Last Weekend Before Christmas: Things To Do In Denver

DENVER, CO – There's one more weekend before Christmas to enjoy the holiday excitement. How will you spend it? You can fight the crowds for last-minute shopping or take part in one of these Denver events – some of them off the beaten path – for your last pre-Christmas weekend.

• Denver's Christkindl Market - in Skyline park (on the 16th Street Mall at Arapahoe Street) features free German and Austrian-related entertainment nightly in a "old world" style European setting with lights, musical performances and vendor huts made of wood. Drink German bier in steins and sip mulled wines while gazing at hand-crafted glass-blown ornaments or munching on fruit sticks. Hours this weekend: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
• While you're in Skyline Park, check out the FREE ice skating at the Downtown Denver Ice Rink (skate rental costs $8). Friday and Saturday 10 am-10 pm, Sunday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Santa is making a visit to the ice rink Sunday, Dec. 23 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. For other skating options check out: 10 Denver-Area Ice Rinks Open For The Holidays.
• See Denver Lights! Both Denver Zoo Lights and the Botanic Gardens Blossoms of Lights are SOLD OUT for this weekend, but you can grab a Denver Holiday Light Tour Party Bus on Sunday, Dec. 23 at 6 p.m. the tour leaves from Woods Boss Brewing 2210 California St. – and you can bring beer on the bus! If you want to go further afield, check out the Water World Drive-Thru Holiday Light Show in Federal Heights.

• Go swimming. Did you know "Public pools" is the phrase most commonly Googled by visitors to Colorado over Thanksgiving? You can burn off a little holiday hysteria in a public swimming pool. Check out the times and fees here: Public Swimming Pools In Denver Holiday Schedules
• Take in a wild Winter Solstice gathering Friday, Dec. 21 such as the Shamanic Dolls & Denver Circus Collective Solstice Ball which includes aerial circus stunts and an interactive fairyland gathering. Or something. Wild Things To do In Denver For The Winter Solstice
• Participate in State Christmas Bird Counts. The JeffCo Open Space Big Year 2018 needs birders to Register on eventbrite, then Start an account through ebird to track your progress registering birds you see in JeffCo Open Space.
• Visit Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Union Station Great Hall on Sunday, Dec. 23 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. for FREE family photos. Other Santa appearances are mapped out here, thanks to our friends at MileHighonthecheap.com.

Here are some other non-traditional things you can do this weekend to celebrate the holidays:

• Fri. Dec. 21 Denver Philharmonic "I'm Dreaming of A White Sand Christmas" with Steel drum band Pan Nation, along with the Colorado Chorale.
• Sat. Dec. 22 Run in a 1M, 5K, 10K or Tiny Tim Fun Run at the Christmas Carol Holiday Classic
• Sun. Dec. 23 Participate in Christmas Rocky Mountain Goat Yoga

Image via Jenna Fisher/Patch

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