GreatIdeasForKids.com features quality activities for kids, fun ideas, great books, and more. The target is children 10 years and younger. I, the editor, am commited to writing interesting editorials, providing useful guides, and finding insightful experts and columnists. - Jill
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please visit the venue's website for each event. These events have NOT YET BEEN UPDATED for 2009.
Santas, a Grinch and a Fairy Princess
2007Santa's House meet Santa and Mrs Claus, plenty of kiddie activites too. $3/person (Pi Beta Phi Sorority in Boulder) all day Saturday 12/1 and Sunday 12/2 (Advice: avoid the 10:30am-12:30pm rush. It is a very popular and highly regarded event.)
2007Santa Clause Special train ride (Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden) every 20 minutes on Saturday 12/1 and Sunday 12/2
2007 Free: Rose Community Chanukah Celebration Denver’s largest annual Chanukah event. Free food, storytelling, carnival games, and children’s arts and crafts on Saturday 12/2
2007The Grinch Who Bowled Christmas! (Splitz at the Westminster Promenade) 1-game package includes shoes, Lightning Strikes light & sound, snack & drink, watch the movie and meet the Grinch too! $8.25 per person + tax. Reserve your space ahead. 10:00am - Noon on Sunday 12/2
2007A Colorado Christmas multi-faceted educational experience based on how it was for Denver's early settlers (Denver) Saturday 12/1 and Sunday 12/2
2007Holiday Magic at WinterSkate old-fashioned outdoor winter festival (Louisville) starts at 10:00am on 12/8
2007Gilpin County Winter Arts Festival (Golden) Holiday shopping, Santa Claus, live music, ceramic handprints, adult pottery decoration, face painting, cookie decorating, choirs and instrumental performances on 12/8
2007 Free: Winterfest holiday crafts and much more (Boulder History Musuem) from Noon - 4:00pm on 12/9
2007 Free: Visit with Santa bring your own camera (Crawdaddy's Toys in Lafayette) from 10:00am - 1:00pm on 11/24, 12/1, 12/8, 12/14, 12/15, 12/21, 12/22
2007 Free: St. Nick on the Bricks on the Pearl St Mall in Boulder (starts Fri 12/23 and then midday every Saturday 11/24-12/22)
Interactive Snow Globes walk-thru and be super-imposed into photo scene from Fred Claus movie (Cherry Creek Mall in Denver) thru 12/31
2007 Visit with the magical Sugar Plum Fairy Princess from Colorado Ballet’s Nutcracker (Cherry Creek Mall in Denver) from 10:00am - Noon on Saturdays 12/1, 12/8 and 12/15
2007Sign Language Santa near the Snow Globes (Cherry Creek Mall in Denver) 9:00am-2:00pm on Tuesday 12/4 and Wednesday 12/5
2007Sign Language Santa (Avista Hospital in Louisville) 3:00pm-5:00pm on Tuesday 12/11
2007Thornton WinterFest 3-day event with Santa's Village, ice skating, marketplace, concert & fireworks 12/14-12/16
2007 Free: Skate with Santa (Superior) from 1:30pm-4:00pm on Saturday 12/15
2007 Free: Skyline Park Ice Sculpting (Denver) from 10:30am-1:00pm from 12/20-12/22
Kwanzaa Festivities (Denver Zoo) evenings from 12/26-12/30
Lighting Ceremonies
Parades
2007 Free: Broomfield City and County Building holiday event at 6:00pm on Thursday 11/29
2007 Free: Light Up Briggs Street Parade and Celebration (Downtown Erie) from 3:30pm - 6:30pm on Friday 11/30
2007 Free: 6th Avenue Plaza in Longmont various activities (including carriage rides) but the lights go on at 6:00pm on Friday 11/30
2007 Free: Noel Northglenn holiday event at 6:00pm on Friday 11/30
2007 Free: Lafayette Chamber Building holiday event at 5:00pm including sing-along & storytelling, preceeded by 5 hours of musical performance along S. Public Rd (note: the linked pdf file takes a couple minutes to load) on Saturday 12/1
2007 Free: Westminster City Hall holiday event at 5:30pm on Saturday 12/1
20079News Parade of Lights in downtown Denver at 8:00pm on Friday 11/30 and 6:00pm on Saturday 12/1
2007 Free:
Olde Golden Christmas on Parade
at 11:00am every Saturday in Dec before the 25th
2007 Free: Lights of December Parade in Downtown Boulder at 6:00pm on Saturday 12/1
2007 Free: Parade Of Lights (includes living nativity) in Downtown Louisville at 6:00pm on Friday 12/7
2007 Free: Hometown Holiday Parade with ending FIREWORKS! (Longmont) parade starts at 5:00pm on Saturday 12/8
2007 Free: En Fuego (Copper Mountain) Skydiving Santa lights the tree (11/24 only), fire jugglers, torchlight parade, fireworks show, and more (various dates including Christmas Eve)
Alpine Holiday (Dress-up) Parade (Children's Museum of Denver) at 2:30pm every Monday/Wednesday/Friday in December
Animals and Trees
2007Sleigh rides to pick out pre-cut Christmas trees in Estes Park (make reservations) weekends from 11/24-12/16
Miniature pony rides pick a tree and pet the animals (Flatirons Equestrian Center in Louisville) weekends from 11/24-12/23. Special note: The pony rides are conducted by the kids who board their horses here. Although the rides are complimentary, the kids work hard to personalize their rides and are appreciative of tips (eg: $5/child).
