What not to miss for a very Pueblo holiday season in 2025

Between Thanksgiving weekend and Christmas, Pueblo has many opportunities to get into the holiday spirit, from holiday fun runs to Christmas lighting ceremonies and live performances to opportunities to meet with Santa and more.

Here are 10 ways that you and your family can get into the holiday spirit.

Pueblo Courthouse Lighting Ceremony

215 W 10th St. | 5 p.m. on Nov. 25 | Food trucks open at the Pueblo County Courthouse on Tuesday, two days before Thanksgiving Day. The lighting ceremony begins at 7, featuring a free firework display as well as the eponymous courthouse lighting for the holiday season. 

YMCA 5K Turkey Trot 

3200 E Spaulding Ave. | 9 a.m. on Nov. 27 | Lace up for the 17th annual Turkey Trot, presented by Black Hills Energy and celebrate “community, gratitude, and giving back,” the event page says. Every step you take helps support the YMCA of Pueblo, with proceeds providing scholarships and financial assistance for local families in need. The trot begins at the Y. Registration is $43.40 per person, which includes race registration and a commemorative T-shirt. Prior to the main event, a kids ages 12 and under 1K fun run starts at 8:15 a.m. 

Registration deadline is Nov. 26. No same day registration will be accepted. The event asks that pets be left at home for everyone’s safety and comfort. To register, visit puebloymca.org/programs/fun-runs.

ElectriCritters at the Pueblo Zoo

3455 Nuckolls Ave. | 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on select dates between Nov. 28 and Dec. 28 | “Pueblo’s brightest holiday light show” returns to the Pueblo Zoo on Nov. 28. ElectriCritters presented by Black Hills Energy will light up the zoo on Fridays and Sundays between Nov. 28 and Dec. 14 before staying open every night between Dec. 18 and 23. After closing for Dec. 24 and 25, the light show will be available on Dec. 26. 27 and 28. 

File photo - Visitors to the Pueblo Zoo enjoy part of the Electricritters display.

There also will be a Members Only Night on Dec. 15, a Sensory-Friendly Night sponsored by Family Support Center on Dec. 16 and an Adults Only Night on Dec. 17. Santa Saturdays sponsored by Woven Care will be on Nov. 30, Dec. 7, Dec. 14 and Dec. 21. Tickets for non-members are $7.50 for children and $9.50 for adults. Tickets for members are $5.50 for children and $7.50 for adults. Babies who are under 2 years old get in free. To buy tickets, go to www.pueblozoo.org/electricritters.

Holiday Lighting Extravaganza at the Riverwalk

101 S. Union Ave. | 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Nov. 28 | The 24th annual lighting extravaganza at the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk includes festive performances, vendors, photos with Santa, fireworks over Lake Elizabeth, and holiday boat rides. Admission to the event is free. 

This event is sponsored by Pueblo Toyota and Pueblo Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram, Don’s Landscaping, T-Mobile Fiber, Minnequa Works Credit Union, AMR, Wagner Rents, and Western Enterprises. 

Pueblo Parade of Lights 

Colorado and Abriendo avenues | 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29 | The Pueblo Parade of Lights passes by the Rawlings Library and down Union Avenue over the Arkansas River Bridge through the Historic Union Avenue Shopping District, past the Pueblo Riverwalk, Pueblo City Hall and El Pueblo History Museum before turning right on City Center Drive, then left on Main Street and north to 6th St. The parade wraps up on 6th St. between Court and Grand. The event is open and free to all.

Parking is available for spectators in lots at Victoria and D St., South Main and D St. near the Riverwalk, and on 3rd St. between Court and Grand, as well as on street parking within two blocks along most of the route. The event is free to the public.

Animal Law Enforcement walk four-legged friends along Union Avenue during the 2024 Pueblo Parade of Lights on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024.

'It's A Wonderful Life: The Musical'

1 City Hall Place | 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4-5 and 1:30 p.m. Dec. 6 | The family-friendly, classic holiday story comes to the stage at Pueblo Memorial Hall, presented by Musical Community Productions. Ticket prices range from $38.25 to $53.50. Purchases can be made online by visiting Pueblo Memorial Hall.

Meet Santa at McHarg Park and Fulton Heights Community Center

Various locations | 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 12 and 15 | Santa and his friends are visiting Pueblo County several days before Christmas to bring sweet treats and family-friendly fun. Santa will be at McHarg Park Community Center in Avondale on Dec. 5. The following Friday, Dec. 12, Kris Kringle and his helpers will visit the Fulton Heights Community Center in Salt Creek for similar festivities.

Willow’s Holly Jolly Craft Market

900 W. Orman Ave. | 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 6 | Baked goods, clothing, crystals, essential oils, jewelry, organic soaps, pottery, wood products and other handmade goods from local artisans are among items you may find at Willow’s Holly Jolly Craft Market. The free event will be on the lower level of Pueblo Community College’s Student Center.

Holiday with Heroes

100 E Abriendo Ave | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 6 | This free public event hosted by Junior League of Pueblo will feature appearances by Santa Claus and community heroes — doctors, mentors, nurses, police, safety personnel and teachers. Family-friendly activities like cookie decorating, face painting, hot cocoa drinking, jingle bell creating, ornament making and picture taking with Santa will be on the fourth floor of the Rawlings Main Library Branch.

