The Light Fantastic

There’s no better way to celebrate the holiday season than by touring a city aglow with shimmering lights, and the Grand Illumination, which takes place at multiple venues downtown, is Denver's biggest synchronized lighting event. Beginning tonight at 6 p.m, the city will switch on more than 200,000 lights at...

By Amanda Moutinho

November 27, 2014

Audio By Carbonatix

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There’s no better way to celebrate the holiday season than by touring a city aglow with shimmering lights, and the Grand Illumination, which takes place at multiple venues downtown, is Denver's biggest synchronized lighting event. Beginning tonight at 6 p.m, the city will switch on more than 200,000 lights at the City and County Building, Larimer Square, Skyline Park, the D&F Tower, Union Station and more.

Put on by the Downtown Denver Partnership, LoDo District Inc. and other partners, the free event will include a cappella groups, choirs and other performers throughout downtown. This year’s celebration will shine brighter than ever at the newly renovated Union Station. Built in 1891, the building suffered a fire that burned down its great hall in 1914. A hundred years later, the hall has been restored — and then some. While the station has always been lit up during the Grand Illumination, this year the public can go inside.

“We’re thankful that through the years it’s been the starting point for holiday festivities,” says Urban Neighborhoods developer Dana Crawford. “This year, you can actually go in and enjoy our fabulous restaurant and retail options and stay warm.”

The evening gets started in front of the City and County Building, where 9News will telecast the lighting ceremony with Mayor Michael Hancock. The display continues through December. Go to denver.org for more information.
Fri., Nov. 28, 6 p.m., 2014

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