What to do with kids in Denver over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by five museums, zoos and play places: five say they’re open on Christmas Day and five on New Year’s Day. Plus eight dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.
Dec 24 · Dec 25 · Jan 1
Holiday hours from each place’s own page, side by side. Many are standing rules (“closed Christmas Day”) that hold year to year, but a quick check that morning is worth it.
“Not posted” means the place’s own page doesn’t say. Call or check the morning of.
Day by day
Pick a day to see what’s on. Many places close early on Dec 24 and Dec 31, so check each card’s times.
FlatIron Crossing, base of the Grand Staircase · 1 W. FlatIron Crossing Dr., Broomfield, CO 80021
Good to know: Closed Thanksgiving. Book ahead to skip the wait.
Denver Zoo · 2300 Steele St., Denver, CO 80205
Good to know: Tickets on sale Nov 5. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Denver Botanic Gardens, York Street · 1007 York St., Denver, CO 80206
Good to know: Closed Nov 26 and Dec 25. Sensory-friendly night Tue, Dec 1, 5–8pm. Public tickets go on sale Nov 9.
Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms · 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Rd., Littleton, CO 80128
Good to know: Closed Nov 26, Nov 30, Dec 1, Dec 7, Dec 8 and Dec 25.
Tivoli Quad, Auraria Campus · Auraria Campus, Denver, CO 80204
Good to know: A 110-foot tree of LED lights with nightly light and music shows. Drone shows at 7pm.
Schweiger Ranch · 10822 S. Havana St., Lone Tree, CO 80134
Good to know: View the lit historic ranch buildings from your car in the parking lot or along Havana Street.
Gaylord Rockies Resort · 6700 N. Gaylord Rockies Blvd., Aurora, CO 80019
Good to know: A walk-through of carved ice scenes themed to The Nightmare Before Christmas, part of the resort's Christmas season.
McGregor Square · LoDo
Good to know: Nov 27–Jan 4: Mon–Thu 12–9pm, Fri–Sat 11am–9pm, Sun 12–6pm. Jan 5–25: Fri–Sat 12–9pm, Sun 12–6pm.
Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus · 2121 Children’s Museum Dr, Denver, CO 80211
Good to know: Hourly ball drops mean you can pick a countdown that fits nap time.
Broomfield Library – inventHQ Makerspace · 6 Garden Center, Broomfield, CO 80020
Good to know: A family-friendly crafting party with a countdown to noon. Kids under 12 need an adult with them.
Bison Ridge Recreation Center · 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City, CO 80022
Good to know: Ages 3 and up: Minute-to-Win-It style games and a snack bar, run by the Commerce City Recreation Department.
Denver Zoo · 2300 Steele St., Denver, CO 80205
Good to know: Tickets on sale Nov 5. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Denver Botanic Gardens, York Street · 1007 York St., Denver, CO 80206
Good to know: Closed Nov 26 and Dec 25. Sensory-friendly night Tue, Dec 1, 5–8pm. Public tickets go on sale Nov 9.
Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms · 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Rd., Littleton, CO 80128
Good to know: Closed Nov 26, Nov 30, Dec 1, Dec 7, Dec 8 and Dec 25.
Schweiger Ranch · 10822 S. Havana St., Lone Tree, CO 80134
Good to know: View the lit historic ranch buildings from your car in the parking lot or along Havana Street.
Gaylord Rockies Resort · 6700 N. Gaylord Rockies Blvd., Aurora, CO 80019
Good to know: A walk-through of carved ice scenes themed to The Nightmare Before Christmas, part of the resort's Christmas season.
Open on New Year’s Day: Denver Zoo, Butterfly Pavilion, Denver Art Museum, McGregor Skate, Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Rainy-day backup
These don’t post holiday hours yet, so check before you go. More on our indoor play page.
Keep planning
November: things to do in DenverEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in DenverEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in DenverFree days, free events and places that never charge
Free museum days in DenverFree days, Museums on Us and EBT discounts, with who gets inIndoor play in DenverIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in DenverBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Ice skating in DenverHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Thanksgiving weekend in DenverParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Noon Year’s Eve in DenverKid-friendly countdowns, home by nap
Christmas parades in DenverParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesChristmas trains in DenverPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in DenverBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in DenverChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
This week in DenverDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
Denver Zoo (Closed Christmas Day), Butterfly Pavilion (Christmas Eve last entry 12:15pm, closes 1pm; closed Christmas Day), Denver Art Museum (Closed Christmas Day), McGregor Skate (Closed Dec 24 and 25) post that they’re open on Christmas Day.
On the calendar: Santa Photos at FlatIron Crossing.
Denver Zoo (Not listed), Butterfly Pavilion (New Year’s Eve last entry 2:15pm, closes 3pm; New Year’s Day opens 11am), Denver Art Museum (Not listed), McGregor Skate (New Year’s Eve closes at 6pm).
On the calendar for Jan 1: Zoo Lights, Blossoms of Light, Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms and Schweiger Ranch Holiday Display of Lights and one more. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.
Zoo Lights, Blossoms of Light, Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms, Mile High Tree and Schweiger Ranch Holiday Display of Lights. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 26, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. How we choose and check.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Denver, through the holidays.
