Local light displays nominated for USA TODAY’s best awards: How to vote

DENVER (KDVR) — A handful of local light displays need your votes to be named among USA TODAY’s 10BEST for 2025.

Holiday light displays in Colorado can be pretty impressive, and it’s no surprise considering that, according to legend, the popular tradition got its start in Denver in the early 1900s.

This season, several were nominated for awards from USA TODAY, and they need votes. Readers can submit votes daily until voting ends at the beginning of December.

USA TODAY has voting open now for multiple seasonal awards, with Colorado spots nominated for best zoo lights, best botanical garden lights, best public holiday lights display, best holiday market and best destinations for snow.

Best zoo lights

The Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo have both been putting on holiday light displays for over three decades, and both are up for USA TODAY awards in the best zoo lights category this year.

The Electric Safari at CMZoo was consistently named third best zoo light display in the nation for several years, but bumped to No. 2 last year. The display includes more than 85 unique light sculptures, inflatables and a drone light show, according to the website.

Zoo Lights at DZCA uses more than 3 million lights across 80 acres and the zoo has said it attracts some 300,000 spectators over the season.

  • Best zoo lights, Best botanical garden lights, Best public holiday lights display, Best holiday market , Best destinations for snow

    The Denver Zoo lights started in 1991 with a small group of volunteers including Teri Hanzon and Mike Lestition, who organized and operated Wild Lights for the first few years. (Photo courtesy of Denver Zoo)

  • Best zoo lights, Best botanical garden lights, Best public holiday lights display, Best holiday market , Best destinations for snow

    Today, the Denver Zoo Lights uses more than 3 million lights, according to the release, and the zoo is expecting 300,000 visitors this year. (Photo courtesy of Denver Zoo)

  • Best zoo lights, Best botanical garden lights, Best public holiday lights display, Best holiday market , Best destinations for snow

    Today, the Denver Zoo Lights uses more than 3 million lights, according to the release, and the zoo is expecting 300,000 visitors this year. (Photo courtesy of Denver Zoo)

  • Best zoo lights, Best botanical garden lights, Best public holiday lights display, Best holiday market , Best destinations for snow

    Today, the Denver Zoo Lights uses more than 3 million lights, according to the release, and the zoo is expecting 300,000 visitors this year. (Photo courtesy of Denver Zoo)

  • Best zoo lights, Best botanical garden lights, Best public holiday lights display, Best holiday market , Best destinations for snow

    Today, the Denver Zoo Lights uses more than 3 million lights, according to the release, and the zoo is expecting 300,000 visitors this year. (Photo courtesy of Denver Zoo)

  • Best zoo lights, Best botanical garden lights, Best public holiday lights display, Best holiday market , Best destinations for snow

    Today, the Denver Zoo Lights uses more than 3 million lights, according to the release, and the zoo is expecting 300,000 visitors this year. (Photo courtesy of Denver Zoo)

  • Best zoo lights, Best botanical garden lights, Best public holiday lights display, Best holiday market , Best destinations for snow

    Today, the Denver Zoo Lights uses more than 3 million lights, according to the release, and the zoo is expecting 300,000 visitors this year. (Photo courtesy of Denver Zoo)

  • Best zoo lights, Best botanical garden lights, Best public holiday lights display, Best holiday market , Best destinations for snow

    Today, the Denver Zoo Lights uses more than 3 million lights, according to the release, and the zoo is expecting 300,000 visitors this year. (Photo courtesy of Denver Zoo)

  • Best zoo lights, Best botanical garden lights, Best public holiday lights display, Best holiday market , Best destinations for snow

    Today, the Denver Zoo Lights uses more than 3 million lights, according to the release, and the zoo is expecting 300,000 visitors this year. (Photo courtesy of Denver Zoo)

Tickets to both displays are on sale now and may sell out fast.

Best botanical garden lights

The display is in its 40th year of transforming the winter gardens into an “illuminated wonderland filled with vibrant displays, immersive installation and the warm glow of cherished memories–old and new,” the website states.

