It’s easy to get into the holiday spirit all thanks to the new Northern Colorado Holiday Light Trail. Spanning from Fort Collins to Loveland, and to Estes Park, you’ll find plenty of ways to light you your holiday with festive light displays, free family-friendly activities and events. Here’s how you can follow the trail to some of Colorado’s best holiday light displays.
Fort Collins
The city of Fort Collins, or “FoCo” as locals call it, shines bright this holiday season with thousands of illuminated lights, pop-up holiday markets and festivals throughout the season. Whether you simply want to enjoy an evening walking under a canopy of lights in downtown Old Town Fort Collins or take a drive along the NoCo Winter Wonderland one-mile holiday light display featuring 19 moving and 200,000 lights, there’s something for everyone to see.
Starting this weekend, and every weekend through Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, take a walking tour of the Garden of Lights Winter Holiday Light Festival at the Gardens on Spring Creek. The whimsical half-mile loop glows with colorful grapevines, towering flowerbeds, dancing blossoms and more.
Fort Collins is also the perfect place to shop for everyone on your list at the Handmade Market NoCo Holiday Markets. Visit varying locations throughout the month of December and shop the unique holiday pop-up markets featuring regional artists and crafters.
- December 7 – Maxline Brewing (2724 McClelland Dr., Ste. 190, Fort Collins)
- December 14 – Salt Road Brewing (321 Old Firehouse Alley, Fort Collins)
- December 15 – Ginger and Baker (359 Linden St., Fort Collins)
- December 21 – Breckenridge Brewing (1020 E. Lincoln Ave., Fort Collins)
And because there’s so much to do and see this holiday season in Fort Collins, make a weekend of it and book your stay with the Winter Wonderland Package at The Elizabeth Hotel.
The Winter Wonderland package, features a two-night stay (must stay two nights for promotional rate), $60 food & beverage credit good at The Emporium, Sunset Lounge, in-room dining and Magic Rat. The offer is valid for two-night stays booked through Jan. 31, 2025. Blackout dates and restrictions apply.
Loveland
It’s easy to fall in love with Loveland when you lock your love away at the Love Lock sculpture or when you discover the town’s 10-acre sculpture garden, but this holiday season you’ll find more to love with their lineup festivities along the Northern Colorado Holiday Light Trail.
Winter Wonderlights is Loveland’s premier holiday show. Running nightly, now through Jan. 1, 2025, come see a free choreographed holiday light show at Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra. And on special live nights, Dec. 13 & 14, walk through a winter wonderland of lights, enjoy live entertainment, get up close with live reindeer, shop the holiday market and sip on holiday favorites at the Cocoa Cabana and cozy up to a fire pit to enjoy local brews and festive winter beverages (including non-alcoholic options). Check the website for a detailed schedule of events and updates for Live Nights activities.
Take a Christmas Walk in the Woods at Savage Woods. Home to numerous other popular events throughout the year like the Colorado Medieval Festival, Savage Woods hosts the holidays with a nightly light display, Christmas carolers and tubas and plenty of photo ops at Santa’s house and elf workshop. Open nightly from Dec. 13-31, 2024 (except Christmas Eve and day).
It’s also easy to find gifts for everyone on your list with downtown Loveland’s local storefronts decked out for the holidays and filled with one-of-a-kind gifts. At night, downtown glows with twinkling lights and the town’s Christmas tree in front of the Rialto Theater.
Estes Park
The holidays in Estes Park are picture-perfect with snow-capped mountains, snowflake flurries, illuminated storefronts, holiday lights and decor, that all come together to create an unforgettable holiday in the mountains.
From now through January 1, 2025, Estes Parks gets a glow-up with their Catch the Glow Holiday extravaganza, featuring holiday lights, special events, interactive light displays and special offers from local businesses. Immerse yourself in the holidays with the Holiday Lights Driving Tour and visit Bond Park every evening with Estes Park’s Nightly Light Show Spectacular! Choreographed to your favorite holiday tunes, witness the dazzling display of the state-of-the-art Pixel Pine tree—the only one of its kind in the entire state of Colorado.
Don’t miss the Snowman Festival Weekend, set for Dec. 7 and 8, 2024, which includes a Snowman Scavenger Hunt, a holiday market and appearances by live reindeer and Santa. Be sure to also visit Estes Park Resort to see 50 beautifully decorated holiday trees with the Festival of Trees event, now through Dec. 15, 2024.
Boulder
Downtown Boulder and Pearl Street light up with thousands of lights and holiday decorations, making any evening in town a magical event. The light show continues with the Snow Much Fun in Boulder’s Civic Area. See hundreds of thousands of colorful LED lights near the Boulder Public Library from now through January 2025. Explore the colorful lights and augmented reality experiences using QR codes along the way.
Be sure to stop at the Colorado Chautauqua’s Winterfest, Dec. 5-7, 2024, in Chautauqua Park. The festival includes the lighting of Chautauqua’s historic buildings and evergreens, which remain lit for the season.
Greeley
Greeley celebrates the 35th anniversary of its annual Festival of Trees. Now through Dec. 7, 2024, see a winter wonderland of beautifully decorated trees at the Union Colony Civic Center. This long-standing holiday tradition also features a horse-drawn carriage ride, shopping for gifts at the silent auction and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.
And who says you have to buy your Christmas gifts? Attend Greeley’s Maker’s Workshop on Dec. 14, where you can register for a class to create winter-themed crafts and holiday gifts. Plus, free hot chocolate packets will be given at each workshop location.
Longmont
Last on the list of the Northern Colorado Holiady Light Trail, but certainly not the least, is Longmont. Come see the lights at Roosevelt Park where you can enjoy the best of Longmont’s holiday lights with the Longmont Lights Festival, Dec. 13, 2024. See thousands of holiday lights, warm up by the fire pits, listen to music and take photos with costumed characters. The following night, be sure to stay for the Longmont Lights Parade beginning at 5 p.m. on Main Street.
And perhaps one of the best ways to see the Northern Colorado Holiday Light Trail is with the Holiday Lights Trolley Tour with the Brewhop Trolley and visit some of the best holiday lights displays in Longmont. All ages are welcome; tickets must be purchased in advance.