Denver’s annual Grand Illumination is underway, with more than 600,000 colorful lights illuminating the downtown area from Union Station’s grand façade to Civic Center Park, including Skyline Park, the D&F Tower and all along the 16th Street Mall. Nightly through New Year’s Day, more than a million lights arranged in intricate designs bring a festive glow to the Mile High City’s Botanic Gardens in Blossoms of Light. On select evenings throughout the exhibition, live entertainment adds to the festivities. Both the Orangery and Marnie’s Pavilion remain open in the evenings, while light displays in the amphitheater are synchronized to popular holiday music.
Until Jan. 5, Denver Zoo Lights brighten 38 acres of the zoo grounds. Warming stations with holiday treats are located throughout the park, and more than 150 animated animal sculptures add to the zoo-themed entertainment. Supplementing the lighting exhibition is the Zoo Lights Lantern Festival, featured in the Toyota Elephant Passage, home to magnificent Asian Elephants, Clouded Leopards, Flying Fox, Fishing Cats and a Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros.
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