Lights 2026 · Denver

Christmas lights in Denver for little kids, picked for early bedtimes.

Ten Christmas light displays in and around Denver have 2026 dates: 1 drive-thru and 9 walk-throughs. Six are free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 6:30 p.m. at Golden Candlelight Walk. They’re spread over five areas, with the most in Denver.

10displays with dates
1drive-thru
6free
6:30 pmearliest evening start

Last checked · How we choose

All 10 displays

Pick tonight’s lights

Tap a filter to narrow it down. Every card has hours, price and what it’s like with a little one.

Walk-through

Zoo Lights

Denver Zoo · 2300 Steele St., Denver, CO 80205

Walk-throughBook ahead
When
Select nights Nov 23, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
Earliest start
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
Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 26 on the official page

Report a problem
Walk-through

Blossoms of Light

Denver Botanic Gardens, York Street · 1007 York St., Denver, CO 80206

Walk-throughBook ahead
When
Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027
Earliest start
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
Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 26 on the official page

Report a problem
Walk-through

Mile High Tree

Tivoli Quad, Auraria Campus · Auraria Campus, Denver, CO 80204

Walk-throughFree
When
Nov 20 – Dec 31, 2026
Earliest start
5–10pm nightly
Price
Free
  • A 110-foot tree of LED lights with nightly light and music shows
  • Drone shows at 7pm

Little-kid take: Free, so it’s an easy one to try for a short visit.

Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 26 on the official page

Report a problem
Walk-through

9NEWS Parade of Lights

Downtown Denver · Downtown Denver, Denver, CO 80202

Walk-throughFree
When
Sat, Dec 5, 2026
Earliest start
Evening
Price
Free to watch
  • The 52nd annual lighted parade downtown

Little-kid take: Free, so it’s an easy one to try for a short visit.

Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 26 on the official page

Report a problem
Walk-through

McGregor Square Holiday Tree Lighting

McGregor Square · 1901 Wazee St., Denver, CO 80202

Walk-throughFreeSanta too
When
Fri, Nov 27, 2026
Earliest start
1–8pm (tree lit at halftime of the 1pm Broncos game)
Price
Free
  • Photos with Dinger in a Santa suit 2–4pm
  • Elf on the big screen after the game

Little-kid take: Free, so it’s an easy one to try for a short visit.

Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 26 on the official page

Report a problem
Drive-thru

Schweiger Ranch Holiday Display of Lights

Schweiger Ranch · 10822 S. Havana St., Lone Tree, CO 80134

Drive-thruFree
When
Nightly Nov 26, 2026 – Jan 24, 2027
Earliest start
After dark
Price
Free
  • View the lit historic ranch buildings from your car in the parking lot or along Havana Street

Little-kid take: Stays in the car: the easiest pick with a baby or a toddler who may fall asleep. PJs on, car seat buckled, no stroller needed.

Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 26 on the official page

Report a problem
Walk-through

Golden Candlelight Walk

Washington Ave., downtown Golden · Washington Ave., Golden, CO 80401

Walk-throughFree
When
Fri, Dec 4, 2026
Earliest start
About 6:30pm
Price
Free
  • A candlelit walk down Washington Avenue that switches on 45,000 holiday lights downtown

Little-kid take: Free, so it’s an easy one to try for a short visit.

Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 26 on the official page

Report a problem
Nov 1 – Jan 24

When each one is open

Nothing is lit yet. Blossoms of Light opens first, on Nov 20. Blossoms of Light, ICE! featuring The Nightmare Before Christmas at Gaylord Rockies and Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms run into the new year.

Blossoms of Light Nov 20 – Jan 10
Mile High Tree Nov 20 – Dec 31
ICE! featuring The Nightmare Before Christmas at Gaylord Rockies Nov 20 – Jan 3
Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms Nov 21 – Jan 3
Zoo Lights Nov 23 – Jan 3
Schweiger Ranch Holiday Display of Lights Nov 26 – Jan 24
Candlelight Walk in Downtown Littleton Nov 27
McGregor Square Holiday Tree Lighting Nov 27
Golden Candlelight Walk Dec 4
9NEWS Parade of Lights Dec 5
Nov 1Dec 1Jan 1
Early bedtime plan

Lights before bedtime

In early December the sun sets around 4:35 p.m. in Denver (the dashed line). Here’s when each display opens, on a scale from 4 to 9 p.m.

Golden Candlelight Walk

6:30 p.m. start · plan about an hour

About 6:30pm

Candlelight Walk in Downtown Littleton

8 p.m. start · plan about an hour

5–8pm

McGregor Square Holiday Tree Lighting

8 p.m. start · plan about an hour

1–8pm (tree lit at halftime of the 1pm Broncos game)

Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms

8:30 p.m. start · plan about an hour

5–8:30pm

Zoo Lights

9 p.m. start · plan about an hour

Sun–Thu 4:30–9pm; Fri–Sat 4:30–10pm

Blossoms of Light

9 p.m. start · plan about an hour

4:30–9pm

Drive-thru or walk-through?

