# Christmas lights in Denver for little kids, 2026

> 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.

- Last checked: 2026-10-26
- 10 listings with 2026 dates; 0 without posted dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/denver/christmas-lights/
- Santa (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/denver/santa/index.md
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/denver/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/denver/llms.txt

## Drive-thru Christmas lights

- **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/

## Walk-through lights and light trails

- **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/
- **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
- **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
- **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/
- **9NEWS Parade of Lights** at Downtown Denver, Downtown Denver, Denver, CO 80202. When: Sat, Dec 5, 2026. Time: Evening. Price: Free to watch. The 52nd annual lighted parade downtown. Official page: https://www.downtowndenver.com/parade-of-lights
- **Candlelight Walk in Downtown Littleton** at Main Street, Downtown Littleton, Main St., Littleton, CO 80120. When: Fri, Nov 27, 2026. Time: 5–8pm. Price: Free. Performers and a tree lighting with Santa, then a drone show. Official page: https://visitlittleton.org/events-and-programs/candlelight-walk/
- **McGregor Square Holiday Tree Lighting** at McGregor Square, 1901 Wazee St., Denver, CO 80202. When: Fri, Nov 27, 2026. Time: 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. Official page: https://www.mcgregorsquare.com/event/mcgregor-skate-grand-opening-holiday-tree-lighting/
- **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
- **Golden Candlelight Walk** at Washington Ave., downtown Golden, Washington Ave., Golden, CO 80401. When: Fri, Dec 4, 2026. Time: About 6:30pm. Price: Free. A candlelit walk down Washington Avenue that switches on 45,000 holiday lights downtown. Official page: https://www.visitgolden.com/events/holiday-events/olde-golden-holidays/candlelight-walk/

## Light displays that come back every year

- [Blossoms of Light](https://littlesweekly.com/denver/events/blossoms-of-light-denver-botanic-gardens/): next dates Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027
- [Mile High Tree](https://littlesweekly.com/denver/events/mile-high-tree-tivoli-quad/): next dates Nov 20 – Dec 31, 2026
- [Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms](https://littlesweekly.com/denver/events/trail-of-lights-at-chatfield-farms-denver-botanic-gardens/): next dates Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
- [Zoo Lights](https://littlesweekly.com/denver/events/zoo-lights-denver/): next dates Nov 23, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
- [Schweiger Ranch Holiday Display of Lights](https://littlesweekly.com/denver/events/schweiger-ranch-holiday-display-of-lights/): next dates Nov 26, 2026 – Jan 24, 2027
- [Candlelight Walk in Downtown Littleton](https://littlesweekly.com/denver/events/candlelight-walk-in-downtown-littleton-main-street/): next dates Nov 27, 2026
- [McGregor Square Holiday Tree Lighting](https://littlesweekly.com/denver/events/mcgregor-square-holiday-tree-lighting/): next dates Nov 27, 2026

## Christmas trains near Denver

- [Christmas train rides near Denver](https://littlesweekly.com/denver/christmas-trains/index.md): Holiday lights trains, Polar Express rides and more, 4 with 2026 dates, ages, prices and booking notes.

## More holiday outings in Denver

- [The Nutcracker with kids in Denver](https://littlesweekly.com/denver/nutcracker/index.md): 5 shows with 2026 dates, run times, ages and sensory-friendly performances.
- [Christmas markets in Denver](https://littlesweekly.com/denver/christmas-markets/index.md): 3 markets and winter wonderlands with 2026 dates, hours and stroller notes.

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### 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](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).