Free Things to Do in Denver (and Beyond) This Week

It’s December, and the holidays are here, with a tree-lighting ceremony in Aurora today and one in Commerce City tomorrow. Although Small Business Saturday is over, you can keep shopping local; new seasonal markets join the already packed lineup this week. After you’ve checked more people off your gift list, you can stick around for free light shows and the Mile High Holiday Drone Show. And the Parade of Lights is coming Saturday!

Because of construction in Civic Center Park, much of the action has moved to the Tivoli Quad on the Auraria Campus, home to Denver’s Christkindl Market as well as the Mile High Tree (and a carousel); a few blocks away, Union Station is lit, too. At least the City and County Building is glowing again, and will stay that way through the National Western Stock Show.

For other options, check our weekly list for one-off activities worth the price of admission; for events that run through the end of the year, see our Winter Guide listings. Now keep reading for free things to do in Denver (and beyond) this week:

Ongoing

SCFD Free Days
Locations and dates vary
Thanks to the sales tax you pay into the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, many arts institutions around the metro area offer occasional free days and programs. Admission to the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave is free on Wednesday, December 3; the Denver Museum of Nature & Science has a free day on Monday, December 8, and the Denver Art Museum on Tuesday, December 9. For more upcoming bargains, check the SCFD site.

Camp Christmas Takeover at Stanley Marketplace
Daily through Sunday, December 28
Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas Street, Aurora
Camp Christmas is back at Stanley Marketplace, but in a new form that’s transformed the place into a winter wonderland. You can play the Merry Badge Scavenger Hunt, visit a holiday bar or see a diverse Santa. It’s all free, except for the special Camp Christmas Express, a fifteen-minute immersive journey for $10.

Foothills Art Center Holiday Art Market
Daily through Sunday, December 29. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
Foothills Art Center at Astor House, 1133 Arapahoe Street, Golden
For fifty years, the Holiday Art Market has been the place where craftsmanship meets festivity, with work by over eighty artists — ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, painting, woodworking, photography and more — starting at just $5. This year is extra-festive, with Ugly Sweater Decorating and a visit from Santa on December 13. (Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.)

Cherry Creek Holiday Market and Winter Wanderland 
Daily through Wednesday, December 24. Open noon to 7 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday
Fillmore Plaza, 100 block of Fillmore Street
All of Cherry Creek North is aglow as part of the Winter Wanderland. The focus is the Cherry Creek Holiday Market returns for a sixth year, bringing nearly fifty Colorado makers and artisans to Fillmore Plaza, with gifts ranging from handmade textiles to fine art pieces and bottled craft cocktails. Produced by Fetch Concepts, the market also features live music and festive drinks at the Mistletoe Lounge, as well as Giving Machine Denver, where visitors can make donations to local and national charities. (Open noon to 3 p.m. Christmas Eve.)

Light the Lights 2025
Daily through Sunday, January 26, 5:45 and 6:45 p.m.
Denver City and County Building
The City and County Building will glow from now through the Stock Show, with a fifteen-minute light show coordinated to a soundtrack of classic holiday songs with an epic, cinematic twist. The show repeats daily Tuesday through Sunday at 5:45 and 6:45 p.m., with static lights from dusk until 10:45 p.m. (there are only static lights on Monday, because of the Denver City Council meeting). And the shows continue through the Stock Show!

Mile High Tree
Daily through Wednesday, December 31, 5 to 10 p.m.
Tivoli Quad, Auraria Campus, 1000 Larimer Street
The Mile High Tree is a seven-story, 110-foot-tall immersive art experience that can hold up to 140 guests at a time inside the tree, the best place to experience a light show choreographed to multicultural holiday music.

Denver Christkindlmarket
Daily through Tuesday, December 23. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday, and 1 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Tivoli Quad, Auraria Campus, 1000 Larimer Street
The Christkindl Market is back for its 25th anniversary edition, although in a new location. The authentic, German-style holiday market hosts local and European craft and food vendors, as well as plenty of magical entertainment. The Festival Hall is open until 10 p.m. every night. Roll out that barrel!

Mile High Holiday Drone Show
Daily through Wednesday, December 31, 7 p.m.
Downtown Denver
Visit Denver is bringing back the Mile High Holiday Drone Show for the season – 41 nights of shows running through New Year’s Eve, with optimal viewing from the Tivoli Quad at Auraria Campus as well as other spots downtown. The display features 600 drones creating holiday-themed animations and Denver icons, as well as scenes depicting favorite winter moments and mountain activities.

Grand Illumination
Daily through Wednesday, December 31
Denver’s Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop Street
Union Station is decked out with a forty-foot outdoor Christmas tree with more than 7,000 holiday lights that put on quite a shot. The Miracle Bar is open through Christmas, and free Santa at the Station visits will return on November 30.

Santa’s Little Factory
Through Sunday, January 4
Little Man Factory, 4411 West Colfax Avenue
Get festive at the Little Man Factory, decorated as a very special Santa’s workshop. Recurring signature events include photos with Santa, bingo with Mrs. Claus, private ice cream-making parties, gingerbread house building, letters to Santa craft stations, live holiday music, community caroling, Santa Baby Swing and a Chanukah celebration: “Oiy to the World.”

