Upcoming Winter Festivals in Colorado

Winter is full of exciting Colorado carnivals and festivals to keep the spirits high. The winter season in Colorado runs from Saturday, December 21st, 2024 through Monday, March 20th, 2025.

Festivities kick off during the holidays with a New Year’s Eve fireworks show in Downtown Denver. January and February bring many incredible festivals, including the Winter X Games and Winter Park Winter Carnival. In March attend the one-of-a-kind Frozen Dead Guy Days in Estes Park.

2024-25 Annual Colorado Winter Events

Colorado is known worldwide for its epic winters. Combine first-class ski resorts and bubbling hot springs, with a heaping of fun festivals and you’re sure to have a winter vacation you’ll never forget.

Here are some of the top annual winter festivals in Colorado, in chronological order:

Winter Events in December 2024

Warren Miller Film Tour

• Date: late October through December, 2o24
• Address: Multiple showings across Colorado
• About: An annual film tour following skiers and snowboarders as they take on the snow. From backyard hills to mega mountains, this tour kicks off the winter season with a bang.

Denver Botanic Gardens Blossoms of Light

• Date: Fri-Sun, November 20, 2024 – January 12, 2025 (closed Nov. 28 and Dec. 25)
• Address: Denver
• About: A stroll through the Denver Botanic Gardens is a delightful way to celebrate the holiday season. The Blossoms of Light extravaganza is a twinkling and breathtaking way to spend a winter evening.

Denver Christkindlmarket

• Date: Fri-Sat, November 22-December 23, 2024
• Address: Civic Center Park, 101 14th Ave, Denver
• About: 24th year for the month-long Christkindl Market in downtown Denver. Experience old German traditions with authentic cuisine, live music, holiday drinks, and an artisan marketplace.

Polar Express Train Ride

• Date: Fri-Sun, November 22, 2024 – January 1, 2025
• Address: Durango
• About: Aboard the Polar Express Train Ride, you and your family will be swept away into an elaborate holiday fantasy complete with hot chocolate, a light show, holiday music, and, of course, Santa.

Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade

• Date: Tuesday, December 24, 2024
• Address: Telluride
• About: The Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade in Telluride lights up the mountain in a red hue as resort employees come down the slopes carrying flares and ride into the village, bringing with them, the holiday spirit.

New Year’s Eve Fireworks

• Date: Sunday, December 31, 2024
• Address: 16th Street Mall, Downtown Denver
• About: Celebrate the new year with fireworks in downtown Denver. There are two spectacular shows at 9 pm and midnight. The 16th Street Mall offers optimal viewing.

Winter Events in January 2025

Denver Botanic Gardens Blossoms of Light

• Date: Friday to Sunday, November 20th, 2024 to January 12, 2025 (closed on Nov. 28th and Dec. 25th)
• Address: Denver
• About: A stroll through the Denver Botanic Gardens is a delightful way to celebrate the holiday season. The Blossoms of Light extravaganza is a twinkling and breathtaking way to spend a winter evening.

Mind Blown Telluride

• Date: Fri-Sat, late November 2024 through March 2025
• Address: Telluride
• About: Taking place at The Peaks Resort & Spa, Ty Gallenbeck puts on a 75-minute magic performance that makes guests question the known.

The MusicFest at Steamboat

• Date: Mon-Sat, January 6-11, 2025
• Address: Steamboat Springs
• About:  The 39th annual Music Fest features fifty bands over six days. Featuring a variety of genres and shows that last from 12pm-10pm. Shows are held around town in every venue type from ballrooms to big tents.

National Western Stock Show

• Date: Sat-Sun, January 11-26, 2025
• Address: National Western Complex, Denver
• About: Since 1906, the stock shows include rodeos, horse shows, livestock, western art, and more special events spread out over more than 16 days.

Lafayette Oatmeal Breakfast & 5K

• Date: Tuesday, January 14, 2025
• Address: Lafayette
• About: Annual warm oatmeal breakfast followed by a 5K walk/run.

Cowboy Downhill

• Date: Monday, January 20, 2025
• Address: Steamboat Ski Resort, Steamboat Springs
• About: Professional cowboys from across the U.S., as well as Australia, Canada, Europe, and Mexico, compete in a race down Headwall near the base of Steamboat Resort.

Breckenridge International Snow Sculpture Championships

• Date: Mon-Wed, January 20 – January 29, 2025
• Address: Riverwalk Center, Downtown Breckenridge
• About: Witness 20-ton blocks of ice get hand-carved by experts from all over the world. Teams from around the world sculpt around the clock for five days to build the spectacles of art, followed by five days of viewing the masterpieces.

Ouray Ice Festival

• Date: Thur-Sun, January 23-26, 2025
• Address: Ouray
• About: Biggest ice climbing festival in North America, featuring the world’s best climbers and 100 educational climbing clinics heading into its 30th year.

CSCCI Chinese New Year Festival

• Date: TBD 2025
• Address: Colorado Springs
• About: Annual celebration of the Chinese New Year, complete with demonstrations, authentic fare, and music. This is the year of the snake.

Winter X Games

• Date: TBD 2025
• Address: Aspen
• About: The world’s best athletes in skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling compete another year at Buttermilk.

Rio Frio Ice Fest

• Date: Fri-Sun, January 24-26, 2025
• Address: Alamosa
• About: Three days of winter activities in the San Luis Valley. The signature event is the Rio Frio 5K, a race on the frozen-over Rio Grande River. Other highlights include ice sculptures, an ice carousel, and a polar plunge.

Snowdown

• Date: Fri-Sun, January 24 – February 2, 2025
• Address: Durango
• About: Now in its 46th year, this winter celebration features a costume party, follies, parade, and an annually changing theme.

Denver Winter Whiskey Tasting Festival

• Date: Saturday, January 25, 2025
• Address: Denver
• About: Sample whiskey from over a dozen distillers while meeting the brands at this one-day event.

Winter Brew Fest

• Date: TBD 2025
• Address: Denver
• About: Live music and unlimited samples of 100+ craft brews at Mile High Station.

Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Festival

• Date: TBD 2025
• Address: Breckenridge
• About: Unique beer festival featuring exotic and strong styles, going on for over 20 years. Dinners, seminars, and workshops are held throughout the three-day celebration.

Berthoud SNOWFEST

• Date: probably cancelled indefinitely | TBD
• Address: Berthoud
• About: The down-home, cozy feel of Berthoud is a perfect setting for Christmas in Colorado. Each year Main Street comes to life at the Berthoud SNOWFEST.

Winter Events in February 2025

Snowdown

• Date: Fri-Sun, January 24 – February 2, 2025
• Address: Durango
• About: Now in its 46th year, this winter celebration features a costume party, follies, parade, and an annually changing theme.

Lake City Ice Climbing Festival

• Date: Saturday, February 1, 2025
• Address: Lake City Ice Park
• About: Men’s and women’s top-roped and lead speed competitions in secluded Lake City. Enjoy an escape to a secluded winter wonderland, with a few other activities lined up for the weekend.

Colorado Motorcycle Expo

• Date: Sat-Sun, February 1-2, 2025
• Address: National Western Complex, Denver
• About: The largest swap meet in America, the 46th annual Colorado Motorcycle Expo is great for those looking to buy new bike components, check out numerous competitions, and be surrounded by other motorcycle enthusiasts.

Steamboat Winter Carnival

• Date: Wed-Sun, February 5-9, 2025
• Address: Downtown Steamboat Springs
• About: In its 112th year, Steamboat’s Winter Carnival is a widely popular event complete with ski races, ski jumping, ice sculptures, fireworks, a shovel race, and street events.

High Plains Snow Goose Festival

• Date: Thur-Sun, February 6-9, 2025
• Address: Lamar
• About: Held in February during the annual migration, this festival is the perfect place to brush up on your birding knowledge with fellow enthusiasts.

Audi Power of Four Ski Mountaineering Race

• Date: Saturday, February 8, 2025
• Address: Aspen
• About: Winter edition of the Power of Four series, featuring a team of two mountaineers conquering more than 25 miles and 11,000 feet of vertical climb to traverse Buttermilk, Aspen Highlands, Highland Bowl, and Aspen Mountain.

Loveland Sweetheart Festival

• Date: TBD 2025
• Address: New Foundry Plaza, Downtown Loveland
• Website: Two-day event held around Valentine’s Day, featuring the Loveland Sweetheart Classic 4-mile race. Other highlights include a beer tent, tunnel of love, laser show, kids’ activities, and other romantic festivities.

Carnivale & Mumbo Jumbo Gumbo Cook-Off

• Date: TBD 2025
• Address: Manitou Springs
• About: Carnivàle kicks off with the Cajun Gumbo Cook-Off followed by a parade downtown.

