Make the Holidays Merry and Bright at Denver Botanic Gardens and Chatfield Farms

These seasonal light displays are the traditions where memories are made.

3 hours ago

Denver Botanic Gardens,

Photo: Courtesy of Denver Botanic Gardens. © Scott Dressel-Martin

Crisp weather nipping at your nose, hot chocolate warming your hands, and a glittering winter wonderland delighting your spirits – this is the magic of Blossoms of Light® and Trail of Lights. For those in the Denver metro area these two signature holiday light events have long been a holiday tradition – maybe even yours.

Blossoms of Light at the York Street location is consistently ranked among the country’s best light shows. This year’s event spans the 24-acre campus with new and returning displays, including the impressive 200-foot-long, 17-foot-tall tunnel of animated lights at the entrance. The entire installation now uses LED lights, in line with the Gardens’ commitment to sustainability.

Photo: Courtesy of Denver Botanic Gardens. © Scott Dressel-Martin

Preparation for the event starts in February each year, just a month after Blossoms of Light closes. That’s what it takes to create such a spectacular light display year after year. Specialty colors often must be ordered six to eight months in advance. Custom-strung light elements are built by hand in summer, with light installation beginning around Labor Day.

Instagram-worthy photo ops abound, from cottonwoods dripping with lights to synchronized musical lightscapes, and shimmering water reflections. Warm up mid-walk with seasonal drinks and treats at the Hive Garden Bistro and Offshoots Café.

Photo: Courtesy of Denver Botanic Gardens. © Scott Dressel-Martin

If you like your lights with the quiet tranquility of the countryside, Trail of Lights at Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms in Littleton offers a contrasting but equally enchanting experience. Just under a mile of glittering trail weaves through cottonwoods, boxelders, and pines on the grounds of an 1880s homestead. Expect brand new displays this year, including s’mores for purchase, toasty firepits, and festive music.

Of course, you’ll find all the elements that make Trail of Lights so special: antique tractors aglow, light tunnels, and historical buildings incorporated into the displays, like the nineteenth-century Deer Creek Schoolhouse, Hildebrand Ranch house, Green Family Barn and silo.

Whether you’re wandering the immersive, urban spectacle of Blossoms of Light or meandering under starry skies at Trail of Lights, Denver Botanic Gardens delivers two beautifully luminous ways to celebrate the season.

Blossoms of Light runs nightly, November 20, 2026 – January 10, 2027. Closed November 26 and December 25. Trail of Lights runs November 21, 2026 – January 3, 2027; see website for dates. Get tickets and information at botanicgardens.org.