Daily News

Weekend things to do around Denver and beyond:

THURSDAY-DEC. 24

One million holiday lights fill the 16 blocks of Cherry Creek North Winter Wanderland after a plug-in event, 4:30-7 p.m. Thursday. It’s also the location of the Holiday Market on Fillmore Plaza. Forty rotating vendors and a pop-up Mistletoe Lounge gathering spot with a bar, live music and interactive holiday crafts and activities. Innovative Giving Machines are vending machines for donations to five Denver-area charities and two international charities. 300 merchants. Special theme Saturdays in December. cherrycreekholidaymarket.com 

THURSDAY-FRIDAY

Opening weekend for holiday lights, thousands of them, in Loveland. Downtown on Thursday, the Festival of Lights at 5 p.m. tree lighting, holiday market, carriage rides and more. Also on  Thursday, the Loveland Light Trail self-guided tour goes through all the town’s light displays including a new 12 Days of Christmas at Veteran’s Memorial Park, visible from State Highway 34, 5 to 9 p.m. daily. Maps at the Loveland Visitor’s Center and visitloveland.com. Loveland Winter Wonderlights, with 200,000 choreographed lights amidst the stone sculptures in Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra, begins its LIVE! celebrations on Friday at 5 p.m., continuing on Dec. 2 and Dec. 16. A variety of entertainment including a Big Band orchestra, dance groups, food trucks and singers. Schedule at WinterWonderlightsLoveland.com. Nightly Wonderlights through Jan. 1. 

FRIDAY-DEC. 31

The lighting ceremony for Mile High Tree is 5:15 p.m. Friday in Civic Center Park. Then it can be seen 5-10 p.m. nightly through a 9 p.m. ball drop on New Year’s Eve. Made up of 60,000 LED lights, the cone-shaped tree is seven stories tall and programmed with music shows every 15 minutes. denver.org/milehighholidays/mile-high-tree

FRIDAY

Also opening Friday in Civic Center Park, the 23rd annual Christkindlmarket German-style market of decorated wooden huts filled with Bavarian and European gifts, food and drinks accompanied by holiday entertainment. Local and German vendors. Visit with St. Nikolaus, Krampus and the Christkind. Thru Dec. 22. christkindlmarketdenver.com

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

A rare opportunity to tour five historic Park Hill homes during The L’Esprit de Noël Holiday Home Tour, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Home decor by well-known floral and table designers. Organized by Central City Opera Guild to benefit Central City Opera. Tickets ($50+) and information at lespritdenoel.org, centralcityopera.org/tickets-events

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

Fun for the family, The Hip Hop Nutcracker combining the Tchaikovsky holiday classic and hip hop dancing and music. A dozen dancers, a DJ, a violinist, and hip hop legend MC Kurtis Blow. Buell Theater, DCPA, $30-$85. denvercenter.org

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FRIDAY-JAN. 7

Blossoms of Light, a signature event at Denver Botanic Gardens, opens at 1007 York St. in sparkling fashion. Lights, all LED, throughout the gardens, 4:30-9 p.m. nightly. Timed tickets in advance, $21-$25. botanicgardens.org/events/special-events/blossoms-light

FRIDAY-DEC. 31

Two million drive-through lights make up the holiday Magic of Lights at Pikes Peak International Raceway, 16650 Midway Ranch Road, Fountain. See everything from Barbie to the Bigfoot Monster Truck, the lights tunnel and a walk-about village. Pricing by vehicle online $22-27, at the gate $30-40. 5:30 p.m. nightly. tickets.magicoflights.com 

FRIDAY-DEC.31

The spectacular Royal Gorge Bridge becomes a drive-through Bridge of Lights for the first time. A rare opportunity to drive across the suspension bridge for amazing views, 5:30 p.m. $45/car at the gate; $40/car online. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Hot chocolate and cookies for purchase. royalgorgebridge.com/bridge-of-lights

FRIDAY-JAN.1

ICE! — “A Christmas Story,” created by 40 ice sculpture artisans from Harbin, China, is the holiday spectacular at Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, Aurora. Tickets starting $29.99, $19.99 children. christmasatgaylordrockies.marriott.com. 

SATURDAY

A longtime tradition, the lighting of the Castle Rock Star. Fun all afternoon starting at 2 p.m. downtown with Christmas carols, ice skating, a kids’ activity zone, food, a chili supper at the Firehouse and then the star lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. followed by fireworks. The star atop Castle Rock was first lighted for the holidays in 1936. castlerock.org/castle-rock-starlighting

SATURDAY

Go running and it’s all about food. The Mac & Cheese 5K goes through Hudson Gardens, mac and cheese clothing encouraged. Costume contest and cash prizes. 10 a.m. to noon, $40. macnnoodles.com/macncheese5k In City Park it’s the Pumpkin Pie 5K and 10K and a slice of  pumpkin pie awaits at the finish line. 9-11 a.m., $30-$35, coloradorunnerevents.com/pumpkin

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