Each Thursday, explore Denver’s essential weekend events curated by The Denver Gazette. Dive into cultural experiences and entertainment delights across the city. Whether you enjoy art galleries, pottery, or outdoor sports, there’s something for everyone in Denver’s vibrant cultural scene. To submit an event for consideration, email [email protected].

THURSDAY-NEW YEAR’S EVE

So many holiday light shows are on to enjoy until New Year’s Eve and some into January. See the Mile High Drone Shows with 600 drones in the skies west from Downtown Denver on New Year’s Eve. Millions of lights in drive-through shows synchronized with music, Christmas in Color, at Water World and Red Rocks Park through Dec. 30., christmasincolor.net. Follow lighted paths and a lighted maze through Hudson Gardens in Littleton through Jan. 4. The Mile High Tree, also set to music, is on Auraria Campus Tivoli Quad through New Year’s Eve, 5-10 p.m. Stroll the mile-long LED Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms in Littleton through Jan. 5, botanicgardens.org The Zoo Lights cover 80 acres with three million lights through Jan. 5, denverzoo.org. Outside Fountain, Pikes Peak International Raceway is the site of Magic of Lights and a Holiday Village through Jan. 3, ppir.com. Blossoms of Light at York Street Denver Botanic Gardens is a 40-year tradition of beauty along a mile-long path winding through winter gardens, through Jan. 11, sensory night Jan. 6, botanicgardens.org. The City and County Building lights in Civic Center Park remain on welcoming people to the area through the National Western Stock Show finale Jan. 25.

FRIDAY-DEC. 31

So fun and yummy: Santa’s Little Man Ice Cream Factory open daily except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, 4411 W. Colfax Ave., 3-10 p.m. A Santa’s Factory, Winter Wonderland theme filled with special Christmas and Hanukkah activities. Ice cream flavors like Egg Nog, Gingersnap, White Chocolate Candy Cane and Vegan Frosty Cocoa. instagram.com/littlemanicecream

FRIDAY-JAN. 4

Animal Kingdom 3D is the giant screen adventure through Jan. 4 at Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Travel the world and meet animals in their natural environments. 2001 Colorado Blvd. dmns.org

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

A holiday tradition about Mr. Scrooge, “A Christmas Carol” based on the Charles Dickens’ novel is performed by the DCPA Theatre Company in Wolf Theatre. denvercenter.org

DEC. 30-31

Tickets are on sale for the huge New Year’s electronic dance nights Decadence NYE, The Digital City, at Colorado Convention Center downtown Denver Dec. 30-31. More than 25 groups on the bill. decadence.nye.com

NEW YEAR’S EVE

Heading to the ski areas? The New Year’s Eve celebration in Snowmass is a Torchlight Parade starting at 6 p.m. and fireworks at 10 p.m. Snowmass Base Village. Winter Park hosts sledders and a tubing hill, along with a Silent Disco along with a Torchlight Parade and fireworks. Telluride has a beautiful run down the mountain by ski patrol with flaming torches followed by a fireworks show. In Vail a Torchlight Parade and fireworks and the same for Breckenridge. Fireworks over the mountain in Aspen.