Northern Colorado Holiday Light Trail
Embark on a holiday light viewing journey in Fort Collins and other nearby cities through the winter wonderland of Northern Colorado! We are proud to introduce the 2025 "NoCo Holiday Light Trail". Keep reading to discover the entire trail of the best light viewings and ceremonies this holiday season!
Fort Collins
Photo Credit: Richard Haro
Downtown Holiday Lighting Ceremony | Friday, November 7th | 5:30pm-7pm | Old Town Fort Collins
Join us in Old Town Square on November 7th for the Downtown Fort Collins Holiday Lighting Ceremony. Music starts at 5:30 p.m. and lights are expected to turn on after a short countdown, around 6:30 p.m. Watch in awe as 22 block-faces of downtown illuminate with thousands of strands of lights in alleyways, along sidewalks, and within tree-tops. The impressive display of low-energy and sustainable LED lights can be enjoyed anywhere along College Avenue, the northern boundary of Laporte Avenue, and continuing south to Magnolia Street. Trees will be lit along Walnut Street, Linden Street, Pine Street, Old Town Square, Oak Street Plaza, and Mountain Avenue as well.
Best of all, you can enjoy these downtown holiday lights through Valentine's Day! Visit this link for more information.
Photo Credit: Matt Short, Whole Brand Agency
NoCo Winter Wonderland | Thursday, November 27th through Wednesday, December 31st | Fort Collins
NoCo Winter Wonderland is a one-mile, drive-through holiday light show at Colorado Youth Outdoors. This fun drive features 19 giant moving light features and over 200,000 tree lights (that's 400,000 when they reflect into the 12 surrounding ponds!). Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves will all in attendance, enjoying the festivities. Plus, this event features five of Colorado's big game species. Watch closely, you might even spot Bigfoot!
This year's NoCo Winter Wonderland opens on Thanksgiving and runs through New Year's Eve. They are open Thursday-Sunday nights from 5:15 p.m. - 8:15 p.m., and every night starting the week before Christmas (December 18th- December 31st).
Funds raised from NoCo Winter Wonderland support Colorado Youth Outdoors, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to build relationships through outdoor recreation, including fishing, archery, outdoor survival and shooting sports. Timed Entry tickets are available starting November 1st. To purchase tickets and for more information, click here.
Photo Credit: City of Fort Collins/Gardens on Spring Creek
Garden of Lights Winter Holiday Lights Festival | Weekend dates from Thursday, December 12th through Sunday, December 28th | The Gardens on Spring Creek, Fort Collins
This December, let your holiday spirit shine at Garden of Lights! Explore The Gardens on Spring Creek’s whimsical half-mile loop, glowing with colorful grapevines, towering flowerbeds, dancing blossoms, and vibrant displays. You won't want to miss this magical experience - where every step illuminates a world of wonder!
Visit with Santa (onsite nightly through Dec. 23) and enjoy other live entertainers while you warm up with a hot cocoa or beverage from our full bar. New this year, don’t miss our Ice Forest, where you may catch a glimpse of the magical Ice Queen herself on select nights.
This year's public dates are Friday, December 12 through Sunday, December 28th. General pricing for adults and kids 12 years of age and older is $12, children from 5-11 years of age are $8, and children 4 and under are FREE! For more information, visit this link.
BONUS: Sit back and enjoy the lights thanks to NoCo Party Bus!
The NoCo Party Bus, based in Fort Collins, offers holiday tours Sundays through Thursdays in December in stunning limousine buses. During the two-hour packages, sit back and relax as your driver takes you on a tour of some of the best holiday light displays in Northern Colorado. Vehicles that fit 12-30 passengers are available and packages start at $375 (plus gratuity). Pick-ups are available in Fort Collins as well as Timnath, Windsor, Wellington and Loveland. No tours available on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve.
Loveland
All is Bright Tour | Friday, November 14th - Thursday, January 1st | 5pm-9pm | Centerra (including Chapungu Sculpture Park, The Promenade Shops, Marketplace at Centerra, Centerra Motorplex, and along U.S. Highway 34)
Centerra presents the All is Bright Tour. This festive holiday experience features newly imagined light displays across Centerra, transforming the area into a vibrant winter wonderland. Visitors can enjoy a specially curated holiday music streaming site to accompany their stroll through the lights, while interactive fun continues with The Great Gift Hunt, a family-friendly scavenger adventure inviting guests to find seven “lost presents” hidden around Centerra. Participants who locate all seven can enter to win festive prizes, creating a joyful, immersive holiday destination experience across Centerra. Click here for more information!
Photo Credit: Visit Loveland
Festival of Lights | Friday, November 21st | 5pm-8pm | Downtown Loveland (Along 4th Street & the Foundry Plaza)
A Loveland hometown tradition, the Festival of Lights draws local crowds into Downtown Loveland for the debut of holiday lighting along 4th Street. Celebrate the holiday season with live music and entertainment, a tree lighting ceremony, holiday market, carriage rides, Santa and more! This event is free and open to the public. For more information, click here!
