Aurora 2016 Holiday Events
December 15, 2016
Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa are right around the corner and the pre-holiday fun and festivities are picking up STEAM! Take in a musical or a crafting class, Christmas carols or ice skating, or let the kids write letters to Santa while you nosh on cookies and sip mimosas. There’s something for everyone near Aurora’s new home lake community, Southshore!
TONIGHT, Thursday, December 15
YOGA
Tonight at The Lakehouse, stop in for a fitness class before you start snacking your way through the holiday parties! Southshore residents receive two free classes per week.
The Lakehouse, 27151 E. Lakeview Dr., Aurora
7:00 p.m.
ANIME MANGA
As any connoisseur will tell you, there is a big difference between anime and manga. For the non-connoisseur, anime is a cartoon and manga is a comic. Tweens and teens will screen the latest anime, talk about their favorite manga while they enjoy a snack at this awesome gathering of young Japanophiles.
Central Library, 14949 E. Alameda Pkwy, Aurora
4:00 p.m.
Phone: 303-739-6600
CD CRAFTS AND ART
Teens can make cool designs on old CDs using just black paint and their best scratching abilities! Perfect for decorations, ornaments, or gifts.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, 9898 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora
4:15 p.m.
Phone: 303-739-1940
Friday, December 16
SANTA AT FITZSIMMONS!
With goodies for the kids, and free photos (one per child), Santa will be making his list and checking it twice at the Fitzsimons Credit Union! And parents, don’t miss out on the chance to enter to win a $50 Toys ‘R Us gift card while you wait!
Fitzsimmons Credit Union, 2201 N. Fitzsimons Pkwy., Aurora
2:00-5:00 p.m.
Phone: 970-534-9549
KIDS’ NIGHT OUT!
You deserve a break today – and so do your kids! Drop the littles off at The Lakehouse for dinner and games, plus a showing of Santa Claus starring Dudley Moore as “Patch,” an eager-to-please elf who leaves the North Pole for New York City and gets mixed up with a dastardly toy tycoon’s plans to take over Christmas. For children (potty-trained) to 10 years old. Call 720-870-2221 to reserve a space.
The Lakehouse, 27151 E Lakeview Dr., Aurora
6:00-10:00 p.m.
Phone: 720-870-2221
ADMISSION: $15 for one child; $10 for additional children
SOUTHSHORE HOLIDAY PARTY!
Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate the season while you meet and mingle with neighbors from Southshore. Sign up here!
The Lakehouse, 27151 E Lakeview Dr., Aurora
7:00-10:00 p.m.
Phone: 720-870-2221
BUILD-IT FRIDAYS
Every Friday, a group of junior engineers gets together and pools their imaginations to build buildings, cars, or whatever they can imagine with different materials and tools.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, 9898 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora
3:30 p.m.
Phone: 303-739-1940
Friday-Saturday, December 16-17
MARTINIS AND MISTLETOE
Join the Vintage Theatre crowd for a late-night holiday special. Featuring classic holiday tunes and some of the town’s best performers including Miranda Byers, Suzanne Connors-Nepi, Mica Dominguez-Robinson, John White and Andrew Fischer.
Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora
11:00 p.m.
Tickets: $6-10
Friday-Sunday, December 16-18
DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Vintage Theatre presents Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, the classic story of young Belle and the Beast that only she can tame. Don’t miss the crooning kitchenware for this evening of love, intrigue and iconic music!
Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora
Fri.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $22-$31
JACOB MARLEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL
The holiday sensation is back, and follows sour, mean and DEAD Jacob Marley as he and his companion, a malicious little sprite, embark on a journey to redeem the only person worse than himself, his business partner Ebenezer Scrooge. Irreverent, funny and deeply moving story that “blends Dickens sensibility…and contemporary wit.”
Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora
Fri./Sat./Wed.,7:30 p.m.; Sun. 2:30 p.m.
Phone: 303-856-7830
Tickets $15-$30
Saturday, December 17
SANTA PAWS!
Join special guest Goober the dog as Santa Paws for holiday music from Between the Notes, refreshments, and a short story time! (All Ages)
Tallyn’s Reach Library, 23911 E. Arapahoe Rd., Aurora
10:00 a.m.
Phone: 303-627-3050
ROGUE ONE CELEBRATION
Use the Force in this Star Wars fest! Fold an origami Yoda, choose your Jedi path, and test your knowledge of the universe.
Iliff Square Library, 2253 S. Peoria St., Aurora
1:30 p.m.
Phone: 303-739-1567
GINGERBREAD HOUSE WORKSHOP
Build a gingerbread house using graham crackers, candy and frosting from instructions provided. Test your engineering skills to create a one-of-a-kind house, then eat it!
Mission Viejo Library, 15324 E. Hamden Cir., Aurora
2:00 p.m.
Phone: 303-326-8600
YMCA DROP ’N SHOP
Busy shoppers who want to shop without their kiddos can drop off children at the Southlands YMCA Location to be supervised by a YMCA caregiver. There will be fun holiday crafts for kids to do while at the Drop ’N Shop.
Southlands Mall, NW corner of Main Street and E. Commons Ave., Suite 220, Aurora
1:00-5:00 p.m.
Cost: $7/child Ages: Children Must be potty-trained to 10 years-old
Phone: 720-870-2221
Sunday, December 18
LETTERS TO SANTA!
