Christmas Lights in Denver, CO
Denver, CO's best Christmas light displays include Denver Botanic Gardens ($12-18), Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance ($27), EscapeWorks Denver ($30-38), Santiago's Mexican Restaurant ($3-7), and Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum ($12.95). Most displays run from late November through early January, with peak crowds on weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The Toyota Elephant Passage is massive. Go on a weekday morning — half the crowds, double the animal activity.
2300 Steele St, Denver, CO 80205 · Daily 9am-4pm
Three-acre children's garden on top of the parking garage. Kids dig in dirt, pump water, climb. Free kids days in June, July, August.
1007 York St, Denver, CO 80206 · Daily 9am-7pm (summer), 9am-5pm (winter) · Ages 0+
It's in an actual WWII-era Air Force hangar. Kids can sit in cockpits. The space exhibit is surprisingly good.
7711 E Academy Blvd, Denver, CO 80230 · Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12-5pm · Ages 4+
Only theme park in the country in a downtown. Water park included with admission. Kiddieland has 10+ rides for little ones.
2000 Elitch Cir, Denver, CO 80204 · Hours vary — check website for daily schedule
$3.50 gate, rides are 50 cents each. Retro vibes, Art Deco tower, Kiddies' Playland. The anti-Elitch.
4601 Sheridan Blvd, Denver, CO 80212 · Hours vary by season — check website
$5 adults, $4 kids. Miniature village with 100+ tiny buildings and a real train you ride through the canyon. Ages 2-8 lose their minds.
6249 S Turkey Creek Rd, Morrison, CO 80465 · Sat-Sun 10am-5pm, summer daily 10am-5pm · Ages 0–8
23 climbing walls, 15,000 sq ft of trampolines, separate toddler area. Indoor playground heaven when it's 10 degrees outside.
5560 S Parker Rd, Centennial, CO 80015 · Sun-Thu 9am-9pm, Fri-Sat 9am-10pm · Ages 1–12
Ten lighted hard courts in Washington Park, free and first-come first-served. One-hour courtesy limit when others are waiting. Park around it has a 2.6-mile jogging loop and a lake.
1499 E Louisiana Ave, Denver, CO 80210 · Daily 5am-11pm
Public outdoor pool with an Olympic-sized swimming area, regular swim area, and kids splash area. Open June through early August. $3.50 drop-in for adults, free under 3. Gets busy.
850 Josephine St, Denver, CO 80206 · Summer season: Daily 11:15am-6:30pm (Jun-Aug)
Well-maintained park with lighted basketball courts, tennis courts, walking/biking path, soccer and softball fields, playground. Free. Good courts for southwest Denver.
850 S Bryant St, Denver, CO 80219 · Daily 5am-11pm
7.5-acre free mountain bike park with slopestyle course, dirt jumps, pump tracks, and skills course. All levels. Free to ride, free parking. Bring your own bike, no rentals on-site. Winter snow tubing when conditions allow.
1200 W Florida Ave, Denver, CO 80223 · Open 24 hours
8 lighted outdoor pickleball courts, free, first-come first-served. Quiet equipment pilot location so you must use foam Librarian Pickleball balls. Busy mornings and evenings, midday is your best bet for open courts.
4300 E Dartmouth Ave, Denver, CO 80222 · Daily 5am-11pm
Lighted outdoor basketball courts at the former Lowry Air Force Base, well-maintained. Free, first-come first-served. Also has tennis courts, playground, open fields, and a rec center. Less crowded than City Park. Free parking.
1000 Yosemite St, Denver, CO 80230 · Daily 5am-11pm
Cheap breakfast burritos that Denver runs on — a local institution.
Multiple locations, Denver, CO · Daily 6am-3pm (hours vary by location)
23 acres of gardens that peak in summer but the holiday lights in winter are the real draw. Concerts on the lawn too.
1007 York St, Denver, CO 80206 · Daily 9am-4pm (winter), 9am-8pm (summer)
Multiple themed rooms, $30-35/person, 60 minutes. The Ghostlight Lounge room is their best one.
1529 Champa St, Denver, CO 80202 · Daily, time slots 10am-10pm