36 W E S T W O R D W e s t w o r d U n w r a p p e d 2 0 2 5 - 2 6 westword.com scenes, indoor ice-less skating, a Northern Lights-in- spired display, holiday shopping and more. November 20-January 4 (21+ nights December 4, 11 and 18), $24.95 adults and $19.95 youth. Temporary exhibits: The Secret World of Elephants, now through January 25; and Brick Planet: A Magical Journey Made With LEGO® Bricks, now through May 3, $25.95 adults and $20.95 youth. 2001 Colorado Boulevard, dmns.org. Denver Zoo: Admire animal exhibits and gleaming dis- plays during Zoo Lights, an annual favorite. November 23-January 5, 4:30-9 p.m. (10 p.m. on select dates), $26-$30 adults and $19-$23 youth. 2300 Steele Street, denverzoo.org. Elitch Gardens: The theme park will transform into a winter wonderland, with four million lights, larger-than- life displays and a new holiday show in the Trocadero Theatre, plus appearances from Santa and his elves. November 28-January 4, $19.99. 2000 Elitch Circle, elitchgardens.com. Foothills Mall: Join the tree lighting celebration on No- vember 22 from 5 to 9 p.m., and enjoy other festivities throughout the season, including photos with Santa, a postcard-writing station and complimentary horse-drawn carriage rides under the holiday lights. Activity availabil- ity varies; November 22-December 24, free. 215 East Foothills Parkway, Fort Collins, shopfoothills.com. Four Mile Historic Park: Attend brunch with Father Christmas on Saturday, December 13, or the winter solstice night brunch on Saturday, December 20. $15-$90 adults and $10-$35 youth. 715 South Forest Street, fourmilepark.org. Free Market: While browsing the Mistletoe Market, visit this Dairy Block retail collective between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to snap $5 photos with the Grinch and Cindy Lou, and mark your calendar for wreath-building workshops on Saturday, December 13, and Sunday, December 14, from 3 to 6 p.m. 1801 Blake Street, dairyblock.com. Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center: View elaborate ice sculptures, join a dining event inspired by Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, experience indoor snow tubing, marvel at a twelve-foot- tall edible gingerbread house and more. November 24-January 2, $15-$41. 6700 North Gaylord Rockies Boulevard, Aurora, christmasatgaylordrockies.com. Great Wolf Lodge Colorado Springs: This hotel’s annual Snowland celebration will feature daily snow showers in the grand lobby, sparkling light shows within immersive snow globes, festive crafts, holiday games and seasonal menu items. November 24-January 6. 9494 Federal Drive, Colorado Springs, greatwolf.com. Halcyon, a hotel in Cherry Creek: Experience après fun at the hotel’s festive rooftop lounge featuring curated music, drinks and dining, along with ice skating and complimentary skate rentals. Now through January 1, noon to 9 p.m., free. 245 Columbine Street, halcyonhotelcherry- creek.com. History Colorado Center: View fi fty artifacts from the events that shaped the United States in Moments That Made US, debuting on Friday, November 21, and see the photographs in Horizon: On the Plains With John Fielder before it ends on Sunday, January 11. $15 adults and free youth. 1200 Broadway, historycolorado.org. Hotel Polaris: The inaugural Wings of Winter celebration will feature fl ights with Santa on the hotel’s 737Max fl ight simulator, a “cocoa command center,” holiday tea with a twist, a red phone hotline to the North Pole and more immersive holiday ex- periences, November 25-December 30. 8989 North Gate Boulevard, Colorado Springs, thehotelpolaris. com. Hudson Gardens and Event Center: Sip hot cocoa and snap a photo with Santa while exploring an illuminated forest, the lighted maze and themed exhibits. November 28-January 4, $20 adults and $15 youth. 6115 South Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, hudsongardens.org. Ice Castles: Discover ice-carved tunnels, illuminated sculptures, frozen thrones, slippery slides and more within these enchanting castles, each built with hun- dreds of thousands of icicles. Dates TBD based on weather; tickets on sale December 2. 125 Stephens Way, Silverthorne, and 339 Irene Avenue, Cripple Creek, icecastles.com. McGregor Skate: Celebrate opening day of the McGregor Square ice rink with a skating performance at 5:30 p.m. and a tree lighting at 6 p.m, followed by The Grinch on the giant outdoor screen and free photos with Santa at Milepost Zero. November 28-January 4, $15 adults and $9 youth ($6 if you bring your own skates). 1901 Wazee Street, mcgre- gorsquare.com. Mile High Drone Shows: Six hundred lit drones will display winter scenes and holiday-themed animations nightly, with visibility from the Tivoli Quad and throughout downtown Denver. November 21-December 31, 7 p.m., free. 1000 Larimer Street, visitdenver.com. Mile High Tree: Witness nightly light shows within this dazzling immersive art piece standing seven stories high. November 21-December 31, 5-10 p.m., free. Tivoli Quad, 1000 Larimer Street, visitdenver.com. Molly Brown House Museum: Experience the museum’s elegant holiday tea service, followed by a self-guided tour of the Victorian home. November 22 and December 5, 6, 13 and 14, $50. 1340 Pennsyl- vania Street, mollybrown.org. Ms. Marji’s: This elegant Victorian mansion will host a Nutcracker-themed high tea on Sunday, December 14, along with tea service inspired by A Christmas Carol on Sunday, December 21. 11 a.m.- 4 p.m., $49.99. 1640 Logan Street, msmarjis.com. Pearl Street Mall: In addition to the Switch on the Holidays event and Lights of December Parade, Pearl Street Mall visitors can fi nd St. Nick on the Bricks, ride the electric Snowfl ake Express train and earn Downtown Dash shopping giveaways through the season. Activity availability varies; No- vember 23-December 31, free, suggested donation of $5 per train ride group and $10 per Santa group photo. Pearl Street, Boulder, boulderdowntown. com. Santa’s Little Man Ice Cream Factory: Sample special holiday ice cream fl avors and enjoy signature experiences like gingerbread house building, a let- ter-writing craft station, community caroling and more in a decked-out atmosphere. November 28-January 4. 4411 West Colfax Avenue, littlemanicecreamfactory. com. ■
