VISIT DENVER has announced a series of holiday- and Denver-themed drone shows that will take place over the skies of the city for 40 straight nights starting Nov. 22 and running through New Year's Eve. The drone shows will add to the already robust offerings that residents and visitors to Denver can enjoy during Mile High Holidays, VISIT DENVER's annual holiday promotional campaign. To stay up to date on everything related to the holidays in Denver, visit the Mile High Holidays website and visit hotel deals for promotions to take advantage of the holiday magic this season.   

NEW! Mile High Holiday's Nightly Drone Spectacular 

Nov. 22-Dec. 31, 2024, Visible throughout Central Denver 

VISIT DENVER is thrilled to introduce a nightly holiday performance for all to enjoy for free. Starting Friday, Nov. 22 and continuing for 40 nights through New Year's Eve, 400 drones will take over Denver's skyline with dynamic holiday displays and performances. The 15-minute show will extend 400 feet in the air and spread 500 feet wide with a variety of some two-dozen animated scenes built specifically for VISIT DENVER by Denver-based Brightflight Drone Shows. Viewers might see a variety of holiday-themed animations and Denver icons, as well as scenes depicting Denver's favorite winter moments, mountain activities and animations paying homage to our professional sports teams. Thanks to a partnership with MSU Denver and the use of their spaces, the show will be visible throughout downtown Denver and especially great from rooftop bars and restaurants as well as from nearby public areas. The displays will take to the sky nightly at 7 p.m. with special shows Monday, December 2 prior to the Denver Broncos Monday Night Football game; Wednesday, December 25 prior to the Denver Nuggets Christmas Day basketball game, and Tuesday, December 31, prior to the Colorado Avalanche New Year's Eve hockey game.  

Mile High Holidays  

The Mile High Drone show is the newest addition to VISIT DENVER's Mile High Holidays program, a campaign that has been running for more than 20 years to promote all things holidays in Denver. During Mile High Holidays, residents and visitors alike are encouraged to enjoy: 

• Holiday light displays, such as Zoo Lights, Denver Botanic Garden's Blossoms of Light, Luminova at Elitch Gardens, Cherry Creek North's Winter Wanderland and others.  

• Holiday performing arts, like Denver Center for the Performing Arts' “A Christmas Carol,” Colorado Ballet's “Nutcracker,” Cleo Parker Robinson Dance's “Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum” and more.  

• Finding the perfect gift for your loved ones at holiday markets like Denver Christkindlmarket, unique local shopping areas like Cherry Creek, museum shops and others.  

• And revisiting holiday traditions like the Mile High Tree, another attraction operated by VISIT DENVER and this year sponsored by Xcel Energy and Xfinity. 

More Detail About Mile High Holidays Favorites  

Denver comes alive with its amazing light displays. Blossom of Lights at Denver Botanic Gardens' York Street location takes visitors on an immersive trail highlighting and accentuating their plants with luminous displays. Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance's Zoo Lights blankets that facility with more than one million sparkling lights over their 80 acres. The annual Grand Illumination at Denver Union Station features live music, a visit from Santa and the lighting of their outdoor, 40-foot-tall Christmas tree that has over 7,000 holiday lights. Luminova Holidays is returning to Elitch Gardens this year, where families can explore millions of dazzling lights, twinkling snowmen who never melt, a 300-foot-long candy cane tunnel, Old Saint Nick and his elves and so much more. All sparkling light displays can be found on the Mile High Holidays Lights Extravaganzas page. 

Denver's theatres are buzzing during the holidays with various captivating productions. At Wolf Theatre, an essential to the holiday season, "A Christmas Carol", will be performing starting Nov. 22, 2024. Buell Theatre is hosting "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical" starting Nov. 29, 2024. The Colorado Ballet is putting on "The Nutcracker" at Ellie Caulkins Opera House starting Nov. 30, 2024. Fans of holiday shenanigans are invited to join Chevy Chase at Bellco Theatre on Dec. 11, 2024, for the 35th Anniversary screening of the film "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation", followed by a live conversation and Q&A with the actor. Performing arts fans can find even more options here. 

Denver Christkindl Market 

Nov. 22-Dec. 23, 2024, Civic Center Park  

Denver's Christkindlmarket, hosted by the German American Chamber of Commerce - Colorado Chapter, transports guests to a Bavarian holiday as they stroll through a European village decorated for the holiday season and shop for finely crafted artisan gifts and treats at charming wooden huts. Taste buds are invited to the experience with Glühwein (mulled spiced wine), German Biers and hot chocolate, Bavarian-style pretzels, fresh smoked salmon, Knödel, Goulasch, Nürnberger Sausages, pastries, caramels and European chocolates. Conveniently located right next to the Mile High Tree!  

Denver is home to many festive holiday markets. The Cherry Creek Holiday Market, located at Cherry Creek North in the Fillmore Plaza, will have over 50 local artisan vendors, live music and festive drinks and decor. The Urban Holiday Market at Denver Union Station will offer a selection of one-of-a-kind seasonal items, high-quality handcrafted goods, fabulous holiday gift ideas, delicious specialty foods, home décor and unique holiday gifts. The Dairy Block is hosting the Mistletoe Market with an extensive line-up of festive events including a local makers market, Who-ligan entertainment, live music, winter art installations and more. Larimer Square will have its Holiday BAZAAR where guests can enjoy shopping, light shows, visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus, Christmas carolers and festive holiday bar pop-ups. Lastly, RiNo has their It's a RiNo-Ful Life Holiday Market featuring 30-plus local art vendors, live music and so much more! The Mile High Holidays site lists many other local shopping opportunities for locals and visitors.  

Mile High Tree Presented by Xcel Energy and Xfinity   

Nov. 22-Dec. 31, 2024, Civic Center Park  

The aptly named Mile High Tree Presented by Xcel Energy & Xfinity is a seven-story, 110-foot-tall piece of immersive art. The 39-foot diameter conical structure is 10 feet higher than the tallest Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in history and contains 60,000 LED lights to create its signature programming. The tree features nightly free public light shows choreographed to multicultural holiday music and can accommodate up to 140 guests at a time for an immersive viewing experience within the tree. The Mile High Tree was created by ILMEX Illumination, a globally renowned decorative lighting production company in Spain. Madrid-based Brut Deluxe handled the lighting design using pixel-mapping technology. All are invited to the annual tree lighting ceremony at 5:15 p.m. on Nov. 22, 2024 and a special ball drop-style countdown at 9 p.m. on New Year's Eve. 

Be it enjoying a classic holiday performance, a stroll through twinkling lights, finding the perfect gift at one of the many markets or experiencing the stunning holiday drone show, all are invited to enjoy this festive season in Denver. 

About VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau  

Celebrating 115 years of promoting The Mile High City, VISIT DENVER is a nonprofit trade association that contracts with the City of Denver to market Denver as a convention and leisure destination, increasing economic development in the city, creating jobs and generating taxes. Denver welcomed more than 37.4 million visitors in 2023, generating $10.3 billion in spending, while supporting tens of thousands of jobs and making Tourism one of the city's largest industries. Learn more about Denver at VISIT DENVER or Tourism Pays Denver. Follow Denver's social media channels for up-to-the-minute updates on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.  

With press or photo inquiries, please contact: 

Taylor Shields, Director of PR & Communications  

Caroline Campbell, PR & Communications Manager 

Natalie St. Hilaire, PR & Communications Coordinator 

Press@visitdenver.com