What are you doing for December? We’ve got your celebrations covered, whenever they happen, with surprises for every day.
1: Hot cocoa and tea sandwiches along with holiday treats are included at the Oxford Hotel Dolls’ Tea Party with seatings at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The 50-plus year tradition also features a ballet performance. The cost is $48, $28 for children. Reservations required. Each family is asked to bring a new teddy bear to donate to Children’s Hospital of Colorado. A special Dolls’ Tea spa package is also offered. 1600 17th St., 303-628-5482, e-mail reservations@theoxfordhotel.com, oxfordclubspa.com
2: Greeley’s 27th Annual Festival of Trees (Nov. 29-Dec. 7) continues with and more. Hours are 5-9 p.m. Nov. 29, 1-5 p.m. Nov. 30, Dec. 1 and Dec. 7; 3-9 p.m. Dec. 2-6, until 6 p.m. Dec. 5. Guests are asked to bring a nonperishable food item for the Weld Food Bank along with admission: $2; $1 children ages 1-12 and seniors 60+. Special activities include a Sip & Shop Ladies Night Out on Dec. 3, a Silver Bells Social Dec. 4 and a Teddy Bear Bash Dec. 7. Call or visit the website for details. Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Ave., Greeley, 970-350-9451, greeleyfestivaloftrees.com
3: A new look with more vendors from more countries highlights this year’s enhanced Denver Christkindl Market in Skyline Park. The free, outdoor German-style market opens daily at 11 a.m. (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) and offers crafts, food, beer and live entertainment with the Ye Wanton Wenches, the Chalet Dancers and The Edelweiss Club Schuhplattler. Closing time is 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. Arapahoe and 16th streets, denverchristkindlmarket.com/
4: The Colorado Hebrew Chorale presents its at 5:30 p.m. Joined by the Rocky Mountain Ringers, the free concert is followed by holiday treats and Israeli folk dancing for all ages. Audience members are welcome to bring their own menorahs. Reservations recommended. McNichols Civic Center Building, 144 W. Colfax Ave., 303-284-5804, coloradohebrewchorale.org/festival-of-lights
5: for the holiday season as the Arvada Center presents the Broadway version of “A Christmas Carol, the Musical” on stage Nov. 22 through Dec. 22. Dates and times vary and several matinees are included. Ticket prices vary, children are half-price. 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada, 720-898-7200, arvadacenter.org
6: Bundle up for a two-mile route through Downtown Denver. Start times are 8 p.m. Dec. 6 and 6 p.m. Dec. 7. Floats and marching bands are featured along with Santa Claus and Major Waddles the penguin. Free; grandstand tickets are available. The parade begins at Bannock Street and 14th Avenue in front of the Denver City and County Building, denverparadeoflights.com
7: You have two weekends to make the quick drive up I-70 for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 7-8 and 14-15. The European-inspired market offers live entertainment, horse-drawn carriage rides, handcrafted gifts, roasting chestnuts (on an open fire), visits with St. Nick and more. Admission is free. Christmas tours of the Hotel de Paris Museum and Hamill House are also included. Sixth street in Georgetown, 303-569-2840, historicgeorgetown.org/Christmas_Market.html
8: Organist Norman Sutphin at 2 p.m. The free performance is a celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Roosevelt Organ and will include works by Gioacchino Rossini, Louis Thiele, Isaac Van Vleck Flagler and Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens. Several of these same works were performed at the original dedication of the organ on Dec. 20, 1888. Trinity United Methodist Church, 1820 Broadway, 303-839-1493, trinityumc.org
9: There are to view at both Denver Botanic Gardens locations Nov. 29-Jan. 1 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. daily. “Blossoms of Light” is a showcase of “sparkling passages, brand new displays and romantic mistletoe kissing spots” at 1007 York St. “Trail of Lights” is blooming in Littleton at 8500 Deer Creek Canyon Road and includes a children’s play area and a winding path to follow. Live entertainment is scheduled on select nights. Tickets vary; group rates available. Details on the website. botanicgardens.org
