Denver Christkindlmarket 2026: Dates, Hours, Parking and Getting to Auraria

Denver Christkindlmarket opens Friday, November 20, at Tivoli Quad on the Auraria Campus, 1000 Larimer Street, and it’s free to walk into. That’s the good news. After that the meter starts running: parking first, then whatever ends up in your stein. Over 40 vendors keep the German food and drinks coming until December 23, 2026, and the garages fill up quickly when the weekend crowds arrive. What follows covers hours, lots, light rail stations and the best drop-off spot, plus a few rules that save you a trip back to the car.

Denver Christkindlmarket Dates and Hours

Denver Christkindlmarket hours change with the day, and the table below has the full schedule. The short version is that weekdays start late and Thanksgiving ends early, so the turkey wins. The last week, December 17 to 23, runs the longer weekend schedule, which makes it a good week for a weekday visit.

Festival Hall keeps going an hour past the vendors, until 10 p.m. The official Denver Christkindlmarket site posts any schedule changes, and the run adds up to 34 days in total.

Where Is the Market? Tivoli Quad on Auraria Campus

The Denver Christkindl Market fills Tivoli Quad on the Auraria Campus, at 1000 Larimer Street, Denver, CO 80204. Admission is free, so there’s nothing to buy up front and you can wander in whenever the mood strikes. The stalls and Festival Hall belong to the same market, which keeps the evening to a single address.

This year brings a 42 foot carousel and glass ornament workshops to the German Christmas market in Denver. The food side is what you’d expect, from bratwurst to gluhwein.

Auraria Campus Parking for the Market

Auraria Campus parking is where most of the planning goes. The market recommends five places: Holly Lot, Elm Lot, Cherry Lot, 7th Street Garage and 5th Street Garage. All five take payment through ParkMobile, so install the app before you leave home.

Garages fill up quickly, and on a busy day that’s your cue to try a lot instead. Denver Christkindlmarket parking is cheapest Monday to Thursday before 5 p.m., when the market lists $8.25 for the day. That’s the bargain window.

Evenings are murkier. The market and the campus quote different prices, so check Auraria Campus visitor parking for the current rate before you drive down. A weekday afternoon keeps the bill smallest.

Light Rail and Bus to the Market

RTD light rail skips the parking question altogether, which makes it the sensible way to reach the Denver Christmas market. Four stations sit within a 15 minute walk of Tivoli Quad, and Colfax at Auraria is the closest at nine minutes.

Union Station has the longest walk, and it still beats circling a full garage. Buses #43 and #6 stop at 9th & Auraria Pkwy and at Larimer & 12th St. The market’s page on getting to the market keeps the current details for Christkindlmarket at Auraria.

Rideshare and Car Drop-Off at Kings Center

Rideshare and hired cars should aim for Auraria Campus in the navigation app and ask the driver to pull up at Kings Center. From there it’s a three minute walk to the market. A drop-off also spares everyone the garage hunt.

Settle the pickup spot for the ride home before you go in, because the same corner works on the way out.

Coming from Denver Airport or with a Group

Visitors landing at DEN reach downtown in about 45 minutes by road, and Mr. Chauffeur Colorado prices that run per vehicle. The Denver Airport to Downtown Denver private shuttle page has the details. Groups of up to 14 can share one van, which settles the parking question for a work party or a family reunion.

A 20% gratuity goes on top of each fare. Other routes live on the Denver Airport car service page, and the SUV and van fleet page shows which vehicle fits the group. Questions go to +1 970-401-0821.

What to Know Before You Go

Dress for the cold, because this Denver holiday market is mostly outdoors. The 2026 mug, drawn by Flynn Zook, shows the Tivoli Brewery and the Mile High Tree. You can only buy it on site, at any bar, while supplies last, so skip the online search.

Festival Hall tables go through Tock, and the hall stays open until 10 p.m. Family Sundays and visits from the Christkind and St. Nikolaus follow the entertainment calendar. Dogs are welcome on a leash, though the organizer advises leaving them home on weekends and during the Parade of Lights.

Ramps and ADA restrooms are on site, but strollers and wheelchairs move slowly in the weekend and evening crowds. Four items are banned outright.

• Glass containers stay home.
• Outside alcohol stays home.
• Smoking is not allowed.
• Suitcases and large items stay home.