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We’ve hit that point in December where a large percentage of the events around the city are some kind of holiday offering, whether it’s holiday tea, ornament-making or gingerbread house-decorating. Find your preferred flavor of festive here.
On a budget? Check out our list of free things to do. But for now, stick around for events worth the price of admission in and around Denver:
Things to Do in Denver This Weekend
Embark on the Winter Park Express
Friday, December 19, through Sunday, January 4, 7 a.m.
Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop Street
The Winter Park Ski Train is back on the railroad as of Friday, December 19, for trips from Denver’s Union Station to Winter Park Resort. One-way fares start at $9, with kids fares (age 2-12) starting at $4.50. Pack your skis or snowboards as a carry-on for no additional charge.
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Silverthorne Ice Castles
Friday, December 19, through Saturday, February 21
125 Stephens Way, Silverthorne
Reserve your spot to enjoy all things ice in Silverthorne, from ice sculptures and slides to tunnels, caverns and even an ice bar. Peak ticket pricing is $23-$30 while off-peak pricing is $16-$22. See dates here.
Laser Stranger Things
Friday, December 19, 7 p.m.
Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard
Excited for the next drop of Stranger Things Season 5? Immerse yourself in iconic ’80s tunes and eerie soundscapes from the show reimagined in vibrant laser light at DMNS’s Gates Planetarium. General museum admission is required to get into the show.
Fused Holiday Suncatcher & Ornament Workshop
Friday, December 19, 6 p.m.; and Saturday, December 20, 1 p.m.
1440 West 52nd Avenue
Come into this experience with no experience, and come out with two fused glass ornaments or sun-catchers of your own creation. The glass bases are pre-cut and ready to go; workshop attendees will arrange colorful glass bits, frit and stringers to create unique designs. Tickets are $75.
Rainforest Yoga
Saturdays and Sundays, 7:45-8:45 a.m.
Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 West 104th Avenue, Westminster
Get your yoga mat and a towel and head to the Butterfly Pavilion for rejuvenating yoga surrounded by butterflies and exotic plants. Registration, which is $18, is required before the class. Register here.
Make Your Own Glass Ornaments
Saturday, December 20, 9 a.m. to noon
D&L Art Glass, 1440 West 52nd Avenue
Learn to make your own glaskolben ornament, a mouth-blown sphere. This class is perfect for beginner glass artists or people looking to make their own ornaments. Each student will have a chance to make ten ornaments during the session and a large assortment of colored frit will be available for use. All materials are included in the class fee, which is $149.
Holiday Tea
Saturday, December 20; Sunday, December 21, 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.
Center for Colorado Women’s History, 1310 Bannock Street
Celebrate the holidays with a cozy cup of tea and an hour-long guided Women’s History Tour followed by an hour-long tea seating. Enjoy the museum’s historic house, adorned for the season in holiday charm, and take time to celebrate this holiday season. Tickets are $40.
Gingerbread House Party
Saturday, December 20, and Sunday, December 21, 3-5 p.m.
HashTAG Central Park, 10155 East 29th Drive #120 and HashTAG Downtown Denver, 1125 17th Street #100
Join HashTAG for a sweet party full of sprinkles, frosting, food and drinks where everyone will get to decorate their own gingerbread house and enjoy a meal. Tickets are $50 for adults and $35 for children.
Rocky Mountain Holiday Puppet Slam
Saturday, December 20, 7:30-9 p.m.
The Night Owls Speakeasy, 14500 W Colfax Avenue Suite 359, Lakewood
Come see the Rocky Mountain Puppetry Guild for a run of short curated whimsical puppet shows. General admission is $10.
Sip & Craft: Dog Toy DIY
Sunday, December 21, 1 p.m.
Spirit Hound, 3622 Tejon Street
Still looking for a holiday gift for your dog? Make one at Spirit Hound during a hands-on workshop where participants will craft tug toys, fleece braids and stocking-ready treats. Tickets are $16.50.
Mistress Lovewitch’s Femdom Salon: Krampus Edition
Sunday, December 21, 6-9 p.m.
Sexploratorium, 1800 South Broadway
’Tis the season… for surrender. Mistress Lovewitch’s Femdom Salon: Krampus Edition invites you to celebrate the holidays with a wicked twist. Come to the Sexploratorium for an immersive night that brings together dommes, subs and anyone who’s curious for a sensual evening of education, performance and playful punishment. Tickets start at $25.