10: You have 24 hours to donate online to more than 1,000 nonprofits as part of Community First Foundation’s Colorado Gives Day. An impressive total of $15.7 million was donated last year. coloradogives.org
11: “Cirque Dreams Holidaze” (Dec. 10-22) takes over The Buell Theatre with spinning penguins, flipping gingerbread and tightrope-walking toy soldiers, to name a few. Times for the all-ages show are 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday with matinees at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets vary. Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100, denvercenter.org
12: Musician Dave Villano headlines the Christmas Magic Holiday concert featuring contemporary, traditional and Celtic selections. The Colorado native will be joined by several guest musicians including guitar virtuoso Dave Beegle, drummer Christian Teele and American Idol contestant Devan Jones. The two-hour concert begins at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25, $20 in advance; $10 students with I.D.; $5 children under 13. Group rates are available. Stargazers Theater, 10 S. Parkside Drive, Colorado Springs, 719-476-2200, brownpapertickets.com/event/503078
13: You can literally at the 13th annual Candy Cane Festival 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 13 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Hammond’s Candies factory. Mini tours, crafts, cookie decorating, a bounce house, shopping and face painting are just some of the holiday festivities offered for the entire family. Admission is free. 5735 Washington St., 303-333-5588, hammondscandies.com/candycanefestival
14: The Butterfly Pavilions jump into the holiday season with both wings with It’s open 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday each week (Dec. 13-Jan. 12). Guests can visit the outdoor glowing gardens with larger-than-life light sculptures and step indoors to visit with live animals and see the twinkling tropical rainforest. Admission varies; combo daytime and “Living Lights” tickets available. 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster, 303-469-5441, butterflies.org
15: Children are invited to mail their holiday wish lists and deposit them in the Railway Post Office Car as part of the at the Colorado Railroad Museum 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 7, 14-15 and 21. Hot cocoa and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus are included along with train rides departing every 30 minutes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $30 for families (two adults and up to five children), $15 adults, $10 seniors age 60+ and $5 for children (under age 2 are free). 17155 W. 44th Ave., Golden, 303-279-4591, 800-365-6263, ColoradoRailroadMuseum.org
16: You can — all for free at the Southwest Ice Skating Rink at Skyline Park, open Nov. 26 through Feb. 16. The rink is open daily; hours vary. Bring your own skates or rent a pair for $2. Arapahoe Street and 16th Street Mall, 303-825-6787, SouthwestRink.com
17: are flown in for the annual holiday tradition of “Rock on Ice” Dec. 17-21 in Crested Butte. Watch their artistry in person as they transform blocks of ice into holiday characters, animals and more in Mountaineer Square and other locations around crested butte mountain resort. Several are illuminated at night. Crested Butte also hosts ongoing holiday festivities including live entertainment, children’s activities, visits with Santa, New Year’s Eve celebrations and more. Crested Butte, 970-349-2333, skicb.com/events
18: The Molly Brown House, one of the most popular historic sites in Colorado, hosts several holiday festivities at the Victorian landmark. are scheduled Dec. 6-8, 12-15 and 18-22 (times vary) and “A Brown Family Christmas Tour” begins at 6 and 7 p.m. Dec. 13 and 5, 6 and 7 p.m. Dec. 14. Call or visit the website for tickets and reservations. 1340 Pennsylvania St., 303-832-4092, mollybrown.org
19: For the 53rd year, the Colorado Ballet Orchestra and the Colorado Ballet bring “The Nutcracker” to magical holiday life on the stage of the Ellie Caulkins Opera House Nov. 30-Dec. 28. Times and tickets vary. Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-837-8888, coloradoballet.org