12 Days of Christmas Display | Friday, November 21st through Thursday, January 1st | 5pm-9pm | Dwayne Webster Park, 422 W Eisenhower Blvd, Loveland
This holiday light event features a larger-than-life, drive-by illuminated display based on the classic Christmas Carol, the 12 Days of Christmas. Bring your family and friends and come enjoy this spectacular free light display!
Photo Credit: Visit Loveland
Christmas Walk in the Woods | Friday, December 12th through Wednesday, December 31st (except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) | 5pm-8pm | 1750 Savage Road, Loveland
A delightful holiday lights walk through an illuminated, rustic outdoor pathway through the woods featuring backdrops including Santa’s House, Elf Workshop, a 1968 Chevrolet Christmas Truck and more. There is a fee for admission - find out more information at this link!
Longmont
Photo Credit: City of Longmont
Longmont Lights Festival | Friday, December 12th | 5pm-8pm | Roosevelt Park, Longmont
Step into the sparkle at Roosevelt Park, glowing with thousands of holiday lights! Sip hot cocoa, meet costumed characters, warm up by the fire pits, and pop into Santa’s Workshop at the Memorial Building, or visit the big guy himself at the Senior Center. Holiday music fills the air all night long. The grand finale is a dazzling laser show at 7:45 PM you won’t want to miss! Click this link for more event information!
Longmont Lights Parade | Saturday, December 13th | 5pm | Main St
Main Street will twinkle as dazzling floats roll by in this holiday favorite. Wave to Santa as he closes the show with a jolly “good night!” Grab your spot early because it’s the brightest parade of the year! For more info, go to this page.
Photo Credit: City of Longmont
Roosevelt Park Winter Lights | Mid-November through Mid-January | 700 Longs Peak, Downtown Longmont
The magic lasts all season long! Starting the week of November 21, Roosevelt Park transforms into a glowing winter wonderland to match the Ice Pavilion opening. Wander under shimmering lights, skate under the stars, and let the holiday vibes fill your heart. Perfect for families, friends, or a romantic stroll. For more information, check out the website here.
Downtown Longmont's Giant Holiday Ornament | November through January | St. Stephen’s Plaza (5th & Main)
Step inside the magic of Downtown Longmont with its dazzling giant holiday ornament at St. Stephen’s Plaza (5th & Main). This oversized, walk-in ornament sparkles with thousands of lights and is large enough for the whole family to gather inside. Visitors love taking festive photos beneath its golden arches and twinkling glow, making it a must-see stop along the holiday light trail.
Holiday Lights Trolley Tour | Various dates in December | Longmont
Hop aboard the Brewhop Trolley and take a merry ride through Longmont’s most spectacular holiday light displays! Bring your cocoa (or your favorite brew), pack some snacks, and get ready for a magical ride. All ages welcome, little kids as lap riders ride free. Seats sell fast, so snag your tickets in advance. Tickets go on sale early November! Tickets must be purchased in advance - to purchase, and to find out more information, visit this link.
Boulder
Photo Credit: Downtown Boulder Partnership
Lights in Downtown Boulder | Sunday, November 23rd | 1300 Pearl St, Boulder
Downtown Boulder fills with twinkling holiday lights starting on November 23rd, at the Switch on the Holidays event, 2-7 pm. From then on, downtown is like a Hallmark movie, with Victorian-era buildings lining a brick-paved promenade under strings of lights. There are benches for people-watching, shops and cafes to stop into, and dazzling displays designed for photo ops everywhere you look. Visit DowntownBoulderHolidays.com for more info!
Photo Credit: City of Boulder
Snow Much Fun in Boulder’s Civic Area | Late November through January | Boulder's Civic Area
This holiday season, view hundreds of thousands of colorful LED lights that adorn Boulder’s Civic Area near the Boulder Public Library. Explore the colorful lights, fun displays, and twinkling trees. Grab a cup of hot cocoa on nearby Pearl Street and enjoy a wonder-filled stroll outside. To find out more about this event, go to their website.
The Colorado Chautauqua's Winterfest | Friday, December 12th through Saturday, December 13th | Chautauqua Park
Each year, at the foot of the Flatirons, the historic Colorado Chautauqua hosts Winterfest, a celebration that includes horse-drawn carriage rides, a winter fairy forest, visits with Santa, craft making, festive food, markets, concerts and more. In 2025, Winterfest is happening December 12th-13th. Even after Winterfest, you always can enjoy a stroll through Chautauqua Park and its surrounding historic cottages to see the lights and bask in the holiday charm. Click this link to discover more information!
Photo Credit: University of Colorado
The Boulder Star | November 11th through early January | Boulder
The Boulder Star on Flagstaff Mountain has been a Boulder tradition since 1947 and consists of 365 LED light bulbs strung in the shape of a star. The beloved display can be seen shining above Boulder from November 11th to early January. There is no hiking permitted at the Boulder Star, however, you can drive up Flagstaff Road and park at Panorama Point just beneath it for a closer view, or grab a seat beside a fire pit on one of Boulder’s patios and take in the star from afar with a hot toddy, tea or warm meal. Click here for more details!
