Check out our calendar of events to discover holiday happenings in Colorado.

Experience the spirit of Christmases past—and see how older buildings can be adapted for current uses.

It’s one thing to admire homes from the outside; it’s quite another to cross their thresholds and see what’s inside. Historic Boulder’s beloved and highly anticipated annual event makes the latter possible. Every year, the preservation-focused organization highlights aspects of design within a chosen neighborhood and works with homeowners to set up the self-guided tour. 

The “Homes for the Holidays" Tour allows you to explore the architectural marvels, exquisite craftsmanship and captivating stories that reside within Boulder’s earliest homes,” says Ayleen Perez, who handles education and events for Historic Boulder. 

This year on Dec. 2, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the tour will highlight adaptive reuse, an important aspect of preservation that sees historical properties being used in new ways. Specifically, attendees will tour transformed carriage houses and other accessory dwelling units in the Mapleton and/or Whittier neighborhoods. Perez explains, “The conversion of carriage houses into modern homes breathes new life into neglected structures while preserving architectural heritage.”

Now–Jan. 7 
Terry Maker

The Museum of Art Fort Collins shares the mixed-media works of this Louisville, Colorado-based artist. Maker transforms ordinary discarded materials into visual expressions of “how the everyday and the spiritual interact.” 

Now–Feb. 11
The Tropical Paintings of Manabu Saito

Watercolors featuring tropical flowers and other plants, most of which were painted at Costa Rica’s Wilson Botanical Garden, highlight this exhibition of work by Japanese artist Manabu Saito at the Denver Botanic Gardens. 

Nov. 16
REO Speedwagon

Catch crowd favorites “Take It on the Run,” “Keep On Loving You” and other chart-topping hits when veteran rock band REO Speedwagon with Chris Trapper plays Pikes Peak Center in Colorado Springs. 

Nov. 17–Dec. 31 
The Polar Express Train Ride

Author Chris Van Allsburg’s holiday tale comes to life as passengers board a vintage steam train from the Durango Depot and head to the North Pole in search of Santa Claus, receiving hot chocolate and hearing excerpts from the book along the way. 

Nov. 21 
Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox

Popular hits get a vintage spin in this show at Denver’s Paramount Theatre. Think the Bee Gees “Stayin’ Alive” performed with a ragtime, rockabilly twist or Green Day’s “Basket Case” done by a big band. 

Dec. 1–3
Two Titans: Mozart & Mahler

The Colorado Symphony, featuring conductor Rune Bergmann and  
violinist Yumi Hwang-Williams, plays Gustav Mahler’s “Titan” symphony and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Violin Concerto No. 3” at Boettcher Concert Hall in Denver. 

Dec. 2
Holiday Craft Fair

Satisfy all your shopping needs at the 10th annual fair hosted by Cheyenne Mountain High School in Colorado Springs. Here, you’ll find only handcrafted goods. Browse stocking stuffers, clothing, home decor, jewelry, toys, functional art and gourmet food items. 

Dec. 7–9
Ullr Fest

It’s nothing but fun and cheer as you don a Viking hat and honor Ullr, the Norse god of snow, in hopes that he will bless Breckenridge with an epic ski season. Parade along Main Street, drink from a very long Shotski and warm up at the Ullr Bonfire. 

Dec. 7–10
Vail Film Festival

Check out what’s trending in the world of independent film by attending screenings, panel discussions, workshops and more at this annual event, coordinated by the Colorado Film Institute. 

Dec. 7–10, 14–17 
Icy Haught

In every show contemporary ballet company Wonderbound produces, classic ballet meets contemporary themes. This latest spicy production by Garrett Ammon and Sarah Tallman is no exception as it takes the audience to “climes warmer and cooler” than they might expect in Denver. 

Dec. 8–23
Christmas at the Ranch

Holiday tunes take on a decidedly Western twang when the Flying W Wranglers stage their Western Christmas Jubilee against a backdrop of twinkling lights and illuminated rock formations in Colorado Springs. 

Dec. 8–23 
Garden of Lights

The Gardens on Spring Creek in Fort Collins gets a holiday makeover when a half-mile loop is transformed into a wonderland of illuminated plants, glowing flowers and twinkling trees. 

Dec. 22–23
Vail Ice Spectacular 2023

Alongside other champion skaters, Olympic gold medalist figure skater Nathan Chen stars in this ice-skating extravaganza in Vail, entertaining attendees with his style, enthusiasm and athletic acrobatics. He headlined the event last year, and it sold out. 

Dec. 29–31
Meeker Skijor Races

Teams consisting of a horse, a rider and a skier race across a snow course at Ute Park to compete for the best time. Themes are assigned to each day to enhance the fun. 

Jan. 12
On a Winter’s Night

Loveland’s Rialto Theater welcomes the 30th anniversary tour of a special night in 1994 when singer-songwriters Cliff Eberhardt, John Gorka, Lucy Kaplansky and Patty Larkin came together to share their music. 

Jan. 13–14 
First Peoples Festival

Estes Park welcomes this celebration of Indigenous art, music, storytelling, culture and more to the Estes Park Events Complex.