Which is better for little kids?

🚗 Stay in the car

  • Babies and toddlers stay warm and buckled, PJs and all
  • No stroller, no mitten battles, no lost hats
  • A car-seat nap can turn straight into bedtime
  • Check the listing for timed slots and refund rules

Pick: Schweiger Ranch Holiday Display of Lights

🚶 Get out and walk

  • Kids 3 and up love running ahead to the next display
  • Bring the stroller where the venue allows it (see each card)
  • Plan a snack stop and a bathroom break
  • Check sensory notes for bright lights and crowds

Picks: Zoo Lights, Blossoms of Light, Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms, Mile High Tree and 5 more

Bring along

The little-kid lights kit

Mittens on a stringLittle hands get cold fast after dark.
Warm drink in a thermosA treat to look forward to at the halfway point.
Hat and a blanketFor the stroller, or the car once the heat is off.
PJs before you goSo a car-seat nap can turn straight into bedtime.
2026 prices

Prices at a glance

From each venue’s own page. Check whether a price is per car or per person before you book.

DisplayPriceLittle kidsGood to know
Zoo LightsAdults $29.95, youth $22.95 ($25.95/$18.95 on value nights); 2 and under free2 and under freeWalk-through
Blossoms of LightTimed tickets for everyone over 2See the venueWalk-through
Trail of Lights at Chatfield FarmsTimed ticketsSee the venueWalk-through
Mile High TreeFreeSee the venueWalk-through
9NEWS Parade of LightsFree to watchSee the venueWalk-through
Candlelight Walk in Downtown LittletonFreeSee the venueWalk-through
McGregor Square Holiday Tree LightingFreeSee the venueWalk-through
Schweiger Ranch Holiday Display of LightsFreeSee the venueDrive-thru
ICE! featuring The Nightmare Before Christmas at Gaylord RockiesCheck siteSee the venueWalk-through
Golden Candlelight WalkFreeSee the venueWalk-through
Also this season

Want Santa with your lights?

See all 12 Santa outings in and around Denver: breakfasts, photo spots and evening visits, with 2026 prices.

Santa in Denver →
Good questions

Christmas lights in Denver: questions parents ask

Are there free Christmas lights in Denver?

Yes. Mile High Tree, 9NEWS Parade of Lights, Candlelight Walk in Downtown Littleton, McGregor Square Holiday Tree Lighting and Schweiger Ranch Holiday Display of Lights and 1 more are free in 2026.

What’s the cheapest Christmas light show in Denver?

Going by the lowest posted 2026 price: Zoo Lights (Adults $29.95, youth $22.95 ($25.95/$18.95 on value nights); 2 and under free). Check whether a price is per car or per person before you compare.

Drive-thru or walk-through: which is better with little kids?

With a baby or a sleepy toddler, a drive-thru is easiest: they stay buckled in and warm. One of the 10 displays can be driven: Schweiger Ranch Holiday Display of Lights. Walk-throughs (nine here) are better for kids who want to run around.

What time do the Christmas lights start in Denver? We have an early bedtime.

The earliest evening starts: Golden Candlelight Walk at 6:30 p.m., Candlelight Walk in Downtown Littleton at 8 p.m. and McGregor Square Holiday Tree Lighting at 8 p.m. The first hour after opening is the easiest with an early bedtime.

Which light shows are best for kids under 3?

Little ones get in free at Zoo Lights (2 and under free). With a baby, a drive-thru keeps everyone warm in the car.

How do you check these Christmas lights listings?

Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page, and links to it. We list dates, times and prices only when that page shows them for 2026; anything without posted dates goes in “Dates not posted yet” instead. These were last checked Oct 26, 2026, and we recheck them in early November and again in early December. How we choose and check.

Keep planning: This week in Denver · Denver city guide · Visiting Denver

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Every year

Light displays that come back every year

Each of these comes back every year. Its page keeps the last confirmed dates, and the new ones go up there once they’re posted. Every year in Denver

Blossoms of LightNext: Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027Mile High TreeNext: Nov 20 – Dec 31, 2026Trail of Lights at Chatfield FarmsNext: Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027Zoo LightsNext: Nov 23, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027Schweiger Ranch Holiday Display of LightsNext: Nov 26, 2026 – Jan 24, 2027Candlelight Walk in Downtown LittletonNext: Nov 27, 2026McGregor Square Holiday Tree LightingNext: Nov 27, 2026

By month

More dates for little kids in Denver

Things to do with kids in Denver in November · Things to do with kids in Denver in December