20: The Colorado Symphony Orchestra presents Shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20, 2:30 and 6 p.m. Dec. 21 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 22. Tickets vary. Visit the website for tickets and the complete CSO holiday show lineup with concerts scheduled Nov. 30 through Dec. 31. Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, coloradosymphony.org
21: Share your holiday season with as The Aurora Fox presents “Guys on Ice — The World’s Greatest Ice Fishing Musical Comedy” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13-14 and 21 and wrapping up with a matinee at 2 p.m. Dec. 22. Tickets for the family-friendly show are $26, $22 students and seniors, $13 for children under 12. Aurora Fox Studio Theatre, 9900 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora, 303-739-1970, AuroraFox.org
22: Show time is 1 p.m. for the 40th annual Tuba Christmas concert featuring downtown in Skyline Park, Arapahoe Street and 16th Street Mall. The free concerts are also performed at 4 p.m. Dec. 7 in Colorado Springs, noon Dec. 14 in Grand Junction and 2 p.m. Dec. 14 in Fort Collins. Details on the website. tubachristmas.com
23: Keep an eye out for at the annual “Breakfast with Santa” buffet at the Downtown Aquarium. Seatings begin at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 7-8, 14-15 and 21-24. $16.99, $10.99 children ages 3-10. Reservations are required. Guests receive 50 percent off Adventure Exhibit tickets with each buffet purchase — and parking is free. 700 Water St., 303-561-4450, downtownaquarium.com
24: Head to the Denver Zoo for the 23rd annual Zoo Lights extravaganza of Dec. 6-Jan. 5. Admission is $12, $8 children ages 3-11, $10 seniors 65 and up, and free for children age 2 and under. Members receive a $2 discount per ticket. The Zoo will close at 5 p.m. each day and reopen at 5:30 p.m. for Zoo Lights. East 23rd Avenue between York Street and Colorado Boulevard, 303-376-4800, denverzoo.org
25: Littleton’s Hudson Gardens has as part of the “A Hudson Christmas” display Nov. 29-30, Dec. 6-7 and Dec. 13-31. Doors open at 5 p.m. nightly and guests can visit with Santa and enjoy holiday refreshments as they stroll through the Gardens until 8:30 p.m. Admission is $9, $7 members, $6 children ages 4-12, free age 3 and under. 6115 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, 303-797-8565, hudsonchristmas.org
26: Several Denver Public Libraries are hosting programs celebrating Kwanzaa, Dec. 26-Jan. 1. Performances and activities with refreshments are offered at 2 p.m. Dec. 26 at Pauline Robinson Branch Library; 2 p.m. Dec. 27 at Ford-Warren Branch Library; 2 p.m. Dec. 30 at Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library; and 11 a.m. Dec. 31 at Schlessman Family Branch Library. More information on the website. denverlibrary.org
27: will be joined by special guests for the “Jim Brickman: The Magic of Christmas” concert at 7:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St. in Fort Collins. Tickets start at $28, visit lctix.com. This is just one of dozens of holiday celebrations taking place in Fort Collins throughout December. 970-484-6500, DowntownFortCollins.com
28: Time is running out to visit the Denver Museum of Nature & Science for the “Mythbusters: The Explosive Exhibition” (Oct. 11-Jan. 5). with dozens of hands-on experiments. And there’s a trio of 3D IMAX films, including “Mysteries of the Unseen World,” “Meerkats” and “Great White Shark.” The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Dec. 25. 2001 Colorado Blvd., 303-370-6000, dmns.org
29: The Strings Music Festival in Steamboat Springs continues with a featuring popular holiday tunes along with classics from “Wicked,” “My Fair Lady,” West Side Story” and “Chicago” at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $40. Jim Gamble Puppet Productions present “The Nutcracker” with marionettes at 5 p.m. Dec. 23. Tickets are $10, $3 for children. Strings Music Pavilion, 900 Strings Road, 970-879-5056, stringsmusicfestival.com
30: The Yonder Mountain String Band is celebrating the release of its new “YMSB EP ’13” with Dec. 27-31. Doors open nightly at 8 p.m. The Dec. 30 concert is a benefit for Planet Bluegrass Ranch in Lyons, which was destroyed by the September floods. 2032 14th St., 303-786-7030, bouldertheater.com
31: Everyone has a front-row seat for the Downtown Denver fireworks shows, beginning at 9 p.m. and midnight along the 16th Street Mall. so parents with early-to-bed kiddos won’t miss a single boom. DowntownDenver.com