Plan Ahead
Naughty & Nice Showcase
Monday, December 22, 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 27, 8:30 p.m.
December 22: Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th Street
December 27: Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place Greenwood Village
This show dares six of Comedy Works’ top headliners to pull off the ultimate comedic balancing act by performing two sets, the Nice (no cursing) set and the Naughty (cursing and rated-R filth) set. Tickets range from $14-22.
Celebration Days
Wednesday, December 24, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Art Students League of Denver, 200 Grant Street
Drop in at the ASLD for art-making activities led by eight instructors, including book arts, ceramics, drawing, multimedia, printmaking and watercolor painting. Tickets are $10.
Plants, Yoga & Beer
Sunday, December 28, 11 a.m.
Bierstadt Lagerhaus, 2875 Blake Street
Immerse yourself in an all-levels vinyasa-style yoga class that comes with a plant and a bevarage. Before the class, you’ll get to do a guided meditation with your new. Tickets are $30.
Ongoing Things to Do in Denver
China and silverware from the Titanic’s sister ship, the Olympic. “The Olympic went on until it was decommissioned after World War II, so lots more exists of it because it’s not at the bottom of the ocean,” Malcomb says.
Kristen Fiore
See Justice Done: The Legacy of the Titanic Survivors’ Committee
Through Sunday, December 28
Molly Brown House Museum, 1340 Pennsylvania Street
The Molly Brown House’s new Titanic exhibit offers an intimate look at the aftermath of the Titanic for Margaret Brown and how she became known as the “Heroine of the Titanic.” The exhibit includes several newly acquired artifacts that tell the story of Brown’s role in forming and leading the Titanic Survivors’ Committee and helping those pulled to safety on the Carpathia – particularly the immigrants and Titanic crew members who lost everything with the sinking of the “Unsinkable Ship.” The exhibit is included with general museum admission and there are related event slated for those who want to dive deeper; learn more at mollybrown.org.
Magical Winter Nights Denver Zoo
Through Sunday, January 4
Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard
The DMNS has created an immersive journey of light, sound and surprise in this new holiday tradition, which includes cocoa and cocktails, indoor ice-less skating, indoor northern lights, holiday shopping and more. See dates (including 21+ nights) and buy tickets here.
See Holiday Lights
Through mid-January
Various metro locations
Denver is shining bright this holiday season, with popular displays like Zoo Lights at DZCA, Blossoms of Light at the Denver Botanic Gardens and Hudson Holidays. Click here to see Westword’s guide on the best holiday lights around Denver this year.
DMNS
The Secret World of Elephants Courtesy of Exhibition Hub/Fever
Through Sunday, January 25, 2026
Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard
The latest temporary exhibition at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, The Secret World of Elephants, opens this week, giving visitors the science behind the loveable giants. Through hands-on interactions, feel the low-frequency rumbles elephants use to communicate, explore how they reshape their environments and come face-to-face with some of their ancestors, including dwarf elephants. Get tickets and see pricing information here.
Dinos Alive Immersive Experience Courtesy of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Through Sunday, January 25
Exhibition Hub, 3900 Elati Street
Taking up the space previously occupied by Titanic: An Immersive Voyage is Dinos Alive, a prehistoric playground with 35 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs and a VR experience. “With Dinos Alive, from the time you first enter all the way to the time you leave, the space is completely consumed by this feeling of being in a sort of Mesozoic-era Jungle,” says executive producer John Zaller. “We’ve got theatrical lighting throughout that’s creating this scene that’s transitioning from day to night, as though you’re going through the whole day with the dinosaurs.” Tickets are $18.90 to $34.90.
Brick Planet
Through Sunday, May 3
Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard
Brick Planet: A Magical Journey Made with LEGO Bricks is a massive display of LEGO artistry at the DMNS. The new traveling exhibition by acclaimed LEGO artist Sean Kenney transforms ecosystems from around the globe into vivid, playful environments made from more than 1.5 million colorful bricks. The exhibit is included with general admission to the museum.
Do you know of a great event in Denver? We’ll update this list throughout the week; send information to editorial@westword.com.