 26 to Dec. 28 only. Tickets are required. Christmas at Gaylord Rockies
Elitch Holidays (Denver)
Elitch Gardens, 2000 Elitch Circle. Opens Nov. 27 and runs select dates through Jan. 3 (Friday and Sunday 5 to 9 p.m., Saturday 4 to 9 p.m.). Visit Denver lists a 65-foot Christmas tree and a 300-foot candy cane tunnel. Tickets are required. Elitch Gardens hours
Magical Winter Nights (Denver)
Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Nov. 25, 2026 through Jan. 2, 2027. A ticketed after-hours light-and-sound experience inside the museum, per Visit Denver. Visit Denver holiday listings
Where can I see holiday lights for free?
- The Mile High Tree, Denver. A walk-in light-and-music tree on the Tivoli Quad at Auraria Campus (1000 Larimer St.). Shows run every 15 minutes from 5 to 10 p.m., with a drone show nightly at 7 p.m., Nov. 20 through Dec. 31. Free. Mile High Tree
- Schweiger Ranch Holiday Display of Lights, Lone Tree. 10822 S. Havana St., Nov. 26 through Jan. 24. View it from the parking lot, Havana Street or the East West Trail; the ranch buildings are closed. Free. Schweiger Ranch
- Downtown Fort Collins lighting, Friday, Nov. 6. Live music in Old Town Square from 5:30 p.m. and a short ceremony at 6:30 p.m. before the tree lights switch on. Free. Downtown Fort Collins
- Loveland Festival of Lights, Friday, Nov. 20. 4th Street in downtown Loveland, 5 to 8 p.m., with a tree lighting, live reindeer and a holiday market. Free. Downtown Loveland
- Switch on the Holidays, Boulder, Sunday, Nov. 22. Lights on the Pearl Street Mall, Civic Area and Courthouse switch on at 5 p.m. Free. Downtown Boulder
- Lakewood Lights, Thursday, Dec. 3. Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park, 801 S. Yarrow St., 5 to 8 p.m., with a lighting ceremony, cocoa and Santa. Free. City of Lakewood
- Longmont Lights Festival, Friday, Dec. 11. Roosevelt Park, 700 Longs Peak Ave., 5 to 8 p.m. Free. City of Longmont events PDF
When are the parades of lights?
- Friday, Dec. 4: Louisville Parade of Lights on Main Street (activities from 5 p.m.) and the Erie Parade of Lights at 6:30 p.m. on Briggs Street. Louisville · Erie
- Saturday, Dec. 5: the 9NEWS Parade of Lights in downtown Denver, and the Colorado Springs Festival of Lights Parade on Tejon Street at 5:50 p.m. Both are free. Downtown Denver · Colorado Springs
- Saturday, Dec. 12: Brighton Festival of Lights Parade (5 p.m.), Longmont's "Merry Memories" Parade of Lights (5 p.m.) and Boulder's Lights of December Parade (6 p.m.). Brighton · Longmont · Boulder
Tips for planning a lights night
- Put on-sale dates on your calendar. Zoo Lights tickets go on sale Nov. 5, and Blossoms of Light and Trail of Lights tickets on Nov. 9.
- Check the closed dates. Blossoms of Light, Trail of Lights and Zoo Lights are all closed on Thanksgiving (Nov. 26) and Christmas Day.
- Look for sensory-friendly nights. Blossoms of Light has one on Dec. 1 and Hudson Holidays on Dec. 2.
- Make a night of it. Pair a light show with dinner from our restaurant listings, or check local deals first. Every event in this guide is also on the DFRO events calendar.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need tickets for Denver holiday lights?
For the big garden, zoo and theme-park shows, yes: Blossoms of Light, Zoo Lights, Trail of Lights, Hudson Holidays, Elitch Holidays, Christmas at Gaylord Rockies and Magical Winter Nights are all ticketed. The Mile High Tree and Schweiger Ranch displays are free.
When do Zoo Lights tickets go on sale in 2026?
Nov. 5, 2026. Zoo Lights runs on select nights Nov. 23 through Jan. 3.
Which light shows are closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas?
Blossoms of Light, Trail of Lights and Zoo Lights are closed on both Nov. 26 and Dec. 25.
What are the cheapest holiday lights near Denver?
The free ones: the Mile High Tree on Auraria Campus and the Schweiger Ranch display in Lone Tree. Among ticketed shows we checked, Hudson Holidays youth tickets are $15 and adult tickets $20.
Are there sensory-friendly holiday light nights?
Yes. Blossoms of Light has a sensory-friendly night on Dec. 1, 2026, and Hudson Holidays on Dec. 2, 2026.
Confirm details before you go. Dates, times and prices can change after we check them. Use the organizer's link in each entry for the latest information.
No business or organizer paid to be included; sponsored entries are always labeled. Know of an event we missed? Tell us in the DFRO Facebook group.
