Holiday Fun

With Christmas 5 weeks away, now is the time to start planning what holiday events you’d like to attend. Denver has so much to offer for the holidays including many long-term annual events and a few new things happening for the first time this year too!

☆ Camp Christmas at The Hangar at Stanley Marketplace, November 21- January 5, $8-$21, free for children 2 and under. This over-the-top immersive holiday experience is new to Denver’s holiday scene. Bring the whole family and take in the (indoor) sights.

☆ Union Station’s The Grand Illumination at Denver’s Union Station, November 29th 5-8 pm. Enjoy the ceremonious lighting of the building and their 40-foot tall Plaza Christmas tree. Featuring a vintage holiday performance by the The Denver Dolls, holiday jingles by the Denver Bronze, and an appearance by Santa and Mrs. Clause! Entertainment will take place from 5pm – 8pm. The lighting will take place at approximately 6:15pm.

☆ 9 News Parade of Lights, starting at W Colfax Ave and Bannock St. in Denver, December 6 at 8 pm and December 7th at 6 pm. The 9NEWS Parade of Lights continues to be the signature event in Downtown Denver during the holidays. You won’t want to miss the sparkling lights, marching bands, giant balloons, dazzling floats and delightful characters as they take the streets of Downtown.

Find many more festive events at thedenverear.com

World Kindness Day

World Kindness Day is a global day that promotes the importance of being kind to each other, to yourself, and to the world. This day, celebrated on November 13 of each year, has the purpose of helping everyone understand that compassion for others is what binds us all together. This understanding has the power to bridge the gap between nations.

This list has something that everyone is capable of doing today and everyday. Remember, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”

Turkey Trots

Maybe participating in a turkey trot on Thanksgiving morning is a family tradition or maybe it is something that you’ve been wanting to try. Turkey trots have almost become as much a part of Thanksgiving as eating turkey has. You might be surprised to hear that the first turkey trot dates back to 1896. If you’ve never participated in one before, maybe 2019 is your year!

Here is a list of turkey trots happening in our area:

  1. The Stuffed Turkey Run– 5k/10k and kid’s run, Westminster Promenade, November 30th. The perfect run for those hosting on Thanksgiving morning. It’s challenging enough to find the time to prepare, cook & clean everything before guests arrive… now you don’t have to! This SATURDAY race held two days AFTER Thanksgiving, is perfect for the whole family.
  2. Broomfield Turkey Day 5k/10k– Broomfield County Commons, November 28th, 9 am. Fun, family focused race with something for athletes of every level. Celebrate with unlimited pie at the expo.
  3. 10k Turkey Trek, 5k Turkey Trot & 2k Turkey Toddle– Ralston Creek Trail @ Long Lake Ranch Park in Arvada, November 23rd. This race is the Saturday BEFORE Thanksgiving and goes up the Ralston Creek Trail.
  4. Mile High United Way Turkey Trot– Wash Park, Denver, 10 am. This annual race draws over 10,000 people each year. Walk/run through Denver’s scenic Wash Park and support Mile High United Way’s work in the community.

Looking for a race in a different part of town? Find a turkey trot in the greater Denver here.

Think you don’t have enough time to plan for a 5k? Here is a training plan to get you 5k ready in only 3 weeks time! And keep in mind, all of these races are walker friendly also.

  • This workout plan consists of 4 running workouts per week.
  • Each workout lasts 30 minutes and consists of alternating periods of progressive running and walking.
  • The end goal is to gradually increase your running tolerance up to 30 minutes- assuming a 10 minute/mile pace you should be able to complete a 3-mile/5k race in that time.
  • During this training period, it’s important to listen to your body. If you do start to experience pain take some time off and give it adequate time to heal and recover.

Good luck and happy running!