9Things to do in Colorado this weekend: Nov. 17-19

COLORADO, USA — The holiday season begins across Colorado this weekend.

Lighting ceremonies are scheduled in Castle Rock, Loveland, Colorado Springs, Denver and Fort Collins, plus Gaylord Rockies brings back its popular ice exhibition.

Christmas-rock legends Tran-Siberian Orchestra and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame icons Depeche Mode are in the Centennial State this weekend. Holiday fairs and festivals are in full swing and Santa is making his arrival at Colorado malls.

From the mountains to the plains, here are some fun events you’ll only find in Colorado this festive November weekend. Don’t forget to share your weekend photos with the “Near Me” feature on the 9NEWS app.

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DENVER — Sunday Night Football returns to the Mile High City. The Denver Broncos (4-5) and Minnesota Vikings (6-4) are the highlight matchup of the NFL’s Week 11. The Broncos have won three games in a row including Monday’s last-second win over Buffalo. The Vikings are led by newly acquired quarterback Joshua Dobbs. Coverage begins at 5 p.m. Sunday on 9NEWS. Kickoff is at 6:20 p.m. Mountain Time. Tickets are sold at Ticketmaster.com.

AURORA — More than two million pounds of ice has been transformed into a winter wonderland at Gaylord Rockies at “ICE!,” the Aurora resort’s annual holiday exhibition which opens Friday. Forty artisans have been working for weeks to create the 17,000-square-foot frozen attraction which celebrates the 1983 holiday classic “A Christmas Story.” Colored ice, clear ice and LED lights create 10 scenes from the movie, including the old man’s major award, Aunt Clara’s pink nightmare, the ultimate triple dog dare and more.

The environment is kept frozen by a state-of-the-art chilling system that maintains the attraction’s temperature at 9 degrees Fahrenheit. Guests get to wear a blue parka to stay warm inside the exhibition. The exhibition also has two-story-tall ice slides, ice tunnels and arches and a separate area dedicated to a Nativity scene. The resort’s Christmas-season events run through Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. For tickets, information, or to book a stay, guests can visit ChristmasatGaylordRockies.com.

DENVER — The 23rd annual Denver Christkindlmarket opens Friday at Denver’s Civic Center Park. The traditional European market is located under the lights of the Denver City and County Building and alongside the Mile High Tree. The Christkindlmarket has local and international merchants selling gifts and food in wooden huts. The market will be open daily from Friday, Nov. 17, through Saturday, Dec. 23. An Opening Ceremony will be held Nov. 17 at 6 p.m., following a Mile High Tree lighting ceremony.

RELATED: Here’s what to expect at the 2023 Denver Christkindlmarket

AURORA — The season’s campiest, quirkiest holiday tradition has returned to its original location at Stanley Marketplace. “Camp Christmas” is a 15,000-square-foot, 360-degree immersive experience and kaleidoscope of yuletide cheer. Created by Camp Director Lonnie Hanzon, the experience lets guests wander through a surreal mashup of nostalgic scenes, scratch their heads at playful pun trees, and reconnect with the joy of the season. “Camp Christmas” opens Friday and runs through Dec. 24. Get your tickets at DenverCenter.org.

DENVER —  Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) is ready to ring in the holiday season. The heavy metal, Christmas music rock band is on the road for its annual holiday tour. Trans-Siberian Orchestra will play two concerts at Denver’s Ball Arena on Saturday and two at Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs on Sunday. Fans can expect a memorable performance that references the band’s 1999 “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve” television film and album. Tickets for the 2023 holiday tour are on sale at Trans-Siberian.com.

DENVER — “The Hip Hop Nutcracker” is back in Colorado this weekend. A holiday mash-up for the whole family, the contemporary dance spectacle is a re-mixed and re-imagined version of the classic, smashing hip hop dance and Tchaikovsky’s music together into a heart-stirring and inspirational event. “The Hip Hop Nutcracker” is brought to life by a cast of all-star dancers, a DJ, a violinist, and MC Kurtis Blow, one of hip hop’s founding fathers, who opens the show with a short set. The show plays Denver’s Buell Theatre on Friday and Saturday. 

CASTLE ROCK — The Lighting of the Star has been a Castle Rock tradition since 1936. The annual event is Saturday in downtown Castle Rock. This year’s Starlighting offers hot chocolate, non-profit booths, strolling entertainers, caroling, live entertainment and a visit from Santa Claus. The celebration takes place from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., with the Castle Rock Starlighting ceremony at 5 p.m. at Wilcox Square. A symbol of Castle Rock for over 80 years, the Castle Rock Star will remain lit until the end of the National Western Stock Show in January.

