Check Out Christmas Lights All Over Town

Driving or strolling through a fairyland of outdoor light displays is a holiday treat that costs no more than gasoline or shoe leather. And there’s no place prettier than Denver/Boulder, especially when the snowy backdrop is the real deal. Here’s a list of the best Christmas lights in the area for the 2023 season. Our list includes professional and municipal displays and private homes.

We’ve put together a Google map for the home lights to make it easier to plot your visits. To see the map, just scroll down past the pictures of the lights.

We’re updating continuously, so send your suggestion for amazing displays to Laura@milehighonthecheap.com (please include the name of the display — if you know it, address and a photo):

Public Displays

Downtown Denver

Christmas is a time when even those most ardent suburbanites come downtown. The opulent light display decorating the City and County Building (at Civic Center Park) from the ground floor to the dome has been a holiday tradition since 1935 and the lighting is spectacular by any measure.

This year, a choreographed holiday show at the City and County Building will occur for about 8 minutes at 5:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m., and then goes to a static holiday look until 10:45 p.m.

The lights will be on through early January 2024.

No shows on Mondays (due to City Council meetings). Also, the City and County Building will remain completely dark for an annual memorial vigil honoring persons experiencing homelessness on Thurs, December 21.

In addition, more than 100,000 lights festoon the trees of the 1.25 mile-long 16th Street Mall. Ride the FREE mall shuttle and gaze at the magical scene.

Strings of white lights strung across Larimer Street between 14th and 15th Streets provide a brilliant and festive setting for great dining and shopping (window or otherwise).

You may also want to check out the Mile High Tree at Civic Center Park.

The seven-story tall “tree” features more than 60,000 lights with a light and music show every 15 minutes nightly from November 17 to December 31. You can even step inside the tree.

Union Station

Merry & Bright Lights at Union Station transforms the exterior of Denver’s landmark train station into a spectacular canvas spreading holiday cheer.

This outdoor light show at features interactive visual imagery created by Denver artists projected across the station’s historic facade and synced with classic holiday music.

The free show runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. each night through Sunday, December 31.

Cherry Creek North

Cherry Creek North has created Winter Wanderland, a stunning canopy of more than 600 illuminated and musically choreographed trees adorned with one million twinkling lights across 16 blocks.

Golden

Golden’s impressive holiday lights transform the charming town into a winter wonderland with downtown, the Clear Creek Walking Path, Golden History Park, Parfet Park and the Visitors Center spectacularly illuminated with an estimated 45,000 bulbs.

A single giant evergreen tree in front of the Golden Visitors Center is wrapped in approximately 5,000 lights all on its own. The lights shine bright through the second week of February.

Littleton

Historic Downtown Littleton decks itself out in millions of multi-colored lights that adorn the street lights (they had to cut down the trees this past summer due to disease) along Main Street. Shop the merchants as you stroll block after block.

Aurora

Aurora Municipal Center is a bright festival of with sparkling lights on the building exterior and walkways.

Boulder

Boulder’s Light Up The Holidays festoons downtown Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall and the Civic Area with thousands of lights and illuminated ornaments.

The plaza in front of the Boulder County Courthouse (between 13th and 14th Streets) features lighted trees, an “electric fountain” and a canopy of lights.

Don’t miss your chance for some photo ops on the courthouse lawn with a holiday bear and reindeer family.

The Civic Area features more than 275,000 LED lights and you can explore colorful displays from the “Let It Snow Playground” at the Boulder Public Library to the “Candy Cane Forest” at the Glen Huntington Bandshell.

Above the city, a lighted star shines from Flagstaff Mountain, a local tradition since 1947. See the lights from November 19 through January 1.

Westminster

Westminster City Hall is adorned in thousands of colorful lights through the end of December. The Westminster Christmas tree is simply breathtaking.

Loveland

Loveland is awash in lights during the holidays from Winter Wonderlights at I-25 and Centerra to Loveland’s thriving downtown district to Christmas Walk in the Woods (starts Dec. 9 and has $8 to $14 admission fee) on the west side of town.

Loveland Winter Wonderlights is at Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra.

Each night from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., visitors will revel in holiday string lights, twinkling bulbs, LED mappable snowflakes, illuminated African stone sculptures, the only 20’ LED mappable Christmas Tree in the state and 30-minute music and light shows each evening starting at 5:30 p.m.

It’s open from November 18 through January 1.

Private Homes

Self-guided driving tours are a terrific option this holiday season.

All these displays, often synchronized to Christmas music, are put on by regular people, at their own expense, and it takes an incredible amount of time and creativity. So visit and let them know you appreciate it.

Some are collecting money for charitable causes. If a radio station is listed, tune your car radio to that station to listen to the coordinated music. Please be considerate of these folks’ neighbors.

