Hi, it's René! Every year, when the lights come on downtown, Estes Park looks like a Christmas postcard to me: Elkhorn Avenue glowing and twinkling, shop windows decked out, elk wandering the meadows and the Rocky Mountains standing behind it all. It feels like stepping into a Hallmark card. Here's everything Jeff and I recommend for a holiday trip, with this year's dates checked against the official sources.
Last updated: November 12, 2026. Dates and prices are from each organizer's page; please double-check before you go.
When are the holiday lights?
- Starts: Saturday, November 21, 2026, with the Lighting of the Trees in Bond Park.
- Every evening: Bond Park's light display is free and lit from 5 to 9 p.m., according to Visit Estes Park.
- How long: Visit Estes Park says its festive calendar "spans Thanksgiving through the New Year," and it has announced plans to stretch this year's expanded winter lighting into the winter shoulder season. No official end date has been posted yet, so check with the Visitor Center (970-577-9900) if you're planning a late-January trip.
- New for 2026: lights from the entrance of Elkhorn Avenue through West Elkhorn to the Moraine Avenue traffic circle, new lighting on Cleave Street, and expanded displays in Bond Park.
- Driving tour: Visit Estes Park publishes a free, self-guided Holiday Lights Driving Tour with stops downtown, at the YMCA of the Rockies, along Fall River and by Lake Estes.
- More info: visitestespark.com/events-calendar/holidays
2026 holiday events in Estes Park (in date order)
- Estes Restaurant Week: Friday, November 13 through Sunday, November 22. Special menus at participating restaurants. estesrestaurantweek.com
- Festival of Trees (Estes Park Quota): about 50 decorated trees on display at The Estes Park Resort, 1700 Big Thompson Ave, through Sunday, December 13 (drawing at 3 p.m.). Free to look; tree chances are $1 each. estesparkquota.com
- Lighting of the Trees: Saturday, November 21, Bond Park, 170 MacGregor Ave. Free festivities from 3:30 p.m., including photos with Santa, horse-drawn carriage rides and kids' craft kits; the tree lights at 5:30 p.m. Visit Estes Park
- Chase the Glow Run/Walk: Saturday, November 21, from Bond Park, timed to start as the lights come on. Registration required; dogs welcome. Event page
- YMCA Turkey Trot and Drumstick Dash: Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 26, at the YMCA of the Rockies. ymcarockies.org
- Tardy Turkey Trot: Friday, November 27, 10 a.m., around Lake Estes (Estes Chamber).
- Catch the Glow Parade: Friday, November 27 (the day after Thanksgiving), 5:30–6:30 p.m. Free. More than 40 lit floats, marching bands and fire trucks along Elkhorn Avenue downtown, and Santa makes an appearance. Visit Estes Park
- Holiday Art Show at Earthwood Collections: November 27 through the end of December, downtown. earthwoodgalleries.com
- Estes Park Holiday Wine Festival: Saturday, November 28, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Estes Park Events Complex, 1125 Rooftop Way. Visit Estes Park
- First Friday Art Groove: Friday, December 4, 5–7 p.m., galleries around town.
- Central City Opera at the Stanley: Saturday–Sunday, December 5–6. stanleyhotel.com
- Holiday Card Making at the Estes Valley Library: Saturday, December 12, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. Library calendar
- Boulder Ballet's The Nutcracker Suite at the Stanley: Saturday, December 12. stanleyhotel.com
- Crystal Ball, New Year's Eve at the Stanley: Thursday, December 31. Doors 8 p.m., show 9 p.m., champagne toast at midnight. stanleyhotel.com
Want the whole year? See our Estes Park Events Calendar.
Winter fun: sledding, snowshoeing, ice fishing and more
Snow comes and goes in Estes Park, and conditions change day to day, so check before you head out.
Sledding
- Hidden Valley (Rocky Mountain National Park): the only sledding area in the park. It's a gentle, unstaffed hill with no rentals and no tow, and metal-runner sleds aren't allowed. A park entrance pass is required. NPS: Sledding at Hidden Valley
- YMCA of the Rockies: a sledding hill south of Dorsey Lake, open dawn to dusk when conditions allow (day pass required; see the YMCA section below).
- At Bluebell: sleds and slide boards are on the garage gear wall, free for guests.
Snowshoeing and winter trails
The Bear Lake area of Rocky Mountain National Park is the classic winter outing, and Bear Lake Road stays open year-round (traction rules can apply in winter). The National Park Service says snowshoeing is usually best on trails above about 9,000 feet when there's enough snow. Check the park's winter recreation page first. Bluebell guests can borrow our snowshoes and hiking poles for free; see our winter hikes and snowshoeing guide.
Ice fishing
Visit Estes Park says ice fishing is allowed on all open-fishing lakes and ponds in Rocky Mountain National Park, and hand augers are required. Colorado Parks and Wildlife doesn't list Lake Estes as an ice-fishing lake, and parts of the Big Thompson River and the east end of Lake Estes stay ice-free for winter fly fishing. A Colorado fishing license is required from age 16. Visit Estes Park: Fishing
Wildlife
Winter is a wonderful time to watch elk in the meadows and around town, and we often see them from Bluebell's back deck. Give them plenty of room; our wildlife safety guide has the distances.
Scenery
Trail Ridge Road closes for the season, but the drive up Bear Lake Road, Moraine Park and Sprague Lake are beautiful in winter. After dark, take the holiday lights driving tour.
Holiday shopping and treats downtown
Elkhorn Avenue's shops and restaurants decorate for the season and many run holiday specials. Hours are often shorter in winter, so check before you go.
