Sure, you can easily knock out all your holiday shopping online, but you have to admit: This isn’t quite the same experience as listening to festive Christmas music while browsing colorful store shelves with hundreds of other people celebrating the winter season.
And great shopping doesn’t necessarily mean braving packed mall parking lots. The Front Range is full of unique shopping experiences that fit every taste, from quaint blocks of boutiques to Instagrammable holiday markets to full-on “retail resorts.”
Here’s a list of the best holiday shopping destinations in Denver. This is the first article in a three-part series that will also highlight the best places in metro Denver to buy Christmas gifts for men, for women, and even for your pets.
Best Places to Shop Local in Denver
Firefly Handmade Holiday Market
Washington Park
This Washington Park neighborhood staple brings more than 80 curated artisans to Old South Gaylord Street the weekend of Nov. 16-17. It’s the perfect place to find a handcrafted, locally-made Christmas gift for the people you love, as well as to get into the spirit of the season with live music and holiday food and drink. A bonus? This free event is pet-friendly!
Horseshoe Holiday Market
Highlands; Littleton
This outdoor indie craft market is sure to have plenty of Christmas gifts that you aren’t likely to find anywhere else. This Denver flea market has everything from eclectic art to curated vintage collections to exceptionally-made crafts from local artists. You can experience this during two winter weekends: at the Highlands Masonic Temple on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 and then at Breckenridge Brewery in Littleton on Dec. 7 and 8.
South Broadway
Baker
South Broadway — and the surrounding Baker neighborhood — is one of the most fun places to hang out in Denver, and that inherently makes it an equally awesome spot for holiday shopping. The stretch of South Broadway from roughly Sixth Avenue to Alameda Avenue is a hub for vintage stores, and you’ll find one-of-a-kind holiday gifts in spots like Goldmine, Regal, and La Lovely. There are also numerous businesses selling uniquely Colorado wares, and plenty of coffee shops and bars to keep you hydrated on your shopping adventure. There aren’t many dedicated parking lots on South Broadway, so get ready to snag a spot in the neighborhood or take public transportation.
Best Places to Shop for Outdoor Holiday Magic
Belmar Shopping District
Lakewood
Lakewood’s Belmar Shopping District goes all out for the holidays, with sparkling Christmas lights covering every tree and an impressive light display in the main square. It’s worth mentioning that there’s also ice skating and an outdoor hot chocolate vendor for those cold winter nights. While you’re here, get your holiday shopping done at the numerous local stores as well as more prominent brands like Dick’s Sporting Goods, Sephora, Target, and Lululemon. There are also numerous restaurants and even a cidery to satisfy your hunger (and thirst) while you’re shopping. Street parking at Belmar comes with a fee, but the large parking lots and parking garages are free.
South Pearl Street
Denver
With tree-lined blocks that look like a scene from “The Holiday” when a fresh winter snow covers them, South Pearl Street is truly the antithesis to the modern mega-mall. Snag a hot cup of coffee at Stella’s and wander a block filled with fun local stores and restaurants. Be ready to practice your parallel parking skills before you arrive, though — most of the spots here are on the street in the surrounding neighborhood.
Streets of Southglenn
Centennial
Back in the 1990s and early 2000s, Southglenn Mall was the place to be. While that indoor shopping center of yore is long gone, its replacement — a scenic outdoor mall — is more than adequate, and it really brings the holiday spirit. In addition to department stores like Marshalls and Ross Dress for Less, you can check out specialty stores like Artworks and Paper Source, and also find some awesome Christmas gifts at Old Navy. If you stop by at night, you can check out a pretty impressive array of holiday lights. There’s plenty of parking both in the surface lots and a garage, and if you’re feeling brave, be sure to give ice skating in the Plaza a shot!
Best Places to Shop for Indoor Holiday Magic
Stanley Marketplace
Aurora
The Stanley Marketplace is like your average mall’s way cooler cousin. This former aircraft hangar in northwest Aurora on the border of Denver’s Central Park neighborhood is home to more than 50 locally-grown retailers selling some of the most unique wares you can find. While you’re here, be sure to stop at one of the numerous restaurants, bars, and breweries scattered throughout this deceptively large space. While you’re there, stop by Camp Christmas — an immersive art exhibit that will put you right into the holiday spirit.
