Enjoy Denver's Magical Holiday Season
Mile High Holidays Deliver New Experiences and Old Traditions
DENVER, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the Rocky Mountains providing a snow-capped backdrop, along with incredible Mile High Holidays hotel rates as low as $52.80*, Denver is a magical place to be during the holiday season.
Festive parades and lighting spectacles accompany traditional holiday concerts. Santa arrives to the Rocky Mountains for a series of appearances, while numerous outdoor events, including a new, free downtown ice-skating rink, carolers, horse-drawn carriage rides and even a tuba concert entertain throughout the season. The Mile High City then rings in the New Year with fireworks, countdown parties, concerts, and more.
Denver boasts some of the nation's most colorful holiday lighting shows, with more than one million twinkling lights along the 16th St. Mall, Denver's mile-long pedestrian promenade, as well as new-fashioned LED blubs that will illuminate the Denver City & County Building. Just down the street, 300,000 lights turn historic Larimer Square into a dazzling nighttime sight.
From the timelessness of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol at Stage Theatre to the wonder of floats and seasonal spirit in the 9News Parade of Lights and from holiday classics such as The Nutcracker to the beautiful glowing luminarias lining Santa Fe Boulevard, the holidays in Denver enliven the spirit.
For a complete list of events, hotel specials and shopping information, visit www.visitdenver.com or call 1-800-2DENVER. For deals on hotels, events and cultural attractions, go to www.MileHighHolidays.com.
*Second night at select properties. See website for more details.
Santa Comes to Denver
Breakfast With Santa
December 4-5, 11, 18-24, 2010
Enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet at Downtown Aquarium with a scuba-diving Santa
Claus, as well as Sharkey and Java, the Aquarium's mascots.
Santa Claus Special
December 4, 11-12, 18, 2010
This year, Santa has replaced his sleigh and reindeer with Colorado Railroad Museum's steam locomotive and a team of historic passenger cars all decked out for the holidays. Children will want to bring their wish list to share with Santa and Mrs. Claus in the museum's authentic Red Caboose, then enjoy hot chocolate by the Depot General Store. Here, they'll find a generous supply of railroad toys and a huge selection of Thomas the Tank Engine gifts. Special Santa Claus rides, free with admission, depart every 20 minutes.
Lighting Up The Town
Grand Illumination of Downtown
November 26, 2010
This year's Grand Illumination of downtown Denver features beautiful lighting displays at the City & County Building, Larimer Square, Denver Pavilions, Union Station, Skyline Park, the 16th Street Mall and the historic D&F Tower. Downtown's festive atmosphere is sure to get folks in the holiday spirit. Events at Denver Union Station begin at 5:30 p.m., with a countdown to "light the lights" live with 9NEWS at approximately 6:30 p.m.
City & County Building Holiday Lights
November 26, 2010 – January 2011
The largest lighting display in Denver comes on nightly at 6 p.m. at the Denver City & County Building, where 600,000 LED-lights deck the neo-classical building. The bell tower plays carols nightly as well.
16th Street Mall Holiday Lights
November 26, 2010 – January 2011
Denver's mile-long pedestrian promenade, the 16th Street Mall, is decorated with more than one million white lights. Horse-drawn carriages ride up and down the mall nightly beginning at 6 p.m., creating a special way to view the display.
November 28, 2010
The Tesoro Cultural Center kicks off the holiday season with live musical entertainment, seasonal carols and the lighting of the farolitos (also known as luminarias), a traditional Southwestern lighting display.
December 3, 2010 – January 2, 2011
Embrace the holiday season at "Blossoms of Light" at Denver Botanic Gardens (York St. location). More than one million colorful lights draped in elegant designs highlight the gardens' winter beauty. Romantic and popular kissing spots will return, as well as the always anticipated HoloSpex glasses, which magically transform the lights into shimmering 3-D shapes.
December 3, 2010
With Luminarias de Santa Fe, the ArtDistrict on Santa Fe celebrates the holiday season by decorating the street with hundreds of festive, glowing luminarias (paper bags illuminated by candle) along Santa Fe Drive between 10th and 6th streets.
December 4 (8 p.m.) and 5 (6 p.m.), 2010
The 9NEWS Parade of Lights is the signature event of the Downtown Denver holiday season. The countless sparkling lights, marching bands, giant balloons, majestic floats and delightful characters will once again wow hundreds of thousands. Viewing along the parade route is free, and grandstand tickets are sold for seating in front of the beautifully illuminated City & County Building.
Butterfly Pavilion: Living Lights
December 11 – 19, 2010
Holiday lights are even more festive when they fly, flutter and crawl. Marvel at Living Lights this winter, which showcases some of the world's smallest wonders as thousands of lights illuminate the Butterfly Pavilion's tropical rainforest and outdoor gardens.
December 10, 2010 – January 1, 2011
The Denver Zoo comes alive for the holiday season with Zoo Lights, a magical display of animals and holiday themes decked with millions of colorful lights along with music, entertainment and more.
Special Holiday Events
Southwest Rink at Skyline Park
Opening November 26, 2010
A brand new addition to the Denver holiday scene, the Southwest Rink at Skyline Park (Arapahoe and 16th streets, downtown Denver) will kick off the holiday season with ice skating and family fun. The rink is FREE and open to the public with the option to bring personal skates or rent a pair at a minimal cost.
Cherry Creek Shopping Center: The Ice Palace
November 26 – December 19, 2010
Inspired by the magic of winter, Cherry Creek Shopping Center will unveil an immersive new holiday experience in 2010 – The Ice Palace. This one-of-a-kind experience includes a magical snow and light show inside a soaring 22-foot dome encircled with a series of arches and snow globes featuring content from the highly anticipated feature film, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Throughout the holidays, enjoy strolling carolers and photo opportunities with Santa Claus.