The Stanley Chocolate Factory and its indoor carousel: at 157 W Elkhorn Ave downtown, in a restored historic church (it's about a mile from The Stanley Hotel and carries the hotel's name). Besides chocolate, it has a hand-crafted indoor carousel built in 2026 by Chance Carousels, with 18 hand-painted figures, including a sea dragon, a triceratops and a Bengal tiger. The factory's site says riders must be at least 42 inches tall. Rides were $3 each on its online ordering page when we checked, and it also offers make-your-own chocolate bar sessions. stanleychocolatefactory.com/carousel
The Stanley Hotel at the holidays
The Stanley Hotel is dressed up for the season and hosts holiday shows, including Boulder Ballet's The Nutcracker Suite on December 12 and the Crystal Ball on New Year's Eve. See our Stanley Hotel guide and the Stanley calendar for tours and tickets.
YMCA of the Rockies in winter: what day visitors can do
YMCA of the Rockies' Estes Park Center is a few miles from Bluebell. If you aren't staying in YMCA lodging, you'll need a day pass for most activities.
- Day pass prices: adults (13+) $29, children 6–12 $14, children 5 and under free. Buy one at Sweet Memorial or The Mountain Center. Day-pass holders can sign up for activities on the same day only (no advance registration).
- Included with a day pass: family programs, mini golf, tennis, outdoor recreation, the indoor game room, on-property hiking, the library, the museum, the swimming pool, the roller skating rink (free skate rentals) and Longhouse gym, disc golf, yoga, and ice skating and sledding equipment checkout.
- Ice skating: on Dorsey Pond, with free skate rentals at the Sweet Memorial building. The YMCA says skating conditions are generally early December through early February, depending on weather.
- Sledding: the hill south of Dorsey Lake, dawn to dusk, weather dependent. Bring a sled or check one out at Sweet Memorial (a waiver is required).
- Snowshoeing: snowshoe and microspike rentals at the Boone Family Mountain Center ($10 ages 13+, $5 ages 12 and under). Guided snowshoe hikes require pre-registration.
- Extra fees: the craft and design center, indoor and outdoor climbing walls (including a 35-foot indoor wall), the aerial challenge course, axe throwing, archery and campfire rentals.
- No day pass needed for: eating at the restaurants or cafeteria, concerts and events advertised as open to the public, concessionaire services (such as horseback riding, massage and fly fishing) and the Sunday chapel service.
- Good to know: the day pass doesn't cover Rocky Mountain National Park entrance fees. Hiking into the park from YMCA property requires a park pass.
- Sources: YMCA day pass information · Estes Park Center activities
A winter family trip: things to do with kids
- Meet Santa and ride a horse-drawn carriage at the Lighting of the Trees (November 21).
- Grab a curb spot for the Catch the Glow Parade (November 27).
- Sled at Hidden Valley or the YMCA hill, skate on Dorsey Pond, or swim and roller skate at the YMCA.
- Ride the carousel at the Stanley Chocolate Factory (riders 42 inches and up).
- Make holiday cards at the Estes Valley Library (December 12).
- Look for elk, and walk Bond Park's lights after dinner.
At Bluebell, families have a high chair, a Pack 'n Play/travel crib, baby gates, outlet covers, children's dinnerware, kids' books and toys for several age ranges, and board games. More ideas are in our Estes Park with kids guide.
Coming home to Bluebell
After the parade or a day on the trails, Bluebell is a cozy place to land: an electric fireplace with a warm glow (no flames, smoke or ashes), a fully stocked kitchen for holiday meals, a Keurig and coffee, a propane fire pit on the back deck with a s'mores kit, and room for up to 8 guests and up to 2 pre-approved dogs.
Frequently asked questions
When do the Estes Park holiday lights start in 2026?
The Lighting of the Trees is Saturday, November 21, 2026, in Bond Park. After that, Bond Park's free light display is lit every evening from 5 to 9 p.m. Visit Estes Park plans to keep the expanded winter lighting up past New Year's, but hasn't posted an end date.
When is the Catch the Glow Parade in 2026?
Friday, November 27, 2026, the day after Thanksgiving, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. along Elkhorn Avenue in downtown Estes Park. It's free.
When is the Estes Park Holiday Wine Festival?
Saturday, November 28, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Estes Park Events Complex, 1125 Rooftop Way.
Where can kids go sledding near Estes Park?
Hidden Valley in Rocky Mountain National Park (a park pass is required, and there are no rentals) and the YMCA of the Rockies sledding hill (a day pass is required for non-lodging guests). Both depend on snow. Bluebell guests can borrow sleds from the house for free.
Can you ice fish in Estes Park?
Ice fishing is allowed on open-fishing lakes and ponds in Rocky Mountain National Park with hand augers only. Lake Estes isn't listed as an ice-fishing lake. Anyone 16 or older needs a Colorado fishing license.
Do I need a day pass for the YMCA of the Rockies?
Yes, if you aren't staying in YMCA lodging: $29 for adults 13+, $14 for ages 6–12, and free for 5 and under. You don't need one to eat at the restaurants or attend events advertised as open to the public.
Is there a carousel in Estes Park?
Yes. The Stanley Chocolate Factory at 157 W Elkhorn Ave has an indoor carousel with 18 hand-painted figures. Riders must be at least 42 inches tall.
Is Bluebell Mountain House a good place to stay for the holidays?
It sleeps up to 8 in 3 bedrooms plus a sofa bed, has a fully stocked kitchen, family gear and an electric fireplace, allows up to 2 pre-approved dogs ($150 per stay total), and is 3 minutes from the Beaver Meadows entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park and 1.5 miles from downtown.