COLORADO NEWS

Going to 9NEWS Parade of Lights in Denver? Here’s what you need to know

Dec 4, 2025, 4:43 PM | Updated: Dec 5, 2025, 2:15 pm

For the 51st time, downtown Denver will host a parade to kick off the holiday season. The 9NEWS Parade of Lights is Saturday night. If you’re headed downtown, here is what you need to know before you go…

You’ll see 40 illuminated floats, helium-filled character balloons, marching bands, equestrian units and cultural entries and a special appearance from Santa Claus all starting in front of the spectacularly-lit Denver City and County Building before snaking through downtown Denver on a two-mile parade route.

The parade kicks off at 6 p.m. Spectators can get the best seats by purchasing grandstand seating directly in front of the City and County Building. A limited number of grandstand tickets can be found on the Parade of Lights website.

You can also stay home and watch on 9NEWS, the 9NEWS+ streaming app (for Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV) as well as on 9NEWS.com and the 9NEWS mobile app.

Here’s a map of the parade route…

Colorado News

...

Big Mic

Interview | Comedian Bryan Callen talks Mad TV celebrating 30 years, Comedy Works shows and more

Bryan Callen returns to Comedy Works this weekend and stopped by for Big Mic’s Open Mic to talk about Mad TV celebrating 30 years, his podcasting and more! He also […]

2 hours ago

(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)...

Kathie J

New baby lion at Denver Zoo named after Denver resident, Guion the lion.

Guion the Lion is a Denver resident, a book and now, a real lion at the Denver Zoo. Something magical has happened in our city, and it’s a story that […]

4 hours ago

Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images...

Shawn Patrick

Should the Denver Broncos trade Jarrett Stidham? The team claims others want the backup QB

After a disastrous AFC Championship Game for the Denver Broncos, should the team get rid of the guy who played quarterback for them in the loss? The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported Wednesday […]

21 hours ago

Joe Exotic...

Shawn Patrick

‘Tiger King’ Joe Exotic wants Colorado Gov. Polis to make a prisoner swap with him and Tina Peters

It’s been six years since the world was introduced to Tiger King, and Joe Exotic is still finding ways to make the news, even from prison! On Wednesday evening (Mar. […]

21 hours ago

Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images for Red Bull...

Shawn Patrick

Red Bull Soapbox Race returns to Denver for the first time since 2008 – Here’s how to enter the race

Maybe you or your kids have competed in a soapbox derby, but this is a soapbox derby on steroids! The Red Bull Soapbox Race is headed back to Denver for […]

21 hours ago

(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)...

Shawn Patrick

The Colorado Avalanche have a guy named ‘Roy’ for the first time since Patrick

The last time the Colorado Avalanche had a guy named Roy playing for them it worked out pretty well. Today, they got a new Roy! The Avs traded a 2027 […]

22 hours ago

Going to 9NEWS Parade of Lights in Denver? Here’s what you need to know