Twinkling lights, festive music, marching bands, carolers and Santa.
A holiday parade is equal parts nostalgic, lighthearted and soothingly predictable. Head out in the darkest month of the year to soak up some much-needed sparkles and holiday cheer around the Pikes Peak region, Denver and Castle Rock.
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• Lighter Side of Christmas Parade: Woodland Park is taking its parade theme from the movies with its “Woodland Park’s Nightmare Before Christmas.” The 1993 film features Jack Skellington, the King of “Halloween Town,” who stumbles upon “Christmas Town” and tries to take over the holiday. It starts at 6 p.m. Saturday and runs along U.S. 24 from Taco Bell to Tweeds Fine Furnishings; 719-687-7375, woodlandparkchamber.com/copy-of-community-calendar.
Holiday parades kick off the season this weekend and next weekend throughout the Pikes Peak region, Castle Rock and Denver. Festival of Lights Parade is Dec. 9 in downtown Colorado Springs. (The Gazette, Parker Seibold)
• 9NEWS Parade of Lights — For more than four decades, thousands of revelers have celebrated the holidays along the 2-mile route through downtown Denver.
This year’s event will feature more than 40 floats, balloons, marching bands, equestrian units, cultural displays and appearances by Major Waddles the penguin and Santa. It’s at 6 p.m. Saturday and $50 grandstand and VIP tickets are available; winterindenver.com/parade.
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• Colorado Springs Festival of Lights Parade: Usually the annual parade is the first Saturday in December, but the festivities were pushed back this year. Almost 100 entries will celebrate the “Sounds of the Season” theme beginning at 5:50 p.m. Dec. 9.
Food trucks will be available from 3-9 p.m. TubaChristmas will perform at 3:30 p.m. in Acacia Park. U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum will offer a Winter Celebration from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. with athlete meet and greets, indoor curling, artifact demos, a winter torch to hold and more. The Pioneers Museum will offer its annual Festival of Lights Open House at its Annex location, 121 S. Tejon St., with music, family activities, hot chocolate, cookies and more. The parade route travels along Tejon Street, from St. Vrain Street to Vermijo Avenue. Park in five city garages; coloradospringsfestivaloflights.com.
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• Manitou Christmas Parade: Thanks to this year’s theme, “Light Up the Night,” attendees are encouraged to wear their brightest, light-up ugly sweater while watching the parade and singing Christmas carols. It’s at 6 p.m. Dec. 9 along Manitou Avenue from Ruxton Avenue to El Paso Boulevard; 719-635-8803 ext. 2, manitouchristmasparade.com.
• Castle Rock Festival of Lights Hometown Lighted Parade: Show up for the parade and stay for the tree lighting ceremony beginning at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 9.
The route will go along Cowlitz Street through town; castlerockfestivaloflights.com/event/hometown-lighted-parade.
Contact the writer: 636-0270