There are so many ways to celebrate the holidays in Colorado Springs. Everyone has their favorite holiday traditions, and it’s great to make new memories and traditions with friends, family and the people you love. But when it comes down to it, some festivities are just quintessential COS, so we’ve set out to declare the best holiday traditions in Colorado Springs. In the spirit of the season, we’re giving you a Top 12. Try them all and you have a local sort of the 12 Days of Christmas.
But before we begin the countdown, one caveat about the music. It’s one of the best — and sometimes worst — parts of the season. And there are some truly classic, annual holiday concerts in Colorado Springs. Rather than fill up this list with annual live holiday music, we’ve put all the seasonal concerts in their own separate article. So if you think we’re being Scroogie toward Wintersong, the Philharmonic’s Nutcracker, the Little London Winds Hanukkah Concert, Yule Be Naughty, Trace Bundy or any other favorite holiday show, head over to Holiday Concerts in Colorado Springs for a gift-wrapped collection of live seasonal sounds.
Now, give it your best little drummer boy drumroll. We present our list:
The Top 12 Holiday Traditions in Colorado Springs
12. Royal Gorge Bridge of Lights
The Royal Gorge Bridge and Park has stepped up its holiday festivities in recent years. You can drive across the Royal Gorge Bridge — 1,000 feet above the Arkansas River — amid thousands of twinkling lights during their Bridge of Lights event. Holiday music will play. You can purchase Elf Munchies, such as cookies with hot cocoa, coffee and cider. The scene is especially beautiful at night.
Nov. 29 – Dec. 31 Open on weekends through Dec. 19, every day Dec. 20-31 except closed on Christmas Day.
11. Chasing Santa 5K and Cycling Santa
We love our exercise here in Olympic City USA, especially running and biking, so of course there’s a run and bike ride in our favorite holiday traditions. Forget the usual race T-shirt. You get a full Santa costume, beard included, to wear as you compete. The beautiful course follows the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail. For biking, you can choose a 6-, 10- or 21-mile route. The 21-mile route turns around at the Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort, where you get hot chocolate and waffles. There’s also a toy drive to benefit Christmas Unlimited. It’s a fun and active way to run, roll and share some Christmas spirit.
Dec. 7
10. Madrigal Banquet
It’s kind of like Christmas meets a Renaissance festival in the historic and beautiful Glen Eyrie Castle that was home to the city’s founder, Gen. William J. Palmer. There is singing and dancing and feasting (a four-course meal), plus beautiful holiday lights illuminating the castle and grounds. This holiday tradition always sells out fast, so plan ahead to get your tickets.
Dec. 4-22 select dates
9. The Great Fruitcake Toss
How do you get rid of fruitcake after the holidays? Throw or catapult it as far as you can in Manitou Springs. There are contests for distance, speed, accuracy and balance at this classic event. There’s a fruitcake bake-off if you think your family recipe is tasty. It’s always fun and funky, and a perfectly Manitou way to close out the holiday season. What happens to all the fruitcake leftovers after the festivities? They’re rounded up and fed to Jezebel the pig at SunMountain Center.
Jan. 25, 2025
8. The North Pole, Santa’s Workshop
Who knew that the North Pole was really in Cascade at the foot of Pikes Peak? Springs locals did, of course. You can ride the train, ferris wheel or peppermint slide. And you definitely have to visit Santa. It’s Christmas year-round at this vintage amusement park. Reservations are required on weekends and holiday weeks in November and December.
Oct. 31 – Dec. 24
7. Christmas Tree Cutting
This time of year, you see a lot of vehicles driving down Ute Pass with Christmas trees tied on top. Going on a hike in the mountains to find and cut your own tannenbaum is so Colorado. Here’s How and Where to Cut Your Own Christmas Tree.