Depending on the age of the child, the girls will lead the pony and
will help the children brush, pet, and feed treats to the pony.
Rides will be available when you get there, but one mom has posted online that her daughter (Jillian) would love to schedule ahead with your kids. You can call 720-297-6312 or email this mom directly: stephaniemoore3211@comast.net
2007 Free: Newfoundland Dog Cart Rides at Miners Alley in Golden. 12:00pm to 4:00pm on Saturdays in December (concludes 12/22)
2007 Free: Hayrides through Historic Downtown Golden. 12:00pm to 4:00pm on Saturday 12/1
2007 Free: Horse-drawn Carriage Rides through Historic Downtown Louisville. Friday 4:00pm to 8:00pm (11/23, 12/21, 12/28) and Saturday afternoons (12/1, 12/8, 12/15)
2007 Free: Horse-drawn Carriage Rides through Historic Downtown Golden. 12:00pm to 4:00pm on weekends (Starts 11/17, skips Thanksgiving weekend, concludes 12/23)
2007Horse-drawn Wagon Rides (Old Town Lafayette) various times on 11/30, 12/1, 12/7, 12/8 (note: the linked pdf file takes a couple minutes to load)
2007 Free: Jingle-Mutt Mingle (29th St Mall in Boulder) evening of Thursday 12/6
2007 Free: Pet Santa's Reindeer (Macy's Plaza, 29th Street Mall in Boulder) evening of Friday 12/7 and Saturday 12/22
2007 Free: Living Nativity with animals for kids to pet and feed (Rock Creek Church in Louisville) evenings of Saturday 12/15 and Sunday 12/16
Tea / Food
Nutcrackers
2007Candy Cane Festival includes free company tour and much more (Hammond's Candies) all day Saturday 12/1 and 12/8
Hanukkah Donuts jelly donut holes similar to sufganiyot (local Lamar's Donut shop) call ahead to confirm availability
2007 Free: Winterfest Gingerbread House Contest (register ahead), ornament making, photos in-sleigh, and board game fun (Boulder History Museum) from Noon-4:00pm on Sunday 12/9
2007Snack with Santa (Children's Museum of Denver) 10:00am - Noon on Saturdays: 12/1, 12/8, 12/15
2007International Holiday Potluck and Sing-along (Parenting Place in Boulder) at 10:00am on 12/14
2007Children's Holiday Tea call for minimum age (Byers-Evans House Museum in Denver) at 1:30pm on 12/15
Holiday Afternoon Teas (Boulder Teahouse) reserve a day ahead from 11/25-12/31
Holiday Tea (The Huckleberry in Louisville) reserve a day ahead from 11/15-1/1
2007
Holiday High Tea (Molly Brown House in Denver) - for older kids and adults - reserve ahead for various dates & times 11/30-12/20
2007Tea Time with Victorian Christmas Carols (Astor House Museum in Golden) reserve ahead for various times 12/15 - 12/16
2007Holiday Tea for Mommy and Me (4+ years old) call to reserve a spot 303-450-8800 (DL Parsons Theatre in Northglenn) 10:00am on 12/18
Follow this link for 2009 Nutcracker listings for the Denver/Boulder area.
Crafts
2007 Free: Family Craft Clinic reservations not required, but it is helpful if you call ahead 720-249-2997 (Mountain Day Camp hosting, located at the Living School in Boulder) from 10:00am - Noon on Saturday 12/1
2007 Free: December Decorating Day - Open House Craft Program (Broomfield Library - Children's) from 11:00-3:00pm on Saturday 12/1
2007 Free: Santa's Workshop (Longmont) register ahead for parent-child toy-making with Santa too! from 6:00-8:00pm on Friday 12/7
2007Ornament Making and Cookie Decorating Classes register ahead (Berger Center Lafayette) on Saturday 12/8
2007The Dairy Center for the Arts Holiday Bash!
