What's on in Colorado: December

Late December, three nights · Aspen

String Cheese Incident at Belly Up Aspen

Holiday-week residency at the 450-cap Belly Up. The hardest ticket in town that week; second-stage views from the bar are usually fine.

Music · Photo: Collin Wigger on Unsplash

Late December · Boulder

Leftover Salmon at Fox Theatre

The Boulder-founded slamgrass band's annual Fox Theatre stand on the Hill. Standing room only at the 625-cap venue; locals buy in October.

Music · Photo: Collin Wigger on Unsplash

Three nights, December 29 to 31 · Boulder

Yonder Mountain String Band New Year's Run

Yonder Mountain's annual Boulder Theater stand to close the year. Balloons drop on the 31st; a horn section sometimes guests.

Music · Photo: Collin Wigger on Unsplash

Mid-December · Breckenridge

Dew Tour Copper / Breck

Four days of slopestyle and superpipe contests with the U.S. snowboard and freeski national teams. Bleachers below the pipe; livestream on NBC.

Ski · Photo: EcoNaturalist.com on Unsplash

December 31 · Breckenridge

Torchlight Parade & Fireworks

Ski patrollers and instructors descend Peak 9 carrying torches at midnight, followed by fireworks over the village. Multiple ski towns do versions of this; Breck's is the most photogenic.

Ski · Photo: EcoNaturalist.com on Unsplash

First Saturday of December · Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs Festival of Lights Parade

Hour-long lit parade down Tejon Street through downtown. Snake-in starts at 5:50pm; about 80 entries.

Seasonal · Photo: Daniel Forster on Unsplash

First weekend of December · Commerce City

Commerce City Winter Wonderland

Free outdoor event at Pioneer Park with sledding hills, ice carving, and a free skate rink. Hot chocolate from the recreation district.

Seasonal · Photo: EcoNaturalist.com on Unsplash

Late November through early January · Denver

Blossoms of Light

More than a million lights threaded through the Denver Botanic Gardens, choreographed in some sections to music. Tickets are timed and tend to sell out close to Christmas.

Seasonal · Photo: botanicgardens.org

December 31 · Denver

Mission Ballroom New Year's Eve

AEG's 3,950-cap RiNo venue programs a big-room electronic or jam booking on New Year's Eve. Balloon drop at midnight; show ends near 1:30am.

Music · Photo: Collin Wigger on Unsplash

December 31 · Denver

New Year's Eve Fireworks on 16th Street

Two rounds of fireworks above 16th Street at 9pm and midnight. The 9pm round is for kids; midnight crowd is rowdier.

Seasonal

December 31 · Denver

Ogden Theatre New Year's Eve

The 1700-cap East Colfax venue runs a New Year's Eve booking that's usually a jam-leaning Colorado act. Floor sells out two weeks ahead.

Music · Photo: Collin Wigger on Unsplash

Mid-December · Denver

Zoo Lights at Denver Zoo

Two million lights wrapped through the zoo's animal habitats and walking paths. Buy timed-entry tickets a week ahead; admission separate from the regular zoo ticket.

Seasonal

First weekend of December · Georgetown

Georgetown Christmas Market Opening Weekend

Opening of the German-style Christmas market on Georgetown's 6th Street. Roasted chestnuts, glühwein, and the Georgetown Loop holiday train pulls in to drop off shoppers.

Seasonal · Photo: Larry George II on Unsplash

First Saturday of December · Longmont

Longmont Lights

Free family festival at Roosevelt Park with the tree lighting at 6pm. Hot chocolate from the Longmont Fire pipe-and-drum tent.

Seasonal · Photo: EcoNaturalist.com on Unsplash

First Saturday of December · Manitou Springs

Manitou Springs Carnival of Lights Parade

Lit floats and walking groups down Manitou Avenue through the historic district. Most of the storefronts stay open late.

Seasonal · Photo: Lexi Laginess on Unsplash

Mid-December · Telluride

Sheridan Opera House: Noel Night

Holiday concert by the Telluride Choral Society at the 1913 opera house. Reception in the lobby after.

Music · Photo: Collin Wigger on Unsplash

Mid-December · Vail

U.S. Revolution Tour Halfpipe & Slopestyle Vail

Junior development circuit weekend at Golden Peak. Free spectating from the deck; competitors are mostly 14 to 18.

Ski

Early December · Vail

Vail Snow Daze

A weeklong opening-of-season party in Vail Village with free concerts, pond skims, and the kind of crowd that pretends it isn't there to be seen. The real ski test of the year.

Ski