Nov. 29 – Dec. 15
6. Festival of Lights Parade
Welcome the holiday season — and Santa — with the festive parade through downtown Colorado Springs on Tejon Street. Bundle up, and get downtown early for some shopping, ice skating, dinner or drinks. Thousands of people usually turn out for this big holiday tradition with the hometown feel. This one is perfect for the kids! It happens on the first Saturday in December.
Dec. 7
coloradospringsfestivaloflights.com
5. Skate in the Park
You can make this one romantic, fun with friends or entertaining for the family. It’s especially magical to glide around the only outdoor ice rink in town at night beneath the twinkling lights of Acacia Park and downtown. There are always special events and themes, such as Learn to Skate with U.S. Figure Skating and appearances by the U.S. Air Force and Colorado College men’s hockey teams. You can also rent the rink for private events, or join the 3v3 adult pond hockey league.
Nov. 15 – Jan. 31
4. Gingerbread Tradition at The Broadmoor
The Broadmoor pastry chefs are master artists. Their massive annual displays of gingerbread and sweet treats are amazing. Past creations have included a 10-foot-tall gingerbread chateau, a gigantic cog railway car and the resort’s intricate Pauline Chapel. Executive Pastry Chef Franck Labasse and his team of more than 42 pastry elves unveil their new design at Thanksgiving. Add a million tiny, twinkly lights all around the hotel and lake and the ambience is magical. Strolling among the festive scene will fill you with wonder and Christmas cheer. Staying at the hotel will pamper your holiday season.
This year’s gingerbread masterpiece captures the Broadmoor’s status as a premier golfing destination and site of the 2025 U.S. Senior Open Golf Championship. The gingerbread display is a life-size U.S. Open golf cart, showcasing impressive edible golf-themed architecture and holiday magic that rivals the greens. Among its long list of ingredients, Santa’s golf cart is made of 164 pounds of dark chocolate and 958 pounds of powdered sugar. You’ll find it in the resort’s main building mezzanine.
Nov. 27 – Jan. 1
3. Flying W Ranch Cowboy Christmas Jubilee
The Flying W Wranglers perform a Cowboy Christmas Jubilee dinner concert in the Chuckwagon. There’s a special seasonal menu featuring smoked center-cut Angus strip steak, smoked Berbere chicken and all the trimmings. Twinkling lights are in the trees. The Western spirit meets the Christmas spirit in this local favorite. It’s another one that often sells out.
Dec. 5-23, select dates
2. Electric Safari
Lights are everywhere at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Lights line the trees and walkways. There are animal sculptures and glowing inflatable creatures. The lights of the city spread out below and are especially scenic from the Sky Ride. Santa is in the house — well, technically in the Safari Lodge. Electric Safari has been one of the favorite local holiday traditions for 34 years, and it is ranked #2 Best Zoo Lights in the nation by USA Today this year. It’s a must-do for the kids. Sipping hot chocolate beside a warming fire while lions roar at night is the stuff of lasting memories. If you want an adults-only evening with cocktails and food samples, catch Electric Moonlight on Dec. 5.
Dec. 6 – Jan. 1, except Christmas Eve
Front-row fireworks view from Garden of the Gods Collection. Photo by Forrest Boutin, courtesy of Garden of the Gods Collection.
1. New Year’s Eve Fireworks on Pikes Peak
Fireworks over the city’s most iconic landmark. This is the Springs’ version of the Times Square ball drop, a celebration ingrained in the city’s identity. Since the “Frozen Five” made the first ascent in 1922, the AdAmAn Club has continued the tradition of climbing to the top of the Peak to launch fireworks at 14,115 feet. Read about the Frozen Five in our AdAmAn Alley Connects Downtown and Pikes Peak. Now you can grab a seat almost anywhere in town to watch the show and ring in the new year with a sense of hometown celebration. This is true Colorado Springs.
Midnight, Jan. 1
Vote for your Favorite Holiday Traditions in Colorado Springs
What makes the season feel the most merry and bright to you? Vote now to let us know. And write in your favorites if you think we forgot them.
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