December 5, 2010
Experience Four Mile House decked out for the holidays, play Victorian games with Father Christmas, make gingerbread sugarplums, create popcorn-and-cranberry ornaments for the Four Mile Tree, and much more. Free admission.
Charles Dickens Candlelight Christmas Tour
December 17 – 18, 2010
This grand holiday tradition started by none other than Mr. Dickens himself. Hear excerpts from "A Christmas Carol" in the "unsinkable" Molly Brown's festively decorated home. Learn about the Brown's happiest Christmas, and enjoy cookies and cider on Mrs. Brown's third floor.
December 24, 2010
Enjoy a traditional Southwestern Christmas Eve celebrating Las Posadas, musicians singing traditional songs pertaining to Mary and Joseph in Spanish and English in the courtyard of The Fort Restaurant.
December 31, 2010
Ring in the New Year with Denver's annual New Year's Eve Fireworks from viewpoints along the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver. Two shows: 9 p.m. and Midnight
January 8 – 23, 2011
Holiday season events keep right on going into January when the National Western Stock Show gallops back into town with exciting rodeo action, horse shows, Old West shows and more at the National Western Complex.
Holidays Sound Off
Christmas with the Children's Chorale
December 4 – 5, 2010
This performance is the biggest caroling party in town, with 400 singers on stage and 2,000 more in the audience joining together to "repeat the sounding joy" of the holiday season. The December 5 show is a special matinee 2 p.m. performance, while the December 6 show begins at 7 p.m., both at the Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver Performing Arts Complex.
December 10 – 12, 2010
Now in its 26th year, Colorado Christmas continues to ring in the Holiday spirit in grand orchestral style. Join the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, CSO Chorus and Colorado Children's Chorale in a program that highlights beloved yuletide carols in Boettcher Concert Hall at the Denver Performing Arts Complex.
December 12, 2010
Hundreds of tuba players play holiday classics at the annual TubaChristmas Concert in Skyline Park (Arapahoe and 16th streets).
'Twas The Brass Before Christmas
December 12 and December 18, 2010
This magical, nostalgic holiday celebration is designed for the entire family, with Christmas favorites performed by the acclaimed Denver Brass. The show features a carol sing-a-long and a special visit from Santa Claus that puts everyone in the holiday spirit.
A Jazz Christmas With Dianne Reeves
December 14, 2010
Virtuoso, multi-GRAMMY® award-winner and improvisational powerhouse, Dianne Reeves is one of the pre-eminent jazz vocalists in the world today. Welcome Reeves home to Colorado for the holidays in this jazz inspired concert of the season, in Boettcher Concert Hall at the Denver Performing Arts Complex.
December 15 and 19, 2010
Handel's masterpiece was written in just over two weeks but has remained a staple in the holiday repertory for more than 250 years. Don't miss this holiday classic at Montview Presbyterian Church performed in the warm glow of candlelight, an experience never to forget.
December 17 – 18, 2010
For 12 consecutive seasons, Colorado crowds have smiled, cheered, and danced in the aisles to this R&B, jazz, and gospel reworking of Handel's Messiah: Too Hot To Handel. At Boettcher Concert Hall in the Denver Performing Arts Complex, come experience what sold-out audiences found at last year's performances.
December 22, 2010
Trans-Siberian Orchestra, one of the top-selling concert acts in the world, creates one of the most captivating concert experiences on the road today, with radical re-imaginings of holiday favorites, accompanied by lasers, pyrotechnics and state of the art lighting at the Pepsi Center.
December 31, 2010
Start New Year's Eve off early with a Viennese-style concert of Polkas, Waltzes and Marches performed by the Colorado Symphony. Afterward, stroll down to the 16th Street Mall for fireworks and still get home long before the clock strikes midnight.
Holiday Performing Arts, Theatre & Dance
Radio City Christmas Spectacular
November 13 – 14, 2010
Experience the magic of America's favorite holiday spectacle, as the famous kicking Rockettes take a trip to the North Pole to visit with Santa Claus at the Pepsi Center.
November 27 – December 26, 2010
Performed for more than 100 years, this ballet event still gives audiences of all ages goose bumps. Captivating costumes and scenery, unforgettable characters, and Tchaikovsky's treasured music make Colorado Ballet's rendition of The Nutcracker the ultimate holiday event at the Denver Performing Arts Complex.
December 2 – 24, 2010
The heart-warming holiday classic, A Christmas Carol, returns to the Stage Theatre in the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Original songs, ghostly chills, laughter, and warmth deck the halls, as the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is haunted by the spirits of his past, present, and likely future. This evergreen tale of generosity, kindness, and true Christmas spirit comes to joyous life with splendid period sets and costumes.
Stories On Stage: Making Merry
December 12, 2010
A variety of holiday stories read live on stage at the Denver Performing Arts Complex make Making Merry a new Denver holiday tradition.
For a full list of offers, events and holiday experiences, visit www.MileHighHolidays.com. For high-resolution photos, please download here:
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About VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau
Founded in 1909, VISIT DENVER is a nonprofit trade association that contracts with the City of Denver to market Denver as a convention and leisure destination, increasing economic development in the city, creating jobs and generating taxes. Tourism is the second largest industry in Denver, generating $2.9 billion in annual spending and supporting nearly 50,000 jobs. For more information on Denver call 800-2DENVER or visit Denver's official Web site at www.VISITDENVER.com.
With press or photo inquiries, please contact:
Rich Grant: (303) 571-9450 or [email protected]
Jennifer Asbury: (303) 571-9451 or [email protected]
SOURCE VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau
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