# Christmas break with kids in Denver, 2026

> 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.

- Last checked: 2026-10-26
- 5 places’ holiday hours; 16 dated outings
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/denver/christmas-break/
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/denver/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/denver/llms.txt

## Open or closed: Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1

- **Denver Zoo**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Closed Christmas Day; New Year’s Day Not listed. Their page says: “Standing rule on the hours page” Source: https://denverzoo.org/hours-admission/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Butterfly Pavilion**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Christmas Eve last entry 12:15pm, closes 1pm; closed Christmas Day; New Year’s Day New Year’s Eve last entry 2:15pm, closes 3pm; New Year’s Day opens 11am. Their page says: “2026 holiday hours” Source: https://butterflies.org/hours-and-admission/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Denver Art Museum**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Closed Christmas Day; New Year’s Day Not listed. Their page says: “Standing rule on the visit page” Source: https://www.denverartmuseum.org/en/plan-your-visit (checked 2026-10-26)
- **McGregor Skate**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Closed Dec 24 and 25; New Year’s Day New Year’s Eve closes at 6pm. Their page says: “2026–27 season” Source: https://www.mcgregorsquare.com/events/mcgregor-skate/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Denver Museum of Nature & Science**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Closed Christmas Day; New Year’s Day Not listed. Their page says: ““The Museum is open 363 days year-round, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. We are closed on Dec. 25 and Aug. 26.”” Source: https://www.dmns.org/visit (checked 2026-10-26)

## Christmas Eve

- **Santa Photos at FlatIron Crossing** at FlatIron Crossing, base of the Grand Staircase, 1 W. FlatIron Crossing Dr., Broomfield, CO 80021. When: Nov 6 – Dec 24, 2026. Time: Varies by week (Nov 6–22: weekdays 2–7pm, Sat 11am–7pm, Sun 11am–6pm). Price: Visits free; photo packages for sale. Closed Thanksgiving. Book ahead to skip the wait. Official page: https://www.flatironcrossing.com/santaphotos (checked 2026-10-26)

## Between Christmas and New Year’s (Dec 26–30)

- **Zoo Lights** at Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St., Denver, CO 80205. When: Select nights Nov 23, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Sun–Thu 4:30–9pm; Fri–Sat 4:30–10pm. Price: Adults $29.95, youth $22.95 ($25.95/$18.95 on value nights); 2 and under free. Tickets on sale Nov 5. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Official page: https://denverzoo.org/events/zoo-lights/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Blossoms of Light** at Denver Botanic Gardens, York Street, 1007 York St., Denver, CO 80206. When: Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027. Time: 4:30–9pm. Price: Timed tickets for everyone over 2. Closed Nov 26 and Dec 25. Sensory-friendly night Tue, Dec 1, 5–8pm. Public tickets go on sale Nov 9. Official page: https://www.botanicgardens.org/events/public-events/blossoms-light (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms** at Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms, 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Rd., Littleton, CO 80128. When: Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: 5–8:30pm. Price: Timed tickets. Closed Nov 26, Nov 30, Dec 1, Dec 7, Dec 8 and Dec 25. Official page: https://www.botanicgardens.org/events/public-events/trail-lights (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Mile High Tree** at Tivoli Quad, Auraria Campus, Auraria Campus, Denver, CO 80204. When: Nov 20 – Dec 31, 2026. Time: 5–10pm nightly. Price: Free. A 110-foot tree of LED lights with nightly light and music shows. Drone shows at 7pm. Official page: https://visitdenver.com/milehighholidays/mile-high-tree/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Schweiger Ranch Holiday Display of Lights** at Schweiger Ranch, 10822 S. Havana St., Lone Tree, CO 80134. When: Nightly Nov 26, 2026 – Jan 24, 2027. Time: After dark. Price: Free. View the lit historic ranch buildings from your car in the parking lot or along Havana Street. Official page: https://schweigerranch.org/event/schweiger-ranch-holiday-display-of-lights-2026/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **ICE! featuring The Nightmare Before Christmas at Gaylord Rockies** at Gaylord Rockies Resort, 6700 N. Gaylord Rockies Blvd., Aurora, CO 80019. When: Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Timed tickets. Price: Check site. A walk-through of carved ice scenes themed to The Nightmare Before Christmas, part of the resort's Christmas season. Official page: https://www.christmasatgaylordrockies.com/ice (checked 2026-10-26)
- **McGregor Skate** at McGregor Square, LoDo. When: Nov 27 – Jan 25. Price: Adults $15, kids $9; admission only $6; under 2 and 65+ free. 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. Official page: https://www.mcgregorsquare.com/events/mcgregor-skate/ (checked 2026-10-26)