Larimer Lights
Daily through Wednesday, December 31
Larimer Square
Historic Larimer Square is now decked out for the holidays. Every night, there’s a projection mapping light show by the giant Christmas tree, with special events on the weekends.

Denver’s Swirly, Twirly Market
Through Saturday, December 21. Open Friday, 4 to 9 p.m., Saturday, 11 to 7 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
2620 Walnut Street
It’s not the North Pole, but it’s not the Lincoln Tunnel, either. RiNo’s Holiday Bazaar Market is bursting with handcrafted goods, shots of “syrup” and more paper snowflakes than seems reasonable. There’s work by more than fifty Colorado makers, along with plenty of photo ops, a candy cane forest and a pop-up bar

New This Week

Winter Quilt Sale
Tuesday, December 2, noon to 7 p.m.; Wednesday, December 3, to Friday, December 5, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Saturday, December 6, 9 a.m. to noon.
Aurora Center for Active Adults, 30 Del Mar Circle, Aurora
Just like Santa’s elves, Aurora’s Quilt Bee works year-round to create one-of-a-kind patchwork creations to sell at their quilt sales. This is the thirtieth anniversary of the Winter Quilt Sale; all proceeds go to the Aurora Center for Active Adults donation fund.

Aurora Holiday Tree Lighting/Merry Market
Tuesday, December 2, 4 to 8 p.m.
Aurora Municipal Center, 15151 East Alameda Parkway, Aurora
Aurora gets into the holiday spirit with its annual tree-lighting ceremony, complete with live performances by Aurora Dance Hearts, the Wicked Pitches and the Timberline Elementary School Choir…and Santa Claus will be on hand! Visit the Merry Makers Market from 4 to 8 p.m. inside the Aurora Central Library for festive holiday shopping experience; the Aurora History Museum will also be open from 5 to 7 p.m., welcoming visitors to its 26th Festival of Wreaths exhibit. Learn more at AuroraGov.org/Lights.

Commerce City Tree Lighting
Wednesday, December 3, 3 to 9 p.m.
Commerce City Civic Center Parking Lot, 7887 East 60th Avenue, Commerce City
Commerce City is getting into the holiday spirit with a tree lighting at 5 p.m. Before that, the Winter Wonderland Ice Rink will open at 3 p.m., and there will also be the debut of the new Merry Market, with dozens of vendors and makers. The first-night festivities will include carriage rides, live reindeer, a visit from Santa, free sweet treats from Rebel Cookie Dough, holiday performances, and activities for all ages. The market will return the first three weekends in December; the rink will be open into the new year.

Hope Ignites Colorado Community Night
Thursday, December 4, 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Aurora Central High School, 11700 East 11th Avenue, Aurora
Join Hope Ignites Colorado at a community gathering celebrating the season and decorating gingerbread houses. Meet the eam, volunteers and the scholars that the nonprofit serves.

Arts Street: Equity in Arts Event
Thursday, December 4, 4 to 6 p.m.
La Alma Recreation Center, 1325 West 11th Avenue
Enjoy community art created by Arts Street youth artists attending Colorado High School Charter, led by Denver artist Juan Fuentes.

The Last Q+A: Art Writing at the End of the World
Thursday, December 4, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
FM, 59 Broadway
Southwest Contemporary editors Lauren Tresp and Jordan Eddy are dropping into Denver with a provocation: Why write about art at the end of the world? Join them for The Last Q+A, a conversation on art in times of crisis and the future of independent cultural journalism. Free zine included.

Friday Lunch Bunch Memorial for Purnell Steen
Friday, December 5, 11 a.m.
Dazzle, 1080 14th Street
Purnell Steen was a frequent performer at Dazzle and this Friday Lunch Bunch Memorial Performance with the Five Points Ambassadors will honor his memory. Admission is free, but you must register; there will be another free memorial show at 6 p.m. on December 10. Learn more here.

Denver Winter Market
Friday, December 5, 3 to 8 p.m.
1000 Broadway
The Denver Winter Market is a new activation coming to the old Sports Castle, filling it with local vendors, cool cocktails and free gift wrapping services. Admission is free on Fridays, and only $5 weekends; VIP packages are also available.

Holiday Party & Art Show
Friday, December 5, 4 to 9 p.m.
The Center on Colfax, 1301 East Colfax Avenue
Celebrate queer joy with art and fun at this 18+ holiday party and art show.Some pieces will be available for auction with proceeds supporting artists and The Center.

Silverthorne Holiday Tree Lighting and Art Market
Friday, December 5, 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Silverthorne Pavilion, 400 Blue River Parkway, Silverthorne
Silverthorne, which was recently named one of the Colorado Creative Districts, will showcase its cultural scene at this annual holiday tree-lighting ceremony and holiday art market. Shop for wares from local artists while enjoying live music, carolers, hot chocolate, a visit from Santa and more. The tree lighting will be at 6 p.m., and the holiday market will continue on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lakewood Lights Kickoff
Friday, December 5, 5 to 8:30 p.m.
Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park, 801 South Yarrow Street
Get ready to sparkle at the annual Lakewood Lights event. In addition to the tree-lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m., there will be holiday carols with local high school choirs, an ornament-crafting station, cocoa and holiday treats, visits with Santa (sensory-friendly visits from 3 to 5 p.m.) and shopping at the museum store.

