Eleven Things to Do for Free in Denver Today

Let there be lights! It's the last day of the holiday weekend, with free light shows and other seasonal entertainment options all over town. You can hit the Downtown Denver Rink and then head to Civic Center Park for the Christkindlmarket, the Mile High Tree and the lit-up City and County Building; Union Station has also joined the illuminated lineup.

Keep reading for eleven of the best free activities in and around town today:

Horseshoe Holiday Market
Sunday, November 27, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Highlands Masonic Temple, 3550 Federal Boulevard
The tried-and-true Horseshoe Holiday Market returns to its old indoor home at the Highlands Masonic Temple, with all its charm intact — along with a fantastic mix of 120 artisans, vintage merchants, makers and micro businesses. If you’re an early bird, you might snag one of fifty Horseshoe holiday totes handed out to the first rush of folks at the door. The market is free (or an optional donation of $5 to support local Denver’s Edison and Centennial elementary schools); learn more and RSVP to enter a $50 giveaway here.

AF Après Ski Holiday Market
Sunday, November 27, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dairy Block, 1800 Wazee Street
Winter athlete or not, you can indulge in the après-ski vibes at this Dairy Block holiday market, set up every weekend through Sunday through December 18. Within the heated, art-filled alley, you can sip cocktails from some of Denver’s trendiest bars. Milk Market has sixteen restaurants for every taste, and retailers can be found both inside and out. Admission is free; get the details here.
Santa at the Station
Sunday, November 27, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Denver's Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop Street
Santa is coming to the Great Hall at Union Station, and you can visit him for free while his helpers take photos with your phone or camera. All visits are first come, first served, though lines can be long; if you want a guaranteed time, purchase a St. Nick Express Pass for $50 here. Santa will return on December 4, 11, and 18. And stick around for Merry & Bright, the illuminated light show that runs from 5 to 8 p.m. Find more info here.

Farolito Lighting & Pine Cone Ceremony
Sunday, November 27, 4 to 5:30 p.m.
The Fort, 19192 Highway 8, Morrison
The late Sam Arnold was inspired by Bent’s Old Fort near La Junta, which started as a fur-trading center in southeastern Colorado and became a major way station during the 1830s and 1840s, when he built the adobe Fort Restaurant — originally imagined as a family home — in the early 1960s. It was Arnold who came up with the idea of a pine cone ceremony befitting the restaurant’s Southwestern theme: Farolitos (or luminarias) are lit, and people are invited to tuck a message to a lost loved one into a pine cone and toss it into a bonfire, where the sentiment crackles and flies into the sky. The Fort has been holding the ceremony ever since; learn more here.

Ongoing:

Downtown Denver Rink
Through February 14
Skyline Park, 1601 Arapahoe Street
The Downtown Denver Rink is one of the best winter attractions in the city, a space right off the mall to engage in fun and games and celebrate the city. Admission to the rink is always free; bring your own skates to add to the savings, or rent skates on-site ($11 for adults and $9 for children twelve and under). After opening today, the rink will be open daily Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (6 p.m. on Thanksgiving), Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hours will change in January; the rink is slated to stay open through February 14. Get all the details here.
Light the Lights
Through January 23, 5 to 10:45 p.m.
Denver City and County Building
City Hall is now lit every night through the Stock Show, with special eight-minute shows at 5:45 and 6:45 p.m. Find out more here.

Mile High Tree
Through December 31, 5 to 10 p.m.
Civic Center Park
The Mile High Tree has moved to Civic Center Park, right by the Denver Christkindlmarket. America's tallest digital tree puts on a dazzling show every fifteen minutes, with songs timed to the tree's light display. Admission is free from 5 to 10 p.m. daily. Find out more here.

Denver Christkindlmarket
Through December 23
Greek Amphitheater, Civic Center Park
The German American Chamber of Commerce - Colorado Chapter has opened the Christkindlmarket for the 33rd year; it's back at Civic Center Park with booths selling holiday wares and snack items. And yes, there's a beer garden! Through December 23, hours will be Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (festival hall open until 10 p.m.) and Sunday through Wednesday, 11 a,m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free; find out more here.

Merry & Bright Lights Show
Through December 27, 5 to 10 p.m.
Denver Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop Street
Denver's Union Station is all lit up for the season, with the Merry & Bright Lights Show featuring over 7,000 bulbs and music continuing through December 27. Santa will visit on every Sunday until Christmas from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Find out more here.

Cherry Creek Holiday Market
Daily through December 24
Fillmore Plaza, Fillmore Street between First and Second avenues
The third time’s the charm for Cherry Creek North’s outdoor holiday market, celebrating its third year of bringing eighty rotating vendors to sell their wares at Fillmore Plaza. While the market has limited hours on Thanksgiving, latecomers can still catch CCN’s romantic Winter Wanderland lighting display and LAPS, a Journey Through Time, a series of six interactive musical hourglass sculptures that viewers can set in motion. And on the first three Saturdays in December, enjoy Saturday Night Lights, which brings lighted trees and choreographed music into play, while street performers create a circus atmosphere at dusk. The market continues through December 24; learn more here.
Snow Much Fun Virtual (AR) Experiences
Daily through January 31
Pearl Street Mall, Boulder
Boulder has a new holiday attraction: Snow Much Fun Virtual (AR) Experiences, a self-guided tour along the Pearl Street Mall that has you encountering Boulder’s own mascot, Freezie the Snowman, as well as other characters along the way. It's free; find out more here.

Do you know of a great free event in Denver? We'll be updating this list through the weekend; send information to [email protected].