El Centro del Quinto Sol Holiday Celebration and Gift Giveaway

1315 E 7th St. | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 6 | Gifts for children aged 0 to 18 years old collected through El Centro del Quinto Sol’s annual Holiday Toy Drive will be distributed at this celebration at the Patrick A. Lucero Library. Children must be present while supplies last to receive a gift. The celebration is hosted in partnership with the Pueblo City-County Library District.

Bells of Christmas Craft Sale (Pueblo County 4‑H)

1001 Beulah Ave. | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 6 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 7 | The 2025 Bells of Christmas Craft Sale will be held at the Creative Arts Building at the Colorado State Fairgrounds. There will be more than 55 vendors and over 120 tables for holiday shoppers seeking crafts, cookies and a myriad of other creations. Visitors can make purchases at the concessions from Pueblo County Globetrotters. Lunchtime visits with Santa, hosted by the Pueblo County Leadership Society, also are planned. Go to Facebook for more information.

El Pueblo History Museum presents Holiday Cultural Festival

301 N. Union Ave. | 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 6 | This community celebration of Pueblo's culture includes visits to exhibits at El Pueblo History Museum, live performances, crafts tables, activities for children and light refreshments, organizers said. This event is free and open to anyone, with no pre-registration requirements. For more information, go to the city of Pueblo's calendar of events.

St. Nick’s Holiday Pepper Hunt 

Throughout Pueblo | "Sometime in December" | St. Nick’s Holiday Pepper Hunt is a community-wide treasure hunt, with “thousands in cash and prizes” awarded to the winner. The first look at this year’s pepper rock will be during the Riverwalk Lighting Ceremony on Nov. 28. Hunters are encouraged to stay tuned to KDZA and the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page for more details. The exclusive clue locations will be at Minnequa Works Credit Unions four locations, according to the chamber.

World Ballet Company presents 'The Nutcracker'

1 City Hall Place | 6 p.m. Dec. 7 | A hallmark of the holiday season returns to Pueblo Memorial Hall to enchant audiences with the timeless tale of the Nutcracker who on Christmas Eve comes to life, setting off a wondrous journey to the land of sweets. The performance by the Los Angeles-based World Ballet Company features more than 40 dancers and 150 hand-sewn costumes. Tickets are $43 to $95.50. For more information, visit Pueblo Memorial Hall.

U.S. Air Force Academy Band presents 'Holly & Ivy'

1 City Hall Place | 7 p.m. Dec. 11-12 | The U.S. Air Force Academy Band brings its holiday concert to Pueblo Memorial Hall. The event is free and open to all ages, but you must have a ticket to attend. Reserve a free ticket at the box office, which is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, visit Pueblo Memorial Hall.

The U.S. Air Force Academy Band is set to present its "Holly & Ivy" holiday concert Dec. 4-5 at Pueblo Memorial Hall.

'Celebrate Christmas, It's All About A Child' concert

1605 S Pueblo Blvd. | 7 p.m. Dec. 12 | This event, now in its 15th year, is being held at the Pueblo Christian Center and is free and open to the public. Those who attend may bring an unwrapped toy for a child or a gift for a teenager. The donations will be gifted to youths who are served through the Pueblo County Department of Social Services Child Welfare Division. For more information, call 719-671-5451.

Beulah Yule Log Festival in Beulah Valley

9112 Pueblo Mountain Park Road | 1 p.m. Dec. 14 | The hunt for the yule log in the forest, a Colorado holiday tradition in its 73rd year, returns to the Pueblo Mountain Park Pavilion. Drive to the area a day earlier and see the Parade of Lights in the small mountain community. The festive celebration includes caroling, cookies and wassail. The log hunt is free. For more information, contact the Beulah Social Club, which is on Facebook.

The Pueblo Choral Society's 'An Old Fashioned Christmas'

1 City Hall Place | Doors open at 6 p.m., show starts at 7 p.m. Dec. 17 | 'An Old Fashioned Christmas' by the Pueblo Choral Society is now in its fifth year. The concert is free, but you must present your free ticket for admission. Pick it up at the Pueblo Memorial Hall box office, which is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Pueblo Municipal Band holiday concert

210 N Santa Fe Ave. | Hasan Pavilion opens at 1 p.m.. Theater doors open at 1:30 p.m. and the concert is at 2 p.m. Dec. 21 | The Pueblo Municipal Band presents its free Christmas concert inside Jackson Conference Center Theater at Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center. This is general admission seating and is on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early to secure a seat. For more information, visit the Pueblo Municipal Band.

YMCA of Pueblo holds Hot Chocolate 5K

3200 E. Spaulding Ave. | Register by Dec. 23. The 5K is scheduled 9 a.m. Dec. 27 | Join the YMCA of Pueblo on its first ever Hot Chocolate Run. The Y says the "delightful dash promises miles of smiles and chocolatey rewards" for seasoned runners and casual walkers alike. But you must register by De. 23 and even earlier, Dec. 3, to guarantee your T-shirt. To register, visit the YMCA of Pueblo.

Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact Justin at [email protected]. Follow him on X at @jayreutter1. Support local news; subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com. Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at [email protected]. Support local news; subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.