Christmas Traditions & Treasures in Clear Creek County
Enjoy celebrating the Traditions and Treasures of Christmas in Idaho Springs, Empire, Georgetown and Silver Plume this Holiday Season!
Enjoy shopping, dining, sipping on craft brews, or listening to live music just 20 miles west of Denver. Our Mountain Communities are sure to offer you a Rocky Mountain inspired Christmas – and if you want to further celebrate be sure to book an overnight stay at a cozy bed and breakfast and ski or snowboard to your heart’s delight at Loveland Ski Area or Echo Mountain Resort.
Merry Christmas and wishing you a wonderful Holiday Season!
Idaho Springs Events
Miner Street Market
November 26 – 2pm to 5pm
Citizens Park – 1545 Miner Street, Idaho Springs
Santa Claus and his reindeer will be stopping by Citizens Park on Friday afternoon! Everyone is welcome to visit with Santa, pet his reindeer, and take photos too! Free event.
Afterwards be sure to visit the local merchants for Black Friday specials, enjoy dinner, or stay the night at one of our cozy accommodations!
Small Business Saturday
November 27
Shop Small in Clear Creek County and support our Historic Mountain Communities of Idaho Springs, Empire, Georgetown and Silver Plume! Offering wonderful boutiques and one-of-a-kind small businesses, unique dining experiences and thrilling attractions – there is truly something here for everyone!
Underhill Museum Tours
November 27 – 12pm to 3pm
Underhill Museum – 1414 Miner Street, Idaho Springs
Enjoy complimentary tours of the iconic home of James and Lucy Underhill. James was a prominent surveyor and mining engineer, Harvard graduate and former professor at the Colorado School of Mines.
Tree Lighting Ceremony and Cocoa with Santa
November 27 – 5pm to 7pm
Citizens Park – 1545 Miner Street, Idaho Springs
Everyone is welcome to attend as there will be a reading of “The Night Before Christmas”, Ensemble by Clear Creek High School Madrigals and Santa turning on the magical tree lights at Citizens Park.
Children will have the opportunity to visit with Santa following the tree lighting ceremony. Parents please bring your cameras. This is a free event.
Tommyknocker Christmas
December 24 – 12pm to 3pm
Tommyknocker Brewery and Pub – 1401 Miner Street, Idaho Springs
Bring the kids on Christmas Eve to meet Santa. He will have one of his real live reindeer in the brewery for great family photos ops. Please bring a non-perishable food item donation for our local food pantry, Loaves & Fishes. Restaurant will be open from 11:00am to 7:00pm with food & drink specials.
December 25 – 1pm to 8pm
Tommyknocker Brewery and Pub – 1401 Miner Street, Idaho Springs
If you are looking for a place to go out on Christmas Day, Tommyknocker Brewery will be open. Just like in the Movie “A Christmas Story” we will be serving up a great Chinese Dinner Special. Wear an Ugly Sweater and the get a free pint of Beer or Root Beer!
Georgetown Events
Small Business Saturday
November 27
Shop Small in Clear Creek County and support our Historic Mountain Communities of Idaho Springs, Empire, Georgetown and Silver Plume! Offering wonderful boutiques and one-of-a-kind small businesses, unique dining experiences and thrilling attractions – there is truly something here for everyone!
Hotel de Paris Museum Tours
Winter Hours: Open Saturday’s + Sunday’s – 10am to 4pm
Hotel de Paris Museum – 409 6th Street, Georgetown
Tour Louis Dupuy’s legendary Hotel de Paris which dates to the silver mining boom, when it served as a first-class French restaurant, showroom for traveling salesmen, and luxurious hotel during the Gilded Age.
Georgetown Loop Railroad Holiday Train Rides
Now through January 2 – Times Vary
Georgetown Loop Railroad – 646 Loop Drive, Georgetown (303) 569-2030
Enjoy a one hour day-time or evening train ride with Santa and Mrs. Claus as Santa and his helpers will be on board to entertain the kids.
Trips are complete with complimentary hot chocolate, cookies, candy canes and more!
Tree Lighting Ceremony
November 27 – 5pm to 7pm
Strousse Park – Corner of 6th Street and Rose Street, Georgetown
Everyone is invited to attend the free tree lighting ceremony complete with bonfire, roasted marshmallows, special music, carolers, hot chocolate and cider.
Georgetown Annual Christmas Market
December 4-5 and 11-12
6th Street, Georgetown
A free event for all ages where Christmas hasn’t changed in 100 years: roasted chestnuts, holiday shopping, horse-drawn wagon rides, and wonderful sights and smells.
Appearances by St. Nicholas in his traditional dress, carolers, dancers, and other family entertainment.
A Snow Globe Christmas at the Hamill House
December 18 – 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Hamill House – 305 Argentine Street, Georgetown
Join us for a unique Christmas holiday experience at the Hamill House as we share the Yule events in an outdoor setting – it will be as if you are looking inside a snow globe as the traditional events occur.
The setting is the open-air Carriage House where we will share the Yule Log history with the beloved Saint Nicholas, toast to friends and good cheer with a warm cup of wassail and hear the cherished story “T’was the Night Before Christmas”. Then, by lantern-light, we will stroll to the Library windows as we watch the candle lighting on the Christmas Tree as the stories are shared of the meaning of each. Of course, the Silver Plume Singers will set the tone with their beautiful songs and may even lead us in a few carols before we depart. Remember – dress warmly.
Tickets $35 Members, $45 Non-Members – Presented by www.historicgeorgetown.org
Clear Creek County is the gateway to the Rocky Mountains. Located just west of Denver along Interstate 70, Clear Creek has 396 square miles of public lands to explore, as well as four mountain peaks above 14,000 feet. Clear Creek is comprised of charming mountains towns Idaho Springs, Downieville, Lawson, Empire, Georgetown, and Silver Plume, which are all along the I-70 corridor. Learn more about Clear Creek County here.