Bring the little ones by to meet and greet Santa and Mrs. Claus and write their letters and wish lists for Christmas. With holiday music, movies, carolers, cookie decorating, mimosas, reindeer and more!
Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum, 7711 E. Academy Blvd., Denver
12:00-4:00 p.m.
Admission: Adults: $12.50; 4-16 years: $6; Children under 3: FREE
SANTA PHOTO OP!
Capture the magic of the holidays by letting your little ones pose for a photo opportunity with Santa, and share their wish list for Christmas! Here’s a schedule of Santa’s hours between now and Christmas, and the price list of possible accessories!
Southlands Mall, Main Street, Aurora
HOURS: Various
Monday, December 19
CRAFTING AT THE LAKEHOUSE
Bring the kids over to the Lakehouse in Southshore for some fun holiday crafts. Kids must be potty-trained to attend.
The Lakehouse, 27151 E. Lakeview Dr., Aurora
10:30 a.m.-12:00 noon
Phone: 720-870-2221
RSVP
MATH WORKSHOP FOR KIDS!
Does your child need confidence in math? Does he/she need some extra practice learning basic facts? The camp, for grades 1-5, has a morning session to help children work on addition, subtraction and multiplication. In the afternoon children will learn how math is used to create art and complete at least two masterpieces using what they learn. All supplies included.
The Lakehouse, 27151 E. Lakeview Dr., Aurora
9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Phone: 720-870-2221
COST: $40 ($35 Resident)
Monday-Friday, December 19-23
WINTER BREAK INNOVATION DAY CAMP
The STEAM Camp program is an exciting learning opportunity for young people with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. The camp is taught by professional educators with fun and challenging projects, a field trip, guest speakers and unique leadership activities. Here’s a schedule and more information so you can sign up the young leader in your home!
Colorado Steam Academy, 6820 S. Liverpool St., Unite E, Aurora
8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Phone: 303-699-6381
Cost: $90/Day for 6 to 11-year-olds
Tuesday-Wednesday, December 20-21
MOVIE, LUNCH AND CRAFTS AT THE LAKEHOUSE
Bring the kids over to the Lakehouse in Southshore for some fun holiday crafts, lunch and a movie. Kids must be potty-trained to attend.
The Lakehouse, 27151 E. Lakeview Dr., Aurora
10:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Phone: 720-870-2221
Tues., RSVP; Wed., RSVP
Now Through December 22
GERMAN-AMERICAN CHRISTKINDL MARKET
The 16th Annual Denver Christkindl Market hosted by the German-American Chamber of Commerce transforms Skyline Park into a magical “old world” European Christmas village, with wooden vendor huts, twinkling lights, festival music, and an authentic German Bier Hall. Visit this authentic holiday market like the ones found in German public squares, to shop more than 30 featured gift and craft artisans, bakers and chefs.
Downtown Denver, 16th and Arapahoe Streets, Denver
Click here for hours of operation
Now Through December 24
NICK’S HOLIDAY MARKET
Shop in or outside the mall at the St. Nick’s Holiday market, featuring a unique mix of vendors offering unique gifts, gourmet foods, artisan crafts and holiday treats. With over 100 vendors, you’ll find lots of gift possibilities for family, friends or yourself.
Southlands Mall, Main Street, Aurora
Holiday Store Hours
Now Through February
SOUTHLANDS SKATING RINK
The Southshore lakeside community is just minutes away from The Pond Ice Rink at Southlands. Sponsored by Southshore, The Pond Ice Rink is a blast during the holiday season and on Saturday, you can even and drink hot chocolate and hit the ice with Santa from 1:00-3:00 p.m.! Hours vary through the winter.
Southlands Mall Main Street, E470 and Smoky Hill Rd., Aurora
ADMISSION: $3.50-$8.50 with $2.50 skate rental
Now Through April 2, 2017
STAR WARS™ COSTUMES EXHIBIT!
If you’re a Star Wars™ fan, take a unique journey into the Star Wars™ universe as characters are brought to life through a dramatic presentation of more than 60 original costumes. Star Wars™ and the Power of Costume will closely examine the process of costume designing the iconic outfits featured in all seven films of the Star Wars™ series.
Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Avenue Pkwy, Denver
Tours begin every 15 minutes
TICKETS: Non-Members $5-$28
Now through January 1, 2017
PORGY AND BESS
This operatic adaptation of Dorothy Heyward’s play “Porgy and Bess” follows the lives of the inhabitants of Catfish Row, an African-American section of Charleston, South Carolina. The musical follows the crippled Porgy and his beloved Bess, who is under the thrall of the dangerous Crown and the sinewy drug dealer Sportin’ Life.
Aurora Fox Arts Center, 9900 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora
Fri., 7:30 p.m., Sat., 2 p.m./7:30 p.m., Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $16-$37
Now through January 1, 2017
BLOSSOMS OF LIGHT
Embrace the holiday season at Blossoms of Light. With over one million colorful lights draped in elegant designs highlighting the Gardens’ winter beauty, you can enjoy sparkling passages, new displays and romantic kissing spots under the mistletoe, all made more beautiful through HoloSpex glasses. Warm drinks and tasty treats will also be available.
Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St., Denver
5:30-9:00 p.m.
Tickets: $10-$13
Celebrate the Season at Southshore
The new homes in this lakeside community are lighting up like holiday central! Stop in and see the beautiful models at Village Homes and Richmond American Homes. With quick move-ins and both ranch and two-story options, homes in this master-planned community, near everything in Aurora, are priced from the $400s to the $700s.