• February 17th, 2025
  • Monday, 02:38:31 PM

Light the Lights Celebration Kicks off the Holiday Season


The 92nd Annual Light the Lights celebration is set for November 27. (Photo: denvergov.org)

 

The 92nd Annual Light the Lights celebration is set for Wednesday, November 27, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and will feature Denver’s beloved mascots who will flip the giant switch to light the City and County Building’s first music and light show.

 

“We invite our community to come celebrate Denver’s long-honored holiday tradition, Light the Lights,” said Katy Strascina, Executive Director of the City and County of Denver’s Office of Special Events. “It’s a magical experience to see the transformation of our Civic Center Plaza into a winter wonderland, filled with the joy and spirit of the holidays.”

 

The event will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Bannock Street in front of Denver’s City and County Building and will broadcast on Denver7. News anchor Micah Smith will emcee the evening festivities and will lead a countdown at approximately 5:15 p.m. Denver’s beloved sports mascots—Rocky, Bernie, Dinger, Rapid Man and Wooly—will serve as this year’s official ‘Illumination Ambassadors’. The Denver Gay Men’s Chorus will bring festive cheer, entertaining the crowd with seasonal tunes and holiday spirit.

 

The family-friendly event will also feature interactive vehicle displays from the Denver Police Department (DPD), Denver Fire Department (DFD), and Denver Sheriff Department (DSD), including a Tesla, lowrider, fire trucks, and a K9 unit. This portion of the event will begin at 4:00 p.m., prior to the official start of the show at 4:30 p.m., allowing attendees to enjoy these displays before the lighting ceremony.

 

For those unable to attend in person, the event will be streamed live on Denver 8 TV on cable or online at denvergov.org and the City and County of Denver’s Facebook page. Accessibility accommodations will be available, with designated seating for those with mobility impairments and an ASL interpreter for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Seating in this area is “first-come, first-served” and accessible from both E. 14th Ave. and E. Colfax Ave.

 

The City and County Building’s music and light show will run every Tuesday through Sunday for approximately eight minutes at 5:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m., with a static display between shows until 10:45 p.m. On Mondays, only static lights will be shown due to City Council meetings. The light display will remain until the end of the National Western Stock Show on January 26, 2025.

 

There will be no music and light show on Saturday, December 7, during the 9NEWS Parade of Lights. Instead, a static light display will be shown. Additionally, the building will remain dark on Saturday, December 21, 2024, for the We Will Remember: Homeless Persons’ Memorial Vigil.

 

Additional holiday events at Civic Center Park include the Denver Christkindlmarket, open from November 22 to December 23, 2024. Hours are Sunday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with the Festival Hall open until 10 p.m. Thanksgiving Day hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the final week (December 15 through 23) is 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Mile High Tree, presented by Xcel & Xfinity, will also be on display from November 22 to December 31 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

 

Please note that Bannock Street is permanently closed to vehicle traffic. Attendees are encouraged to use RTD or rideshare services. Metered parking and nearby paid parking lots are available.

 

The light and music show is produced by Colorado Holiday Experiences, formerly known as Blazen Illuminations, and this year’s show promises to dazzle. Featuring the stunning artistry of Madeline and Mercedes Webb, the production delivers a fresh, “epic” twist on holiday classics. With lighting and music arrangements by producers behind major film, TV, and video game projects, this unforgettable experience will captivate audiences like never before.

 

For more information, visit the Office of Special Events website here.