Denver Turns On Millions of Bright Lights for the Holiday Season

DENVER, Nov. 18, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Mile High City will be positively aglow with millions of twinkling lights, beginning November 26, 2010, and continuing through January 2011.  From the dazzling 9News Parade of Lights to the awe-inspiring Denver Zoo Lights, locals and visitors alike will be swept up in the Mile High Holiday spirit.

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20101118/DC04221)

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101118/DC04221)  

Downtown Denver's Grand Illumination

Nov. 26, 2010

Downtown Denver's Grand Illumination event will light up downtown, from Denver Union Station to the City & County Building.  The celebration begins with entertainment at Denver Union Station at approximately 6:30 p.m. and ends at 6:45 p.m. at the City & County Building with the final lighting countdown.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Skyline Park, located at 16th and Arapahoe, will feature nearly 26,000 lights and a 22-foot-tall Christmas tree complete with LED lights choreographed to a variety of holiday songs.  Denver's historic D & F Tower, at the center of Skyline park, will also be adorned with holiday lights.
• Two of downtown Denver's major retail destinations, Larimer Square and the Denver Pavilions, will also be illuminated with festive decor starting Nov. 26, 2010, and carrying throughout the holiday season.  Unique holiday entertainment and special events will take place separately at each destination.
• More than 400,000 energy efficient LED lights will turn the mile-long 16th Street Mall and Curtis Streets between 14th and 16th into an enchanting holiday promenade.  Giant holiday snowflakes will also be hung along California and Curtis streets.
• There will be special events at Denver Union Station, including a holiday-themed choir, a Children's Museum craft table, delicious treats provided by LoDo restaurants, a visit from Dinger Claus (the Colorado Rockies Mascot decked out in holiday uniform), and much more.
• A special viewing of the intricate model railroad in Union Station's basement will take place after the lighting.
• The largest lighting display in Denver comes on nightly at 6 p.m. at the City & County Building, between Nov. 26, 2010, and Jan. 31, 2011, where 600,000 lights deck the neo-classical building.  The bell tower plays carols nightly as well.

Downtown Denver: 16th Street Mall Holiday Lights

Nov. 26, 2010 – Jan. 31 2011

Denver's mile-long pedestrian promenade, the 16th Street Mall, is decorated with more than one million white lights. Horse-drawn carriages ride up and down the mall nightly beginning at 6 p.m., creating a special way to view the display.

Denver Botanic Gardens: Blossoms of Light

Dec. 3, 2010 – Jan. 2, 2011

Embrace the holiday season at Blossoms of Light at the York Street location of the Denver Botanic Gardens.

• More than one million colorful lights draped in elegant designs will highlight the Gardens' serene winter beauty.
• The acclaimed Moore In The Gardens exhibit will get guests into the yuletide spirit, too, as Henry Moore's monumental sculptures are illuminated.  
• Romantic and popular kissing spots will return, and, new for this year, the Denver Botanic Gardens Engagement Package provides a perfectly romantic setting to pop that important question.  The package comes complete with a private table for two, sparkling cider, a personalized sign, cupcakes and more.
• The always-anticipated HoloSpex glasses come aglow, magically transforming the lights into shimmering 3-D shapes.
• Warm drinks and tasty treats will also be available, and there will be seasonal entertainment on select evenings.

Art District on Santa Fe: Luminarias de Santa Fe

Dec. 3, 2010

With Luminarias de Santa Fe, the Art District on Santa Fe celebrates the holiday season by decorating the street with hundreds of festive, glowing luminarias (paper bags filled with a candle).

Downtown Denver: 9NEWS Parade of Lights

Dec. 3 (8 p.m.) and 4 (6 p.m.), 2010

The 9NEWS Parade of Lights is the signature event of the downtown Denver holiday season.  

• The countless sparkling lights, marching bands, giant balloons, majestic floats and delightful characters will once again wow hundreds of thousands.  
• The parade steps off from the Denver City & County Building at 14th and Bannock streets, and the route continues for two miles through the streets of Downtown Denver.  For a map of the route, click here.
• Spectator viewing for the Parade is free all along the two-mile route, as Downtown Denver's skyline provides a stunning background for the lights and sounds of the parade.
• Convenient Grandstand seating is available at the start of the parade route across from the beautifully lit City & County Building.  Click here for more information on purchasing Grandstand seats.

Butterfly Pavilion: Living Lights

Dec. 11 – 19, 2010

Holiday lights are even more festive when they fly, flutter and crawl.  Marvel at Living Lights this winter showcasing some of the world's smallest wonders as thousands of lights illuminate the Butterfly Pavilion's tropical rainforest and outdoor gardens.

Denver Zoo: Zoo Lights

Dec. 10, 2010 – Jan. 2, 2011

The Denver Zoo comes alive for the holiday season with Zoo Lights, a magical display of animals and holiday themes decked with millions of colorful lights along with music, entertainment and more.  This holiday safari features more than 38 brilliantly-illuminated acres of lights, featuring more than 150 animated animal sculptures that swing through trees, jump across lawns, hide in bushes and appear in places where they're least expected.  Bring a non-perishable food donation and receive $1 off your Zoo Lights admission

MILE HIGH HOLIDAY SAVINGS

Come to the Mile High City and make a night of it, taking advantage of dozens of incredible Mile High Holiday hotel deals starting as low as $52.80. www.MileHighHolidays.com

About VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau

Celebrating more than 100 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.  Tourism is the second-largest industry in Denver, generating $2.8 billion in annual spending in 2009, while supporting nearly 50,000 jobs. For more information on Denver, call 800-2-DENVER or visit Denver's official website at VISITDENVER.com.  

With press or photo inquiries, please contact:

Rich Grant: (303) 571-9450 or [email protected]

Katie Adamson, (720) 215-9373 or [email protected]

SOURCE VISIT DENVER