Denver events & things to do in December 2026
Start with Colorado State Capitol, RiNo Art District, plus Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre. December in Denver averages 7°C / 44°F highs, -8°C / 18°F nights, and about 4 rainy days.
Expect 7°C/44°F days and about 4 rainy ones in December. Start with these:
- Colorado State Capitol★ 4.6 · 891 reviewsThe capitol opened in 1894 with a gold dome and a west steps marker near Denver's one-mile elevation.
- RiNo Art District★ 4.6 · 479 reviewsRiver North turned warehouses and rail-side blocks into mural corridors, breweries, food halls, studios, and live-music rooms.
- Whitechapel with Chelsea Grin, The Acacia Strain, NetherwalkerDec 1Ogden Theatre · Source: SeatGeek
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By TripSapien Research · Updated June 3, 2026
Denver in December 2026
Weather
TempTemperature
44°F / 18°F
6.7°C / -7.6°C
RainPrecipitation
4d
0.4in · 9mm
LightDaylight
9.2h
December is cold and sunny, with holiday lights and mountain snow both part of the plan.
Events & festivals
Event calendar- Dec 1
- Dec 1 – Dec 31
Denver Zoo Electric Safari
An annual holiday event where the Denver Zoo is transformed with thousands of colorful lights, themed displays, and festive activities for families.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 1
Show all 39 events for December
- Dec 2 – Dec 3
- Dec 2
- Dec 2
- Dec 3
- Dec 3
- Dec 3
- Dec 4 – Dec 20
Denver Christkindl Market
A traditional German-style Christmas market featuring handmade gifts, festive foods, and holiday entertainment in downtown Denver's Skyline Park.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 4 – Dec 24
Holiday on the Plaza
A festive holiday market and event series held at Denver Pavilions featuring local vendors, live music, and family-friendly activities.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 4
- Dec 5
- Dec 5
- Dec 5
- Dec 6
- Dec 6 – Dec 7
- Dec 6
- Dec 8
- Dec 8
- Dec 8
- Dec 9
- Dec 9
- Dec 10 – Dec 27
Denver Performing Arts Complex Holiday Shows
Seasonal performances including The Nutcracker ballet and holiday concerts at various venues within the Denver Performing Arts Complex.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 10 – Dec 12
- Dec 11
BenDeLaCreme Presents The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show
Arts & Theatre · Performance Art.
Source: Ticketmaster
- Dec 11 – Dec 12
- Dec 11
- Dec 12
- Dec 12
- Dec 12
- Dec 16
Colorado Symphony Orchestra presents John Denver - A Rocky Mountain Christmas
Music · Other.
Source: Ticketmaster
- Dec 17
- Dec 18
- Dec 19 – Dec 20
Colorado Symphony Orchestra presents Too Hot to Handel
Arts & Theatre · Miscellaneous.
Source: Ticketmaster
- Dec 19
- Dec 19
- Dec 22 – Dec 23
Colorado Symphony Orchestra presents The Muppet Christmas Carol In Concert
Source: Ticketmaster
- Dec 30 – Dec 31
One of the largest NYE festivals in the world, Decadence Colorado, returns to Denver.
Source: festival calendar
Holidays, observances & long weekends
Holiday and observance schedules can affect services and venue hours; confirm each place directly.
- Dec 25Christmas DayPublic holiday
- Dec 25-Dec 27Long weekend
About Denver
City overview
Denver is the Mile High City on the Front Range, where the High Plains meet the Rocky Mountains and altitude, sunshine, rail lines, and brewery districts shape the day. LoDo, RiNo, Capitol Hill, the Golden Triangle, Cherry Creek, Highland, and South Broadway create a city map that moves quickly from Union Station and museums to foothill day trips.
Food & drink
Denver food leans Southwestern and mountain-state: green chile is a pork-and-chile sauce poured over burritos, breakfast burritos wrap eggs and potatoes for commuter counters, and bison burgers, lamb, trout, and Palisade peaches tie menus to Colorado ranches and farms. Denver Central Market, Union Station, Avanti in LoHi, South Broadway, Cherry Creek, and Santa Fe arts-district restaurants add breweries, food halls, and game-day snacks near Coors Field.
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre
- 2Denver Botanic Gardens
- 3Denver Art Museum
- 4Clyfford Still Museum
- 5Molly Brown House Museum
- 6Coors Field
- 7Denver Museum of Nature and Science
- 8Denver Union Station
1Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre
4.9★ · 64,068mixedThe Civilian Conservation Corps shaped the amphitheatre between red sandstone monoliths, and it opened in its modern form in 1941 west of Denver. Concerts, stairs, trails, and the Colorado Music Hall of Fame make it both venue and day stop.
Wikipedia
2Denver Botanic Gardens
4.8★ · 18,106mixedOpen dailyThe gardens opened in 1951 and developed the York Street site into themed gardens, conservatory rooms, water features, and high-plains planting displays. It is near Cheesman Park and Capitol Hill.
Wikipedia
3Denver Art Museum
4.7★ · 16,169indoorClosed WedThe museum traces its roots to 1893, added Gio Ponti's 1971 Martin Building, and expanded with Daniel Libeskind's angular Hamilton Building in 2006. Indigenous arts, Western American art, design, and temporary shows fill the Golden Triangle campus.
Wikipedia
Show 3 more sights
- 4Clyfford Still Museum
- 5Molly Brown House Museum
- 6Coors Field
Neighborhoods
1LoDo and Union Station
Lower Downtown is brick, rail, and nightlife-heavy, with Union Station, Coors Field, Dairy Block, bars, hotels, and quick airport-train access.
2RiNo and Five Points
RiNo is mural-covered and industrial, with breweries, food halls, galleries, music venues, and Five Points jazz history nearby.
3Capitol Hill and Golden Triangle
This central civic side is museum-heavy, with the capitol, Denver Art Museum, Clyfford Still Museum, Molly Brown House, Civic Center, and older apartment blocks.
Day trips
45km / 35-50min by car or FF bus from Union Station
Boulder
Pearl Street, the Flatirons, Chautauqua trails, breweries, and university energy make Boulder the easiest foothill day.
110km / 1.5-2h by car from Denver to Estes Park entrance
Rocky Mountain National Park
Trail Ridge Road, alpine lakes, elk, tundra, and high-elevation hikes require timed-entry planning in peak season.
25km / 30min by car or light rail plus local ride from Downtown Denver
Golden and Lookout Mountain
Golden adds Clear Creek, the Colorado School of Mines, Coors brewery history, foothill trails, and Buffalo Bill's grave above town.
Getting around
RTD light rail, buses, the A Line airport train, Union Station services, scooters, bikes, and rideshares handle central Denver, with cars useful for Red Rocks and mountain trips. The 1,609-metre elevation makes hydration, sunscreen, and slower first-day pacing practical health rules.
Planning a Denver trip?
Add your dates and we'll check every place for closures, limited hours, and booking needs in December.
Common questions about Denver in December
- What to pack for Denver in December
Pack for December's weather, not a generic Denver checklist.
- A warm coat and insulating layers for average highs around 7°C / 44°F.
- A heavier evening layer because nights average -8°C / 18°F.
- Sun protection and comfortable walking shoes; rain is usually limited this month.
- How many days do you need in Denver
- 4 days covers the main Denver highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.
- Is Denver worth visiting in December
- Yes. December in Denver averages 7°C / 44°F highs, -8°C / 18°F nights, and about 4 rainy days.
Ready to plan Denver?
You've seen what's on — now get a day-by-day Denver plan for December 2026, every place checked for your exact dates.