Ten Mile High Holiday Must-Dos

From Dazzling Lights to a Scuba Diving Santa, Denver is the Place To Be During the Holiday Season

DENVER, Nov. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Don't miss these wonderful, family friendly performances, events and activities in Denver during the holiday season, ranging from dazzling lighting displays to beloved classics like "A Christmas Carol" and "The Nutcracker".

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Make a weekend of it, taking advantage of dozens of incredible Mile High Holiday hotel deals with specials as low as $52.80 per night. (Denver is exactly 5280 feet above sea level – one mile high.)  Visit MileHighHolidays.com for information on packages.  

Skate for Free at the Southwest Rink at Skyline Park
Skyline Park (Arapahoe and 16th, next to the D&F Clocktower)
Opening November 25, 2011
www.downtowndenver.com
The Southwest Rink at Skyline Park (Arapahoe & 16th St., Downtown Denver) returns in 2011 with ice-skating and family fun. The rink is FREE and open to the public with the option to bring your own skates or rent a pair at a minimal cost.

Enjoy the Heartwarming Musical A Christmas Carol
Stage Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex
November 26 – December 24, 2011
www.denvercenter.org
The heart-warming holiday classic, A Christmas Carol, returns to the Stage Theatre.  Original songs, ghostly chills, laughter, and warmth deck the halls, as the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is haunted by the spirits of his past, present, and likely future.  This evergreen tale of generosity, kindness, and true Christmas spirit comes to joyous life with splendid period sets and costumes.

Experience the Magic of The Ice Palace
Cherry Creek Shopping Center
November 10 – December 24
www.shopcherrycreek.com
This one-of-a-kind experience includes a magical snow and light show inside a soaring 22-foot dome encircled with a series of arches and snow globes featuring polar and arctic animals. In addition to photo opportunities with Santa during all mall hours, new this year, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, The Ice Palace Princess will be visiting, allowing families to meet, interact and take photographs with royalty.

Be Dazzled By Millions of Twinkling Lights at the 9NEWS Parade of Lights
Downtown Denver
December 2 (8 p.m.) and 3 (6 p.m.), 2011
www.denverparadeoflights.com
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.  Viewing along the parade route is free, and grandstand tickets are sold for seating in front of the beautifully illuminated City & County building.

See Santa Swim With The Sharks!
Downtown Aquarium
December 3-4, 10-11, 17-24 2011
www.downtownaquarium.com
Enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet at Downtown Aquarium with a scuba-diving Santa Claus and Sharkey and Java, the Aquarium's mascots.

Embrace the Holiday Season at Blossoms of Light
Denver Botanic Gardens, York Street
December 2, 2011 – January 1, 2012
www.botanicgardens.org
More than one million colorful lights draped in elegant designs highlight the Gardens winter beauty.  Romantic and popular kissing spots will return, as well as the always anticipated HoloSpex glasses, which magically transform the lights into shimmering 3-D shapes. Warm drinks and tasty treats will also be available. Seasonal entertainment will be available on select evenings.

Sing Along with the Colorado Symphony
Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver Performing Arts Complex
December 9 – 11, 2011
www.coloradosymphony.org
Now in its 27th year, Colorado Christmas continues to ring in the Holiday spirit in grand orchestral style. Join the Colorado Symphony, Chorus, Colorado Children's Chorale, vocalists and dancers in a program of your favorite traditional Christmas carols and songs. Special mood lighting and a few magical guests from the North Pole make this Holiday classic the perfect way to celebrate the season.

Hear the Sound of 300 Tubas Playing Holiday Classics
Skyline Park (Arapahoe and 16th)
December 11, 2011
www.tubachristmas.com
Tap your toes to your favorite holiday tunes at the 37th Annual TubaChristmas Concert at Skyline Park, featuring 300 tuba players from all over the region. 1 p.m.-2 p.m.

Go On a Holiday Lights Safari
Denver Zoo
December 9, 2011 – January 1, 2012
www.denverzoo.org
Come and experience a holiday light safari during Zoo Lights, with 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.

Ring in the New Year with a BIG Bang
Downtown Denver
December 31, 2011
www.downtowndenver.com
Ring in the New Year with Denver's annual New Year's Eve Fireworks with viewpoints along the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver. The two spectacular fireworks shows will occur at 9 p.m. and Midnight, taking place simultaneously at two undisclosed sites along the 16th Street Mall. It is recommended that viewers stand along the 16th Street Mall for optimal viewing. New to the festivities will be six live DJs performing along the 16th Street Mall.

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. A record 12.7 million visitors stayed overnight in Denver in 2010, generating $3 billion in spending, while supporting nearly 50,000 jobs, making Tourism the second largest industry in Denver. Learn more about Denver on the VISITDENVER website and at TOURISMPAYSDENVER, on Twitter @visitdenver and the VISIT DENVER Facebook page, or by phone at 800 2 DENVER.

With press or photo inquiries, please contact:
Rich Grant- (303) 571-9450 or [email protected]
Debbie Park (303) 571-9451 or [email protected]
Katie Adamson- (303) 571-9418 or [email protected]

SOURCE VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau