Did You Know Colorado’s Christmas Capital Isn’t In The Mountains

People bring up this topic every holiday season. Which town in the Centennial State should be called the Christmas Capital of Colorado? While our state definitely has more than one Christmas town, there can be only one Christmas Capital.

The title did not start on a ski run; it grew up in the city of Denver. Century-old lighting and big civic displays have made the Mile High City famous for holiday cheer. Keep scrolling to learn more about the city that loves to decorate most for the holidays, and how that tradition has spread statewide over the years.

The History: Sturgeon, Civic Lights, and a Nickname That Stuck

Read More: Shop Your Favorite Holiday Albums in the Taste of Country Store

The legend of Denver’s love for Christmas lights is credited, in part, to D.D. (David Dwight) Sturgeon, a Denver electrician famous for dipping bulbs in paint to string them outside his home so his sick child could see them from the window. His home quickly became a spectacle within his neighborhood, and many residents in Denver began to copy his idea in the 1910s and 1920s

City-led displays followed with the municipal lighting of the Civic Center and City and County building by the 1930s. Soon, newspapers and radio stations created local holiday light contests, which amplified Denver’s reputation as the state’s holiday leader.

Denver, Colorado's Holiday Must-See Events

• Light the Lights — City & County Building (Civic Center Park): This must-see nightly choreographed light & music show that officially kicks off with the city’s “Light the Lights.” Address: 1437 Bannock St., Denver, CO 80202. Run dates: Light-the-Lights kickoff Nov 21, 2025; nightly shows Nov 21, 2025 – Jan 26, 2026 (show times vary).
• Denver Christkindl Market (Auraria / Tivoli Quad): an open-air German-style holiday market with vendors, mulled wine, and seasonal gifts. Address: Tivoli Quad, 1000 Larimer St., Denver, CO 80204. Run dates: Nov 21 – Dec 23, 2025.
• 9 NEWS Parade of Lights (Downtown / Civic Center route): Denver’s long-running illuminated parade with floats, marching bands, and balloon characters. Location/route start: Civic Center Park, 101 W 14th Ave, Denver, CO 80204 (parade routes vary). Dates:  Dates vary each season.

Western Colorado Holiday Highlights Worth the Drive

• Frisco Wassail Days: a small-town, weeklong holiday celebration with wassail sampling, parades, and family events. Typical dates (2025 example): Nov 29 – Dec 7, 2025. Town page & info: Wassail Days Info Page. Frisco Visitor Center: 300 Main St., Frisco, CO 80443.
• Glenwood Springs Winter on the Mountain / Winter Lighting: Glenwood Caverns’ mountaintop lights and gondola rides make for a hot-springs & lights combo. Address: Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, 51000 Two Rivers Plaza Rd, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601. Seasonal Dates: mid-November through early January.
• Breckenridge Lighting of Breckenridge & Race of the Santas: historic Main Street tree lighting, Santa race, and dog parade, a quintessential mountain-village holiday spectacle. Location: Main Street, Breckenridge, CO 80424 (event usually the first weekend in December). Event info: Event page @gobreck.com
• Grand Junction — Downtown tree lighting: the Western Slope’s hometown holiday kickoff with community activities on Fourth & Main. The event marks the beginning of a month-long series of activities to celebrate the holidays, with lights and decorations throughout the downtown.

Read More: Show Us the Grand Valley Holiday Light Displays

Get our free mobile app