## New Year’s Eve and Day

- **Noon Year’s Eve at the Children’s Museum of Denver** at Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus, 2121 Children’s Museum Dr, Denver, CO 80211. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: A ball drops at the top of every hour, 10am–3pm. Price: Museum admission; see the event page. Hourly ball drops mean you can pick a countdown that fits nap time. Official page: https://www.mychildsmuseum.org/events/EventDetail/noon-year's-eve-2026 (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Noon Year’s Eve at inventHQ Makerspace** at Broomfield Library – inventHQ Makerspace, 6 Garden Center, Broomfield, CO 80020. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11am–12:30pm. Price: Free. A family-friendly crafting party with a countdown to noon. Kids under 12 need an adult with them. Official page: https://compass.broomfield.org/event/noon-years-eve-56395 (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Noon Year’s Eve at Bison Ridge Recreation Center** at Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City, CO 80022. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: See registration page. Price: $5. Ages 3 and up: Minute-to-Win-It style games and a snack bar, run by the Commerce City Recreation Department. Official page: https://www.active.com/commerce-city-co/classes/noon-year-s-eve-2026 (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Zoo Lights** at Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St., Denver, CO 80205. When: Select nights Nov 23, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Sun–Thu 4:30–9pm; Fri–Sat 4:30–10pm. Price: Adults $29.95, youth $22.95 ($25.95/$18.95 on value nights); 2 and under free. Tickets on sale Nov 5. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Official page: https://denverzoo.org/events/zoo-lights/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Blossoms of Light** at Denver Botanic Gardens, York Street, 1007 York St., Denver, CO 80206. When: Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027. Time: 4:30–9pm. Price: Timed tickets for everyone over 2. Closed Nov 26 and Dec 25. Sensory-friendly night Tue, Dec 1, 5–8pm. Public tickets go on sale Nov 9. Official page: https://www.botanicgardens.org/events/public-events/blossoms-light (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms** at Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms, 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Rd., Littleton, CO 80128. When: Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: 5–8:30pm. Price: Timed tickets. Closed Nov 26, Nov 30, Dec 1, Dec 7, Dec 8 and Dec 25. Official page: https://www.botanicgardens.org/events/public-events/trail-lights (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Schweiger Ranch Holiday Display of Lights** at Schweiger Ranch, 10822 S. Havana St., Lone Tree, CO 80134. When: Nightly Nov 26, 2026 – Jan 24, 2027. Time: After dark. Price: Free. View the lit historic ranch buildings from your car in the parking lot or along Havana Street. Official page: https://schweigerranch.org/event/schweiger-ranch-holiday-display-of-lights-2026/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **ICE! featuring The Nightmare Before Christmas at Gaylord Rockies** at Gaylord Rockies Resort, 6700 N. Gaylord Rockies Blvd., Aurora, CO 80019. When: Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Timed tickets. Price: Check site. A walk-through of carved ice scenes themed to The Nightmare Before Christmas, part of the resort's Christmas season. Official page: https://www.christmasatgaylordrockies.com/ice (checked 2026-10-26)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
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## FAQ

### What’s open on Christmas Day in Denver with kids?
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.

### What can we do with kids on Christmas Eve in Denver?
On the calendar: Santa Photos at FlatIron Crossing.

### What’s open on New Year’s Day in Denver?
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).

### What can we do with kids on New Year’s Day in Denver?
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.

### What is there to do with kids between Christmas and New Year’s in Denver?
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.

### How do you check these holiday hours?
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](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).