Please double check event dates and times using contact info provided.

SEASONAL/HOLIDAY EVENTS

12/1 to 12/30—Black Nativity. A modern retelling of the traditional account of the nativity story from an African American perspective. Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St, Aurora. vintagetheatre.org

12/2 Saturday—YouthBiz Holiday Marketplace. Young business owners sell their unique products–all handmade by them. Young Americans Center, 3550 E 1st Ave. yacenter.org

12/2 Saturday—Parade of Lights. Holiday magic in Downtown. Starts at 6 pm at Denver’s City and County Building. winterindenver.com

12/2 to 12/16—Holiday Tea. Various Thursdays and Saturdays at 10:30am and 12:30pm. Tour and tea. Center for Colorado Women’s History, 1310 Bannock St. Tickets at historycolorado.org

12/2 to 12/17— Mistletoe Market. Local vendors, live carolers, and holiday music in the heated alley.  Weekends at Dairy Block, 1800 Wazee St. dairyblock.com

12/3 Sunday— Latkes and Lights. Hanukkah celebration and latke contest, 10am–1pm. JCC Denver, 350 S Dahlia St. jccdenver.org

12/3 & 12/4—A Piano and Me: Holiday Edition. David Nehls celebrates everything Christmas. 7:30pm. Aurora Fox Arts Center, 9900 E Colfax Ave, Aurora. aurorafoxartscenter.org

12/4 Monday—Community Hanukkah Celebration. Join The Jewish Life Center for the Festival of Lights. Stanley Marketplace, 2501 N. Dallas St, Aurora. stanleymarketplace.com

12/4 to 12/31—Who’s Holiday. Back for Its Third Year. Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St, Aurora. vintagetheatre.org

12/5 Tuesday—City of Aurora Holiday Tree Lighting. 5–7pm. Aurora Municipal Center, 15151 E. Alameda Pkwy. auroragov.org

12/6 & 12/7—Fiestas Navidenas. A tour of Christmas celebrations throughout the country of Mexico. Newman Center, Gates Concert Hall. newmancenterpresents.com

12/7 Thursday—Holiday Pie Palooza. 5–8pm. Holiday dessert sampling and pre-order event benefiting Denver School of the Arts. 1895 Quebec St., former Johnson & Wales Campus. kitchennetworkdenver.com

12/8 to 12/10—A Colorado Christmas. Family-friendly, festive seasonal favorites! Tickets start at $15. Boettcher Hall. coloradosymphony.org

12/9 Saturday—Carols Around the World. The Mile High Barbershop choruses and quartets come together to deliver a musical journey. Newman Center, Gates Concert Hall. newmancenterpresents.com

12/9 Saturday—Santa in The Hanger. Santa arrives in a helicopter and activities. 10am–2pm. 7711 East Academy Blvd. wingsmuseum.org

12/9 Saturday—4th Annual Five Points Holiday Stroll. Photo ops, singing, treats, and more. Bring a new pair of warm socks to donate. 2–6pm. 2401 Welton St. fivepointsbid.com

12/9 Saturday—1940s White Christmas Ball. Step back in time this Christmas. Hyatt Downtown Denver. https://1940sball.org/winter-ball

12/9 Saturday—Holiday Sing-Along Concert. Join Christy Wessler for this family-friendly event. 7pm, doors open at 6pm. Tuft Theatre, 71 East Yale Ave. swallowhillmusic.org

12/9 to 12/10—ASLD’s Winter Holiday Art Market. The Art Students League of Denver. 235 Broadway. asld.org

12/12 Tuesday—Have You Heard of Christmas? Album Tour. Comedian Matt Rogers’ live holiday comedy/music variety show. Newman Center, Gates Concert Hall. newmancenterpresents.com

12/12 Tuesday—Celtic Woman: The Best of Christmas Tour. Traditional Irish carols and magnificent uplifting anthems. Boettcher Hall. coloradosymphony.org

12/13 Wednesday—Celebrate the Season Concert. Don & Gracie Batt play a variety of music to celebrate the holidays. 4–5pm. Park Hill Library, 4705 Montview Blvd. denverlibrary.org

