From Thanksgiving through New Year’s, residents and visitors often say Estes Park looks like a Hallmark Christmas movie come to life. Holiday lights, a dusting of snow, and the Rocky Mountains create a scene that draws people in to “catch the glow.”
Building on that magical vibe, Visit Estes Park plans to expand the Town’s winter-themed lighting displays to stretch the traditional holiday period into the shoulder season. While the effort will include a traditional Christmas tree in Bond Park, the organization plans to sell the digital tree used over the past two years, according to Sarah Leonard, CEO of Visit Estes Park, and introduce new winter decorations.
The 36-foot-tall tree with its computerized light show synchronized to holiday music was purchased in 2024 for more than $150,000. According to Leonard, the tree annually costs $70,000 to set up, take down, and store.
The destination marketing organization, which coordinates the holiday décor for the Town of Estes Park, will install lighting along downtown corridors from the entrance of Elkhorn Avenue through West Elkhorn and to the traffic circle on Moraine Avenue, add lighting on Cleave Street, and expand decorative lighting in Bond Park.
Returning elements are expected to include rebar tree lights, Buell Porter’s vintage scenes, and installations on the traffic islands near the American Legion.
Leonard said Visit Estes Park wants to keep the Town’s decorations fresh and fun with elements of both surprise and tradition.
As part of the effort, Visit Estes Park is inviting community input on three holiday design themes for Bond Park:
- a classic winter theme featuring snowflakes and snow people
- a mountain wildlife theme featuring elk, moose, pika, squirrels, deer, bear, mountain lion, marmot, and owls
- a luminous, whimsical, immersive playground
Click here to weigh in on three potential concepts by May 8.