Visiting Northern Colorado

Estes Park, in the heart of Colorado’s spectacular Rocky Mountains, is a gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. Kick off the holiday season in downtown Estes Park at Catch the Glow Holiday Celebration and Parade. Santa arrives at noon to visit crowds along Elkhorn Avenue, where hayrides and holiday carolers also provide family fun. Join the festivities November 25th, the day after Thanksgiving. The Estes Park Holiday Parade begins at 5:30 with marching bands, floats lit and twinkling as they pass, fun characters for the kids and lots of entertainment. Begin a festive holiday season in downtown Estes Park.

A variety of season events make Estes Park a special holiday destination. The Estes Park Repertoire Theatre Company takes the stage at St Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church for performances of A Christmas Carol weekends prior to Christmas. Hempel Auditorium at the YMCA of the Rockies hosts the Fine Arts Guild of the Rockies, performing Miracle on 34th Street, weekends prior to Christmas. Make your family holiday special in Estes Park.

Celebrations continue into the New Year with the 2012 Estes Park Winter Festival. The Stanley Fairgrounds hosts the fun January 13th through the 15th. Join visitors and residents for beer tastings, a chili cook-off and live entertainment by Coyote Grace and other northern Colorado bands. Have fun on the Ice Slide, snow cone luge and carve your own ice sculpture – winter means fun in Estes Park.

Fort Collins, 65-miles north of Denver, is filled with excitement as the Colorado State University Ram’s keep fans on their feet at Hughes Field. The 2011 CSU football season ends with two home games on Sonny Lubick field with the Rams hosting Air Force on November 26th and Wyoming on December 3rd. Meanwhile Ram’s basketball is heating up the court at Moby Arena. Catch CSU men’s and women’s hoop action through March.

The 2011 – 2012 season for Canyon Concert Ballet opens with performances of The Nutcracker. Fort Collins Lincoln Center hosts the Ballet December 8th through 11th, featuring choreography by Lorita Travaglia. Canyon Concert Ballet will be accompanied by the Fort Collins Symphony for special holiday family entertainment. The Rialto Theatre in Loveland also hosts Canyon Concert Ballet and the Fort Collins Symphony for The Nutcracker, December 16th through the 18th. Loveland is 14-miles south of Forth Collins on South College Avenue.

Just south of Interstate-70, Grand Junction anchors western Colorado. The hub of Colorado wine country Grand Junction is a peaceful and convenient location for travelers through Colorado. Stick around for a few days and enjoy a visit to Colorado National Monument nearby in Fruita, along with the fun outdoor activities surrounding Fruita.

Grand Junction hosts several charming holiday events, ideal to get in the spirit of the season. The Moscow Ballet visits Grand Junction’s Avalon Theatre to perform The Nutcracker December 12th. The Grand Junction Symphony entertains the community with the Holiday Pops Concert at Grand Junction High School, on December 17th. For a special holiday event, George Winston performs at the Chateau at Two Rivers Winery on December 27th. Enjoy Grand Junction and Colorado this season.

Northern Colorado Hotel Map