12/15 Friday—Denver Brass FREE concert. Celebrate 10 Days ‘till Christmas. 7–8:30pm. Bethany Lutheran Church, 4500 East Hampden Ave. https://denverbrass.org

12/15 Friday—Holiday Brass. Witness the brilliance and power of the Colorado Symphony Brass. Boettcher Hall. coloradosymphony.org

12/15 & 12/16—Holiday Cheer! A family-friendly, multifaceted array of wintertime jingles. Central Presbyterian Church, 1660 Sherman St. denverphilharmonic.org

12/16 to 12/17—Handel’s Messiah. Experience the full majesty of Handel’s masterpiece. Tickets start at $15. Boettcher Hall. coloradosymphony.org

12/16, 12/17, & 12/22—Candlelight Holiday Special. Featuring The Nutcracker and more. Trinity United Methodist Church, 1820 Broadway. thecityevents.com

12/17 & 12/18—The Hip Hop Nutcracker. A holiday mash-up for the whole family. Buell Theatre at the DCPA. denvercenter.org

12/19 Tuesday—Elvis Christmas Spectacular. Celebrate the King of Rock and Roll with the Colorado Symphony. Tickets start at $15. Boettcher Hall. coloradosymphony.org

12/21 Thursday—ICE-IE sculptures. Ice sculptures on display until they melt—approximately 5 ft tall and made of 4 blocks of ice—depicting scenes from the holiday season. The Shops at Northfield, 8340 Northfield Blvd. shopsatnorthfield.com

12/22 Friday—Paws & Claus. Photo ops with your furry friends and Santa Claus. 4–6pm at The Shops at Northfield, shopsatnorthfield.com

12/22 & 12/23—Elf™ in Concert. The movie’s score is perfomed live while you watch it on four giant screens. Boettcher Hall. coloradosymphony.org

Through 12/23—Santa’s Big Red Sack. A sleigh full of new sketches with irreverent wit and unforgettable characters. The People’s Building, 9995 E. Colfax Ave, Aurora. rattlebrainproductions.com

Through 12/23—Denver Christkindl Market. Authentic German holiday experience. Civic Center Park, 101 West 14th Ave. christkindlmarketdenver.com

Through 12/23—The Polar Express™ Train Ride. Take a magical journey and rekindle the Christmas spirit. Colorado Railroad Museum, 17155 W. 44th Ave. coloradorailroadmuseum.org/polar-express

Through 12/24—Camp Christmas. Immerse yourself in a 15,000 square-foot, 360-degree kaleidoscope of yuletide cheer. Stanley Marketplace, 2501 N. Dallas St, Aurora. denvercenter.org

Through 12/24—Colorado Ballet Presents The Nutcracker. Sensory-friendly adaptations on Nov. 26. 1385 Curtis St. coloradoballet.org

Through 12/24—A Christmas Carol. Denver’s beloved holiday tradition returns. Wolf Theatre. denvercenter.org

Through 12/24—Holiday Happenings at Stanley Marketplace. Letters to Santa, the giving tree, live performances, pose with Santa on Saturdays, and more. 2501 N. Dallas St, Aurora. stanleymarketplace.com

Through 12/24—Winter Wanderland. Saturday night lights, giving machines, holiday market, and a Chanukah celebration on Dec. 10. Cherry Creek North, 2401 E. 2nd Ave, cherrycreeknorth.com

12/29 Friday—Kwanzaa: Ujamaa. Learn about the 4th principal of Kwanzaa, cooperative economics (shared work and wealth). 3–4pm. Park Hill Library, 4705 Montview Blvd. denverlibrary.org

12/31 Saturday—Noon Year’s Eve. Join us to ring in the Noon Year before bedtime. The ball drops every hour from 9am–3pm. mychildsmuseum.org

12/31 Saturday—New Year’s Eve Fireworks. Two shows, 9pm & midnight. 16th Street Mall, Denver. denver.org

Through 1/1/24—Christmas In Color Drive-thru Animated Light Show. Three locations: Arapahoe Country Fairgrounds, Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, and Water World. christmasincolor.net

