This winter season, there’s no shortage of lively and engaging activities for kids in and around Boulder. Introduce your children to a new sport, teach them a useful skill, or keep them entertained with captivating and educational events during long holiday breaks. Children of all ages are sure to love any of the following activities around our cool hometown.
Attend Blossoms of Light at Denver Botanic Gardens
Blossoms of Light is the Gardens’ signature event for over three decades! This annual holiday extravaganza transforms the space into a twinkling wonderland, fun for the whole family. This year’s display is going to be extra special, with new features and some fan favorites.
Ski at Eldora
With all this early-season snow fall, the neighboring ski mountain at Eldora is the perfect place to spend a winter day. Sign the kids up for a morning lesson with one of Eldora’s skilled instructors, then spend the afternoon practicing turns under a Colorado-blue sky. Eldora offers a variety of other outdoor activities like snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, so there’s something for all skill levels.
Ice Skate in Louisville
A short drive from Boulder lies Louisville’s charming downtown. Each year, our neighbor hosts its treasured WinterSkate, running from Thanksgiving Day through January. Its ice rink is one of the largest in the country and boasts a warming tent, holiday themed-music, horse-drawn carriage rides, and so much more. Children of all ages will love gliding across smooth swatches of ice with the snow-capped Rockies in the background.
Visit Fiske Planetarium
Escape the cold this winter with a daytrip to Fiske Planetarium. This science-focused learning center hosts a variety of movies all year long. Warm up and wow the senses with a laser light show. Fiske also shows films focused on nature, history, science, and more. This makes for the perfect activity when winter gets a little too bitter.
Experience “The Nutcracker”
Children will love seeing Christmas come alive on stage at Boulder Ballet’s passionate performance of this holiday classic. Over 80 dancers and local symphonies come together to put on the ballet of a lifetime. Catch “The Nutcracker” at The Stanley Hotel, Niwot High School, or at Vance Brand Civic Auditorium in Longmont. Or, if you’ve already seen this beloved play, attend another Nutcracker-themed event happening throughout the month of December. The schedule can be found here.
Attend a Winter Camp
Boulder offers a host of winter camps that kids of all ages will enjoy. Sign your little one up for a rock climbing clinic or partake in a martial arts class. If your children love to cook, attend one of Food Lab’s many classes and learn how to whip up a gourmet meal. Winter camps in Boulder fill up quickly, so sign up early to reserve a spot.
Embrace the Cold at a Winter Festival
Tourists seemingly flock to Pearl Street and Chautauqua Park during our city’s warmer months, but in our opinion, Boulder is just as beautiful during the winter. Our community boasts a plethora of winter festivals, like Snow Much Fun, Lights of December Parade, Freezie Fest, and many more. Each has a variety of enthralling events to keep kids entertained and make the most out of the season.
It’s easy for kids to feel cooped up when the snow starts falling. Take them outside and embrace all that our cool city has to offer this winter. Any number of Boulder’s exciting events will surely make for an unforgettable winter break.