Two of Denver's biggest holiday draws open on back-to-back days this November, and each one sits a short trip from Country Club. The Cherry Creek Holiday Market opens on Fillmore Plaza on Thursday, Nov. 19. Blossoms of Light opens the next evening at Denver Botanic Gardens on York Street.
The two events run on opposite rules. The market is free and open every day. Blossoms needs a ticket for a set date and time, bought ahead, and none are sold at the door. The Gardens says it expects most nights to sell out several days or even weeks in advance. So for anyone planning a December evening at the Gardens, the dates that count fall in the first nine days of November. Opening night matters much less.
This week, the Gardens is still in October mode
Halloween programming at the Gardens has a few nights left. Ghosts in the Gardens runs Thursday and Friday, Oct. 29 and 30, from 4:30 to 10:30 p.m., and on Halloween from 4:30 to 9:15 p.m. General admission is $34, or $29 for members.
It's a self-guided walk, mostly outdoors, and takes about 90 minutes. New stories start every 15 minutes, and the route includes the main floor of Waring House. The Gardens recommends dressing for the weather and says the event is not recommended for children under 12. If you're bringing younger kids, a different Halloween plan will probably work better.
When Halloween ends, the Gardens moves straight into its biggest season, and the first step is buying tickets.
Dates from the ticket sale to Jan. 10
| Date | What happens | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Wed., Nov. 4, 10 a.m. | Blossoms presale for President's Circle, Garden Leader, Director's Circle, Four Seasons, Patron, Supporter and Gardens Plus members | Denver Botanic Gardens online |
| Thu., Nov. 5, 10 a.m. | Presale for Friends & Family members | Denver Botanic Gardens online |
| Fri., Nov. 6, 10 a.m. | Presale for Dual Plus and Individual Plus members | Denver Botanic Gardens online |
| Mon., Nov. 9, 10 a.m. | Public Blossoms tickets go on sale | Denver Botanic Gardens online |
| Thu., Nov. 19 | Cherry Creek Holiday Market and Giving Machines open | Fillmore Plaza, between 1st and 2nd avenues |
| Fri., Nov. 20 | Blossoms of Light opens, 4:30 to 9 p.m. | 1007 York St. |
| Thu., Nov. 26 | Blossoms closed; market open noon to 3 p.m. | Both |
| Nov. 27–30 | Small Business Weekend | Throughout Cherry Creek North |
| Tue., Dec. 1 | Blossoms Sensory-Friendly Night, 5 to 8 p.m. | 1007 York St. |
| Thu., Dec. 24 | Market's last day, noon to 3 p.m. | Fillmore Plaza |
| Fri., Dec. 25 | Blossoms closed | 1007 York St. |
| Sun., Jan. 10 | Blossoms' final night | 1007 York St. |
Thanksgiving is the one day the two events split. The Gardens is closed for Blossoms that day, and the market is open noon to 3 p.m. That gives you somewhere nearby to go between the morning and the meal.
Why the presale week sets the Blossoms calendar
The Gardens' Blossoms of Light page lays out a staggered presale by membership level before public sales start. Membership tier determines who gets the first pick of dates. The page also says membership doesn't guarantee a ticket, that every guest over age 2 needs one, and that ticket prices are still TBA.
Three rules make the date you choose hard to change later:
- Tickets are tied to one date. You can ask about an exchange by calling 720-865-3500. Exchanges cost $5, must be made at least 72 hours before your entry time and depend on availability. Members don't pay the fee.
- Arrival is timed. The Gardens asks guests to arrive within 30 minutes after the time on their ticket. You don't need to change your ticket if you're running late.
- There are no door sales. If a night sells out, you can't get in that night.
The Gardens also warns buyers to purchase Blossoms tickets only through its own website. It says it can't support tickets bought from third-party sellers and doesn't hold those tickets at Will Call.
