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 2024 "NoCo Holiday Light Trail". Keep reading to discover the entire trail of the best light viewings and ceremonies this holiday season!
Photo Credit: Visit Boulder
Fort Collins
Photo Credit: Richard Haro
Downtown Holiday Lighting Ceremony | Friday, November 1st | 5:30pm-7pm | Old Town Fort Collins
Join us in Old Town Square on November 1st for the Downtown Fort Collins Holiday Lighting Ceremony. The lights are expected to turn on after a short countdown, around 6:30pm. 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 28th through Tuesday, 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 Day and runs through New Year's Eve. They are open Thursday-Sunday nights from 5pm - 8:45pm, and every night starting the week before Christmas (December 19th- 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 5th through Sunday, December 29th | 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!
This year's public dates are Thursday, 12/5 through Sunday, 12/8 + Thursday 12/12 through Sunday 12/15, Thursday 12/19 through Monday 12/23, and Thursday 12/26 through Sunday 12/29. 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 $299 (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
Photo Credit: Visit Loveland
Festival of Lights | Friday, November 22nd | 5pm-8pm | Downtown Loveland (228 E 4th St)
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!
Photo Credit: Visit Loveland
Winter Wonderlights | Saturday, November 23rd through Wednesday, January 1st | 4:30pm-9pm | Chapungu Sculpture Park, 5995 Sky Pond Drive, Loveland
Head to Loveland's Chapungu Sculpture Garden from November 23-January 1 to view this free nightly holiday light show illuminated with over 200,000 holiday lights set to music from 5pm-9pm, nightly. Don't miss special programming on Winter Wonderlights LIVE nights with musical performances, live reindeer, ice sculpting, holiday characters, an artisan market and food/drink vendors. LIVE Nights are Saturday, November 23, Friday, December 13, and Saturday, December 14 from 4:30-8:30PM, timing of individual performances/attractions may vary.
Admission is free and open to the public. Please park behind the Macy's. For more information, click here!
12 Days of Christmas Display | Friday, December 22nd through Wednesday, 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 13th through Tuesday, 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 13th | 5pm-8pm | Roosevelt Park, Longmont
Head to Longmont for a stroll around Roosevelt Park, lit up with thousands of holiday festival lights. Dress for the weather! This festival features hot cocoa carts, costumed characters, fire pits, Santa's Workshop (at the Memorial Building), Visits with Santa (at the Senior Center) and holiday music! Click this link for more event information!
Longmont Lights Parade | Saturday, December 14th | 5pm | Main St & Kimbark St, Longmont
See all of the twinkling floats as they make their way down Main Street in this special holiday parade! Don't miss Santa as he waves to all a good night. 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 winter lights at Roosevelt Park will be live the week of 11/18 to coincide with the opening of the Ice Rink, and stay on until mid-January. Experience the magic of the season at Roosevelt Park in Longmont! Wander through a winter wonderland filled with twinkling lights and holiday cheer. Perfect for families, friends, and couples, this enchanting display will light up your holidays and create unforgettable memories. Also, join us for ice skating at the Longmont Ice Pavilion, and celebrate the joy of the season!
Holiday Lights Trolley Tour | Various dates in December | Longmont
Take a ride on the Brewhop Trolley while we visit some of the greatest holiday lights displays Longmont has to offer! All ages welcomed, and little ones who can sit on their parent’s lap don’t need a ticket. Drinks and snacks are allowed on board. 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 24th | 1300 Pearl St, Boulder
Downtown Boulder fills with twinkling holiday lights starting on November 24th, at the Switch on the Holidays event. 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 this link 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, twinkling trees and augmented reality experiences using QR codes along the way. 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 | Thursday, December 5th through Saturday, December 7th | Chautauqua Park
Each year, at the foot of the Flatirons, the historic Colorado Chautauqua hosts Winterfest, a celebration in early December that includes the lighting of Chautauqua’s historic buildings and evergreens. In 2024, Winterfest is happening December 5th-7th. 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 energy. Click this link to discover more information!
Photo Credit: University of Colorado
The Boulder Star | Mid-November 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 mid-November 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 13th through Sunday, December 15th | 5pm-7pm | Estes Park Resort
Save the date for the Estes Park Quota's Festival of Trees kick-off event on November 13th 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 15th, 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 | Saturday, November 23rd through Wednesday, 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 23rd and goes through January 1st.
Beginning November 23rd, 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. To find out all the information, visit this page.
