Three full weekends of holiday festivities, which will kick off in just five weeks, will include one new three-day event.
Sleigh the Games, planned for the Estes Park Events Complex Dec. 12 to 14, will feature activities for the entire family, including a holiday obstacle course, human curling, a log throw, a wood chopping contest, and indoor snow tubing, along with live entertainment and seasonal eats.
The Sweets Stroll will wrap up the weekend. It was one of last season’s most popular activities, when people strolled through Estes Park collecting treats from local candy shops and small businesses.
Visit Estes Park is investing in Sleigh the Games “to drive visitation, increase revenue for our businesses, and strengthen the tourism economy during a traditionally slower season,” said Papae Litchfield, VEP’s public relations and advocacy manager.
Plans are to release ticket pricing and available packages this week when tickets go on sale.
Sleigh the Games is the finale of VEP’s seasonal events that begin on Nov. 22 with the annual tree lighting ceremony, now held in Bond Park.
This will be the second year for the 36-foot pixel pine tree’s light show, which will be accompanied by classic holiday music. New to the evening will be a lighted walking trail that leads from the Visitor Center to Tregent Park on the west end of Elkhorn Avenue.
The annual tree lighting is followed by the traditional nighttime Catch the Glow holiday parade Friday, Nov. 28, the day after Thanksgiving. Starting at 5:30 p.m., about 30,000 spectators will line Elkhorn Avenue to see more than 40 parade entries, including floats handcrafted by Estes Park artist Michael Young and local nonprofit organizations.
Rounding out the Thanksgiving weekend is a Holiday Wine Fest for those over 21 held at the Event Center. Tastings from about 20 Colorado wineries will be featured alongside retail and holiday shops.