Mile High and Magical - Christmas in Denver • Essentially America

Why Christmas in Denver?

Not only is Colorado’s ‘Mile High City’ a year-round stunner with its glittering, gold-domed State Capitol sited 5,280 feet above sea level, great museums, colourful neighbourhoods, large performing arts centre and variety of brew pubs, restaurants and nightlife, but it’s also the gateway to a number of top ski resorts, the closest being Winter Park, only an hour’s drive away.

Denver also claims to be the birthplace of American electric Christmas lighting – the first were lit in 1914 when electrical pioneer DD Sturgeon strung some coloured bulbs on a fir tree outside the home of his young grandson, who was too ill to go downstairs to see the family tree.

Denver seasonal treats

Christmas starts on Thanksgiving weekend with the switching on of the Denver Downtown Grand Illuminations. With more than a half-a-million lights along a mile-long stretch of downtown 16th Street, this is one of America’s single largest lighting displays. Of particular note this year is the newly-revitalised area around the grand Union Station, including the boutique Crawford Hotel, shops and restaurants.

With any luck, the city will be frosted with snow for the Parade of Lights as countless dazzling floats, balloons and marching bands pass through the streets. It’s followed until December 23rd by the Christkindl Market in Skyline Park, which features seasonal food and free ice skating ($2 skate rentals), the arrival of Santa Claus by sleigh in Denver’s historic heart, Larimer Square, and by scuba in the Downtown Aquarium. The party season comes to a close with a lavish midnight fireworks display on 16th Street at midnight on New Year’s Eve.

But it’s not just the city centre that gets festive. In addition, the Denver Botanic Garden blooms with a million bulbs of the electrical variety; Denver Zoo features its own light extravaganza, with attractions such as illuminated animal sculptures; and suburban Cherry Creek shopping mall is not only great for Christmas shopping, but the kids can also be photographed with Santa.

The Denver Performing Arts Complex is also the site of a sackful of seasonal shows, including How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and the Colorado Symphony’s Handel’s Messiah.

Where to stay in Denver

The Brown Palace, a majestic, 120-year-old brownstone hotel, enhances its stunning, eight-storey atrium with both a giant sparkling chandelier and an equally-impressive Christmas tree. The Victorian Oxford Hotel is filled with Dickensian charm all year but becomes magical at Christmas, with multiple trees and an extravagant window display. With its Art Deco railway-style guest rooms, the Oxford’s new sister hotel, the Crawford, at the newly-reopened Union Station, helps you to imagine you are heading home for the holidays. Throughout the city there are also plenty of hotel specials from $52.80.

Where to dine out in Denver

The Brown Palace’s elegant Palace Arms and ornate Ship Tavern are hard to beat for that special holiday meal; the hotel also hosts children’s breakfasts with Santa. Also worth considering are The Kitchen, a modern, innovative restaurant located in Lower Downtown (LoDo) and co-founded by Brit Hugo Matheson, formerly of London’s River Café, and around picturesque, historic Larimer Square are found such choices as Chimayo (modern Mexican), the Capitol Grill (steaks) and Ted’s Montana Grill (American comfort food).