A fun afternoon with ornaments, gifts, decorations and imaginative hands-on projects for all ages! (Boulder) afternoon of 12/8
2007Make a Gingerbread House With Your Child (Golden Pioneer Museum)
call for a spot in a 12/8 or 12/15 class (ages 3 and up)
2007Gilpin County Winter Arts Festival (Golden) Holiday shopping, Santa Claus, live music, ceramic handprints, adult pottery decoration, face painting, cookie decorating, choirs and instrumental performances on 12/8
2007 Free: Winterfest holiday crafts and much more (Boulder History Musuem) from Noon - 4:00pm on 12/9
2007Celebrate Hanukkah holiday crafts and puzzles (Colorado History Musuem) from 11:00am - 3:00pm on 12/15
2007Winter Festival Day Camp (register ahead) multi-cultural crafts, games and food (Denver Museum of Nature & Science) on 12/15
Celebrate Kwanzaa holiday crafts and puzzles (Colorado History Musuem) from 11:00am - 3:00pm on 12/29
Kwanzaa celebration crafts and music (Children's Museum of Denver) at 10:00am every Tuesday and Thursday in December (closed 12/25)
Bodhi (Zen Buddhist) celebration zen garden craft (Children's Museum of Denver) at 10:00am every Monday and Wednesday in December
Festival of Lights (Diwali) candle making (Children's Museum of Denver) every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon in December
Multi-faith "Holiday Homes" Matinee based on a pretend door-to-door journey (Children's Museum of Denver) at 2:30pm every Tuesday and Thursday in December (closed 12/25) Aside: this event does not specifically include craft making
Light Displays
Charitable Giving
Blossoms of Light* (Denver Botanic Gardens) evenings from 12/1 - 1/20
Zoo Lights* (Denver Zoo) evenings from 12/7 - 1/6. Includes "Wild Ice" animal sculptures, evenings from 12/14 - 12/23 and Kwanzaa festivities from 12/26 - 12/30.
2007 Free: Longmont Lights* music, mini-train, carriage rides, dancers, and more. Evenings 12/7 & 12/8
Free: Symphony In Lights 250,000 LED lights programmed to the music of The Trans-Siberian orchestra. (The Shops at Northfield Stapleton) Shows every hour 6:00pm-9:00pm from 11/17-12/31
* Many parents report that taking little ones to light shows (when it's less than 50 degrees outside) is just not a good idea.
Visit our GreatIdeasForKids.com page on Helping Others during the Holidays for information about:
+ Holiday Giving Trees at Flatiron Crossing, Imagine! Lafayette, Play Fair Toys, Broomfield City Building, and other local venues.
+ Ways to help other families and kids this season including programs at: Arapahoe House (Thornton), Boulder Carriage House (Boulder), Family Homestead (Metro Denver), License to Dream (Metro Denver), Share a Gift (Longmont/Boulder), and Family-to-Family & Family Self-Sufficiency Holiday Programs (Boulder County)
Special Shopping
2007Christkindl Market German goodies (Cherry Creek Mall in Denver) during mall hours from 11/24-12/23 (closed 11/26 and 12/3)
2007
Lafayette Art Center Winter Faire (Lafayette Library on Baseline) all day 11/30 and 12/1
2007
Santa's Holiday Shop handmade items all $8 or less (Wesminster City Park Rec Center)
all morning on Saturday 12/1
2007Snowman's Igloo Holiday shopping (Louisville Rec Center) little kids shop with the help of a high school student (while parents have refreshments) from 10:00am-4:00pm on Saturday 12/1
2007Young Entrepreneur's Marketplace is a selection of goods hand-made by young business people between the ages of 6 and 21. Two markets: 12/1 (Denver) 12/8 (Belmar)
2007Chanukah Central Seasonal bazaar (Har Hashem in Boulder) see link for various dates and times
Kid's Day at Holiday Art Market (Foothills Art Center in Golden) kids create crafts while parents shop on Saturday 12/8 (market runs from 11/17-12/30)
2007Youth Craft & Bake Sale (Louisville Rec Center) afternoon/evening of 12/13
There are many local venues with holiday shopping, the ones featured here: have a special angle, are very kid-focused, or are on a date that is not crowded with similar events.
