Things to Do Downtown
~ Happy November ~
The countdown to downtown's Light Up the Holidays begins! Kick off the festive season with all things merry and bright at Switch on the Holidays happening on Sunday, November 24th at 5 PM. More of your favorite winter traditions are just around the corner...mark your calendars for the following events:
- Virtual Find Freezie - November 24th - December 14th
- Snow Much Fun AR Experiences - November 24th - January 31st, 2025
- St Nick on the Bricks - Friday, November 29th & Saturdays, November 30th - December 14th from 11 AM - 2 PM
- Small Business Saturday (Weekend) - November 29th - December 1st
Have you explored the East End district lately? Five pairs of unique Adirondack-style chairs were hand-painted by local artists and installed in spots throughout the East End. Now, we want to hear from YOU! Support your local artists and vote* for your favorite pair of chairs - the first, second and third winning artists will receive a cash prize! *Voting ends on December 14th.
Firefly Handmade's annual Holiday Market returns to the Pearl Street Mall on Saturday, November 23rd from 10 AM - 4 PM. Get into the holiday shopping spirit...check out this year's 80+ featured vendors! *Don't forget to give your local downtown businesses love throughout the winter - there is plenty of love for the local to go around this season!
Read on for more things happening in November - and don't forget to check out our event calendar for daily updates and additional details in our Things To Do blog.
~As we continue to provide free and accessible experiences we humbly request that you join us in our fundraising efforts to support our cherished community events.~
Highlights for November 2024
Boulder County Farmers Market
Saturdays | 8 AM - 2 PM
Head to 13th Street & Canyon for your favorite local farmers market - the Boulder County Farmers Market! Explore the weekly featured vendors, live music performances and beer garden schedule. Don't forget...Boulder Farmers Markets wrap up this month on November 23rd. Stop by before they are gone for the season!
Pearl Street Stampedes
Friday, November 15th | 7 PM | 1300 block
Show up and show out for the final Pearl Street Stampede of the season. Friday, November 15th, the night before CU goes head-to-head with Utah University, meet us on 1300 block of the Pearl Street Mall at 7 PM for an array of lively performances and appearances from members of CU athletics, CU Spirit Team, the Golden Buffalo Marching Band and of course...CU Mascot, Chip! Following the performances, the parade led by Stephen Tebo's vintage 1948 fire truck, heads west down the mall.
Don't forget, the final home game will be on Friday, November 29th (there will be no Stampede)!
Switch on the Holidays
Sunday, November 24th | 5 PM - 7 PM | 1300 block
Tis' the season to Switch on the Holidays! Sunday, November 24th, meet us on the 1300 block of the Pearl Street Mall from 5 PM - 7 PM. Enjoy performances from Kidz in Locomotion, Boulder Ballet and the Boulder Chorale and special appearances from our friends from the North Pole, downtown's Freezie the Snowman, Mrs. Claus and Santa himself! At approximately 5:20 PM, watch as we "flip the switch" to illuminate the lights along the Pearl Street Mall, Civic Area and around the Boulder County Courthouse.
Following the switch, stop by the Visitor Information Center for free visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus until 7 PM. Make sure to have your wish lists in-hand and phone cameras ready to capture these special memories!
Small Business Saturday (Weekend)
Friday, November 29th - Sunday, December 1st
One day out of the year is not enough to celebrate Downtown Boulder's local businesses...so we turned Small Business Saturday into a weekend-long celebration of Loving the Local! Small Business Saturday (Weekend) kicks off Friday, November 29th - Sunday, December 1st - check out this year's list of participating retailers and check back frequently for updated retailers/specials/happenings.
Did you know that 70% of downtown Boulder businesses are locally-owned and operated? Meet the faces behind the storefronts and check out downtown's Business Spotlights page. Shopping small makes a BIG impact on your downtown community!
St. Nick on the Bricks
Friday, November 29th & Saturdays, November 30th - December 14th | 11 AM - 2 PM
Santa Claus is coming to (down)town! St. Nick on the Bricks returns Friday, November 29th and Saturdays, November 30th - December 14th from 11 AM - 2 PM for free visits* with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Downtown Boulder Visitor Information Center. Make sure your kiddos have their wish lists in-hand and be sure to bring your cameras/phones to capture these priceless holiday moments.
Coinciding with Santa visits, the 100% Electric Snowflake Express will provide free train rides along the Pearl Street Mall (weather permitting) for children ages 10 years and under (and their accompanying adults). The last train leaves the stations at 2 PM sharp.
*In the spirit of the season of giving, please consider a donation (suggested $10 per group) to the Downtown Boulder Community Initiatives (501c3). Learn more about the organization today.
Coming Soon...Virtual Holiday Activities
Virtual Find Freezie & Snow Much Fun AR Experiences
Downtown's favorite snowman scavenger hunt, Find Freezie and Snow Much Fun AR Experiences returns Sunday, November 24th. This year, these winter activities have a new look courtesy of Reality Mint, a local Boulder Augmented Reality studio.
Stay tuned...more information for both events will be available soon. We recommend bookmarking both the Find Freezie and Snow Much Fun AR Experience webpages and to check back frequently for additional information. In the meantime, explore the following AR experiences for a sneak peak of what to look forward to this winter.
Firefly Handmade Holiday Market
Saturday, November 23rd | 10 AM - 4 PM | Pearl Street Mall
Firefly Handmade's Holiday Market returns to the Pearl Street Mall on Saturday, November 23rd from 10 AM - 4 PM! Enjoy live music, local shopping and be sure to check out the 80+ artisans/vendors lined up throughout the Mall. *Don't forget to give your local downtown businesses love throughout the winter - there is plenty of love for the local to go around this season!
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