Local Love: Holiday Events in Boulder, Louisville, and Lafayette
Magical Boulder Lights | Photo by DowntownBoulder
The holiday season is just beginning to sparkle across Boulder, Lafayette, and Louisville, and each town brings its own charm to the celebrations. From Boulder’s iconic downtown traditions and mountain backdrop magic, to Lafayette’s cozy community gatherings and festive markets, all the way to Louisville’s small town glow with parades and winter activities, this pocket of Colorado turns the holidays into something truly special. Whether you’re looking for twinkling lights, local shops and creators, family friendly outings, or simply a reason to feel festive, the events happening throughout these three neighboring communities offer plenty of ways to celebrate the season. Here’s what’s happening in each spot:
Boulder holiday events
Boulder has a full lineup of festive events this season, each offering its own way to get into the holiday spirit. Light Up the Holidays kicks things off on Sunday, November 23, 2025, with a downtown cookie crawl from 11am to 2pm, followed by Switch on the Holidays from 2pm to 7 p.m., when the lights officially come alive across Pearl Street. In early December, the city gears up for its signature tradition, the Lights of December Parade happening on December 13, 2025, featuring marching bands, floats, fire engines, carolers, and a Santa appearance for that classic holiday parade feel. Over at the base of the Flatirons, WinterFest at Chautauqua runs December 12 to 13, 2025, offering carriage rides, Santa’s cottage, a holiday market, cookie decorating, and historic tours, making it an ideal family outing.
And for holiday shoppers, the Boulder Holiday Gift Festival returns on December 14th, 2025 at the Mapleton YMCA, showcasing Boulder’s largest assortment of locally made gifts, plus free admission and a live concert at 12pm. Pro tip: For the downtown lighting events, arrive early and dress warm the crowds grow quickly, but the glow of the lights makes it well worth it.
Winterfest Market | Photo by coloradochautauqua
Lafayette’s Holiday Events
Lafayette has a plethora of family friendly holiday events this season. Holiday on the Plaza takes place on Saturday, December 6, 2025, from 2pm to 6pm in downtown Lafayette, bringing festive activities, community gatherings, and seasonal cheer, all organized by the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. Shoppers can catch the Lafayette Holiday Market TWICE: First on November 22nd from 10am to 4:30pm, and again on December 6th from 2pm to 6pm, featuring local artisans, festive vendor booths, and plenty of unique gift options before the holiday rush. For those looking to give back, the Santa Cop Donation Drive runs through December 11th, with drop offs at the Lafayette Police & Municipal Court building, offering an easy way to support families in need. Pro tip: If you’re hunting for special, locally made gifts, hit the Holiday Market early: it’s one of the best places to find standout pieces before December gets busy.
Lafayette in Lights | Photo by oldtownlafayette
Louisville’s Holiday Events
Louisville’s holiday season blends active fun with classic traditions. The festivities kick off with the AdventHealth Avista Louisville Turkey Trot on Thursday, November 27th, 2025, at 9am, a community run supporting Community Food Share, complete with hot chocolate and post-race craft beer for adults. The town’s hallmark event, the Parade of Lights, returns on December 5th, 2025, filling historic Main Street with floats, lights, and music. Pre event activities begin at 5:30 p.m. and the parade starts around 7p.m. All season long, visitors can enjoy Old Town Skate, Louisville’s outdoor ice rink open November through February, offering a classic winter experience right in the heart of town. Pro tip: Main Street closes to traffic for the Parade of Lights, so plan to arrive early or consider walking or biking in for easier access.
Louisville Turkey Trot | Photo by Lvturkeytrot
With Boulder, Lafayette, and Louisville each hosting a rich set of events, you could make several outings this season and experience all of the different holiday events these three amazing communities offer. There’s no shortage of festivity coming! It’s a great way to spread the holiday cheer across multiple towns while staying close to home.
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