Through 1/1/24—Christmas at Gaylord Rockies. ICE! Featuring a Christmas Story, Elf Training Academy, Mrs. Claus’ Christmas Traditions, and Cirque: Spirit of Christmas. 6700 N. Gaylord Rockies Blvd, Aurora. christmasatgaylordrockies.marriott.com

Through 1/7/24—Blossoms of Light. An ever-changing display of light and color. Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St. botanicgardens.org

12/2 to 1/7/24—Zoo Lights. 60 acres of lights, entertainment, and treats. Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St. denverzoo.org

Through 2/11/24— Downtown Denver Rink. Free admission, rentals available. Check out hours at downtowndenver.com

Charity and Volunteer Opportunities

12/5 Tuesday—Colorado Gives Day. Donate to those institutions you care about the most. coloradogives.org

12/12 & 12/21—Denver Children’s Home. Prepare and serve a home-cooked meal to kids and staff. 1501 Albion St. projecthelping.org

Catholic Charities Adopt-A-Family. Sign-up to adopt a family and shop for a family/individual or make a donation and they will do the shopping for you. ccdenver.org/adoptafamily

Colorado Dream Foundation. Ongoing and one-time volunteer opportunities available including tutoring, mentoring, and community engagement 1836 Grant St. coloradodream.org

Denver Children’s Foundation. Sponsor or donate to this year’s Christmas for Kids event and help kids buy gifts for their loved ones. 8275 E 11th Ave. denverchildrensfoundation.org

Denver Rescue Mission. Serve meals, volunteer in the warehouse, tutor youths, drop-off donations, and more. Visit denverrescuemission.org to learn how you can support this local organization.

Denver Ronald McDonald House. Volunteer in the facility in many different ways. Musicians, pet therapy handlers, and massage therapist opportunities too. 1300 E 21st Ave. Find details at rmhc-denver.org

Food Bank of the Rockies. Volunteer as an individual or group at the warehouse or make a food donation. 10700 E 45th Ave. foodbankrockies.org

Food For Thought Denver. Providing food for students and their families on Fridays to avoid weekend hunger. 1600 W. Colfax Ave. Sign up to volunteer or donate at foodforthoughtdenver.org

Holiday Toy Drive. Donate new and unwrapped toys for kids ages 5–18.  At participating King Soopers and Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver—main office: 2017 W. 9th Ave. More details at bgcmd.org/donate/toy-drive

Judi’s House. Volunteer as a companion, memory quilt maker, in the kitchen, and more. 10125 E. 25th Ave, Aurora. judishouse.org

Kniting4Peace. Craft, knit, or crochet for those in need. Delivery volunteers also needed.  All items can be sent or delivered to 2600 Leyden St. More details at knitting4peace.org

Mile High United Way. Volunteer with the 211 Help Center to connect families to critical resources. Support education and literacy for children. 711 Park Ave W. Many more opportunities to help at unitedwaydenver.org

Project Angel Heart. Help prepare and deliver meals for those in need. 4950 Washington St. Learn more at projectangelheart.org

Project Worthmore. Help bag and deliver fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, and household necessities to refugees. Become an English Tutor. More opportunities at projectworthmore.org

Rebuilding Together Colorado. In need of volunteers of all skill levels to complete critical repairs for our neighbors to safely stay in their homes. 4981 E 39th Ave. Learn more at rtcolorado.org

Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Matching volunteers age 55+ with local, part-time opportunities at non-profit partner agencies and hospitals voacolorado.org 

Single Volunteers of Greater Denver. Objective is to fulfill the volunteer needs of non-profit organizations in the Denver area while having fun and meeting people. Info at svgd.org

Spark the Change Colorado. Direct service programs that leverage the talents and expertise of skilled volunteers in fields like mental health and empowering aging. sparkthechangecolorado.org

Struggle of Love Foundation. Volunteer for Sacks of Love Food Pantry 10am-2pm throughout the month of Dec. 12000 E. 47th Ave, Suite #403. Register at struggleoflovefoundation.org

The Gathering Place. Volunteer opportunities include computer lab, donation pick-ups, education, welcome desk and more. 1535 High St. Sign-up at tgpdenver.org

