Holiday family fun, free of charge
Through Dec. 21. Besides free-to-attend displays, such as Loveland’s Winter Wonderlights (through Jan. 1; ) or the Governor’s Residence tours (through Dec. 15; ), you can get into the holiday spirit for free by swinging through Cherry Creek North’s Winter Fest on Dec. 14. The 10 a.m.-2 p.m. event at Fillmore Plaza, which is designed to route people to the surrounding retailers, features family-friendly activities (including crafts at some of those area businesses), live entertainment, and a visit from Santa. 2630 E. 3rd Ave., . Also free: The Denver Dolls’ “A Very Vintage Holiday.” The musical revue pays tribute to the 1940s and ’50s music of Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters, “White Christmas”-style. And yes, despite being at the otherwise tony Denver Center for the Performing Arts, the all-ages stage show is 100% free. 6 p.m. Dec. 13, 20 and 21 at the Garner Galleria Theater, 1101 13th St.
Great-looking Christmas markets
Through Dec. 22. Since Dec. 6, the Chicano Humanities and Arts Council (222 Santa Fe Drive) has devoted its galleries to the dual exhibits “Saints … A Connection Between Heaven and Earth” (in the main gallery) and “Our Lady de Guadalupe and Sacred Women” (in the small gallery). While both multi-artist exhibitions run through Jan. 25, the council will hold Christmas Mercados around them over the next couple weekends — in case you want homegrown gift options that are vastly superior to the usual department-store displays. The markets run 3-8 p.m. Dec. 13 and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 21-22, and both will feature works by artists who have exhibited across the Art District on Santa Fe. 720-537-4359.
Adding pep to your step
Through Dec. 22. Itap hard for most non-Nutracker dance productions to catch some air during the holidays, but it isn’t for lack of quality. Boulder’s Frequent Flyers, an international hub of aerial dance, offers the Dec. 13-15 “WDzԻ,” with live music (Amanda Botur, Rebecca Folsom, Leslee Smucker) and gravity-defying performances, at The Dairy Arts Center. $25-$28, . Wonderbound, Colorado’s genre-blending contemporary ballet company, offers ᳦,” with live music from Jesse Manley & His Band. It closes out its run at Wonderbound Studios Dec. 17-19. $60, . Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Company’s annual tradition, “Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum,” is also back with shows Dec. 14-15 and 21-22 at Cleo’s theater in Five Points. $30-$40.
Santa’s mug, upscale or thrifty
Saturday and Dec. 21. If you’ve avoided snapping pics with Santa due to exorbitant photo-package prices at the mall, take heed: Santa will be ready for photos, free of charge, at Santa’s Workshop The Dairy Block Dec. 14 and 21. To get people in the door (er, alley), there’s a Santa photo booth, reindeer meet-and-greet, live entertainment “by elves and carolers,” free candy canes, face painting, balloon artists and more. Noon-4 p.m. at 1800 Wazee St. . If you’re committed to saving even more cash, you can see Santa at Arc Thrift Stores, where most items are 50% off on Saturdays. He’s taking kid-pics for free in Northglenn on Dec. 14 and Aurora on Dec. 21, both 10 a.m.-noon.
