T’is the season for Santa visits, holiday gift shopping, light shows and much more. There is so much going on in Northern Colorado this season, so to help you narrow down the “must-dos”, we’ve created a list of 19 holiday events you should definitely mark on your calendar!
Below you’ll find some of the best and most anticipated holiday events in all of NoCo. Have fun!
2021 Festival of Trees | Greeley
Where: Union Colony Civic Center
When: December 1-4, Times Vary
Presented by the City of Greeley and the Greeley Philharmonic Guild, the 31st Annual Festival Trees is a beloved tradition for Greeley residents and Northern Colorado as a whole. Each year, the Union Colony Civic Center’s first and second floors are transformed into a winter wonderland, lined with beautifully decorated trees and holiday displays. Don’t miss the many special events, including Whoville Holiday, Watercolor & Wine, the Teddy Bear Bash, plus a silent auction, horse-drawn carriage rides and, of course, visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Little Zurich Outdoor Holiday Market at Wolverine Farm | Fort Collins
Where: Wolverine Farm Publick House
When: Thursdays-Sundays, through December 24
Spend the weekend wandering around Wolverine Farm and enjoying everything this outdoor market place has to offer! Lit with hundreds of twinkle lights and a fire pit, you can enjoy candle dipping, holiday crafts, hot chocolate, mulled wine, pressed cider and more. There will also be weekly live music, literary performances and other festive activities.
Santa’s Workshop | Fort Collins
Where: Old Town Fort Collins
When: Through December 24
Share your hopes and dreams with Santa in Old Town all season long! He arrived by horse-drawn carriage on November 25th and will be stationed in his workshop on varying days and hours all the way through Christmas Eve. Visitors are encouraged to visit early in the season when there are virtually no lines—especially on weekdays during the first three weeks.
Winter Wonderlights | Loveland
Where: Chapungu Sculpture Park
When: Every night through January 2
Every year, Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra transforms into Winter Wonderlights. From mid-November through early January, the 26-acre park is illuminated by holiday string lights, twinkling bulbs, LED mappable snowflakes, illuminated stone sculptures as well as a music and light show every single night. And the best part is it’s all free and open to the public! For complete information on this year’s event, including the live performance and local vendor schedule, check out the event page.
Bright Lights | Windsor
Where: Jackson Park
When: Every night, December 2-January 9
The City of Windsor invites you to join in the festivities at Bright Lights 2021! Watch as Jackson Park lights up with thousands of twinkle lights and stunning displays for you to explore.
Grimm Brothers Weihnachts Invitational Firkinfest | Loveland
Where: Grimm Brothers Brewhouse
When: December 3, 3-7 p.m.
Beer lovers rejoice! This holiday event was made just for you. Join Grimm Brothers Brewhouse brewers and their friends for a small beer festivals with delicious firkin beers. Tickets are $35 each and can be purchased here.
Wildfire’s Holiday Artisan Market | Berthoud
Where: Wildfire Arts Center
When: December 3-4, Times Vary
Get a head start on your holiday shopping at this artisan market in Berthoud! On December 3rd and 4th, head to the Wildfire Arts Center to shop for locally made goods, listen to live music, enjoy hors d’oeuvres and holiday drinks and more.
The Nutcracker | Fort Collins
Where: The Lincoln Center
When: December 3-5, Times Vary
For the 40th year in a row, the Rialto Theater Center is showing five live performances and two virtual shows of the beloved Nutcracker, presented by Berthoud Dance. You can purchase your tickets here.
Nativities & Festivals of Lights | Fort Collins
Where: The Global Village Museum of Arts & Cultures
When: December 3-January 22, During Museum Hours
Nativities and Festivals of Light opens Friday, December 3rd at the Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures. The Main Gallery exhibit showcases crèche scenes from around the world as well as art and artifacts relating to Festivals of Light (such as Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, and the Chinese Lantern Festival). This highly anticipated exhibit will run through January 22nd, so you have plenty of time to go see it!
Fort Collins Holliday Gift Festival | Fort Collins
Where: Foothills Mall
When: December 5, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
The Fort Collins Holiday Gift Festival is a curated marketplace with more than 120 exhibitors selling an enormous array of fine arts, handmade crafts, delectable food, home decor and unique holiday gifts. The event goes from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., but don’t miss the special holiday concert at noon. Admission is free!