Toys for Tots 2023. Request/donate a toy, volunteer, or sponsor an event or donation box for Toys for Tots this holiday season. Search for local drop-off locations and more information at toysfortots.org

Village Exchange Center A non-profit formed to serve immigrants and refugees in Aurora & Denver. villageexchangecenter.org

Volunteers of America Colorado Branch To volunteer go to voacolorado.org/volunteer-opportunities

We Don’t Waste. Volunteer Dec. 8–19 at various food markets across metro Denver. Details at wedontwaste.org

NE DENVER/NW AURORA EVENTS

12/1 and 1/5/24—Nature Wonder Walks. Enter the wonder by slowing down, breathing, and reconnecting. Bluff Lake Nature Center. 1pm. 11255 E. MLK Jr Blvd. Free but must RSVP at blufflake.org/events

12/2 & 1/6/24—Bluff Lake Bird Walks. 2-hour walk at 8am. 11255 E. MLK Jr Blvd. Free but must RSVP at blufflake.org/birdwatching

12/9 Saturday—Herbal Soap Making Workshop. Learn to make soap with The Urban Farm’s dried herbs and bees wax.. 11am–1pm. 10200 Smith Rd. theurbanfarm.org

12/13 Wednesday—MCA Annual Members Meeting. 6–8pm. The annual election of all 11 community delegates.. The Cube, 8371 Northfield Blvd. mca80238.com

12/14 Thursday—Active Minds Presents Social Media. Explore social media’s pros and cons and discuss its dramatic impact on society. 1–2pm, Free. Sam Gary Library, 2961 Roslyn St. activeminds.com

12/15 & 12/29—Goatflix and Chill. With Rocky Mountain Goat Yoga. 6pm. 8246 Northfield Blvd. The Shops at Northfield. Space is limited, pre-register at shopsatnorthfield.com

12/16 Saturday—Connection of Loss. A guide to acceptance, stillness, and meditation. 11am–12:30pm. Park Hill Library, 4705 Montview Blvd. denverlibrary.org

12/16 & 12/30—Indoor Goat Yoga. 10am, 12pm, and 2pm. 8246 Northfield Blvd. The Shops at Northfield. Space is limited, register at shopsatnorthfield.com

12/18 Monday—Multi-Generational Choir Family Songshare. All Seasons Choir is a collaboration between Swallow Hill Music and Denver Public Library. 5–6pm. Sam Gary Library, 2961 Roslyn St. denverlibrary.org

12/19 Tuesday—Astronomy Night. Join Standley Lake Stargazing from 6–8 pm. Stanley Marketplace, 2501 N. Dallas St, Aurora. stanleymarketplace.com

12/28 Thursday—Active Minds Presents Van Gogh. A journey into the life and art of Vincent Van Gogh. 1–2pm, Free. Sam Gary Library, 2961 Roslyn St. activeminds.com

1/4/24 Thursday—Candle Making Workshop. A DIY experience. 5–7pm. The Urban Farm, 10200 Smith Rd. theurbanfarm.org

METRO EVENTS

12/1 & 1/5/24—First Friday Art Walks. Art District on Santa Fe. 5:30– 9:30pm. denver.org/things-to-do/denver-arts-culture/denver-art-districts

12/9 Saturday—Organ Tour. Join us for a morning filled with architecture, history, and organ music. 6500 E. Girard Ave. https://cli.re/53349-organ-tour

12/14 Thursday—Art & About Tours. For visitors with early-stage Alzheimer’s or dementia and their care partners. 1–2:45pm. 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy. denverartmuseum.org

KIDS AND FAMILIES

Tuesday–Friday—Local Library Storytime. Different age groupings and locations. Info at denverlibrary.org

Wednesdays—Mornings at the Museum. Ages 3–6, 10:30–11:15am. Free. New programs every week. Aurora History Museum,15051 East Alameda Pkwy. Register at auroragov.org

12/6 Wednesday—Youth Gaming Night. Play XBox and Wii Games with friends! Snacks will be provided. Ages 5–17. 5:30–7:30pm. Sam Gary Library, 2961 Roslyn St. denverlibrary.org

12/9 Saturday—Low Sensory Morning. Museum closed to the general public. 8–10am. Free, but space is limited so please reserve tickets in advance at historycolorado.org. History Colorado Center, 1200 North Broadway.