  • Best zoo lights, Best botanical garden lights, Best public holiday lights display, Best holiday market , Best destinations for snow

    2018 Photo: Audrey Keck, 4, checks out a beautifully decorated tree that is part of the displays at the Blossoms of Light show at the Denver Botanic Gardens on December 16, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. The annual show bedecks the grounds with festive and brightly colored lights throughout the gardens. The holiday themes are different each year. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

  • Best zoo lights, Best botanical garden lights, Best public holiday lights display, Best holiday market , Best destinations for snow

    DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 16: People walk past beautiful, brightly lit globes on display at the Blossoms of Light show at the Denver Botanic Gardens on December 16, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. The annual show bedecks the grounds with festive and brightly colored lights throughout the gardens. The holiday themes are different each year. This year’s event runs through January 1, 2109. The show runs from 5-9 pm. Tickets run from $11-$21 depending on where and when you buy them.(Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

Blossoms of Light has been named among the 10BEST each year since 2018.

Best public holiday lights display

The Mile High Tree that goes up each year draws both locals and visitors to downtown Denver to be immersed in the lights, for free. It was nominated in USA TODAY’s best public holiday lights display category.

Presented by Xcel Energy and Xfinity, the conical tree stands at 110 feet tall, or seven stories, and has a hollow center where up to 140 visitors can look up at the light show from inside the tree.

  • Best zoo lights, Best botanical garden lights, Best public holiday lights display, Best holiday market , Best destinations for snow

    A youth looks upward at the center of the Mile High tree. (Credit: VISIT DENVER and Evan Semón Photography)

  • Best zoo lights, Best botanical garden lights, Best public holiday lights display, Best holiday market , Best destinations for snow

    The Mile High Tree is illuminated in Civic Center Park, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in downtown Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

  • Best zoo lights, Best botanical garden lights, Best public holiday lights display, Best holiday market , Best destinations for snow

    The Mile High Christmas tree display is illuminated in Civic Center Park late Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, in Denver. The tree, a seven-story, 110-foot-tall conical structure with 60,000 LED lights, is on display at an outdoor holiday market. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

  • Best zoo lights, Best botanical garden lights, Best public holiday lights display, Best holiday market , Best destinations for snow

    Visitors look at the Mile High Tree, America’s tallest digital tree, late Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, in Denver. The tree, which is on display in Civic Center Park, is 110-feet tall and combines music with lights to entertain visitors during the holiday season. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

  • Best zoo lights, Best botanical garden lights, Best public holiday lights display, Best holiday market , Best destinations for snow

    Denver’s holiday lights show including the Mile High Christmas Tree as seen from SkyFOX on Nov. 27, 2024

Best holiday market

Denver’s Christkindlmarket has been named one of the best holiday markets in the U.S. multiple times by several different publications. This year, it was nominated in the USA TODAY 10BEST holiday market category.

  • Best zoo lights, Best botanical garden lights, Best public holiday lights display, Best holiday market , Best destinations for snow

    The Denver Christkindlmarket at Civic Center Park in 2023. (KDVR)

  • Best zoo lights, Best botanical garden lights, Best public holiday lights display, Best holiday market , Best destinations for snow

    The Denver Christkindlmarket at Civic Center Park in 2023. (KDVR)

  • Best zoo lights, Best botanical garden lights, Best public holiday lights display, Best holiday market , Best destinations for snow

    The Denver Christkindlmarket at Civic Center Park in 2023. (KDVR)

The authentic German-style public market creates a pop-up village where people can shop for locally made artisan gifts, find food and festive drinks, and find entertainment like live music.

Best destinations for snow

Though there’s not much snow in the mountains or at ski resorts now, several Colorado towns were nominated among USA TODAY’s best destinations for snow in the U.S., including:

  • Aspen
  • Crested Butte
  • Frisco
  • Ouray
  • Telluride
  • Winter Park

Voting for each of the USA TODAY categories above is open until Dec. 1 at 10 a.m. mountain time. The winners will be announced on Dec. 10.

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