Garden of Lights | Fort Collins
Where: The Gardens on Spring Creek
When: December 10-26 daily (except Christmas day), 5-9 p.m.
Open every evening December 10th through December 26th—excluding Christmas Day—this local holiday attraction has become a favorite in the NoCo community. The gardens, flower beds, sculptures, ponds and cornfields will be lit by hundreds of thousands of LED lights. And during the weekends, you can visit with Santa, listen to holiday music, make seasonal crafts and enjoy warm drinks. The show is expanding this year, so it will be even bigger and brighter than ever!
How to Survive Your Family at Christmas | Fort Collins
Where: Bas Bleu Theatre
When: December 10-26, Times Vary
Nothing says the holidays quite like family, fights and carolers! Learn How to Survive Your Family at Christmas during this spectacular play at Bas Bleu Theatre. Performances run on select days throughout December. Click here to see the schedule and to purchase your tickets.
Sweaty Sweater Race | Fort Collins
Where: Foothills Mall
When: December 11, 9 a.m.
Photo courtesy of Green Events
Don your ugliest holiday sweaters and participate in the Sweaty Sweater 4-Mile Run Walk, benefiting an Adopt-A-Family program in our local community. Adopt-A-Family is an outreach ministry run by Serve 6.8 that partners with local churches, businesses and the community to help meet the tangible needs of local families at Christmas time. This fun and festive event is for everyone—whether you are casually walking, running for an award, or simply prancing toward the finish line for beer and hot chocolate!
Holiday Open House at the Avery House | Fort Collins
Where: The Avery House
When: December 11, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
See the Avery House decorated in Victorian holiday style on the first weekend in December! There will be six Victorian Christmas trees on display and live music played throughout the day. Plus, Grandfather and Grandmother Christmas are planning to make a special appearance! After exploring the house, shop the Avery Carriage House boutique for craft items, gifts, books, baked goods and homemade toffee.
Tuba Christmas | Fort Collins
Where: Oak Street Plaza
When: December 11, 2-3 p.m.
Join 100 tuba and euphonium players at Oak Street Plaza for a spectacular holiday performance of traditional Christmas carols arranged in four-part harmony, under the direction of Cecil Gutierrez. Audience sing-along participation is encouraged!
Christmas Walk in the Woods | Loveland
Where: The Savage Woods
When: December 11-January 2 (Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)
Photo courtesy of Christmas Walk in the Woods
If you loved Creepy Walk in the Woods during the fall, return to The Savage Woods in Loveland for Christmas in the Woods, featuring way less creepiness and way more festiveness! Each night between December 11th and January 2 (excluding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day), the woods will be open for exploration. Enjoy twinkling lights under the stars—plus a visit from Santa and carolers on select evenings! For tickets and more details, click here.
Santa Catch 5K, 10K & Kids Fun Run | Windsor
Where: CR-17
When: December 18, 9:30 a.m.
This jolly event is another race to help support Adopt A Family, which will be serving thousands of local families in need this holiday season. The 5k race kicks off at the new bridge on CR-17 and will wind through the golf course at Pelican Lakes in Water Valley and up Santa’s hill for that final push. There is also a 10k race and a free kids fun run so the whole family can join in!
A Christmas Carol | Fort Collins
Where: The Lincoln Center
When: December 18, 3 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
A Musical Christmas Carol has become a local tradition—and thankfully, it’s returning to the Lincoln Center for another year of humbugs and happy tidings. Watch the talented performers present a show based on the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol with the music of 26 beloved traditional carols woven into the show. Tickets for both shows are on sale now!
It’s a Wonderful Life Screening | Loveland
Where: Rialto Theater
When: December 20, 7 p.m.
Catch this holiday classic on the big screen at Rialto Theater on December 20th! This showing is just one of the many seasonal films they’ll be showing at the Rialto this month. Click here to see what other shows they’ve got going on, including White Christmas, National Lampoons Christmas Vacation and more.
Happy Holidays!
What holiday events are you looking forward to this year? Let us know in the comments below!
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