12/9 Saturday—CSU Spur 2nd Saturdays. Free. Lots of family- friendly programming. 10am–3pm. 4817 National Western Dr. csuspur.org

12/9 Saturday—Maker Mornings: Snowflake Flurries. Make snowflakes from household items you use every day. 10:30am–12:30pm. 1250 Bannock St. clyffordstillmuseum.org

12/9 & 12/10—Family Make and Take: Harvest Wreaths. Materials provided are appropriate for families with children ages 5 and up. 10am & 1pm both days. 1007 York St. Register at botanicgardens.org

12/10 Sunday—Foxy and Shmoxy: Art Detectives. Foxy and Shmoxy help young children access and experience art in unique ways. 10:30am–12pm. 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy. denverartmuseum.org

12/14 Thursday—Create Playdate. An early-childhood program for families with children ages 3–5 (siblings welcome). 10am–12pm. 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy. denverartmuseum.org

12/17 Sunday—Spanish Storytime at Tattered Cover Kids. 5pm. Stanley Marketplace, 2501 N. Dallas St, Aurora. stanleymarketplace.com

Through 12/23—Little Red. A charming, song-infused retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. Randy Weeks Conservatory Theatre. denvercenter.org

12/27 & 12/30—Art Crawl: Ice, Ice, Baby. 10:30–11:15am. For caregivers with infants–14 months. Registration required. 1250 Bannock St. clyffordstillmuseum.org

MUSEUMS, ETC.

American Museum of Western Art. Open M, W & F from 10am–4:30pm. Admission is $5. 1727 Tremont Pl. anschutzcollection.org

Aurora History Museum. Admission is free. Closed Mondays/holidays. 15051 East Alameda Pkwy. auroragov.org

The Byers–Evans House Museum. Operated by History Colorado as the Center for Colorado Women’s History. History Colorado members are free. 1310 Bannock St. historycolorado.org

The Children’s Museum. Bloom early learning space (newborn–age 3) now open. Reservations recommended at mychildsmuseum.org 

Clyfford Still Museum. SCFD Free Day Dec. 3. Children 17 and under always free. 1250 Bannock St. clyffordstillmuseum.org

Denver Art Museum. SCFD Free Day Dec. 12.Youth 18 & under always free. 100 W 14th Ave. Pkwy. denverartmuseum.org

Denver Botanic Gardens. Blossoms of Light through Jan. 7. 1007 York St. botanicgardens.org 

Denver Firefighters Museum. Hours: Tues–Sat, 10am–4pm. 1326 Tremont Pl. denverfirefightersmuseum.org

Denver Museum of Nature and Science. SCFD Free Day Dec. 4. 2001 Colorado Blvd. dmns.org

Denver Zoo. SCFD Free Day Jan. 5, 2024. Lottery for free events at denverzoo.org. 2900 E 23rd Ave.

The Forney Museum of Transportation. 4303 Brighton Blvd. forneymuseum.org

Four Mile Historic Park. SCFD Free Day Dec. 22. Open Wed–Sun, 10am–4pm. 715 S. Forest St. fourmilepark.org

History Colorado. Free membership for 4th graders. 1200 Broadway. historycolorado.org

Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art. Tue–Sat, 11am–5pm; Sun 12–5pm. Ages 13+ welcome. 1201 Bannock St. kirklandmuseum.org

Molly Brown House Museum. Tue–Sun, 10am–5pm. 1340 Pennsylvania St. mollybrown.org

Museo de las Americas. Free 1st Fridays and always free for 13 and under. Tue–Fri, noon-6pm. Sat, noon–5pm. Closed Mon & Sun. 861 Santa Fe Dr. museo.org

Museum for Black Girls. Hours: Wed. 11am–6pm (half price), Th–Sun, 11am–7pm. 500 16th Street Mall. Tickets at themuseumforblackgirls.com