Cherry Creek Shopping Center
Cherry Creek (Denver)
Denver’s oldest and most legendary mall has been one of the best places for Christmas shopping in Denver for decades — and that means that it has the holiday spirit down. Enjoy plenty of decorations and festive music while you explore the dozens of luxury stores in this massive retail space. Also, bring the kids: Santa will be at the mall for photos from Nov. 11 to Dec. 24. One quick warning: There are two huge parking garages at the Cherry Creek Mall, but they now charge $2 per hour, so factor that into your budget.
Edgewater Public Market
Edgewater
This market is the perfect spot for a very hipster Christmas shopping experience. Snag a deceptively strong cocktail at the bar right near the entrance, and then check out the numerous local businesses selling very unique holiday gifts (there’s even a sweet plant store!). Edgewater Public Market gets decked out for the holidays, and there’s often live music to accompany your shopping experience. One thing to note: This is a popular spot when it’s not the holidays, and the parking lot isn’t huge, so be patient and consider taking an alternative form of transportation if you can.
Best Places to Find Affordable Gifts
Colorado Mills
Lakewood
Colorado Mills has the best of both worlds: an awesome indoor mall experience (the circuitous layout is quite easy to get lost in), as well as 160 different outlets. The mall’s close proximity to the beautiful foothills means you can find plenty of places to satisfy the need for Colorado chic outdoor style, including the North Face Outlet, Columbia Factory Store, and Eddie Bauer. This spot is located just off Sixth Avenue and is surrounded by ample parking. Once you finish there, head to downtown Golden or go for a hike in one of the many open spaces nearby.
Outlets at Castle Rock
Castle Rock
This scenic shopping center (yes, that’s an actual sentence) is the largest open-air outlet center in Colorado. It’s home to more than 100 brand-name stores offering 30-70% off retail prices, meaning it’s the perfect place to score a deal during the holiday season. It’s also not too hard to get to — in fact, it’s squarely in the middle of Denver and Colorado Springs, with easy access from Interstate 25.
Denver Premium Outlets
Thornton
This outlet mall north of Denver has deals on all the brands you could ever want, from Kate Space, Tory Burch, Michael Kors, and Cole Haan to mainstays like American Eagle and Under Armour. Since it is an outlet mall, expect discounts of up to 65% off every day — in addition to all of the usual holiday deals. The mall is located off Interstate 25 at the 136th Avenue exit. It knows what’s up and has a huge parking lot, but still be patient: It is the holidays, after all.
Best Places to Get into the Christmas Spirit
Cherry Creek Holiday Market
Cherry Creek North (Denver)
This Denver holiday market has everything you need: a litany of gorgeous Christmas lights, dozens of vendors selling seasonal delights, bars with handcrafted cocktails and coffee drinks, and live music. Stop by for a date night or a girls’ night, where you’ll find a fun Denver holiday shopping experience that’s rewarding regardless of whether or not you actually find a gift. This holiday market is open daily from through Christmas Eve on Filmore Plaza in Cherry Creek North. One caveat: parking in Cherry Creek can be a little tricky, so consider snagging a parking spot with a small fee in one of the garages and going on a walk rather than fighting the crowds.
Mistletoe Market at the Dairy Block
LoDo (Denver)
The Dairy Block is already one of the most Instagrammable spots in Denver, but it really comes alive during the holidays. The Mistletoe Market, which is slated for weekends starting Nov. 30-Dec. 1, includes 12 different local Denver vendors each weekend, selling everything from ceramics to curated vintage fashion items. In addition to shopping, there will also be carolers, festive photo ops, cocktails, and free gift wrapping. This takes place in an outdoor alley, but don’t let that scare you: It’s heated! Since this is in the heart of Lower Downtown, plan on taking public transportation if you can, otherwise be ready to pay to park on the street or in one of the nearby parking lots.
Downtown Lakewood Holiday Bazaar
Belmar (Lakewood)
The Downtown Lakewood Holiday Bazaar isn’t just a shopping experience; it’s an adventure. It’s where you and your friends can check out creative gifts from unique vendors as well as sip on yummy holiday drinks from numerous pop-up bars. Don’t worry: plenty of food trucks will also be parked on site. The Downtown Lakewood Holiday Bazaar will take place on three weekends: Nov. 17-19, Dec. 1-3, and Dec. 15-17. It’s free to stop by, and you should be able to snag a spot in one of Belmar’s multiple parking garages.