LOVELAND — Winter Wonderlights — a walkable holiday lighting attraction at Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra — will be lit Saturday. Each night, visitors can walk through 200,000 holiday lights including LED mappable snowflakes and illuminated African stone sculptures. There are 30-minute music and light shows every night. The light and music show features nine songs and moving lights on a 23-foot-tall LED Christmas Tree.

LOVELAND — Festival of Lights is the official Loveland kickoff to the holiday season. The celebration marks the debut of holiday lighting that will illuminate several blocks of downtown Loveland through February 2024. Festival of Lights begins Friday starting at 5 p.m. along 4th Street from Railroad Avenue to Lincoln Avenue with the tree lighting at 7:30 p.m.

BOULDER — The holiday season in downtown Boulder’s begins with Santa flipping the switch that illuminates lights along the Pearl Street Mall and around the Boulder County Courthouse. Boulder will “Switch on the Holidays” this Sunday at 5 p.m. with the Boulder Ballet, Santa, Mrs. Claus and Freezie the Snowman.

GRAND JUNCTION — Downtown Grand Junction will transform for the holiday season with a tree lighting celebration on Saturday. With a wave of his hand and a sprinkling of magic dust, Santa Claus will light the lights of Main Street from the 4th and Main Plaza. Mr. Claus will visit with kids afterwards before returning to the North Pole.

COLORADO SPRINGS — The City of Colorado Springs’ annual Acacia Park Holiday Celebration returns Friday. The celebration offers ice skating and live music. The ceremony is free to attend, but there is a fee for ice skating.

DENVER — Christmas music lovers, rejoice! Denver radio station KOSI 101.1 is changing to an all-Christmas music format for a 22nd year. This year, KOSI will flip the switch at a live event. The public can attend the Christmas music launch on Thursday at 5 p.m. at Cherry Creek North. KOSI will be broadcasting live from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with a visit from Santa and lots of fun.

RELATED: Here’s when KOSI 101 will flip the switch to Christmas music

DENVER — America’s tallest digital tree is back in downtown Denver this holiday season. The Mile High Tree — a seven-story tall, 39-foot diameter conical structure — features light shows choreographed to multi-cultural holiday music on the tallest pixel LED technology tree in the country. An annual lighting ceremony will be held Friday at 5:15 p.m. The Mile High Tree will be lit up nightly through Sunday, Dec. 31, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Entry to see the tree is free and open to the public.

RELATED: Huge digital Christmas tree is coming back to Denver

FEDERAL HEIGHTS — Denver’s biggest drive-through Christmas light displays open for the season Friday. Christmas in Color will have displays at Water World in Federal Heights, Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, and at Aurora’s Arapahoe County Fairgrounds. The displays each feature more than one million LED lights arranged into tunnels, trees, giant candy canes, snowflakes and more, all synchronized to festive holiday music on the FM radio dial. Tickets are on sale at ChristmasinColor.net.

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CAÑON CITY — The Royal Gorge Bridge & Park is preparing for its biggest and brightest event. Starting Friday, guests will be able to drive across the Royal Gorge Bridge — 1,000 feet above the Arkansas River — amidst thousands of twinkling lights. Bridge of Lights is a drive-through event and all guests must stay in their vehicles. Driving across the Royal Gorge Bridge is not regularly offered outside of pre-arranged car club groups. The park will also be playing holiday music throughout the drive on the park-wide sound system. Bridge of Lights will run select dates through Dec. 31.

AURORA — Gaylord Hotels is ready for the holiday season with a circus production returning to its Aurora resort. “Cirque: Spirit of Christmas” is back for a second holiday season at the Bubly Theater at Gaylord Rockies, opening Friday. Performances feature high-flying stunts, acrobatic feats, elaborate staging, and an original Broadway-style score. Gaylord Rockies said the show features a cast of 25 artists from Germany, Hungary, Portugal, Ethiopia, Czech Republic, Mongolia, Russia, and the United States. “Cirque: Spirit of Christmas” will be open through Jan. 1.

RELATED: New cirque show opening at Gaylord Rockies

DENVER — Depeche Mode will bring its “Memento Mori Tour” to Ball Arena in Denver on Thursday. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2020 inductees are in the midst of the colossal 75-date tour — their 19th tour and their first in over five years. Tickets are available for resale at Ticketmaster.com.

