This weekend promises to be gorgeous and sunny after a long week of cold temperatures. Get the kids out of the house to visit the new play area downtown, enjoy some ice skating, go on a scavenger hunt and even do some rock climbing with Santa! There are a ton of fun events happening this weekend in and around Boulder.
Jingle Bell Fridays at Village at the Peaks

Photo Courtesy Village at the Peaks
When: Friday, December 8, 2017
Where: Village at the Peaks, 1250 S Hover Rd, Longmont, CO 80501
Time: 5PM – 8PM
Cost: FREE
Get into the holiday spirit this December with lots of free, fun and festive activities for the whole family every Friday at Village at the Peaks! Jingle Bell Friday activities include: horse drawn carriage rides, kids crafts, face painting, and balloon artists. Stay for the carolers and cookies with Santa’s elves from 6-8 PM. Take a photo with Santa from 6:30-7:30PM at Gold’s Gym Longmont, then take a free carriage ride over to the village to enjoy the rest of the event.
Longmont Lights Holiday Festival & Parade


When: December 8 – December 9, 2017
Where: Roosevelt Park & Downtown Longmont, 700 Longs Peak Ave, Longmont, CO 80501
Time: Friday, 5PM – 8PM, Saturday 10AM – 9PM. Schedule of events here.
Cost: FREE
Join Longmont in its annual weekend holiday celebration, Longmont Lights! The festival begins on Friday at Roosevelt Park with Santa’s Workshop, a free craft area for kids and visits with Santa, live reindeer, holiday ice show, open skating, hot cocoa carts, fire pits and food truck sales. The evening culminates in a fireworks display sponsored by WK Real Estate. On Saturday, enjoy open skate ice skating and the March of the Toys Parade down Main Street. For the full schedule of events, click here.
Free Community Skate at WinterSkate Boulder


When: Saturday, December 9, 2017
Where: Central Park, 1236 Canyon Blvd, Boulder, CO 80302
Time: 2PM – 4PM
Cost: FREE
Enjoy the WinterSkate ice rink in Boulder’s Civic Area (next to the Dushanbe Teahouse) for from 2 to 4 PM on Saturday, Dec. 9 for a FREE skate session – ice skate rental included!
A Homestead Christmas


When: Saturday, December 9, 2017
Where: Erie Historical Society, 11611 Jasper Rd, Erie, Colorado 80516
Time: 10AM – 4PM
Cost: FREE
Join the Erie Historical Society for A Homestead Christmas at the Wise Homestead. Take a tour of our turn of the century farm house and museum. Enjoy refreshments and live entertainment by the Erie High School Choir and the Weld County Ramblers.
Tiny Tots and Santa in Estes Park


When: Saturday, December 9, 2017
Where: American Legion Post 119, 850 N Saint Vrain Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517
Time: 9AM – 12PM
Cost: FREE
Head up to Estes Park for the 61st annual Tiny Tots and Santa: a free pancake breakfast, Christmas music, crafts and have your photo taken with Santa. All children will receive a free gift from Santa! Sponsored by: American Legion, Estes Valley Recreation and Park District, and the Estes Park Lions Club.
Creekside Play Area Opening


When: Saturday, December 9, 2017
Where: Near the Boulder Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder, CO 80302
Time: 11AM – 1PM
Cost: FREE
The new Civic Area nature playground, Creekside Play Area is ready to open! The City of Boulder invites the community to celebrate the opening of this final milestone of the Civic Area Park’s Phase One of construction – the “park at the core” enhancements to Central Park. A small grand opening event will be held, featuring live music, free refreshments, kids activities and the opportunity to play on the new the tree house. For more information, click here: http://bit.ly/2AKlk7h
Kids Climb with Santa at Neptune Mountaineering


When: Saturday, December 9, 2017
Where: Neptune Mountaineering, 633 S Broadway St Ste A, Boulder, Colorado 80305
Time: 1PM – 5PM
Cost: FREE
Ages: 10 & Under
Kids are invited to climb with Santa this Saturday at Neptune Mountaineering! Kids who try out the new climbing wall with Santa as their belayer get a gift and a 15% off coupon for the sporting parents. While you are at Neptune, check out the Santa Stroll and Scavenger hunt (details below).
Santa Stroll and Scavenger Hunt
When: Saturday, December 9, 2017
Where: The Shops at Table Mesa, 601 S Broadway St, Boulder, Colorado 80305
Time: 1PM – 5PM
Cost: Please bring a canned food donation.
Check out the Santa Stroll and Scavenger Hunt at The Shops at Table Mesa this Saturday. Activities will include visits with Santa, scavenger hunt, cookies and hot chocolate and festive holiday fun.
Drumming with Horses
When: Saturday, December 9, 2017
Where: Medicine Horse Program, 8778 Arapahoe Rd, Boulder, CO 80303
Time: 3PM – 6PM
Cost: FREE
Boulder Drum Circle and Medicine Horse Program are excited to collaborate to bring you Drumming with Horses! Weather permitting, the event will be outside with a bonfire and the horses. Indoor space is available for inclement weather. Bring your drum & percussion instruments. This is a free community event but both Boulder Drum Circle and Medicine Horse Program appreciate donations.
Santa at Longmont Ace Hardware


When: Saturday, December 9, 2017
Where: Ace Hardware Longmont, 1727 Main St, Longmont, Colorado 80501
Time: 9AM – 3PM
Cost: FREE
A Longmont tradition for over 10 years, visit with Santa and Elf Hot Wheels at Ace Hardware in Longmont and receive a free photo as well as take your own.
Jeff and Paige Concert at Rayback Collective


When: Sunday, December 10, 2017
Where: Rayback Collective, 2775 Valmont Rd, Boulder, CO 80304
Time: 10AM – 11AM
Cost: $10/person 2 & under FREE, tickets available here.
Ages: 3 – 8
Enjoy an indoor, hour-long, science and nature-focused concert by Jeff and Paige at Boulder’s hippest hub for food, community and music, Rayback Collective. Expect live, original, nature-inspired music for kids, educational/hilarious skits, quick costume changes and tons of audience participation. There will be hot cocoa and coffee from Carabiner, pints, mules, sangria and a mystery AM cocktail all available for purchase. Stick around after the show for lunch at any of the 3 food trucks onsite! Food can be brought inside.
Visit Santa at Jax Broomfield
When: Sunday, December 10, 2017
Where: Jax Broomfield Outdoor Gear, Ranch & Home, 5005 West 120th Avenue, Broomfield, Colorado 80020
Time: 1PM- 4PM
Cost: FREE
Ages: All Ages
Stop by Jax Broomfield Outdoor Gear, Ranch & Home this weekend to get a FREE picture with Santa Claus. The whole family is welcome, including pets!
Live Reindeer at Murdoch’s in Longmont
When: Sunday, December 10, 2017
Where: Murdoch’s Longmont, 2255 Main St Ste 107, Longmont, Colorado 80501
Time: 3PM- 6PM
Cost: FREE
Ages: All Ages
Bring the family to see live reindeer at Murdoch’s in Longmont this Sunday! Take photos, write a letter to Santa, and take home a bit of Christmas magic with you.
Santa Station: Niwot


When: Sunday, December 10, 2017
Where: Mountain View Fire Rescue, 8500 Niwot Rd, Longmont, CO 80503
Time: 2PM – 4PM
Cost: FREE. Please bring a non-perishable food donation.
Come see Santa at the Mountain View Fire Station, Niwot Station 4! Share a cup of cocoa, write a letter to Santa and see the fire engines at Santa Station: Niwot. Please bring a non-perishable food donation.