Estes Park
Photo Credit: John Berry
Festival of Trees | Wednesday, November 12th through Sunday, December 14th | 5pm-7pm | Estes Park Resort
Save the date for the Estes Park Quota's Festival of Trees kick-off event on November 12th from 5pm-7pm. This holiday fundraiser supports Estes Park Quota's charitable work in the community. Join the fun at the Estes Park Resort to see 50 beautifully decorated holiday trees, participate in the raffle, enjoy holiday treats, and participate in the children's coloring contest. The trees will be on display until December 14th, and the event is free and open to the public. Go to this link to discover more info!
Photo Credit: John Berry
Holiday Lights Driving Tour | November 22nd through January 1st | Estes Park
Dive into the festive spirit with this enchanted map of shimmering lights and holiday adornments! Embark on a joyful journey through downtown's sparkling lights and the quaint neighborhoods of Estes Park. Remember to carve out some time for shopping and indulging in delicious sweets along your route! This complimentary, self-guided tour is perfect for immersing yourself in the holiday cheer! It begins on November 22nd and goes through January 1st.
Beginning November 22nd, experience the magic of the holidays like never before at Bond Park from 5pm–9pm every evening with Estes Park's Nightly Light Show Spectacular! Choreographed to your beloved holiday tunes, witness the dazzling display of the state-of-the-art Pixel Pine tree—the only one of its kind in the entire state of Colorado. This unique spectacle combines cutting-edge technology, creating mesmerizing patterns of light that dance in harmony with each note of music. Get ready to be blown away and experience this one-of-a-kind light show, guaranteed to be the highlight of your holiday season. Make sure your camera is ready to freeze moments in time with the life-size photo opportunities in Bond Park. And make sure to wander around to find the new life-sized light displays downtown. To find out all the information, visit this page.
Photo Credit: Visit Estes Park
Catch the Glow Parade | Friday, November 28th | 5:30pm | Elkhorn Ave, Estes Park
Catch the Glow in Estes Park this season! Each year as many as 20,000 people line Elkhorn Avenue to “Catch the Glow” of this whimsical holiday parade, as well as spend the afternoon visiting Santa and strolling through downtown Estes Park. The parade features more than 40 units, including hand-crafted floats from the Town of Estes Park and nonprofits, marching bands, fire trucks and other specialty vehicles. Click this link for more information!
Photo Credit: John Berry
Sleigh the Games | Friday, December 12th – Sunday, December 14th | Around Estes Park
Estes Park's newest winter festival offers a weekend full of festive fun. Compete in friendly challenges like a holiday obstacle course, snowball dodgeball, and human curling, jam to live DJs, and more! Enter your pup in the dog costume contest. The adventure begins with the Chase the Glow 4 Mile & 1-mile race under downtown's twinkling holiday lights and closes out with the beloved Sweets Stroll, a sweet-treat scavenger hunt through downtown Estes Park. Visit this link for more information. See you there!
Photo Credit: Cindy Mackin
Greeley
Photo Credit: City of Greeley
36th Annual Festival of Trees | Friday, November 29th through Saturday, December 6th | Union Colony Civic Center 701 10th Ave Greeley 80631
Kicking off the Friday after Thanksgiving, the Annual Festival of Trees welcomes the community to a winter wonderland of beautifully decorated trees and family fun in the lobbies of the Union Colony Civic Center. Visitors can tour the trees during public hours, enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride, look through a wide range of gifts in the silent auction, or attend one of the festival's signature events. This festival has always been a great way to bring communities together and to showcase Greeley's local creatives, businesses, and organizations!
Don’t miss a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus! All proceeds made during this special 36th anniversary of the event will support the Union Colony Civic Center and the Greeley Philharmonic Guild. To find out more information, visit this link.
Photo Credit: City of Greeley
Winterfest and Holiday Lane | Saturday, November 29th through Saturday, December 13th | Lincoln Park & Downtown Greeley, 9th Ave Greeley 80631
WinterFest lights up Downtown Greeley with joyful holiday events for the whole family. From the Holiday Open House on Shop Small Saturday to the dazzling Light Up Lincoln tree lighting and festive Holiday Lane displays, the season is packed with cheer. Don’t miss Makers’ Workshops, carriage rides, live music, and creative crafts—plus a special North Pole Mailbox for letters to Santa! Celebrate the season in the heart of Greeley. Check back often as information is updated including the entire lineup of events and all information when you click on this link.
Photo Credit: City of Greeley
Holiday Makers' Workshops | Saturday, December 13th | Downtown Greeley
Join in the fun in Downtown Greeley for all kinds of maker's workshops and get your craft on! This event will be held at various businesses around town for creating winter-themed holiday gifts. Find out more information by visiting this link.
No matter where you go in Northern Colorado, you are sure to find enchanting holiday light displays this season. Now get out there and enjoy the NoCo Light Trail!