If a website or Facebook page is listed, make sure to visit and check out the hours, start dates, and any additional information that you need to know.

Many homes hope to light up on Thanksgiving, while others may not throw the switch until early December, so be patient and wait a bit if you are planning a longer drive from your home.

You’ll find a map for private home displays at the end of the listings.

We’re looking for more homes to showcase, so if you know of one please email Laura@milehighonthecheap.com with the address, any details and a photo, if you have one.

Arvada Homes

Figgyville 2023
7519 Braun Way, Arvada, 80005
The Figliolino Family’s light display grows every year. There’s a 12-foot Grinch!, Rudolph and his friends from Misfit Toy Island, Elsa, Minions and Santa Claus. The lights on the house dance to different holiday songs. Runs nightly from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. November 23 to January 1.

Pruitt’s Christmas Village Light Show
6645 Alkire Ct., Arvada, 80004 (89.1 FM)
Show plays continuously Sunday to Thursday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday & Saturday 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Includes 75,000 lights synchronized to 45 minutes of music, 30 inflatables, singing trees, 125 blow molds and so much more!

Aurora Homes

Aurora Highlands neighborhood clocktower
3900 E-470 Ave., Aurora, 80019
Beautiful display at this neighborhood’s clocktower. Features a large ornament that you can walk through and pose for photos.

It’s A Wonderful Light
4822 S. Picadilly Ct., Aurora, 80015
The award-winning “It’s a Wonderful Light” display sparkles brightly and spreads Christmas cheer with more than 80,000 lights! This display is a tribute to the family’s two children who have autism. It also benefits the Autism Society of Colorado through the #SPREADLIGHT campaign. You will see a variety of colors in the display which represents the incredible variety of the autism spectrum.
Donations collected for Autism Society of Colorado.

Jones House
11454 E. Center Ave., Aurora, 80012
Twinkling lights, Nativity scene and Santa on the rooftop.

Lights at 5241
5241 S. Eaton Park Way, Aurora, 80016
A display with 6,000+ lights. All new music for 2023. Includes 12 songs over 15 minutes. Runs 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on school nights, 5:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

Tialdo Family Christmas Light Show
8220 S. White Crow St., Aurora, 80016
15,000 lights! 40+ songs

Broomfield Homes

Broomfield Lights
5061 Yates Circle, Broomfield (91.3 FM)
It’s time for another year of crazy Christmas lighting in Broomfield. Every bulb on the house is an individually controllable RGB LED pixel and can be any color at any time. The result: awesome Christmas music with dazzling lights, effects that can be seen from space!

Come check it out for yourself and also play with our hands-on interactive Christmas lights where you can use a guitar or drum kit or a steering wheel to control 1000 LED pixels in fun and exciting ways, including playing Snake in 3D!

The show is 10 minutes long and runs continuously from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Candycanes
1005 W. 11th Ct., Broomfield, 80023

Lights of Prospect Village
16573 Prospect Lane, Broomfield, 80023 (93.5 FM)
Starts December 8. This light show has more than 25,000 individual lights synced to music spanning the 80s to today. Mix of fun songs and Christmas tunes.

Two different 25-minute shows run on a rotating schedule. One playlist runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday and the other on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. There’s a brief intermission of about 5 minutes between showing.

Show times Sunday to Thursday are 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday are 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The week of Christmas, shows begin around 5 p.m. to allow for extra traffic.

Updates for shows times and opening dates can be found here.

Osborn Family Lights
16533 Prospect Lane, Broomfield, 80023 (90.3 FM)
5,300+ lights that change color and pattern set to 15 minutes of sequenced music. Show times: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday & Saturday (will start at 5 p.m. the week of Christmas).

The Murray’s
3510 W. 130th Place, Broomfield, 80020 (89.9 FM)
Now in its 17th year. Dances to music every night from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Centennial Homes

Lights at Schalleys
7148 S. Grant St., Centennial, 80122 (98.1 FM)
35,000+ dancing lights synced to music. Shows 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve until midnight.

Schmidt House
5492 S. Jasper Way, Centennial, 80015
Lights choreographed to music, decorated trees and inflatables.

The Stricker’s Winter Wonderland
6636 S. Lafayette, Centennial, 80121
The LED’s, videos and music will take your breath away. Get a glimpse of Santa and his sleigh, along with many other of your favorite characters including The Grinch. Watch Santa’s elves hard at work and listen to Santa tell the story of The Night Before Christmas.

And if that wasn’t enough…check out Whoville and the 22′ mega tree or even Clark Griswold and Cousin Eddy. Running live every night from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. through New Year’s Eve.

If you come to the display on Saturday, December 23 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., you can visit with Santa himself! Take photos and talk with the real-life, real-bearded Santa for the last time before his big night. Free hot chocolate, too!

