Winter’s a fun time in Colorado and we’ve compiled a calendar of our favorite events, fairs, and festivals that are worth planning a trip around.

December brings the snow and the opening of the ski resorts, artisan winter markets, and the Vail Winter Film Festival. January sees Denver’s signature Western Stock Show, while Aspen celebrates its 72nd Winterskol. There’s fun in February at the Tulluride Comedy Festival, and top drops to savour at Boulder’s Winter Craft Beer Festival.

 

Special Events in Colorado: Worth the Detour

 

Denver Christkindlmarket
November 17-December 23, 2023, Denver

Wander through traditional German Christmas markets featuring local and international gifts. Enjoy gluhwein, Bavarian-style beers, European coffee, and hot chocolate.

ULLR Fest
December 7-9, 2023, Breckenridge

60^th Annual: Time to grab the Viking helmets for this parade and party celebrating winter, and praising Ullr, the Norse god of snow, in hopes of a powder-filled ski season.

Vail Film Festival
December 7-10, 2023, Vail

20th Annual: Screenings of narrative features, documentaries, and short films with filmmaker Q&A sessions, panel discussions, nightly parties, and awards ceremony.

Firefly Handmade Market
December 9-10, 2023, Denver

The festive handmade artisan market offers a special holiday shopping experience, featuring 80+ artisans, plus food, music, and bars.

Vail Skating Spectacular
December 22-23, 2023, Vail

High-energy ice show, this year featuring the incredible talents of Olympic Champion skater, Nathan Chen.

Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade
December 24, 2023, Telluride

Starting at the top of the Gondola, Telluride Ski & Snowboard School instructors ski down to the village with torches, lighting up the mountainside. (Best viewed from the base of Lift 4 area.)

Audi Ajax Cup
December 30, 2023, Aspen

Fund-raising for Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club’s 3,000+ athletes, the Audi Ajax Cup features head-to-head slalom races on Little Nell Hill, followed by an exclusive après ski party at Chica Aspen.

National Western Stock Show & Rodeo
January 6-21, 2024, Denver

116th Annual: A nationally recognized western heritage and entertainment event, the stock show hosts professional rodeos, one of the country’s largest horse shows, and Colorado’s largest western trade show.

Winterskol
January 11-14, 2024, Aspen

72^nd Annual: A tradition since 1951, Winterskol celebrates winter and Aspen’s iconic mountain way of life with a weekend of events including fireworks, snow sculptures, and a beer festival.

Aspen Gay Ski Week 
January 15-21 ,2024, Aspen

In a tradition dating back 47 years, enjoy Aspen Snowmass’s four mountains of terrain, plus special lunches, receptions, and parties. Venues include the Wheeler Opera House, restaurants, and bars.

International Snow Sculpture Championships
January 22-31, 2024, Breckenridge

Snow sculpting competition for teams from around the world who come to carve 25-ton blocks of snow into works of art by hand.

Message in a Bottle
February 13-25, 2024, Denver

Telling story through dance, this exciting new theater show from triple-Olivier Award nominee, Kate Prince, is set to the hits of Sting. Think Roxanne, Every Breath You Take, Walking On The Moon, and more.

Telluride Comedy Festival
February 15-18, 2024 Telluride

24^th Annual: Presented by The Sheridan Arts Foundation and Jeb Berrier at the historic Sheridan Opera House. Check website for updates.

Winter Craft Beer Festival
February 24, 2024, Boulder

50^th Annual: Enjoy the craft brews of more than 35 breweries from Colorado and around the country, in partnership with the Colorado Brewer’s Guild.

​Boulder International Film Festival
February 29-March 3, 2024, Boulder

20^th Annual: Welcoming 25,000+ film lovers every year, BIFF is renowned for presenting a wide variety of local, national, and international films together with music, food, and more.

 

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Full Calendars of Events

Colorado

• Aspen & Snowmass
  • (Pair your travel with Aspen itineraries from Slow Down See More)
• Boulder
  • (Pair your travel with Boulder itineraries from Slow Down See More)
• Breckenridge, Keystone & Copper
  • (Pair your travel with Breckenridge itineraries from Slow Down See More)
• Crested Butte
  • (Pair your travel with Crested Butte itineraries from Slow Down See More)
• Denver
  • (Pair your travel with Denver itineraries from Slow Down See More)
• Rocky Mountain National Park & Estes Park
  • (Pair your travel with RMNP & Estes itineraries from Slow Down See More)
• Telluride
  • (Pair your travel with itineraries from Slow Down See More)
• Vail & Beaver Creek
  • • (Pair your travel with Vail & Beaver Creek itineraries from Slow Down See More)