Quick Answer: Blossoms of Light runs November 20, 2026 to January 10, 2027 at Denver Botanic Gardens on York Street. Zoo Lights runs select nights from November 23 to January 3, and Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms runs November 21 to January 3. All three use timed tickets and close on Thanksgiving and Christmas. The City and County Building display downtown is free.
Three shows, all timed entry
Denver's three big ticketed light shows this season are Blossoms of Light at Denver Botanic Gardens, Zoo Lights at the Denver Zoo and Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms in Littleton. All three sell timed entry, so your ticket decides when the evening starts.
| Show | Where | 2026–27 dates | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blossoms of Light | Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St, Denver | Nov 20 – Jan 10 | 4:30–9 p.m. |
| Zoo Lights | Denver Zoo, City Park | Select nights, Nov 23 – Jan 3 | Check the zoo's calendar |
| Trail of Lights | Chatfield Farms, 8500 W Deer Creek Canyon Rd, Littleton | Nov 21 – Jan 3 | 5–8:30 p.m., some nights closed |
All three are closed on Thanksgiving (November 26) and Christmas Day. Dates and hours are from Denver Botanic Gardens and Visit Denver as of October 2026. Check the venue's site before you go. Nightly schedules change.
Buy tickets November 9
Public tickets for Blossoms of Light and Trail of Lights go on sale Monday, November 9, at 10 a.m. Members can buy from November 4. Changing your date costs $5, up to 72 hours before entry, if there's room. The Gardens says most Blossoms nights sell out, so buy as soon as you know the date.
Zoo Lights tickets come from the Denver Zoo. Get the tickets first and build the night around the entry window. We don't sell venue tickets. We time the car to whatever window you have.
The free one
The City and County Building at Civic Center Park lights up every year and costs nothing. You can see the whole front from the park in a few minutes. Union Station and Larimer Square are a short drive from there, good for dessert or a last look on the way home.
A route for one evening
This is the order we suggest for a first lights night. Change any of it.
- 5:30 p.m. Pickup at home or the hotel.
- 5:45 City and County Building and Civic Center Park, about 20 minutes.
- 6:20 Blossoms of Light or Zoo Lights, timed to your entry. Give it 60 to 75 minutes.
- 7:40 A slow drive past a neighborhood display, about 25 minutes.
- 8:10 Union Station and Larimer Square, or dessert.
- 8:30 Home.
Trail of Lights is out in the southwest suburbs. It fits a pickup in Littleton or Highlands Ranch better than a downtown loop. With small kids, start at 5:00 or 5:30 and they're home by bedtime. Date nights can start at 6:30 or 7:00, when it's less crowded.
Booking the car
Our Denver holiday lights tour runs from the Friday after Thanksgiving (November 27) through December 30, with departures from 5 to 8 p.m. Lights tours have a four-hour minimum. The chauffeur waits at every stop, so there's no parking to find and the car is warm when you get back in.
For most families we send the Jet Van: nine guests, everyone in their own seat, easy to get kids in and out at every stop. The Dodge Challenger Stretch Limousine seats ten and gets booked for anniversaries and proposals. Party buses take 20, 30 or 40, for office groups and large families. The limo and buses are quote only.
December 5 through 23 books out first. If your date is in there, reserve in October or early November. Pricing is on the tour page.
Header photo: the Denver City and County Building holiday display, 2015. Photo by Jolly2bjolly, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Blossoms of Light 2026 at Denver Botanic Gardens?
November 20, 2026 to January 10, 2027, from 4:30 to 9 p.m., at the York Street gardens. It's closed November 26 and December 25.
When do Blossoms of Light tickets go on sale?
Public tickets go on sale Monday, November 9, 2026, at 10 a.m. Member presales start November 4. Most nights sell out, so buy early.
What are the dates for Denver Zoo Lights 2026?
Zoo Lights runs on select nights from November 23, 2026 to January 3, 2027, and is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Check the Denver Zoo's calendar for nightly hours.
Is there a free holiday lights display in Denver?
Yes. The City and County Building at Civic Center Park puts up a free holiday display every year, and Union Station and Larimer Square are nearby.
How long should a private holiday lights tour be?
Our holiday lights tours are booked on a four-hour minimum. That covers pickup, the downtown display, one ticketed show, a neighborhood drive and the ride home.
