December Events in Parker – 2015

The Town of Parker has so many great ways to celebrate the holidays, including the Mayor’s Holiday Lighting on Nov. 27, the Christmas Carriage Parade on Dec. 12 and the Nutcracker of Parker Dec. 17-20, 2015.

I think one of our favorite events is the one that kicks the season off in style – the Mayor’s Holiday Lighting on Friday, Nov. 27, at 5 p.m. in O’Brien Park, 10795
Victorian Drive.

Depending on the weather, bundle up and bring your family to enjoy a lineup of holiday entertainment before joining the mayor, Town Council, Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and the Parker Chorale at 6 p.m. for a Town sing-a-long of Silent Night before the grand park lighting.

Visit www.ParkerOnline.org/MayorsHolidayLighting for more information.

After the lighting ceremony, you can enjoy Parker’s beautifully decorated downtown by taking a free carriage or wagon ride from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Or perhaps you’ll want to save that for another night. The Town is providing the free rides every Saturday night between Thanksgiving and Christmas from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Carriages will pick up and drop off at the PACE Center and at the O’Brien Park parking lot. The rides are free, but you need to pick up a ticket at on of the two Ride Stations. For more information on ticket pick-up locations, visit www.ParkerOnline.org/CarriageRides.

Other wonderful holiday options include “A Classic Parker Holiday,” presented by the Parker Chorale and the Parker Symphony Orchestra at the PACE Center on Dec. 4, 5 & 6.  The Friday and Saturday shows begin at 7:30 p.m. The Sunday show is at 2 p.m. For information, visit www.ParkerArts.org.

You also can participate in the Festival of the Trees, benefiting Cimarron Middle School, on Dec. 5 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the school, 12130 Canterberry Parkway. Specially-decorated trees donated by area businesses and organizations will be available for sale.

For more information, visit the school’s website.

Saturday, Dec. 12, marks another holiday tradition in downtown Parker – the Christmas Carriage Parade. Themed “A Storybook Christmas,” the 2015 parade will begin heading west on Mainstreet at noon and will feature marching bands, equestrian entries and Mr. and Mrs. Claus. There also will be a holiday ice sculpting, petting zoo and pony rides and Holiday Winter Market.

Parade spectators are asked to remember that Mainstreet and Victorian roads will be closed from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and those parked in that area will not be able to exit until roads are reopened. Parking outside of these limits is advised.

For more information, visit www.ParkerOnline.org/CarriageParade.

Finally, you might want to gather up your family one more time to enjoy the Nutcracker of Parker, which will be presented Dec. 17-20 at the PACE Center. It’s a Parker tradition, presented by the Colorado School of Dance. The 12th anniversary production of Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic includes local and professional dancers. For more information, visit www.ParkerArts.org.