Tis' The Season! Your Fort Collins Holiday Guide Is Here

Holiday “Musts” in NOCO

There is so much to see and do during the holidays in Northern Colorado! The town is buzzing with shoppers, friends and families gather to visit Santa and ice skate, fires crackle and festive food & drink can be found around every turn. Here are a few of our favorite local Fort Collins holiday events & activities!

Santa’s Workshop + Ice Skating Rink

Old Town Square

Ice Rink open select days through January 28, 2024

Glide along the ice under the twinkling holiday lights in Downtown Fort Collins! Join us for this annual holiday event and enjoy FREE admission and skate rentals. The rink is open select hours throughout the month of December

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Santa’s Workshop open select days through December 24, 2023

Adjacent to the ice skating rink is Santa’s Workshop! Be sure to stop by and pay a visit to St. Nick, and be sure and drop your Christmas list in the mailbox.

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NoCo Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru Lights

Through December 23, 2023, Wednesday- Saturday, 5:15pm – 8:30pm

NoCo’s WINTER WONDERLAND was born in 2020 to create a festive holiday experience during Covid lockdown. Now in our 4th year, NoCo’s Winter Wonderland is an opportunity to get into the holiday spirit while spending time with friends and family, all while supporting a non-profit. As we say at CYO – that’s Time Well Spent!

Colorado Youth Outdoors’ holiday experience showcases Santa, Mrs. Claus, and our troublemaking elves enjoying all our 220 acres has to offer. Keep your eyes peeled for five Colorado big game species!

The wildlife-themed light sculptures are sure to enthrall all visitors to Winter Wonderland! So many twinkling lights! Where else can you see Santa fly fish?

Tour duration is fifteen minutes and one mile long.

Tickets are sold in 15 minute time slots

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Garden of Lights Winter Holiday Lights Festival

Presented By: The Gardens on Spring Creek

Friday, Dec. 8 – Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023 | 5–9 p.m. | Gates Close at 8 p.m.

Join us for Garden of Lights—one of Northern Colorado’s favorite holiday traditions!

Explore a whimsical half-mile loop filled with glowing grapevines, towering flowerbeds, dancing color blossoms, and other imaginative displays made of hundreds of thousands of glittering lights!

While you stroll through our twinkling winter wonderland, warm up with festive drinks available for purchase at our full bar (open nightly).

Ticket Prices:

Adults and Children 12+: $10
Children 5–11: $5
Children 4 and Under: Free

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Pick your Own Christmas Tree – A True Colorado Christmas

Rist Canyon Christmas Trees | 2801 N Shields St, Fort Collins, CO 80524

Enjoy a true holiday experience and choose your very own home grown Christmas tree at Rist Canyon Christmas Trees. Offering the best prices on native Christmas trees cut fresh for the mountains of Colorado. Table trees to 24 foot subalpine Firs plus fresh wreaths.

Come rock around the Christmas tree lot and take home your perfect Colorado Christmas Tree!

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Old Town Holiday Guide

Cheers to a beautiful holiday season full of festive food & drink! Below are some of our favorite local spots to eat, drink, and shop this holiday season: