“We want people to think about Estes Park as the place to spend their holiday season,” Cindy Mackin recently said in an interview with the Estes Valley Voice.
Mackin, chief strategy officer for Visit Estes Park, in charge of Visit Estes Park’s décor throughout the downtown area is getting her wish, and a lot more, thanks to community and Town of Estes Park contributions. Festivities begin Saturday, Nov. 23 with the tree lighting celebration in Bond Park.
The annual tree lighting, a special event that’s happened for more than 60 years, is more sophisticated than it was in its early years when the small high school band and community members gathered around a tall evergreen, played and sang Christmas carols and flipped a switch that lit colored bulbs hung high throughout the tree boughs.
Saturday’s tree lighting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and features a signature 36-feet tall tree with cascading LED lights strategically placed in the center of the park, giant candy canes, an enormous sleigh, a dreidel, and more holiday décor. Before the tree lighting, beginning at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, there will be free holiday festivities including pictures with Santa, holiday crafts, and horse-drawn carriage rides.
That is only the starting point for Estes Park’s holiday season which officially lasts for six weeks. Actually, activities have already had an early start with Quota Club’s Festival of Trees where businesses and individuals decorate three-foot trees. Individuals viewing the results on display at Estes Park Resort “bid” on their favorites. Winners take home their goods on Dec. 15.
Also happening this weekend is the Oratorio Society of Estes Park and the Estes Valley Chamber Orchestra with Robert Charles Howard, conductor, presentation of their annual holiday concert. Performance of “We Gather Together” will be at 7 p.m. this evening and at 2 p.m. on Nov. 23 at the Presbyterian Community Church.
The night before Thanksgiving The Barrel is hosting Friendsgiving Boozy Bingo and Thanksgiving morning join the YMCA of the Rockies for their annual Turkey Trot 5k race at 9 a.m. Restaurants throughout the community are planning scrumptious buffets if you are not into stuffing a bird and preparing all the side dishes on your own.
People from Cheynne to Colorado Springs flock to Estes Park flock for the annual lighted Catch the Glow Parade held the night after Thanksgiving. Whether there is snow or warmer temperatures, for more than 30 years people gather all day to shop, people watch, and line the streets to get the perfect spot to watch marching units, community-built floats and 40 professionally produced floats created and built by local artist Michael Young. The parade is sponsored by the town.
The Bull Pin has been transformed into a sparkling “Holiday Town” with hundreds upon hundreds of decorations hanging from the ceiling of the bar and restaurant, giant LED Christmas screens on the walls that project images of nutcrackers, and an antimitotic Santa that you just may want to dance with.
After the parade, the Poudre Valley Playboys will perform on stage at The American Legion Post 119 from 7:30-9:30 to conclude the evening.
Small Business Saturday is a great time to visit local shops for holiday shopping before heading to the Estes Park Events Complex for unlimited wine samplings at the 5th Annual Wine Fest on Saturday, Nov. 30.
During the Dec. 7 Snowman Festival headquartered in Bond Park there will be a Scavenger Hunt to uncover snowmen hidden in various businesses, carriage rides through a winter wonderland and skilled artisans turning clocks of ice into masterpieces.
Live reindeer Sunday strolls are scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. on Dec. 8 and 22 with Savannah and Kris Kringle. No dogs are allowed near the reindeer.
That same weekend, Dec. 7 and 8, there will be the Birds Nest Holiday Market will be held in the Birds Nest from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. with treats and drinks available, and on Dec. 8 there is a Holiday Artisan Market at the American Legion from 1 to 5 p.m.
Lest you think the arts have been forgotten, the Fine Arts Guild of the Rockies will be presenting a Readers Theater production of A Christmas Carol at 7 p.m. Dec. 6 and 7, and at 2 p.m. on Dec. 8. All performances will be performed at Hempel Auditorium on the grounds of the YMCA of the Rockies.
Stay tuned, the Estes Valley Voice has another article ready to run in two weeks to keep your holiday calendar filled for the second half of the month. You can also check out our calendar and members of the community are welcome to submit calendar events. Also the Visit Estes Park “Catch the Glow” flipbook is filled with information about all things holiday!
You must be logged in to post a comment.