At Christmastime, Durango is picture-perfect and a great destination for a family holiday. The small, beautifully decorated downtown of the mountain town in the southwest of Colorado is illuminated by thousands of lights throughout the holiday season.

The first weekend in December is dedicated to an arts and crafts festival, and many of Durango's boutiques offer handcrafted goods made in Colorado. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad runs the Polar Express Train to the "North Pole", which is the most treasured Christmas tradition for kids. Your child will enjoy listening to the Polar Express story while sipping hot cocoa on the trip to the North Pole. When Santa arrives at the North Pole stop with his elves and reindeer, he joins the train for the return trip and gives a special present to each child as carols are sung. For the trip, which runs every night between mid-November and early January, most kids dress in their pajamas. There are numerous hotels in Durango that celebrate Christmas.

The most unique Christmas event in Breckenridge is Race of The Santas, which takes place on the first Saturday in December. At that time, hundreds of participants in Santa suits and sneakers descended down Main Street for a 5K race.

The show is extremely impressive. Santa's race is just the beginning. The Lighting of Breckenridge, when the city switches on its holiday light display, and the Holiday Dog Parade for pups are additional events. In December, Breckenridge also hosts Ullr Fest. The celebration, which celebrates the coming winter and is dedicated to the Norse god of snow, has been going on for more than 58 years. For a Main Street parade, both locals and visitors fill the streets, and many dresses in Viking garb to celebrate. Breckenridge, a true mining community that dates back to the 1800s, has old homes and lampposts that give it the appearance of a Victorian-era Christmas town. It's a wonderful spot to spend the holidays. Breckenridge offers a variety of activities, including world-class skiing at Breckenridge Ski Resort, dog sledding, and sleigh rides. Breckenridge is known for being a family-friendly vacation destination, and as many of the accommodations are multi-room condo varieties, the town is ideal for trips involving many generations.

Another picture-perfect Colorado Christmas town is the rough mountain town of Telluride, which is situated in the state's San Juan range. While known primarily for skiing, the chic, modern-day village is brimming with exciting and cultural things to experience.

The town goes all out to celebrate the holiday season, both on and off the ski slopes, and the valley floor location is picture-perfect. The Holiday Prelude, a weekend jam-packed with activities to get visitors in the holiday spirit, serves as the official opening to everything. A Santa workshop, free ice skating, hot cocoa, kid-friendly crafts, and holiday movies are all available at various corners of the city. The weekend marks the illumination of Telluride's city Christmas tree. On Christmas Eve, the ski slopes, are highlighted by a gorgeously choreographed Torchlight Parade down the mountain by ski school staff members carrying blazing torches. An explosion of fireworks from the peak shines even more light on them.

The 12 Days of Aspen event, which lasts for the final 12 days of December every year, makes this old mining town another well-liked Christmas vacation spot. Although Aspen and neighboring Snowmass are well known for their outstanding skiing and snowboarding in the winter - Aspen just celebrated its 75th anniversary as a ski resort in 2022 - on varied terrain, there are lots of other things to do, especially around Christmas.

You may find anything from kid's ornament workshops and stocking decorating classes to story hours and cookie-making classes during the 12-day festival. Additionally, there are fireworks displays, magic performances, and movie screenings. Christmas in Aspen Colorado is a spirit-filled, twinkling event that lasts for a good couple of months, and it’s definitely worth attending. There are many adult-themed events as well, such as private snowcat trips, set-course gourmet meals, and live music, if you're aiming to have a romantic Christmas for two.

Georgetown, a small mountain town, puts up a spectacular Christmas display. Georgetown, which is surrounded by high mountains and is located just off I-70, transforms into a traditional European Christmas market town during the holiday season. There are many carolers dressed in Victorian costumes, and chestnuts are even roasted over an open fire.

The Annual Historic Georgetown Christmas Market also offers one-of-a-kind handcrafted decorations and presents, carriage rides through the old town, live entertainment, dancing, and a variety of food vendors. Among the most cherished holiday traditions in Georgetown is Christmas at the Hamill House. A Victorian feast and caroling are included, and tickets are required. Given that Denver is only a two-hour drive away, most tourists only spend the day in Georgetown. On Friday, December 9, visit Grace Street to take advantage of free snacks from local cafes and bakeries, live entertainment, and a s'mores-making bonfire. All throughout December, Georgetown Park will also transform Grace Street Plaza (near 3207 Grace St NW) into a holiday wonderland with a photo opportunity with an ornament and pop-up events.

Estes Park is a popular vacation spot all year long. Locals will tell you that visiting in the winter is a special experience because there are fewer visitors, the mountains are covered in a stunning blanket of snow, and there are many winter-specific outdoor activities to keep you occupied.

The day following Thanksgiving, the community holds its Catch the Glow Parade and Celebration, which features floats, marching bands, dancing, and live music. Every weekend in December, the community holds seasonal activities, such as a Breakfast with Santa event. The entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park, which is accessible year-round, is also located in Estes Park. A great time to travel is in the winter. There are fewer people around, and you can use cross-country skis or snowshoes to tour the snow-covered landscape. And don't forget to enjoy the sounds of the Christmas Holidays with jazz renditions of holiday music by the Estes Park Jazz Big Band followed by a mix of Christmas music performed by the Estes Park Village Band.

An annual Festival of Lights Parade through the heart of Colorado Springs marks the beginning of the holiday season. But this is far from the only event. Seasonal festivities take place all across the city at the base of Pikes Peak, which is lit up with holiday lights.

Downtown Colorado Springs has some of the area's best shopping. Plan a family day where you may go shopping, eat at a variety of nearby eateries, get some hot cocoa at the Storybook Coffee Co., and ice skate among the holiday lights. It is a wonderful way to create memorable memories with the people you love. You’ll find the ice-skating rink in Acacia Park off of Tejon Street and Platte Ave. Or book a ride on the Santa Express Train to the North Pole if you have kids to visit Santa and his elves. The Royal Gorge Railway depot in Canon City, south of Colorado Springs, is where the train ride for kids usually starts. Christmas music is playing while cookies and hot chocolate are served.

Salida, a mountain town, celebrates Christmas a little differently from other cities by deciding to decorate a mountain rather than a Christmas tree. During this most magical time of year, main streets across the state are all aglow in beautiful Christmas lights, creating traditions people look forward to all year.

Salida abounds in cool festivals year-round from a New Year’s Day 5K run through a New Year’s Eve Torchlight Parade & Fireworks at Monarch Mountain. Festivities include golfing, America’s oldest whitewater festival, a beer brewers’ rendezvous, fine arts festivals, fair & rodeo, Colorado wine fest, bike festivals, fiber festivals, and music festivals. Every year during the holiday season, Tenderfoot Mountain's 750-foot-tall Christmas tree is highlighted by hundreds of colorful lights that are strung up. An outdoor and indoor festival with free cookies and hot chocolate is part of the lighting ceremony, which also features a display of fireworks. When Santa makes a ski visit on Christmas Eve and the day before, there is another celebration at the nearby Monarch Ski Area. Children can visit Santa while the mountain is open for skiing and riding.

The charming mountain town of Frisco serves as an excellent home base because of its ideal location between some of the top ski resorts in Colorado, including Keystone, Breckenridge, and Arapahoe Basin. Beginning with the lighting of the town tree the weekend after Thanksgiving, it also puts on a show for Christmas.

Families will also have various opportunities for youngsters to meet Santa during the days leading up to Christmas, as well as events like free sleigh rides and tubing at the Frisco Adventure Park. With prices less expensive than Breckenridge, Frisco also wins if you're looking for cheap lodging big enough for a family. During the holidays, Frisco Square is turned into a magical display with a free daily light and music show from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Enter the wonderland, which features 80,000 lights, 200 dancing snowflakes, a 3,000-foot color-changing canopy, and music and light shows. Or you can bring the family to Simpson Plaza on December 5 from 4–8 p.m. for the official tree lighting, carriage rides, Santa visits, Christmas music, and more.

With approximately 3,000 acres of skiable terrain, Steamboat Springs is renowned for its champagne powder in the winter. Some of Colorado's best powder and tree skiing can be found in and around Steamboat. Steamboat has more than 160 trails with about 86% of its terrain being rated as intermediate or advanced, and it receives over 330 inches of snow each year.

Every year, Steamboat Springs, a ski resort in northern Colorado, celebrates Christmas in a Wild West style. The day-to-night celebration, which takes place a few days before Christmas, starts with Santa riding down the ski slopes on horseback before going to his workshop to hang out with his reindeer friends and any curious kids. At the ski resort's base, the event is held. Live music and cookie decorating are also included. The resort is open for night skiing when the sun sets and features a torchlit parade down the mountain and fireworks.