Elk Fest in Estes ParkEstes Park
Oct 3 and 4
A whole weekend about the elk right in the middle of rut season, in the park downtown.
Fall in the Colorado mountain towns2 things
The ones people drive in from other counties for. Most of them run the whole season, so you don't have to pick a weekend yet.
Watch the elk rut in Rocky Mountain National ParkEstes Park
late September into mid October, at dusk · check the date
The bull elk bugle in the meadows around sunset, and the kids will never forget the sound. Stay in the car or way back.
The little stuff, by town0 things
The city Halloween parties and the trunk or treats and the free stuff. Cities post their 2026 dates late, so anything marked "check the date" gets fixed the second it's announced.
The cities post these in early November. Check back.
For the rest of your list
These don't need an address, tap them and they go on your list with everything else.
Christmas in the Colorado mountain towns3 things
The Georgetown Loop train sells out, so book that one first. Catch the Glow is the day after Thanksgiving and the Race of the Santas is the first Saturday in December.
Santa's Lighted Forest on the Georgetown LoopGeorgetown
evenings through Dec 24 · check the date
An hour long night train through a forest with over 300,000 lights, and Santa rides every departure before Christmas.
Catch the Glow ParadeEstes Park
Fri Nov 27 at 5:30
The day after Thanksgiving, lit up floats down Elkhorn Avenue with Santa and his reindeer at the end, and you can see Santa downtown all afternoon.
Race of the Santas and the Lighting of BreckenridgeBreckenridge
Sat Dec 5 in the afternoon · check the date
Hundreds of people in Santa suits run down Main Street, then the real Santa shows up and they light the town tree at 5.
Town Christmas stuff
The town stuff, and I'll add the tree lightings as the cities post them in November.
Christmas in Estes Park
Estes Park Tree Lighting
Sat Nov 21, 3:30 to 6
The town tree lighting in the park downtown.
For the rest of your Christmas list
This is the at-home stuff, tap them and they go on your list with the lights and the train.
put it on the wall
Turn your Christmas picks into a real bucket list
Tap the lights and the trains and the town stuff you want and pick the Christmas design you like, and I'll hold onto your picks. The Christmas lists are coming soon, and the second they're up your picks drop straight into the slots.
Good any weekend2 things
The stuff that doesn't need a date, for the Saturday when nothing's going on.
Rocky Mountain National ParkEstes Park
Bear Lake and the easy lakes loop, and elk just walking around.
Isak Heartstone, the Breckenridge trollBreckenridge
A giant wooden troll hiding in the woods on a short trail, and the kids think it's the best thing ever.
Colorado mountain towns fall and Christmas questions
When is Elk Fest in Estes Park in 2026?
October 3 and 4, 2026 in Bond Park downtown.
When is the Catch the Glow Parade in Estes Park?
Friday, November 27, 2026, the day after Thanksgiving, at 5:30 on Elkhorn Avenue. It's free.
What is Santa's Lighted Forest?
A night train on the Georgetown Loop Railroad through a forest with over 300,000 lights. It's about an hour, Santa rides every departure before Christmas, and it sells out.
When is the Race of the Santas in Breckenridge?
Saturday, December 5, 2026 on Main Street, ending with the tree lighting at 5.
who's writing this
Hi, I'm Amy.
We roadschool six kids out of a van. I'm just a mom with a Ford Transit and a lot of opinions about corn mazes, so if something on here is wrong, or your town's party is missing, email me at hello@bellebucket.com and I'll fix it.
put it on the wall
Turn your picks into a real bucket list
Tap the ones you want and I'll drop them onto whichever fall design you pick, then you add your own stuff (birthdays, carving pumpkins, whatever your family does). It prints big, like 24x36 big, and it hangs on the wall all season.