DENVER — The Kicker Monster Truck Show returns to the Mile High City this weekend. Monster trucks will compete in freestyle, wheelie and racing competitions that will put families on the edge of their seats. The kid-friendly, adrenaline-charged entertainment show takes place Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the National Western Events Center. Pit party tickets are also available.

DENVER —  The signature event at Denver Botanic Gardens is back this holiday season. Blossoms of Light transforms the York Street gardens into a twinkling wonderland. More than one million lights are used to highlight the Gardens’ winter beauty. The Gardens said treats and warm drinks will be available for purchase at Offshoots Café and the Hive Garden Bistro during Blossoms of Light. Ticket reservation windows can be purchased at BotanicGarden.org through Jan. 7.

RELATED: Denver Botanic Gardens transforms for the holiday season

DENVER — The Cherry Creek Holiday Market is back for a fourth year with 40+ rotating vendor booths lining both sides of Fillmore Plaza with a focus on Colorado-based companies and artisans. The season kicks off at 6 p.m. Thursday with the Million Light Plug-in event that illuminates the entire 16-block area and the opening of the Holiday Market on Fillmore Plaza, complete with Cherry Creek North’s pop-up holiday bar, the Mistletoe Lounge.

ARVADA — The 13th annual Sugar Plum Bazaar is a makers’ market with more than 60 vendors from multiple states showcasing their unique handmade and local goodies. The holiday show will be open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Arvada Center.

LOVELAND — More than 130 artisans will be on hand for this weekend’s 46th annual Applewood Arts Festival in Loveland. The festival, held Friday through Saturday at The Ranch Events Complex, will have new artisans, handmades, re-purposed finds, and craft food creations.

LAKEWOOD — The Downtown Lakewood Holiday Bazaar is set for Friday through Sunday. The indoor marketplace will be next to the Belmar Plaza and its outdoor ice skating rink. There will be 80+ vendors, fashion and food trucks, pop-up bars, live music and outdoor ice skating.

LONGMONT — The 43rd annual Mollie McGee’s Holiday Market takes place at the Boulder County Fairgrounds Exhibit Building on Saturday and Sunday. The market offers 150 booths with vendors selling crafts, jewelry, clothing, pottery, photography, glass, metal, fiber, art, hand-turned wood and foods.

AURORA — Kick off the holiday season at Southlands Shopping Center’s 14th annual Holiday Hometown Parade. On Saturday at 6 p.m., the Holiday Hometown Parade will feature community groups, floats, entertainers and Santa.

WINDSOR — The Windsor Community Center will be home to this weekend’s Christmas in Windsor Craft Show. The event offers more than 100 vendors selling handmade arts, crafts and holiday items on Saturday and Sunday.

DENVER — The Gift Spectacular will take place at the Denver Sports Castle on South Broadway this Saturday and Sunday. The show will feature a selection of one of-a-kind seasonal items, handcrafted goods, holiday gift ideas, specialty foods, home décor, and holiday gifts. Admission is free.

AURORA — Homemade holiday crafters and vendors will converge on Aurora’s Rangeview High School for the 35th annual Holiday Craft and Gift Fair this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

COLORADO SPRINGS — With original art, antiques, jewelry, clothing, handmade goods, home décor, outdoor furnishings, food, plants and more, Vintage Market Days is a unique indoor/outdoor market. The market will open in Colorado Springs Friday and run through Sunday. Tickets will be available at the gate of the Norris Penrose Event Center and at VintageMarketDays.com.

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GOLDEN — The Colorado Railroad Museum is continuing its tradition of “The Polar Express Train Ride” for 2023. Performances are held on select dates through Saturday, Dec. 23. The train ride again will feature a cabaret-style show, singing, hot chocolate and Santa, recreating the “Polar Express” story.

RELATED: ‘Polar Express’ train rides kick off holiday season in Golden

ARVADA — Nothing is more fun than a twirl around a skating rink under the twinkling lights. Olde Town Arvada opens its Skating in the Square ice skating rink on Friday. Tickets with skate rentals are $10 for adults and $7 under 12 years old.

COLORADO SPRINGS — Colorado Springs has opened its ice-skating rink for the season. Tickets are $10 including skate rentals. Located in Acacia Park in downtown Colorado Springs, the Skate in the Park rink is open most days through Jan. 31.

AURORA — Santa makes his big arrival at Town Center at Aurora this weekend with a parade in the mall at 4 p.m. on Friday Santa will parade throughout Town Center at Aurora. The event will also feature carolers, Christmas cookies, candy canes, and a photo booth of holiday cheer.