Colorado Pond Hockey Tournament

• Date: Fri-Sun, February 14-16, 2025
• Address: Lake Dillon, Silverthorne
• About: All are welcome to enter this ice hockey tournament sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon, with over $10,000 in cash prizes. It’s followed by the Apres Ice Party.

Silverton Ski Joring

• Date: Sat-Sun, February 15-16, 2025
• Address: Silverton
• About: The annual Silverton Skijoring event touts itself as the city’s biggest winter party. A lesser-known Nordic sport that combines water skiing, horse racing, and snow skiing, Skijoring is when a horse (or motorcycle) tows a person on skis through a set of obstacles while the clock ticks down.

WinterWonderGrass

• Date: Fri-Sun, February 28-March 2, 2025
• Address: Steamboat Springs
• About: Festival showcasing national, regional, and local bluegrass and acoustic roots music.

Cripple Creek Ice Fest

• Date: TBD 2025
• Address: Downtown Cripple Creek
• About: Annual ice sculpture carving challenge in casino-friendly Wild West Cripple Creek.

Mile High Beer Festival

• Date: TBD 2025
• Address: Denver
• About: Annual beer festival highlighting both well-known and up-and-coming breweries in addition to a few distilleries and cideries. Visitors have 2.5 hours to taste unlimited samples while enjoying live music and food vendors.

Denver Mardi Gras

• Date: TBD 2025
• Address: Greenwood Village
• About: Annual festival with live music, DJs, games, and free beads on Bourbon Street in the Mile High City.

Winter Events in March 2025

WinterWonderGrass

• Date: Fri-Sun, February 28-March 2, 2025
• Address: Steamboat Springs
• About: 12th annual festival showcasing national, regional, and local bluegrass and acoustic roots music.

Leadville Ski Joring

• Date: Sat-Sun, March 1-2, 2025
• Address: Leadville
• About: Annual winter sports event on Harrison Ave that involves a cowboy and horse pulling a skier through obstacles.

303 Day

• Date: Sunday, March 3, 2025
• Address: Denver
• About: Every March, Denverites celebrate the town’s original area code, known as 303 Day. Celebrate with a live music performance by 3OH!3 along with various vendors around the city hosting events to observe the day.

Denver Restaurant Week

• Date: TBD 2025
• Address: Denver
• About: Hundreds of Denver restaurants come together for a ten-day culinary celebration boasting delicious multi-course menus for a fixed price.

Monte Vista Crane Festival

• Date: Fri-Sun, March 7-9, 2025
• Address: Monte Vista
• About: The annual Crane Fest, celebrates the annual migration of cranes that has been going on for years.

Northern Colorado Home + Garden Show

• Date: Fri-Sun, March 7-9, 2025
• Address: Island Grove Regional Park, Greeley
• About: Greeley’s long-running home and garden is one of best events to attend for homeowners looking to repair and remodel their abode.

Bud Light Rocks the Boat

• Date: Saturdays, TBD 2025
• Address: Gondola Square, Steamboat Springs
• About: Free concert series now in its 26th season that is held at the base of the mountain. Enjoy several concerts throughout the ski season. The series features a mix of music genres with many big-name acts having performed in previous years.

Boulder International Film Festival

• Date: Thurs-Sun, March 13-16, 2025
• Address: Boulder
• About: Film fanatics won’t want to miss the 21st annual Boulder International Film Festival. Quickly becoming an internationally acknowledged talent hub for theater, this soiree features film screenings, panels, workshops, and theme afterparties.

Frozen Dead Guy Days

• Date: TBD 2025
• Address: Estes Park
• About: After 20 years of FDGD in Nederland, the event has relocated its crazy contests, competitions, live music, great food, parades, and parties to Estes Park.

Denver’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade

• Date: Saturday, March 15, 2025
• Address: Denver
• About: Denver’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of the largest in the country. Running for over 60 years, you can expect to see floats, dancing, live bands, charities, and local celebrities.

Colorado Springs St. Patrick’s Day Parade

• Date: Saturday, March 15, 2025
• Address: Colorado Springs
• About: Grab your kilts and get ready for a day full of fun at the Colorado Springs’ St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Starting at noon, you can watch the floats, bands, dancers, and performers drive by in celebration of St. Paddy along Tejon Street.

Thanks for checking out some of Colorado’s best annual winter festivals. Have a terrific time experiencing these fun events in December, January, February, and March.

If you’re still in autumn, consider these Colorado fall festivals, or jump ahead to annual spring events. It’s never too soon to start planning a Colorado festival weekend.