Shuey House
5169 S. Pitkin St., Centennial, 80015
Lights dancing to music. Nightly from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. through January 3, 2024.

Commerce City Homes

Onstott Christmas Extravaganza
10046 Fraser St., Commerce City, 80022
There’s an icy wonderland where Eddie the Christmas Yeti is eager to celebrate the season, and a bustling North Pole with elves, reindeer, toys, gifts and and 18-foot-tall Santa. Look to the north of the driveway where the North Pole Express has placed a mailbox to collect letters to Santa. Be sure you include a return address if you want him to respond. The family hopes to raise money for Lutheran Family Services Refugee Resettlement Agency.

Conifer Homes & Churches

Conifer Community Church
9998 Havekost Rd., Conifer, 80433
Gorgeous dancing display. Park and sit with 40 minutes of songs and dancing lights on a continuous loop. Runs nightly from November 26 to January 6. Sunday to Thursday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday & Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Note: Sunday, December 24 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Denver Homes

Candy Cane Lane
1560 S. York St., Denver, 80210
Candy Cane Lane movie inspired house is not one to miss! Located just off University in South Wash Park. The light show includes colorfully wrapped tress, fun moving inflatables and wire scenes, nods to the film which stars Eddie Murphy and a huge bow on the roof of the house. Drop off a letter to Santa (there is a letter box located halfway up the sidewalk). Santa’s elves will be handing out candy canes and hot chocolate packets randomly on nights when they are home.

Christmas Curve
GPS to 460 Jennie Dr., Denver
A few houses around 460 Jennie Dr. have gone to the nines to decorate. It’s worth a pop over to see these well-lit homes.

Fortna House
2780 S. Harrison St., Denver, 80210
More than 11,000 lights, a 35-foot decorated tree, animation and music at times. Santa is stuck upside down on the chimney with kicking legs and his elf has a call-out that says “sorry boss.” Also look for elves passing the present back and forth and the snowman juggling presents.

Holiday Sound and Light Extravaganza
2040 S. Clarkson St., Denver, 80210 (89.1 FM)

Watch in awe as Frosty conducts a symphony of over 8,500 lights, set to Holiday Classics. Short programs run daily from 6 p.m. to 9:40 p.m. with a new program every five minutes.

Don’t miss the 25 foot tall tree of lights, the custom made LED matrix displays, and the brand new, fully custom, better than ever, sound and light programs!

This holiday season, many families are struggling with food insecurity. Participating with LightsForBites.org to raise money for Food Bank of the Rockies.

Windsor Gardens neighborhood
595 S. Clinton St. (entrance at Alameda & Clinton), Denver, 80247
This active adult neighborhood has about 3,700 residents. Dozens of buildings and townhomes are decorated by the residents, with a contest for the best decorated. The loop around the neighborhood is about 2 miles.

Englewood Homes

Owen Winter Wonderland
6229 Iola Way, Englewood, 80111
Lights wrap around the house and backyard, too. The family has been lighting up the neighborhood for more than 20 years.

Fort Collins Homes

Bishop House
2412 Crabtree Dr., Fort Collins, 80521 (90.7 FM)
More than 100,000 lights decorate the front and back of the home. Musically-synced light show. Mini Christmas village, driveway arches, four 15-foot tall trees on the roof and so much more. Show runs nightly 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. December 1 through Dec. 31.

A Kenwood Christmas
3354 Kenwood Dr., Fort Collins, 80524 (88.1 FM)
Lit 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. nightly through New Year’s. Dim your headlights when parked.

Franktown Homes

Franktown Festival of Lights
575 N. White Tail Dr., Franktown, 80116 (90.7 FM)
More than 200,000 lights span two acres. Features a custom light show synchronized to music every 20 minutes. Frosty’s Forest walking trail. Drive through a 15-foot ornament and see the 13-foot Ferris wheel with Disney and Sesame Street characters. It’s easy to spend an hour exploring the grounds.

Open nightly from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. through December 31. See detailed show schedule here. Donations of nonperishable foods accepted for local food banks.

Greeley Homes

Artz House
1712 37th Ave., Greeley
“For forty years my Aunt and Uncle — Jim and Jo Perry, lovingly displayed these Christmas lights in Morrison. Last year they passed the torch on to us. May they bring joy, peace, and hope to you and yours this holiday season!” — The Artz Family.

Highlands Ranch Homes & Churches

Freeland House
9711 Bucknell Way, Highlands Ranch, 80129 (90.1 FM)
25,000 lights set to 5 hard rockin’ Christmas tunes. Tune to 90.1 to jam along with a 16 foot tall Santa sleighing on his guitar. Be sure to scan the QR code at the house to learn how to donate to the nonprofit “No One Left Behind”, a charity important to the family.

