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Denver Christmas Market 2026: Christkindlmarket Guide
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The Denver Christmas market, officially the Denver Christkindlmarket, returns to the Tivoli Quad on the Auraria Campus in downtown Denver from Friday 20 November to Wednesday 23 December 2026. Organised by the German American Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Chapter, it moved here from Civic Center Park in 2025 while the park is renovated, and organisers have confirmed it stays on the campus for 2026. Entry is free.
This guide covers the Denver Christmas market and 4 more festive things to do in Denver, from the Mile High Tree and its drone shows to the Parade of Lights and two light trails. Each entry has the address, the nearest RTD stop and a Pro Tip.
The order starts on the Auraria Campus, where the market and the Mile High Tree sit together, then moves to downtown for the Parade of Lights, and finishes with evening light trails at Denver Botanic Gardens and Denver Zoo.
1Denver Christkindlmarket at the Auraria Campus - The Main Market
The Denver Christkindlmarket is the city's only authentic German-style Christmas market, with wooden huts selling German food, mulled wine, beer and handmade gifts. In 2025 it celebrated its 25th year and moved to the Tivoli Quad on the Auraria Campus, where organisers say they have more room for vendors and entertainment than at the old Civic Center Park site.
Food stalls serve bratwurst, pretzels, potato pancakes and German pastries, and the Glühwein comes in a collectible mug. Live music, dance and family activities run throughout the season, and the historic Tivoli brewery building gives the quad a fitting backdrop.
Entry is free, but parking on the campus costs a fee, so public transport is the easiest way to get there.
Pro Tip: Take the RTD light rail rather than driving, since campus parking is paid and fills up on weekends. Visit on a weekday evening for the shortest food queues.
2Mile High Tree and Drone Show - America's Tallest Digital Tree
The Mile High Tree is billed as America's tallest digital Christmas tree, a towering cone of programmable lights that plays nightly light shows set to music. During the 2025 season it was paired with the Denver Christkindlmarket, and organisers expect the two to appear together again in 2026.
In 2025 the city also ran the Mile High Drone Show, with hundreds of choreographed drones forming holiday scenes, from Santa to Denver landmarks, above the campus. Prime viewing spots were on the Tivoli Quad, in the nearby Sculpture Park and at the Denver Performing Arts Complex.
Check Visit Denver's Mile High Holidays pages for the 2026 tree and drone show schedule before you go.
Pro Tip: Arrive at the market about 30 minutes before a scheduled drone show, grab a Glühwein and find a spot on the Tivoli Quad. The shows are free and draw big crowds on weekends.
39NEWS Parade of Lights - Downtown Denver's Holiday Parade
The 9NEWS Parade of Lights is one of Denver's biggest holiday traditions, with illuminated floats, giant balloons, marching bands and Santa winding through downtown streets after dark. It usually takes place on the first weekend of December, starting near the City and County Building.
The City and County Building itself is lit up for the season with thousands of coloured lights, a tradition dating back decades, and the official lighting ceremony kicks off Denver's holiday season in late November.
Check the official parade website for the 2026 date, route and start time, as street closures and crowds are significant on parade night.
Pro Tip: Find a spot along the route at least an hour early and bring a blanket or something warm to sit on. Denver nights in December are often below freezing, especially after sunset.
4Blossoms of Light at Denver Botanic Gardens - Garden Light Trail
Blossoms of Light turns the York Street gardens of Denver Botanic Gardens into a glowing winter landscape, with lights wrapped around trees, shrubs and sculptures. It is one of the most popular holiday events in the city and a favourite with families and couples.
Visitors follow a walking route through the gardens, with themed light displays, warm drinks and seasonal treats along the way. Entry is by timed ticket, and the event usually runs from late November into early January.
The gardens are a short drive or bus ride from downtown Denver, so the trail combines easily with an evening at the Denver Christmas market.
Pro Tip: Book a weekday time slot as soon as tickets go on sale, as weekends and the days around Christmas sell out early. Dress for cold, as the trail is entirely outdoors.
5Zoo Lights at Denver Zoo - Lights Among the Animals
Zoo Lights at Denver Zoo in City Park is a long-running Denver holiday tradition, with lights forming glowing animal sculptures across the zoo grounds. Some animal habitats stay open in the evening, so you can see certain species during your visit.
The event usually includes seasonal food and drink stands, festive music and family activities, and it runs on most evenings from late November through early January. Entry is ticketed, with timed admission at busy periods.
City Park also offers views of the downtown skyline and the mountains, and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science is next door for a daytime visit.
Pro Tip: Visit early in the season or on a weeknight for the smallest crowds. Combine an afternoon at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science with Zoo Lights in the evening, as both are in City Park.
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Denver Christmas Market 2026: Christkindlmarket Guide - FAQ
The Denver Christkindlmarket runs from Friday 20 November to Wednesday 23 December 2026 at the Tivoli Quad on the Auraria Campus. In 2025 it opened 1pm to 9pm Monday to Thursday and 11am to 9pm Friday to Sunday and during the final week, so check the official website for the 2026 hours.
Yes, the Denver Christkindlmarket is free and open to the public. You only pay for food, drinks, gifts and the collectible Glühwein mug.
RTD light rail is the easiest option, with Colfax at Auraria and Auraria West stations close to the Tivoli Quad. In 2025 RTD added special holiday service and listed the market in its NextRide planner. Parking on the Auraria Campus is paid and fills up at weekends.
No. The Denver Christkindlmarket closes for the season on 23 December 2026, so it is not open on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Plan your visit for late November or the first three weeks of December.
No, the market does not reopen after 23 December. If you are in Denver between Christmas and New Year, ticketed light trails such as Zoo Lights and Blossoms of Light have traditionally continued into the new year, so check their 2026 dates.
The market is held on the Tivoli Quad at the Auraria Campus in downtown Denver. It moved there from Civic Center Park in 2025 because of park renovations, and organisers confirmed it will stay at Auraria for 2026, with more vendors and an expanded layout.
Weekday afternoons in late November and early December are the quietest. Arrive just before dark to browse the stalls, then stay for the Mile High Tree light shows. Weekends and the final week before 23 December are the busiest.
The Denver Christkindlmarket is the city's main German-style market. Smaller seasonal options include the Cherry Creek Holiday Market and the Denver Winter Market at the Denver Sports Castle. The same organisers also run a Christkindlmarket in Old Colorado City, Colorado Springs.
The Mile High Tree is billed as America's tallest digital tree, and it stands next to the Christkindlmarket on the Auraria Campus. It puts on nightly light shows, so you can see both of Denver's big holiday attractions in one evening.
Yes. Each season has a limited-edition Glühwein mug and stein, and organisers said the 2026 designs would be revealed in late October. Popular designs can sell out, so buy yours early in the season.
