Castle Pines' Holiday Season Gets Decided on One Friday Morning in November

In Castle Pines, most of December gets settled at 8 a.m. on Friday, November 13. The City of Castle Pines opens sales and registration for its Winter Wonderland events at one time. That includes the VIP tree lighting, movie night, gingerbread decorating, holiday bingo and carriage rides. The events themselves run from December 4 to December 13. Every one of them is at the same address.

That one address explains the urgency. The series fits into one venue, so the limits are about capacity, not demand. Last December, the City's own event pages showed two of the ticketed experiences as sold out. Even a free event filled the year before. When the season comes down to a single morning, the people who planned ahead get the ten days they wanted.

Ten Days at 1414 Castle Pines Parkway

All of it happens at The Ridge Golf Course, a public course that the City says has been open since 1997. The Ridge runs its own dining room, Park Place at The Ridge. This isn't new. When Castle Pines Connection covered the series' first edition, it reported that "hundreds of residents" came. The Ridge hosted the tree lighting, carriage rides, a lights trail, movie night and brunch that year too.

Here's the 2026 lineup the City has posted:

The tree lighting opens the series. The City lists a Santa and reindeer meet-and-greet, a train ride, carolers, hot cocoa, a decorated path and local performers. The tree goes on at about 6:45 p.m., and a drone light show follows if weather and conditions allow. Because space is limited, dogs aren't permitted. The City's 2024 announcement already included the drone show, so it's now a regular part of the night.

What Filled Up Before

Here's what ran out in the past two seasons:

• 2025 VIP tree lighting passes. The City's December 5, 2025, event page read: "VIP Passes are sold out, but we hope you'll still come to the tree lighting celebration!"
• 2025 carriage rides. The December 13, 2025, listing said tickets were sold out and sent people to a waitlist. Those rides cost $15 per person, left every 30 minutes from 4 to 8 p.m., and allowed up to eight tickets per reservation.
• 2024 Holiday Bingo Night. This was the first year for bingo, and the City marked every reservation as filled.

The costliest pass ran out, and so did bingo. What they share is a set number of seats, carriage spots or bingo tables at one clubhouse. The 2026 bingo is free, but you still need to register in advance, and registration opens with everything else on November 13. The 2026 bingo runs three sessions, at 3, 5 and 7 p.m.

The timing hasn't changed much either. In 2024, the City posted its announcement on a Wednesday and opened ticket sales and reservations "this Friday, November 8," about four weeks before the tree lighting. This year's November 13 opening follows the same pattern of a Friday morning, roughly three weeks ahead.

How to Use the Morning of November 13

Since everything opens at once, the order you buy in matters. Based on last year's results, here's a sensible order for 8 a.m.:

1. Carriage rides. These sold out and went to a waitlist in 2025. Each half-hour departure has a fixed capacity. The 2025 rule asked buyers to register everyone in their party so there would be enough room on the carriage, so have your headcount ready. The City sells 2026 tickets for ages 2 and up.
2. VIP tree lighting, if you want it. These sold out in 2025. In 2026 they're $65 for adults and $35 for children, and the City says they're non-refundable because capacity is limited. The general celebration is still free without a pass.
3. Holiday Bingo registration. It's free, but it filled in its first year, and this year it opens in the same window as the paid events.
4. Gingerbread House Decorating. Pick a session at 10 a.m., noon or 2 p.m. on December 6. Tickets are $20.
5. Holiday Movie Night. The Grinch plays on December 5, and tickets are $5.

Keep an eye on the Holly Jolly Brunch page too. As of the City's posting, the December 13 brunch is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with details still to come. It's the one event in the series with no posted price yet.

The Road to The Ridge Is Being Rebuilt This Month

The parkway that leads to The Ridge is also wrapping up a long construction season. According to the City's 2026 Castle Pines Parkway Reconstruction page, work started June 1. In July, City Council approved replacing the concrete between Forest Park Drive and the Buffalo Trail roundabout with asphalt, after crews found the concrete was more damaged than expected.

Here's the current schedule from that page. Westbound asphalt was expected to start in late October. Then traffic shifts onto the new westbound pavement while crews take out the eastbound concrete. Final paving of the eastbound lanes, from Forest Park Drive to near the Buffalo Trail roundabout, is expected in early to mid-November. The City says all timing depends on weather. The Castle Pines North Metropolitan District has finished the main waterline work beneath the road.

If the schedule holds, the parkway should have its final pavement before the December 4 tree lighting. If weather pushes paving back, expect lane shifts on the drive to the event. Questions go to the City at 303-705-0200 or [email protected].

The Rest of November's Calendar

A few other dates fill the weeks before the season, each with its own address:

• Saturday, November 7. The City hosts a Leaf and Pumpkin Composting event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Elk Ridge Park, 7005 Mira Vista Lane.
• Tuesday, November 10. A Comprehensive Plan Pop-Up runs from 7 to 9 a.m. at The Exchange Coffee House, 1415 Westbridge Drive.
• Wednesday, November 18. Life Time Castle Pines is scheduled to open at 7373 Canyon Forge Drive. The club's page says "Arriving November 18, 2026" and lists more than 102,000 square feet, indoor and outdoor pickleball, pools, Kids Academy and hydrotherapy suites.

Coyote Ridge Park won't be ready this winter. Phase 1 work started September 8, 2026, and the City's project page now estimates completion in spring 2027. The plans include a new inclusive playground, a baseball field, shade structures, accessible paths and a pollinator garden.

If you're thinking about listing a Castle Pines home in the new year, a December that looks this good is a fair time to find out what yours is worth. Joni has been keeping track of these calendars across the southeast Denver suburbs for more than 30 years, and she'll walk you through the numbers without pressure. Request your home valuation with Joni Jagger.