Denver Christmas Market 2026: Christkindlmarket Dates

The Denver Christmas Market is at its best once the sun drops behind the Rockies. That’s when the giant tree beside the huts starts its light show, repeating every 15 minutes, and a fleet of drones lights up the sky over downtown. Grab a glühwein, find a spot on the lawn and give it at least one full show before you start browsing.

Denver Christmas Market 2026

Dates

Status: Confirmed
Denver dates: 20th November to 23rd December 2026
Last checked: October 2026

Update: Dates were announced in January. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified of changes.

Source: Verified by Ultimate Christmas Markets via Christkindlmarket.

Plan Your Visit

Location and Times

Location: Tivoli Quad, Auraria Campus
Opening times:
Monday to Thursday: 1pm to 9pm
Friday to Sunday: 11am to 9pm
Thanksgiving: 11am to 4pm
17th to 23rd December: 11am to 9pm

Travel and Accommodation

Recommended tour: History and architecture walking tour.
Public transport: Bus routes 6 and 43 stop at 9th Street and Auraria Parkway, and Ball Arena/Elitch Gardens light rail station is about a 10-minute walk.
Parking: Please take public transport to help limit congestion.
Where to stay: Thompson Denver is a 5-minute drive away.

Amenities and Attractions

Admission: Free
Santa: No, but the Christkind and St Nikolaus appear on set dates.
Carousel: Restored Western Carousel.
Ice skating: Not at the market. Skyline Park’s downtown rink is closed for construction.
Reason to visit: German food and beer in a heated hall, glass ornament workshops and nightly light shows on the giant tree next door.

Dietary Options

Vegetarian: Yes, plenty of options.
Vegan: Yes, plenty of options.
Gluten-free: Yes, but limited.
Food specialities: Glühwein, bratwurst, Schmalzkuchen (German doughnuts) and pretzels.

Accessibility

Accessible: Yes, with ramps and accessible toilets, though weekend evenings get crowded.
Pet-friendly: Yes, dogs are allowed on a lead, though they’re not recommended at weekends.

Convenient Hotels

Staying in Downtown Denver makes sense because so many attractions are nearby. I suggest staying at Thompson Denver for its favourable location and consistently high guest ratings.

Recommended Tours

This Denver city tour is a great option for exploring many of the city’s highlights. You’ll explore Denver’s most iconic landmarks and attractions, including Larimer Square, the Denver Botanic Gardens and the State Capitol Building.

Alternatively, why not take this food tour to understand the local culture through its cuisine? Food tours are growing in popularity and often give an excellent overview of the city.

Visitor Feedback

What Visitors Loved

• The German food and drink get the most praise, especially the beer and the glühwein.
• Families rate the extras highly: rides on the restored carousel, glass ornament workshops and Krampus appearances.
• The tree’s light shows and the drones overhead make an evening visit worth the wait.
• The walkways on the Tivoli Quad are wider than at the old Civic Center Park site, so busy evenings feel easier to get around.

Common Complaints

• Parking on campus is the biggest gripe and can catch many visitors off guard, so the bus or light rail is the easier way in.
• Weekend evenings get packed, with crowded paths and queues at the food and drink stalls. A weekday afternoon is far calmer.
• Some regulars miss the setting at Civic Center Park and find the campus, with construction nearby, less charming.

Event Location

What to Expect

The Denver Christkindlmarket is run by the German American Chamber of Commerce’s Colorado chapter, and it sticks closer to the German model than most American markets. Wooden huts line the Tivoli Quad on the Auraria campus, beside the red-brick Tivoli brewery building that’s now the student union. More than 40 vendors mix German and European traders with Colorado makers.

The heart of it is the heated Festival Hall, where polka bands play and Prost Brewing pours its German-style beers until 10pm. Outside, the Christkind (the golden-haired angel the market is named after) makes appearances, St Nikolaus visits on set dates and Krampus takes over for Krampus Nacht. You can also watch master glassmakers at work and blow an ornament of your own.

After dark, Visit Denver’s Mile High Tree takes over the quad. It’s 33 metres of LED lights that you can stand inside, with a light and music show every 15 minutes and drone shows over the city most nights.

If you’d rather browse Colorado makers somewhere smaller, the Cherry Creek Holiday Market is Denver’s other big market.

At the Food Stalls

• Glühwein: Hot spiced wine, red or white, served in the souvenir mug. Non-drinkers get hot chocolate or spiced cider.
• Prost Brewing beer: The Denver brewery makes German-style lagers and has poured at the market for years. Order one in the Festival Hall.
• Schmalzkuchen: Little squares of fried dough dusted with icing sugar, the German Christmas market doughnut, sold by the bagful.
• Bratwurst: Grilled and served in a bun with mustard.
• Pretzels: Big soft German pretzels, a staple at the huts.
• Schnitzel and Spätzle: Breaded cutlets and soft egg noodles, the most filling plate in the market.
• Apple strudel: Thin pastry rolled around spiced apple, the classic finish.

What to Buy

• Blown glass ornaments: Buy one from the glassmakers’ stall, or book the workshop and make your own.
• The collectible mug or stein: A new design each year, and the one souvenir everyone leaves with.
• Nutcrackers and candle pyramids: Hand-carved wooden pieces from the German traders.
• Wooden toys: Traditional European toys that make a change from plastic.
• Colorado posters: Prints of the state’s national parks and ski resorts from local artists.
• Alpaca scarves: Warm and useful at this altitude, and you’ll probably want one before the night’s out.