Museum of Contemporary Art Denver. Always free for kids 18 and under and healthcare workers. 1¢ admission 1st Sat. of the month. 1485 Delgany St. mcadenver.org

Museum of Illusions Denver. Photos with Santa Dec. 18 & 19 from 10am–2pm. 951 16th St Mall. moidenver.com

National Ballpark Museum. 1940 Blake St. Check for days/hours at ballparkmuseum.com

The Urban Farm. Open to the public Saturdays only from 9am–1pm. 10200 Smith Rd. theurbanfarm.org

Wings Over the Rockies Museum. 7711 East Academy Blvd. wingsmuseum.org

PERFORMANCE/THEATRE

12/5 to 12/24—SIX. The SIX wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to remix 500 years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21st century girl power. Buell Theatre. denvercenter.org

12/6 to 12/23—Yippee Ki Yay–The Die Hard Parody. Acclaimed retelling of classic film Die Hard from Richard Marsh-Fringe First-winner, London poetry slam champion. Galleria Theatre. denvercenter.org

12/9 Saturday—Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer. Candlelight concert in an awe-inspiring location. St Cajetan’s, 101 Lawrence Way. eventvesta.com/events/52676/t/tickets

Through 12/9—Letters of Suresh. A moving and engaging play of second chances. Curious Theatre Company, 1080 Acoma St. curioustheatre.org

12/10 Sunday—The Velveteen Rabbit. Narrated by Hazel Miller and performed with Stratus Chamber Orchestra. 5000 E Alameda Ave. augustanaarts.org

12/15 & 12/16—Sarah of the Opera. A one person Phantom parody. 10255 E 25th Ave, Ste 5, Aurora. Tickets at roaminggnometheatre.com

Through 12/17—The Odd Couple. Our favorite ’Odd Couple” is getting even more odd. The John Hand Theater, 7653 E. 1st Pl. firehousetheatercompany.com

Through 12/23—Ballet Ariel Presents The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Three Denver area locations. Tickets at balletariel.org

Through 12/31—Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. A stylish, contemporary take of the fairy tale classic. 6901 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada. www.cli.re/44806-rodgers-and-hammersteins-cinderella

GREEN and SUSTAINABLITY EVENTS

12/1 to 12/31—Recycle Your Holiday Lights. Don’t throw out your broken or tangled holiday lights, recycle them for free. Two locations: Cherry Creek Recycling Drop-off, S. Quebec St. and E. Cherry or Blue Star Recyclers, 953 Decatur St. For hours and more details, go to denvergov.org/lightrecycle

12/2 to 12/18—Handmade Gift Classes. Learn new skills and create one-of-a-kind, sustainable gifts for your loved ones this holiday season at the Denver Tool Library. 555 Santa Fe Dr. Register at denvertoollibrary.org

12/7 Thursday—Going Green for the Holidays. Discover ethical shopping ideas, embrace eco-friendly gift-wrapping techniques, and learn how to plan a waste-free holiday meal. Plus a holiday decoration swap. 11am. Center for Community, Room S350, 2249 Williard Dr, Boulder. https://calendar.colorado.edu/event/going_green_for_the_holidays

12/12 Tuesday—Zero Waste Cooking and History Workshop. Learn the history of the zero-waste movement acquire mindful consumption habits and eco-friendly cooking techniques. 6–8pm. CSU Spur, 4777 National Western Dr. Free event, registration is required at historycolorado.org

12/26 to 1/6/24—Electronics Recycling Drop-off Event. $5 car/individual for small load (one standard grocery bag) or $10 for anything larger. Additional charges for some items. Facility open M–F, 8am–4:30pm, Sat. 10am–2pm. Not collecting on 12/30, 12/31, or 1/1/24. Techno Rescue, 3251 Lewiston St, Suite 10. More info at auroragov.org/recycle

1/2/24 to 1/31/24—Recycle Your Holiday Lights. Remove all decorations/lights and drop your tree off to be recycled at several Denver sites open weekdays and weekends. For hours and more locations, go to denvergov.org/treecycle