CENTENNIAL — The Steets at SouthGlenn holds its 3rd annual Grand Holiday Parade to welcome Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves to SouthGlenn. The free parade and tree lighting with Santa’s arrival begins at 6 p.m. Friday. There will also be cookies, cocoa, live reindeer, carriage rides, holiday photos, ice sculptures, face painting, balloon twisting and holiday characters.

DENVER —Santa’s Flight Academy has landed at Cherry Creek Shopping Center. Guests can join Santa’s flight crew and step inside Santa’s 22-foot tall sleigh and experience magical snowfall, all the way through Dec. 24. Cherry Creek Shopping Center will hold a tree lighting ceremony on Saturday starting at 5 p.m. with hot chocolate, sweet treats and entertainment.

FORT COLLINS — Foothills Mall will hold a tree lighting and holiday concert on Saturday starting at 5 p.m. The festival event features Santa’s arrival on a horse drawn carriage, complimentary carriage rides, holiday performers, photos with Santa plus a family holiday photo booth, a dj on the lawn, kids activities and more.

DENVER — The race that ends with a huge slice of pie is back this weekend. The Pumpkin Pie 5K and 10K kicks off the holiday season with a family-friendly run/walk at Denver’s City Park. All finishers get a slice of pumpkin pie, as well as a race shirt, finisher’s medal and finish line expo access with vendors and food. The runs take place Saturday. Registration can be completed online.

BRIGHTON — Brighton’s 39th annual Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk is Saturday at the Brighton Recreation Center. The event is a Bolder Boulder qualifying race. Registered participants receive a shirt and breakfast and are eligible for prize giveaways. Start time is 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Turkey Trot registration can be completed at BrightonCO.gov.

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GREELEY — The University of Northern Colorado football team plays its final game of the season on Saturday at 12 p.m. The UNC Bears (0-10) host the Portland State Vikings (4-6) on Senior Day and Military Appreciation Day at Nottingham Field. Tickets to see the final game of head coach Ed Lamb’s first season are available at UNCBears.com or the stadium box office.

• Saturday, Nov. 18 – 1 p.m.
• Canvas Stadium, Fort Collins
• Tickets at CSURams.com

DENVER — Mysteries of the Ice Ages is the newest exhibition at Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Embark on a journey through Earth’s icy history and discover the fascinating stories of ice and adaptation through hundreds of artifacts, fossils, models and interactive experiences. Guests will see authentic tools and artifacts, some never before exhibited, used by Neanderthals, early humans and Arctic peoples, and discover lands lost long ago under the world’s oceans.

DENVER — “Clyde’s” is a new comedy by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage and directed by Jamil Jude. At Clyde’s, formerly incarcerated individuals cook up meals that range from sublime to soul-crushing. Their kitchen mentor guides them on a quest to create the perfect sandwich – and reclaim their lives. Each cook must face their demons on their personal journeys towards purpose, self-worth, and even salvation. “Clyde’s” plays the Kilstrom Theatre at the Denver Performing Arts Complex through Nov. 26.

AURORA — “Cadillac Crew” has opened at Vintage Here’s what to expect at the 2023 Denver ChristkindlmarketTheatre in Aurora. “Cadillac Crew” reclaims the stories of the forgotten leaders who blazed the trail for desegregation and women’s rights. Performances are Fridays, Saturdays and Monday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 to $34 and available by calling 303-856-7830 or VintageTheatre.org. “Cadillac Crew” plays through Sunday, Nov. 26.

Last week, “The Marvels,” the 33rd installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and a sequel to the 2019 Brie Larson-led “Captain Marvel,” managed less than a third of the $153.4 million its predecessor launched with.

• Trolls Band Together
• Next Goal Wins
• The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
• Thanksgiving

1. “The Marvels,” $47 million.
2. “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” $9 million.
3. “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” $5.9 million.
4. “Priscilla,” $4.8 million.
5. “Killers of the Flower Moon,” $4.7 million.
6. “The Holdovers,” $3.2 million.
7. “Journey to Bethlehem,” $2.4 million.
8. “Tiger 3,” $2.3 million.
9. “Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie,” $1.8 million.
10. “Radical,” $1.8 million.

> Would you like to see your favorite Colorado festival, fair, expo, concert, drama, musical, ballet, run or event listed in 9Things? Send it to alexander.kirk@9news.com.

Have a delightful weekend! 

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