We love downtown Colorado Springs, so it gets the first spot on this list. November brings ice skating, a tree lighting and a chance to run into the Grinch, with a free museum and plenty of art for the days when you just want to get out of the house.
Here are some fun things to do in Colorado from November 8–29, 2026, starting downtown and branching out to Manitou Springs, Golden and the Denver area. Some are free, some need tickets, and a few have dates you will want to put on the calendar now.
Details checked November 7, 2026. All times are Mountain Time. Check the linked organizers before heading out, especially for outdoor events.
Put these downtown Colorado Springs dates on your calendar
November 13: Ice skating opens, and Acacia Park lights up
Skate in the Park opens at 4 p.m. Friday, November 13, at Acacia Park, 115 E. Platte Avenue. The rink stays for the winter, but opening night comes with a little extra holiday spirit.
The free Acacia Park celebration has community caroling from 5–5:45 p.m. and the tree lighting at 6 p.m. You can enjoy those without buying a skating ticket.
If you want to get on the ice, admission is $15, including skates. Children 4 and under skate free with a paid adult. Active-duty military and first responders get $2 off. Tickets are sold at the rink only, and card payments have a 3% processing fee.
The opening celebration includes a 5–7 p.m. skating session. For another day, check the rink’s current session calendar and weather notices rather than assuming it keeps the same hours every night.
November 14: Catch the Holiday Character Stroll
Santa, the Grinch, Buddy the Elf, Elsa and Anna are on the lineup for downtown’s Holiday Character Stroll on Saturday, November 14.
Start at Acacia Park for photos from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Get in line by 12:45 p.m., because the characters leave the park at 1. From 1–3 p.m., they roam downtown streets and shops, including Tejon between Kiowa and Boulder and Bijou between Cascade and Nevada.
If a photo is the whole reason you are going, make the park stop first. The afternoon is for wandering.
Downtown stops that do not need a special event
Make the Pioneers Museum your indoor plan
The Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum is inside the beautiful 1903 courthouse at 215 S. Tejon Street. General admission is free, and you can walk in without a ticket.
Regular hours are Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. There are three November exceptions to remember: it is closed November 11, 26 and 27. Special programs can have separate fees or registration, so check those individually.
This is an easy one to pair with a downtown walk when the weather cooperates, or let it be the whole plan when it does not.
Take an art walk, then make an ice cream stop
Downtown’s current Art on the Streets exhibition includes four murals and eight sculptures, with the exhibit running into early May 2027. Use the organizer’s map to make your own route. For another downtown art stop, look for Bananacat on the south exterior wall of The Perk at 14 S. Tejon Street.
You can also explore AdAmAn Alley, inside the block bordered by Tejon, Nevada, Pikes Peak and Colorado. Give yourself a reason to look beyond the storefronts.
For a treat afterward, Josh & John’s downtown shop is at 329 N. Tejon Street. Check the shop’s current menu for flavors. No need to turn this into a tightly scheduled itinerary.
A few more Colorado outings for November
November 14–15: Family Fest bowling in Westminster and Aurora
Two upcoming Family Fest events have a free game of bowling per guest and a $10 arcade card for children 16 and under:
- Saturday, November 14, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.: Lucky Strike Promenade, 10685 Westminster Boulevard, Westminster.
- Sunday, November 15, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.: Bowlero Heather Ridge, 2200 S. Peoria Street, Aurora.
Bowling is subject to lane availability. Use the Family Fest RSVP link on the event page, not the regular paid lane-reservation button. The event listing does not say whether shoe rental is included, so check with the center before counting on a completely free bowling outing.
Selected November evenings: The Polar Express in Golden
Halle and I went to the Colorado Railroad Museum’s preview. I wrote about our Polar Express evening here. The museum hosted our preview visit.
The 2026 Polar Express Train Ride runs on selected evenings from November 6 through December 23 at 17155 W. 44th Avenue in Golden. It combines a theatrical show with a train ride, hot chocolate, a cookie and a silver bell.
Standard-class listed prices are $80 for ages 2–15 and $100 for ages 16 and older, with a 10% discount for performances before Thanksgiving. Children under 2 can ride free on an adult’s lap without a separate seat. Check the ticketing page for available dates, fees and the final total.
Show times are 5, 6:30 and 8 p.m.; the museum recommends arriving 30 minutes before your show. Buy your party’s tickets in one transaction if you want to sit together.
November 27–29: A Manitou Springs shopping day with a parking break
Manitou Springs is its own town, separate from downtown Colorado Springs, and Thanksgiving weekend brings a useful reason to browse its shops.
The city’s November 6 announcement says downtown street parking and the Canon, Hiawatha and Dillon lots are free all day November 27 and 28.
On Sunday, November 29, the offer changes to two free hours at those locations. You must activate the session through Honk or a nearby kiosk, and regular rates apply after two hours. Do not assume private lots or other restricted spaces are included.
Save our Manitou Springs holiday parking guide before you go.