Put together, these rules mean the dates still open on Nov. 9 are the dates you'll have to choose from. If your December includes a family visit or a work party, that's the week to set your evening at the Gardens. The Sensory-Friendly Night on Dec. 1 has limited capacity on purpose, so that date needs extra planning.
Blossoms runs from 4:30 to 9 p.m., and the grounds clear at 9:45. Offshoots Café and the Hive Garden Bistro sell holiday treats and warm drinks during the event. The paths are concrete and the whole event is outdoors, so the Gardens suggests shoes with good traction.
Getting to York Street on a sold-out night
The Gardens' parking garage is free, but it has limited space and fills quickly. Some nearby streets have posted restrictions on Blossoms dates. On those streets, every parked car needs a current residential parking permit, according to the parking FAQ on the Gardens' Blossoms page, and the Gardens isn't responsible for tickets or towing. The parking map linked from the Gardens' FAQ is last year's, so check the posted street signs on the night you go.
The City and County of Denver is also changing permit eligibility for addresses around the Gardens through its Curbside Area Management plan, based on feedback from residents and City Council.
The Gardens suggests getting there another way. Two RTD bus routes serve it: the #24, which uses York and Josephine streets, and the #10 on 12th Avenue. If you're biking, there are racks at the main entrance on York Street. If you live along York or Josephine, you already know these streets, which makes the bus or bike a practical choice.
Fillmore Plaza is free and open daily
The Cherry Creek Holiday Market works on different terms from Blossoms. It's a free event, open to all ages and open every day from Nov. 19 through Dec. 24. Cherry Creek North closes Fillmore to traffic between 1st and 2nd avenues for the market, which is in its seventh year.
Hours change by day of the week:
- Monday through Wednesday: noon to 7 p.m.
- Thursday through Saturday, plus every day Dec. 18–23: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Sunday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve: noon to 3 p.m.
On a Blossoms night, the market's Thursday through Saturday hours run until 9 p.m., the same closing time as Blossoms. Earlier in the week, it closes at 7.
The market's own site says rotating Colorado makers sell there. The attend page counts more than 45, and the retailer page says more than 50. Food vendors listed so far include Sunflower Foods, Tom's Waffles, Gochilandia and Casa Crobu. The main bar is inside the Mistletoe Lounge near 1st Avenue and Fillmore. Coffee, espresso, tea and other hot drinks without alcohol are at the Lounge south of the holiday light orb. Most live music plays inside the Mistletoe Lounge, and carolers walk the plaza.
If you drive, the market points visitors to Cherry Creek North's parking guide and says district parking costs less after 5 p.m. That makes an evening visit after work the cheaper choice.
Two more events add to the market's season. The Giving Machines stand at the market entrance at Second Avenue and Fillmore Street, 24 hours a day from Nov. 19 through Jan. 4, where you can pay by card to give charitable gifts. Small Business Weekend runs across Cherry Creek North from Nov. 27 to 30. Participating stores and their deals hadn't been announced as of mid-October.
The neighborhood table to watch between the two
Holm will open at 609 Corona St., in the space that used to be Table 6. It's planned as a 50-seat American bistro. Westword reported that the planned menu centers on seasonal Colorado produce, with dishes like brick chicken, poached vegetables, and homemade pasta with pork ragu. The opening date has moved. The Denver Post reported late October. A later Westword roundup pointed to November. As of mid-October, the restaurant's site said "coming soon." If it opens before Blossoms, it could be a dinner stop before a Gardens evening.
For a daytime stop, Westword reported in August that Carriage House opened along Cheesman Park at 1290 N. Williams St. Its website lists hours of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and a daily happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. Further ahead, The Denver Post reported that Two Hands plans a Cherry Creek location at 221 N. Milwaukee St., in The Oasis, with an opening targeted for spring.
If you're hosting family in December and want to plan the season around where you live, Downing Street Group - Engel & Völkers knows these blocks between York Street and Fillmore Plaza well, and we're always glad to share what we know about the neighborhood. Request a private consultation.