Photo Credit: Visit Estes Park
Catch the Glow Parade | Friday, November 29th | 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
Snowman Festival Weekend | Saturday, December 7th & Sunday, December 8th | 12pm-5pm | Bond Park, Estes Park
It is sure to be an unforgettable start to the winter season with the Snowman Festival! The Snowman Scavenger Hunt will kick off, inviting you to traverse Estes Park and discover snowmen hidden within various businesses! This day is packed with fun and magic for the whole family. Enjoy nostalgic carriage rides through the winter wonderland and stand in awe as skilled artisans turn blocks of ice into stunning masterpieces right before your eyes.
This holiday season will feature a Kris Kringle Market, brimming with festive shopping and craft activities for fun and enjoyment for everyone, regardless of age. Get ready to be enchanted by the season's magic with appearances from your favorite frozen princesses and glitter tattoos, bringing heartwarming cheer. The jolly man in red, Santa himself, will be landing his sleigh with us, ready for photo ops and to hear all your holiday wishes.
The magic doesn't stop there! Rub shoulders with your favorite frozen princesses and glitter tattoos. Get your wish list ready because Santa himself will be making a special appearance. Thirsty or hungry? They have got you covered with a selection of local beer and various food trucks offering delicious eats. Remember to capture the joy and merriment of the day with plenty of photo opportunities.
At 5pm, witness the Nightly Light Show Spectacular, featuring the state's only Pixel Pine tree. This unique show blends cutting-edge technology with beloved holiday tunes for a mesmerizing light and music dance. Don't miss this unforgettable highlight of the season, and be sure to capture the magic at the life-size photo spots.
This event promises to be a memorable start to the festive season for guests of all ages. Don’t miss out on the wintry fun! To find out more, go to this link.
Sweets Stroll Festival | Saturday, December 21st & Sunday, December 22nd | 12pm-5pm | Bond Park, Estes Park
Attend this FREE family-friendly winter wonderland extravaganza at the Sweets Stroll Festival! Indulge your sweet tooth with FREE treats as you explore charming downtown Estes Park with the mouthwatering Sweets Stroll! Pick up your free Sweets Stroll punch card in Bond Park at the Sweets Stroll Festival, and let the sugary adventure begin! Your punch card will lead you to candy stores, ice cream shops, chocolatiers and bakers - each promising a free treat to punch off on your card.
This holiday season will feature a Kris Kringle Market, brimming with festive shopping and craft activities for fun and enjoyment for everyone, regardless of age. Get ready to be enchanted by the season's magic with appearances from your favorite frozen princesses and glitter tattoos, bringing heartwarming cheer. The jolly man in red, Santa himself, will be landing his sleigh, ready for photo ops and to hear all your holiday wishes. Stand in awe as skilled artisans turn blocks of ice into stunning masterpieces right before your eyes. But that's not all—indulge in the festive spirit with an array of local beer selections, perfect for toasting to the holiday season. And for those foodies, they have got you covered with food trucks boasting delicious treats to satisfy all your cravings.
At 5pm, witness the Nightly Light Show Spectacular, featuring the state's only Pixel Pine tree. This unique show blends cutting-edge technology with beloved holiday tunes for a mesmerizing light and music dance. Don't miss this unforgettable highlight of the season, and be sure to capture the magic at the life-size photo spots.
Remember to capture the memories. There will be plenty of photo opportunities throughout the event, so you'll have snapshots to cherish for years to come. Whether you're a fan of frosty princesses, delicious treats, or just in the mood for holiday cheer, our Sweets Stroll Festival is the perfect place to kick off your holiday season. Visit this link for more information. See you there!
Photo Credit: John Berry
Catch the Glow 5K Run/Walk | Saturday, December 21st | 6pm | Estes Park
Sign up for a festive, family-friendly Christmas run/walk in Estes Park. This 5k journey takes participants on a paved path through Estes Park's stunning holiday light spectacles, culminating in Bond Park amidst a charming Christmas village. After crossing the finish line, warm up with delicious hot chocolate and homemade Christmas cookies crafted by local artisans at Jubilations. Register here: Chase the Glow
Greeley
Photo Credit: City of Greeley
35th Annual Festival of Trees | Friday, November 29th through Saturday, December 7th | 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 35th 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 30th through Saturday, December 7th | Lincoln Park & Downtown Greeley, 701 10th Ave Greeley 80631
Get ready for the ultimate winter wonderland experience in Downtown Greeley! WinterFest is spreading joy over three incredible weekends. Join us as we kick off this magical season on Saturday, November 30th. Discover the entire lineup of events and all information when you click on this link.
Photo Credit: City of Greeley
Holiday Makers' Workshops | Saturday, December 14th | 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!