Gingerbread House
10221 Fairgate Way, Highlands Ranch, 80126
DIY 6-foot candy canes and lollipops.

Grace Presbyterian Church Christmas Display
9720 U.S. Hwy 85 N (at Highlands Ranch Pkwy & Santa Fe Dr.), Highlands Ranch, 80125 (92.7 FM)
Christmas light display synchronized to music broadcast over FM radio. Show runs daily from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. (Note: Come north on Santa Fe from Highlands Ranch Pkwy. due to construction.)

Severson Christmas Light Show
2880 Canyon Crest Lane, Highlands Ranch, 80126
Display features lots of snowmen, snowflakes and lighted trees. They also have an across-the-street lighted banner. Please come by and see the lights.

Star Wars: The Battle for the North Pole
9973 Blackbird Place, Highlands Ranch, 80130
The Christmas Spirit is strong in this house. The home is decorated on all four sides, so you can’t miss it, with the main display featuring the characters of Star Wars. Out back, Santa is landing on the roof above a world of dinosaurs and more! Lights are on from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. nightly.

Lakewood Homes

Martin House
831 S. Kline Way, Lakewood, 80226
Starts December 8. 50,000+ lights, tons of inflatables, gingerbread house.

Toe-Tafting Lights
1969 S. Taft St., Lakewood, 80228 (89.9FM)
This is the second year for the homeowners doing programmed lights. Enjoy 25+ songs, including both Christmas and Hanukkah music. Go here to pick songs or just tune in your radio, sit back and enjoy the show.

Littleton Homes

Warren House
7664 S. Hoyt St., Littleton (90.7 FM)
Light show synchronized to 20+ songs.

Lone Tree Homes

Lights on Lieter
10591 Lieter Pl., Lone Tree, 80124 (95.3 FM)
This is the fourth year for the show. Lights start 10 minutes after sunset and go until 10 p.m. Sunday thru Thursday and until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Schweiger Ranch Holiday Display
10822 S. Havana St., Lone Tree, 80124
Come and enjoy the display of holiday lights through mid-January. Access to the Ranch property is closed and entrance within the gates is not permitted. Still, the lights can be viewed from the warmth and comfort of your car from the parking lot and along Havana street. If you’re up for a winter evening walk, get a closer view by using the East West Trail.

Longmont Homes

Dynalights Light Show
Willowbrook Dr., Longmont
Tens of thousands of Christmas lights synced to dance to Christmas music with special effects and more. Requests donations to Longmont Humane Society.

Loveland Homes

Frazier Christmas Lights
1324 Autumn Purple Court, Loveland
100,000 lights synchronized to 22 songs. Pixel tree with animations. Show starts at 5 p.m. every night and ends at 9:45 p.m. Lights up November 23 to December 30.

Holidays in The Big Apple, in Loveland!
3069 Hudson Dr., Loveland, 80538
A celebration of stage & screen, personalities, skyscrapers and Mom & Pop storefronts of yesteryear.

Milliken Businesses

Nature’s Herbs and Wellness
3220 Center Dr., Milliken (95.1 FM)
More than 42,000 lights synced to a 25-minute, six-song playlist featuring both traditional and New Age Christmas music. You can hear the music by tuning into the radio station from your car in the Nature’s Herb’s parking lot. The display runs nightly from sundown to 9 p.m. through January 31, 2024.

Parker Homes

Anderson House
9787 Stonebriar Ln., Parker 

Lights in Meridian
10662 Hillrose St., Parker, 80134

Pebble Brook Lane
For GPS: 22213 Pebble Brook Ln., Parker, 80138
8+ homes with festive lights. The displays are connected together with lights stringing across the street. 

Thornton Homes

Lights on Northlake
12804 North Lake Dr., Thornton (90.7 FM)
Musical light show sync’d with Christmas music! Show runs nightly 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. with Christmas show, then switches to New Year’s show on December 26. The jukebox is back, so you can tell it what you want it to play next! Songs are played in order that they are received.

If you do not see the song you want within the list, it means it already played or it is in the queue and you’ll need to refresh your browser. Simply go to http://www.lightsonnorthlake.com to start playing your favorites.

Reed House
5155 E. 115th Ave. Thornton
The lawn is stuffed!

Welcome Back From Aloha
11810 Birch Dr., Thornton, 80233
This family has been away for five years, but is back and brighter than ever!

Westminster Homes

Fritchell House
7320 Newton St., Westminster, 80030
Lights are on 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. through Christmas night. You are welcome to walk the driveway to see everything in the yard, but please do not enter the gates. A majority of the characters and decor is upcycled, recycled, fixed and restrung to LED.

Ruscetta Winter Wonderland
9821 Upham Ct., Westminster, 80021
Jim Ruscetta has been working on and evolving the display for more than 30 years. He had makes all the mechanical displays himself.