Denver Christmas Lights!!

The city of Denver, like most large cities, comes alive with Christmas lights this time of the year!
(All photos can be enlarged by clicking on them)

The Denver Post had an article that the very first outdoor electric lighted Christmas tree was lit in 1914 by D.D.Sturgeon, one of Denver's pioneer electricians, to cheer his gravely ill grandson. Since then Downtown Denver has been illuminated with "Winter in the City" holiday lights and events to bring Christmas cheer to all! Every year a Parade of Lights begins the holiday season in Denver, with two miles of marching bands and lighted floats. The 16th Street Pedestrian Mall is lit with more than 550,00 energy efficient LED lights as part of the great illumination of the city, The Denver Zoo has an elaborate Zoo Light display, and The Denver Botanical Garden has a Trail of Lights and Blossom Lights displays.

The top of the D and F Clock Tower is beautifully lit and is a focal point in the downtown sky.

The Southwest Rink in Skyline Park also adds to the festivities. I liked the apparatus they had for beginner skaters to use to help balance themselves. The skating is free, as long as you bring your own skates. Rental of skates are available at nominal cost.

The Christkindl Market lights up another section of Skyline Park.  There will be more about this wonderful authentic German market in my next post.

The most spectacularly lit building is the Denver City and County Building.  

It is covered with over 600,000 lights!

On either side of the building's steps are two display boxes.

On the left side is a display of Santa's elves. 

On the right is a beautiful Nativity display.

On the top of the left building, you can see Santa in his sled, pulled by eight tiny reindeer!

A closer look at Santa Claus on the rooftop!

I have to say this is one of the beautifully lit municipal buildings I have ever seen!

Many households around the Denver area also have beautiful light decorations, and the Denver Post web site has a Holiday Lights section that gives locations of the best displays.  I'm seeing more of my neighbors putting up lights this week, now that our cold spell has left us.  Temperatures will be in the high 50's, low 60's this week, which is making decorating much easier to do. It will also be nice weather to drive around to view the displays. 

I finally completed decorating my Christmas tree today!  We also took a trip up to the charming, heritage silver mine town of Georgetown this weekend in the Rockies to take in some of the holiday festivities there. Come back and visit again soon to see these posts and the Christkindl Market in Denver! It's certainly the most wonderful time of the year!