Noel Northglenn
Friday, December 5, 5 to 8 p.m.
Northglenn Recreation Center & Festival Lawn, 1 East Memorial Parkway, Northglenn
This holiday celebration goes beyond traditional Christmas programming by placing a strong spotlight on cultural inclusion and diversity with three signature activations: Seven Sips with author Nyasha Williams, a Kwanzaa-inspired cultural experience featuring guided activities and a book giveaway (while supplies last); Mizel Museum’s “Bridges of Cultural Understanding,” hands-on activities that celebrate global traditions; and a Quiet Area in partnership with Autism Community Store. And yes, there will also be live performances, Santa visits and more.

Zach Boddicker Novel Release Party
Friday, December 5, 7 p.m.
Mutiny Comics and Coffee, 3483 South Broadway, Englewood
Walk Off Hot Magazine is hosting this release event of Denver author Zach Boddicker’s third novel, The Shih-Tsu by Daisy Dog Press, complete with art by Charly Fasano and Vincent Cheap. For the opening event, there will be music by Luke Schmaltz, Marty Jones and Rachael Pollard, as well as appearances by the artists and the author, whose work asks this How far is an anonymous alcoholic willing to go in order to escape a toxic marriage to a fitness-addicted, rescue dog-abusing, diabetic-hating wife?

The Collective at BASECAMP Grand Opening
Friday, December 5, 5 to 7 p.m.
1465 16th Street
BASECAMP is hosting a three-week pop-up art show, Crossing Into Winter, with work by local artists and outdoor enthusiasts, including Brent Bishop, Mark Risius, Dolan Geiman, Fred Becker, Ariana Barnstable, Chris Beedy, Dave Reiter and Brittany Horrigan. The Collective show kicks off with a grand opening complete with a meet-and-greet with artists and a pop-up gift shop; it will be open the first three weekends in December from 4 to 7 p.m. on Fridays and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. There will be a special Girl Winter event on December 7 on Saturdays and Sundays in December from noon to 4 p.m.

Cole Winter Wonderland Craft & Community Fair
Saturday, December 6, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
DSST’s Cole Middle & High School
This festive neighborhood celebration brings together students, families and local vendors for an event with student performances and holiday activities; free haircuts and family portraits; hot chocolate and snacks; and gifts, treats and crafts from local vendors.

Third Annual DeCAF (Denver Comics and Arts Festival)
Saturday, December 6, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Town Hall Collaborative, 525 Santa Fe Drive
The Colorado Comics Collective (CoCoCo) is a group of artists, publishers and vendors working to support alternative comics in Colorado; it hopes to establish a series of comics- and art-related events throughout this colorful state. Here’s a start: the third annual DeCAF (Denver Comics and Arts Festival). Dozens of vendors will be exhibiting their work, including frequent Westword contributor Karl Christian Krumpholz.

It’s a RiNo-Ful Life Holiday Market
Saturday, December 6, noon to 4 p.m.
Truss House, 3400 Arkins Court
Join the RiNo Art District for the fourth annual It’s a RiNo-Ful Life holiday market, featuring 25+ local vendors, free crafts, food, and more. There will be a holiday-inspired performance by M’Lady from noon to 2 p.m., and a holiday vinyl DJ set from the Something Vinyl from 2 to 4 p.m. The first 100 people get to create a free RiNo holiday-edition totebag. You can also purchase a RiNo passport.

Parade of Lights 
Saturday, December 6, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Downtown Denver
This year’s edition of the annual Parade of Lights will weave through downtown Denver, with more than forty parade entries, including floats and marching bands. You can buy grandstand tickets to watch in front of the City and County Building or head to the new, free Holiday Village at Skyline Park, 16th and Arapahoe streets, which opens at 4 p.m. There will be hot chocolate, food booths and other vendors, as well as a chance to connect with Denver Summit FC and write a letter to Santa.

Plan ahead

Author Talk: Tommy Orange
Wednesday, December 10, 7 p.m.
History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway
In partnership with the Sand Creek Massacre Foundation and the University of Colorado Center of the American West, History Colorado Center is hosting Pulitzer Prize finalist and MacArthur Fellow Tommy Orange, Oakland-based author and citizen of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. He’s the author of There There, which received the 2019 American Book Award, and Wandering Stars, published in 2023. The talk is free, but registration is required.

Governor’s Mansion Holiday Tours
Friday, December 12, and Saturday, December 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Governor’s Residence at Boettcher Mansion, 400 East Eighth Avenue
See the official home of Colorado’s governor decked out for the holidays on a free tour. Walk-ins welcome.

Do you know of a great free event? We update this list throughout the week; send information to editorial@westword.com.