It’s the beginning of a month jampacked with events for the whole family. From parades to performances, here’s one idea a day for enjoying the season
1 “The Polar Express” reading and refreshments for kids, 7 p.m. Philip S. Miller Library, 100 S. Wilcox St., Castle Rock; free; 303-791-7323;
2 Great Teddy Bear Roundup, through Dec. 11, at all Motel 6 locations; donated bears will be given to local agencies serving children in traumatic situations; 303-455-8888;
3 Night at the North Pole, a VIP shopping evening in Cherry Creek North with 50 stores, 10 cocktail stops and 20 food stops, 6-9 p.m.; tickets, $25, benefits ArtReach; 303-
394-2903; /northpole
4 Parade of Lights: Downtown Denver, free to spectators over 2-mile route, 8 p.m. (repeats Saturday at 6 p.m.);
5 History Colorado Holiday Open House includes live reindeer, music, crafts, food and prizes, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; free; 1300 Broadway; 303- 866-3682;
6 Four Mile House Colo- rado Christmas tours, horse-drawn carriage rides, snacks, noon to 4 p.m.; museum tours are $3.50 for adults; $2 for students and seniors; rides are $2 for adults; children under 12, $1; ; 720-865-0800
7 Denver Christkindl Mar- ket, with German and European vendors, local artisans, food and entertainment; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; (runs Nov. 27 through Dec. 24), Skyline Park near Arapahoe and 16th streets; 720-308-2921;
8 “Coffee — A Brief History,” Active Minds Lecture traces coffee from its origins in Ethiopia to the corner java shop, 12:30 p.m., free; Tattered Cover Highlands Ranch, 9315 Dorchester St.; 303-470-7050; activeminds
9 “Chanukah & Kwanzaa — The Other Two December Holidays,” cultural concert with storytellers Sondra Singer and Helen Trencher, noon-1 p.m.; free; Aurora Fox Theater, 9900 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora; 720-329-0869
10 Leahy Family Christmas Celtic Celebration featuring eight musical brothers and sisters, 7:30 p.m. Macky Auditorium Concert Hall, University of Colorado at Boulder; tickets $12-$52; 303-492-8008;
11 “Let It Ring, Let It Swing, Let It Snow” Denver Gay Men’s Chorus Concert 7:30 p.m., Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church, 1980 Dahlia St.; tickets $16-$22, free 12 and under, 303-325-3959; (concert repeats 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12)
12 “A Nutcracker Christmas” candlelight tours of the Molly Brown House Museum, 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.; tickets, $13 and $16 (go to , and click on “Museum Store”); 1340 Pennsylvania St.; 303-832-4092 (event also held Dec. 11)
13The 35th annual Tuba Christmas Concert at Skyline Park on Arapahoe Street between the 16th Street Mall and 17th Street; 1-2 p.m.; free
14 Holiday tours of the Governor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion, decorated in the style of the year 1909, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 400 E. Eighth Ave. Reservations are not required, and Colorado Historical Society volunteers lead the free tours; 303-866-3682 (tours run Dec. 12-18)
15 “A Christmas Carol,” presented by the Denver Center Theatre Company, $18 to $54, Stage Theatre; 14th and Curtis streets; 303-893-4100; (show dates Nov. 27-Dec. 26)
16 Holiday Tea at Byers- Evans House Museum, decorated in the 1912-1924 period, 1:30 p.m. Tea sandwiches, scones, fruit and desserts; tickets are $15-$20; 1310 Bannock St., reservations required, 303-620-4933; (other teas held Dec. 8, 9, 10, 12 and 15, plus a children’s tea Dec. 19)
17 Zoo Lights at Denver Zoo includes 38 acres of lights, animated animal sculptures and entertainment, 5-9 p.m., tickets, $4-$8, East 23rd Avenue between York Street and Colorado Boulevard; 303-376-4800 (lights Dec. 11-Jan. 3)
18 “The Nutcracker,” presented by Ballet Nouveau at the Performing Arts Complex at Pinnacle Charter School, 1001 W. 84th Ave.; 7:30 p.m., tickets are $14-$42; 303-466-5685; visit bncdance for more performances
19 Abraham Lincoln Bi- centennial traveling exhibition at Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library includes lectures, performances, tours, films and children’s programs, 2401 Welton St.; free; (through Jan. 12)
20 “Caroling Through the Woods,” Christmas caroling hike presented by Theatre-Hikes at Chatauqua Park in Boulder, 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (Dec. 5-20), tickets are $10 for adults; $5 for kids 3-12 at 303-413-7270; for other hikes
21 Winter Break at the Denver Art Museum, focus on Western animals, free for kids 18 and under; no reservations required, (Dec. 19-Jan. 3); 100 W. 14th Avenue Parkway; 720-865-5000; denverart
22 Christmas with the Von Trapp Children, part of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra holiday series, 7:30 pm.; Boettcher Concert Hall, 14th and Curtis streets; tickets start at $15, 303-623- 7876; or
23 Breakfast with Santa and Sharkey at the Downtown Aquarium, Dec. 5-6, 12-13 and 19-24, seating begins at 8:30 a.m.; tickets are $7.99 for children 3-12 and $14.99 for adults; 700 Water St., 303-561-4450; downtown
24 Last night for the Royal Gorge Railroad Santa Express evening ride, 6:30 p.m., tickets $19 for children 3-12; $29 for adults; Royal Gorge Route Railroad, 401 Water St., Cañon City; 888-724-5748; full schedule for rides (started end of November) at
25 TNT airs 24 hours of “A Christmas Story,” the 1983 film based on humorist Jean Sheperd’s “In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash,” from 8 p.m. Dec. 24 through the final 6 p.m. showing Christmas Day.
26 Hit the after-holiday sales, and go for a spin on the Ice Gardens at Orchard Town Center, ice rink open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; 14697 Delaware St., Westminster; 303-450-8600; theorchardtown (visit website for daily hours, rink opened Nov. 20)
27 Last performance of Colorado Ballet‘s version of “The Nutcracker” at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets; $19-$149; 303-837-8888; ,
(shows scheduled Nov. 28-Dec. 27)
28 “Winter Wonderettes” celebrates the holidays with a 1960s theme, presented by Backstage Theatre in Breckenridge; 7:30 p.m.; 121 Ridge St.; $20, $14 children and students 18 and younger; 970-453-0199; backstagetheatre
(show dates Nov. 27-Dec. 30)
29 Blossoms of Light, the annual outdoor show at the Denver Botanic Gardens, 1005 York St., 5:30-10:30 p.m., tickets are $6-$9; 720-865-3500, (daily, Dec. 4-Jan. 3); you can also visit Trails of Lights at Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield, 8500 Deer Creek Canyon Road, Littleton, 303-973-3705 (Wednesday-Sunday nights, Dec. 4-Jan. 3)
30 Hudson Holidays features lights and sound created by the Museum of Outdoor Arts. Hudson Gardens & Event Center, 6115 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton; 5-9 p.m.; tickets $6-$8; shop.hudsonholiday ; (selected evenings Nov. 21-Jan. 3)
31 Downtown Denver fireworks shows at 9 p.m. and midnight; view the two identical shows anywhere along the 16th Street Mall; details at
Compiled by Vickie Heath and Suzanne S. Brown.