Storytelling
Music Classes & Dance
2007Holiday Storytelling (Lafayette Chamber) afternoon various times on Saturday 12/1 and 12/8 (note: the linked pdf file takes a couple minutes to load)
2007Chanukah Stories (PBS TV) Moishe's Miracle told by Bob Saget on 12/10 at 10:30am
2007Dessert and Bedtime Story with Santa register ahead (Louisville Rec Center) evening of 12/13
2007 Free: Jingle Bells / Holiday Stories (Lafayette Public Library) at 10:30am on 12/13 and with a family party at 7:00pm on 12/19
2007 Free: Solstice Stories and Celebration with professional storytellers (Boulder Public Library) at 7:00pm on 12/20
2007 It's a Wonderful Time - Holiday Music Concert including flute choir (Lakewood Cultural Center) 2:00pm both Saturday 12/1 and Sunday 12/2
2007 Jefferson Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert including Firebird Suite, Halellujah Chorus, Sleigh Ride, and more (Green Center, Colorado School of Mines, 16th and Cheyenne Sts., Golden) at 3:00pm on 12/2
2007 CU Boulder - College of Music presents their Holiday Festival (Macky Auditorium in Boulder) various show times Friday 12/7 - Sunday 12/9
2007Holiday Brass Fest open to all brass musicians: ages 8-98 (Denver Performing Arts Complex Galleria) register, rehearse, perform on 12/8
2007 Free: Holiday Harp Concert (Boulder Public Library, Canyon Theater) Celtic, classical and holiday pieces on 12/8
2007Holiday Dance Concert (Fairview High in Boulder) on 12/8
2007Children's Chorale (Denver) holiday performances 12/8 and 12/9
2007 Free: TubaChristmas open to tuba and all euphonium players [see website] (Skyline Park - 16th & Arapahoe in Denver) performance at 1:00pm on 12/9
2007 Free: Holiday Carillon Concert (Outdoor: DU Campus) at 3:00pm on 12/9
2007Broomfield Civic Chorus - Holiday Concert (Broomfield Auditorium) at 3:00pm on 12/9
2007Family Hanukkah Concert (Boulder JCC hosting, but located at Naropa University) at 4:00pm on 12/9
2007 Merry Andrew Afoot presents Christmas Smooch call 303-450-8800 for tickets (DL Parsons Theatre in Northglenn) at 10:00am on 12/12 -- one performance only!
2007December Bells choral music and handbells (Arvada Presbyterian Church) on 12/14 - 12/15
2007CSO: A Star to Follow orchestra, chorus, children's chorale (Denver) on 12/14 - 12/16
2007The Last Christmas Carol a musical comic spin on a classic (Rocky Mountain Theater for Kids in Boulder) on 12/14 - 12/16
2007A Christmas Carol this youth theater presents a new telling of the classic tale (Rocky Mountain Conservatory Theatre in Denver) on 12/14 - 12/16, 12/21 - 12/22
2007 Free: Unsilentnight unique participatory outdoor music event - unfortunately it's pretty late (Pearl St Mall in Boulder) at 7:30pm on 12/14
2007Searching for Christmas (Centaurus High School in Lafayette) dance variety, two shows on 12/15
2007Candlelight Festival (Saints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church in Boulder) Tara Performing Arts High School presents choral music, handbells, carols, and Mozart on 12/16 - 12/18
An Irish Christmas step-dancing, music and stories (Boulder Theater) on 12/16 & 12/22
2007 Free: Third Tuesday Lunchtime Concert Series - Holiday Program (Boulder Public Library, Canyon Theater) solo, instrumental, and choral works at 12:15pm on 12/18
2007Boulder Chamber Orchestra - The Gift of Music on 12/21 (evening) in Boulder and 12/23 (matinee) in Broomfield
2007Winter Solabration (Highlands Masonic Center in Denver) eclectic and eccentric music and dance performances including sword dancers, bells, jugglers, and storytelling on 12/22 starting at 6:00pm
2007 Free: Pick Up Sticks Marimba Solstice Celebration all-ages performance of lively marimba (similar to xylophone) music and Afropop guitar (Nomad Theatre in Boulder) two shows on 12/22
Ongoing:2007 The Festivale Playhouse presents The Man Who Rented Christmas (Olde Town Arvada) various dates 11/23 - 12/15
Jesters School for the Performing Arts presents Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Longmont) a heartwarming story of putting on a Christmas show at 3:00pm Saturdays from 11/24 - 12/29 (some sources say it ends on 12/20)
Crossroads Theater On The Rail presents December Suite comedic, variety show (Denver, next to a lightrail stop) weekends 11/30-12/30
Denver Puppet Theatre presents The Elves and the Shoemaker running Thursdays thru Sundays from 11/29-12/30
Santa Needs A Holiday (Heritage Square Music Hall in Golden) Saturdays 11/17 - 12/30
2007Season of Light includes solstice
and Jewish traditions too
(Fiske Planetarium in Boulder) various afternoons from 12/1 - 12/27
2007 Miner's Alley presents A Tuna Christmas multi-character role-playing comedy (Golden) running Thursdays thru Sundays 11/16-12/23 with matinees on 11/25 and 12/23
2007Peanut Butter Christmas children's musical revue (Nissi's in Lafayette) lunchtimes on various dates 12/8 - 12/22
Holiday concerts that start at/after 7:00pm (and have no matinee performances) are usually not a great idea for kids (ages 8 and under) and are not included here.
Be sure to double-check all date & time information with the linked web site.
