Holiday Markets Around Denver: Where to Shop Local

Denver’s holiday markets each have their own character, some upscale and European, some rotating neighborhood pop-ups, some built around ice skating and Santa photos. Here’s where to find genuine local shopping this season, neighborhood by neighborhood.

Cherry Creek North: A European-Style Market on Fillmore Plaza

The Cherry Creek Holiday Market runs November 19 through December 24, 2026, on Fillmore Plaza between 1st and 2nd Avenues, with Monday-through-Wednesday hours of noon to 7 p.m. and extended hours Thursday through Saturday. Set in one of Denver’s most upscale shopping districts, this European-style open-air market features more than 50 local artisan vendors, boutique gift makers, live acoustic music, and seasonal decor, with warm cocktails and gourmet treats to go along with the strolling. It’s free to attend and highly walkable for Cherry Creek North residents, with Washington Park, Bonnie Brae, Congress Park, and LoHi all a short drive or rideshare away.

Downtown Denver: The Christkindlmarket’s Authentic German Village

Denver’s Christkindlmarket runs November 20 through December 23, 2026, at Civic Center Park’s Auraria Campus location (Tivoli Quad, 1000 Larimer St), with hours of 1 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday, plus special Thanksgiving Day hours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is Denver’s most iconic holiday market, built around festive wooden village huts offering traditional European crafts, hand-blown ornaments, and specialty foods, imported Bavarian pretzels, Nürnberger sausages, goulash, and Glühwein served in collectible souvenir mugs. Admission is free, and it’s a genuine metro-wide destination, easily reached via light rail or a short drive from LoHi, Central Park, Park Hill, and City Park.

A Rotating Pop-Up Worth Catching in Cherry Creek or LoHi

The Holiday BAZAAR rotates across five Saturdays this season, with two stops especially relevant to our market: Cherry Creek’s Fillmore Plaza on November 14 from 2 to 7 p.m., timed to coincide with the neighborhood tree lighting, and LoHi’s 2138 W 32nd Ave location on December 12 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Each stop features a rotating roster of 60-plus local Colorado makers, street food trucks, craft winter cocktail bars, warming stations, and a genuinely dog-friendly atmosphere. It’s free to attend, and both stops are heavily walkable for residents already living in Cherry Creek North or LoHi and the Highlands.

LoDo: An Alpine-Style Market with Ice Skating Built In

The McGregor Square Merry Market runs confirmed weekend blocks starting November 27 through 29, then December 5 to 6, 12 to 13, and 19 to 20, 2026, set within McGregor Square’s alpine-styled winter courtyard next to Coors Field. Beyond local artisan shopping, this one includes a central outdoor ice skating rink, live seasonal music, fire pits, and family photo-ops with Santa. Entry is free, though ice skating rental and specific activities carry their own cost. It draws residents from across the metro area, including Congress Park, City Park, and Washington Park.

Washington Park and South Broadway: Firefly’s Curated, High-End Market

Firefly Handmade Holiday Market runs two separate dates this season: November 21 and 22 at its Washington Park location (1004 S. Gaylord St.), and December 12 and 13 at its South Broadway venue (675 S. Broadway). This market is known specifically for curated, high-end independent designers and artisans from across the Front Range, think hand-crafted jewelry, ceramics, bespoke apparel, and artisanal home goods rather than mass-market crafts. It’s free to attend and highly walkable for Washington Park and Bonnie Brae residents, with an easy drive from LoHi and Cherry Creek.

Highlands Ranch: A Long-Running Indoor Tradition

The Highlands Ranch Holiday Gift Fair runs Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the HRCA Eastridge Recreation Center (9568 South University Blvd). This is a long-running community tradition in the southern suburbs, an indoor marketplace with a wide variety of local crafters and commercial vendors selling holiday decor, baked goods, clothing, toys, and handmade gifts, ideal for families who’d rather shop out of the winter weather. Admission is free, and it’s centrally located for Highlands Ranch and the broader South Metro area.

Frequently Asked Questions About Denver Holiday Markets

Which Denver holiday market is open the longest this season?
The Cherry Creek Holiday Market and the Christkindlmarket both run the longest, from mid-to-late November through late December 2026.

Are any of these holiday markets free to attend?
Yes, all six are free to enter. A few, like McGregor Square’s ice skating rink, have optional paid activities within the market itself.

Which market is best for families with young kids?
McGregor Square Merry Market, with its ice skating rink, Santa photo-ops, and fire pits, and the Highlands Ranch Holiday Gift Fair, which is fully indoors and well-suited to winter weather.

Which market is most walkable from Washington Park?
Firefly Handmade Holiday Market’s Washington Park stop, at 1004 S. Gaylord St., is directly walkable for neighborhood residents on November 21 and 22.

Building Your Season Around a Few Good Markets

Between Cherry Creek’s upscale plaza, the Christkindlmarket’s authentic German village, and neighborhood-specific stops in LoHi, Washington Park, and Highlands Ranch, there’s a genuine reason to get out and shop local no matter which part of Denver you call home this season.