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

...

Brian Michel

Only in Colorado: we go from fire danger to snow in the same week

If you’ve lived in Colorado long enough, you know the weather doesn’t exactly follow the rules. This week is a perfect example. Red flag warnings have been active across much […]

3 hours ago

(Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)...

Jenny D

Tax day deals in Denver: Because the Mile High City knows how to deduct the stress

Ah, Tax Day— that annual headache where even the altitude in Denver can’t lift your spirits after crunching those numbers. If you’re a Coloradan filing (or procrastinating) on April 15, […]

4 hours ago

(Photo by Aaron Chown - WPA Pool / Getty Images)...

Shawn Patrick

Missing a sword? A Colorado sheriff’s office has one in its lost and found

I’m sure weird things end up in lost & founds all time, but this is the first time I’ve heard of a real sword being in one… And it happened […]

23 hours ago

Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images...

Shawn Patrick

Colorado city named among worst U.S. cities for allergies, surging 69 spots in national rankings

If you find yourself taking a little more Claritin or Zyrtec this season, this could be why… Colorado Springs has been named the 15th worst city in the nation for […]

23 hours ago

Photo by Allison Shelley/Getty Images...

Shawn Patrick

Community science project asks Colorado public to help track river otters

Every time I go to the zoo I find myself saying the otters were my favorite exhibit. If you’re like me, here’s something cool you can do right here in […]

23 hours ago

(Photo by Catherine Powell/Getty Images for SiriusXM)...

Shawn Patrick

Eric Church announces threes nights at Red Rocks this July to celebrate 20 years of music

When Eric Church did his three shows last summer at Red Rocks he must’ve had as much fun as those of us there watching, because he’s coming back this summer!! […]

23 hours ago

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