Denver Christkindl Market
Civic Center Park (Denver)
This winter wonderland brings an authentic German-style holiday market right to the heart of downtown Denver in Civic Center Park. The market is free, and will be open from Nov. 222 to Dec. 23. Stop by to visit a variety of local vendors as well as sip on hot chocolate and enjoy the sights of the Mile High City during the holidays. Since this is right downtown, public transportation might be the best bet. Our recommendation? Take the light rail to Union Station, enjoy the lights and decorations there, and then make your way to Civic Center Park.
Denver Maker’s Market Holiday Pop-Up
Sheridan
You can actually meet the people responsible for creating your unique, artisan Christmas gift at this holiday pop-up market, which touts itself as being the largest in the Denver metro area. This event will take place each weekend in December at River Point in Sheridan. In addition to featuring booths from various craft vendors and artisans, it will also have fun workshops and activities for kids. With 43,000 square feet of space, you’re sure to find plenty of unique gifts for everyone on your shopping list — and have fun while doing it! River Point is a relatively large shopping center, meaning that parking shouldn’t be a huge problem. It also has a Costco and Super Target so you can also conveniently pick up other everyday necessities.
Denver Botanic Gardens Shop at the Gardens
Cheesman Park (Denver)
The gift shop at Denver Botanic Gardens has more than 10,000 items that encapsulate the core values of sustainability, transformation, diversity, and relevance — meaning it’s the perfect place to find unique Denver Christmas gifts that also help make the world a better place. Expect to find plenty of locally-made items and all-natural gifts, as well as everything you need to create your own garden, from books written by Denver Botanic Gardens staff to plants and tools. Admissions to the Denver Botanic Gardens gift shop is free, and parking is available in a garage just off York Street.
Molly Brown House Gift Shop
Capitol Hill (Denver)
Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like a key part of womanhood is being really into “Titanic” at some point. Luckily, there’s a unique museum in Denver that happens to be full of “Titanic”-related lore, and it also has a pretty epic gift shop where you can buy a litany of unique Christmas gifts. The Molly Brown House Museum memorializes the life of the “unsinkable” Denver icon, and its gift shop is full of trinkets for both history buffs and fans of the classic 1997 film in which Kathy Bates plays her. You can even pick up Molly Brown’s special blend of tea! The Molly Brown House is located in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, so if you do visit for some holiday shopping, be ready to parallel park. Once you’re there, be sure to check out the other historic architecture in the area.
Best Places to Get Everything You Need
Southwest Plaza
Littleton
This mall’s vibe is very much “the place you hung out after high school in 2005,” and let’s be real: The holiday season is the perfect time for nostalgia. Also, Southwest Plaza has all the stores you need to knock out a massive chunk of your Christmas shopping, from Dick’s Sporting Goods and H&M to JC Penney. To really get the full mall nostalgia experience, be sure to stop into Hot Topic and Spencer’s Gifts. This mall has a huge parking lot and is accessible via both South Wadsworth Boulevard and West Bowles Avenue. Another bonus? Some of the stores are pet-friendly!
Aspen Grove
Littleton
This outdoor mall south of Denver is often overlooked, but it’s one of the best holiday shopping destinations in the area. Aspen Grove is easily accessible by the light rail and also has a vast parking lot, meaning that the trip here is less of a pain than other Christmas shopping destinations. When you arrive, you’ll find all the women’s clothing stores you’ll ever want, including Lane Bryant, the Banana Republic, Evereve, and J. Jill, as well as plenty of smaller shops that are chock full of the perfect stocking stuffers. Once you finish shopping, be sure to catch a movie at the Alamo Drafthouse — a unique movie theater that happens to show nostalgic Christmas movies throughout the holiday season.
Park Meadows Mall
Lone Tree
Touting itself as a literal “retail resort,” Park Meadows is the biggest mall in the region and is home to pretty much everything you could ever need when it comes to holiday shopping. That includes a whopping 185 restaurants and stores, many of which don’t have any other brick-and-mortar locations in the area. And since this list is for the ladies, it’s definitely worth mentioning that Park Meadows has an Athleta and a Lululemon, as well as a huge Sephora.
This goes without saying, but Park Meadows can get quite busy during the holidays, so expect traffic heading into Lone Tree and be ready to jump on any open parking spots. It’s worth mentioning that there’s also a light rail station in the area if you’d like to avoid traffic altogether.
Happy shopping!
