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Best Family-Friendly Holiday Events In Denver

With the holiday season officially here, it's time to start planning some fun events to keep the kiddos entertained while they're on their winter vacations. Whether you've got family visiting from out of state, or you're just looking for a few great events to enjoy with your kids, there is so much going on in Denver that you just may be overwhelmed. Take some of the guess work out of your holiday events with these five family-friendly ways to enjoy the season together. Try one, or check out them all. You're sure to be filled with the holiday spirit faster than you can say "egg nog."

Denver Christkindl Market
Skyline Park
Arapahoe Street and 16th Street Mall
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 837-1146
www.denverchristkindlmarket.com
Date: Through Dec. 23, 2016

Ready to do some holiday shopping? Bring the whole family to the annual Denver Christkindl Market, which runs daily through December 23. It's the perfect place to enjoy all the sights, sounds and smells of the holiday season while browsing at Denver's Skyline Park. The event is a traditional European Christmas Village, now in its 16th year, complete with wooden vendor huts, plenty of festive music, a German Bier hall and lots of twinkling holiday lights. Shop all the local artisans, dine on yummy seasonal snacks or just go for the entertainment and other family-friendly festivities.

Gingerbread House Competition
History Colorado Center
1200 Broadway
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 447-8679
www.historycoloradocenter.org
Date: Through Dec. 11, 2016

What can put you in the spirit for the holidays faster than building a gingerbread house? How about an entire day filled with professionally-built gingerbread houses by the culinary students from the Art Institute of Colorado? The History Colorado Center is offering its first ever Gingerbread House Competition, which will be on display at the Center throughout the holiday season. You can also visit on Dec. 3 for a chance to make your own edible homestead in the Edible Homestead Workshop, in which you're family can create a holiday-themed gingerbread house perfect for reflecting on Colorado and the Homestead Act. The kids will love the festive atmosphere while they learn a little bit about history in the process.

Ride The Polar Express
Colorado Railroad Museum
17155 W. 44th Ave
Golden, CO 80403
(303) 279-4591
www.coloradorailroadmuseum.org
Date: Playing through Dec. 23

The kids will love this magical transportation at the Colorado Railroad Museum. Every year, the talented crew at the Museum present a theatrically re-created version of the classic story, "The Polar Express." Your whole family will be immersed in the sights and sounds of this classic family story. The scenes from the book will come to life as the dancing waiters serve cookies and hot cocoa while you get to listen talented actors performing the story, all while riding on the Polar Express Train ride. When it's all done, you'll have your own souvenir Golden Ticket to take home. The performance lasts about 75 minutes, but plan on staying a bit longer, as everyone is sure to want to browse around this great Colorado museum.

"A Christmas Story: The Musical"
Town Hall Arts Center
2450 W. Main St.
Littleton, CO 80120
(303) 794-2787
www.townhallartscenter.org
Date: Weekends through Dec. 30

Re-live the magic of this classic holiday movie live on stage with the whole family. You'll love following the tale of nine-year-old Ralphie Parker as he sets out to get the biggest and best Christmas present he ever wanted – the Official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot Range Model air rifle. Of course, you'll be greeting with all your favorite scenes and moments from this perennial holiday classic, but with lots of songs and dance numbers thrown in for some extra fun. It's a truly exciting new version for anyone who loves watching the original movie when it airs on television every year.

RELATED: 'A Christmas Carol' Features New Scrooge

Blossoms Of Light
Denver Botanic Gardens
1007 York St
Denver, CO 80206
(720) 865-3501
www.botanicgardens.org
Date: Nightly through Jan. 1, 2017

Immerse your whole family in a wonderland filled with millions of brightly twinkling lights at the beautiful Denver Botanic Gardens for its annual Blossoms of Light event. Stroll around the grounds as you gaze at the lights through the Botanic Gardens' HoloSpex glasses. Drink warm cocoa from your souvenir mug and dine on some tasty holiday-themed treats. Of course, make sure you don't miss the grand illuminated O'Fallon Perennial Walk and find some time to sneak off with your honey to the Romantic Gardens area. Dress warm, but plan on a mesmerizing evening filled with holiday cheer and all the stunning holiday lights you can handle.

RELATED: 'Blossoms Of Light' Lighting Up The Denver Skies

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