Honestly, if you’re tired of the "mall-ification" of Christmas, you need to get yourself to Georgetown. This isn't one of those over-produced, plastic-heavy festivals. The Georgetown Colorado Christmas Market 2024 felt like stepping into a snow globe, but with better food and way more history. For two weekends in December—specifically December 7-8 and 14-15—this tiny mountain town basically shuts down its modern brain and reverts to 1874.
I’m talking Victorian costumes, horse-drawn wagons, and the smell of roasted chestnuts that actually lingers on your coat for days. It's the 64th year they’ve done this, and somehow it doesn't feel old or tired. It feels real.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Market
A lot of folks think this is just a quick pitstop on the way to Silverthorne or Vail. Big mistake. If you treat it like a 20-minute leg stretch, you’re going to miss the actual magic. The market is an "Old World" style setup, which means it’s heavily influenced by European traditions. You’ve got the Santa Lucia procession—where children walk through the streets with candlelit crowns—and a St. Nicholas who looks like he walked out of a 19th-century etching, not a Coca-Cola ad.
The biggest misconception? That it’s "just another craft fair."
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It’s really not. The organizers (Historic Georgetown, Inc.) are pretty strict about the vendors. You won't find mass-produced plastic junk here. Instead, it’s local Colorado wine, hand-knitted alpaca wool from the valley, and rare books. I saw one stall selling hand-carved wooden puzzles that probably took three months to make. It’s that kind of vibe.
The Logistics: Don't Get Stuck on I-70
Look, I-70 is a beast. We all know it. If you’re coming from Denver for the Georgetown Colorado Christmas Market 2024, you’re looking at about a 45-mile drive, but in December, that can easily turn into a two-hour ordeal.
- Arrival Time: Get there by 9:30 AM. The market officially opens at 10 AM and runs until 5 PM. If you roll in at noon, parking is going to be a nightmare, and the roasted chestnut line will be a mile long.
- The Parking Situation: There are free shuttles that run from the outskirts of town. Use them. Trying to find a spot on 6th Street is a fool's errand.
- The Cold: It’s Georgetown. It’s in a canyon. The sun disappears behind the mountains early, and the temperature drops like a stone. Wear layers. Real ones.
The Santa Lucia Procession
This is the heart of the event. Every day at noon, the Santa Lucia children’s procession begins. It’s a Swedish tradition that honors the "Queen of Light." In the middle of a Colorado winter, seeing those flickering candles (yes, real candles sometimes, though they’ve moved to LED for the younger kids for safety) against the backdrop of the Victorian Hotel de Paris is something else. It’s quiet, it’s respectful, and it’s genuinely moving.
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Why the Food is Actually Worth the Wait
You’re going to be tempted to just grab a quick burger and head out. Don't. You need to find the "Biergarten" area.
The food at the Georgetown Colorado Christmas Market 2024 is a weird, delicious mix of mountain hearty and European traditional. There’s usually a stall selling Glühwein—that spiced, mulled wine that makes your fingers stop tingling.
Then there are the chestnuts. They roast them on an open fire right there on the street. It’s $5 or $10 for a bag, and yeah, they’re messy to peel, but it’s the most "Christmas" thing you will do all year. Pair that with some Colorado-made bratwurst, and you’re set.
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Beyond the Vendor Stalls
If you’re already in town, you might as well see the "Museum Row." Georgetown was a silver mining powerhouse, and they’ve preserved the houses to prove it.
- Hotel de Paris Museum: This was a high-end French hotel in the 1800s. During the market, it’s decorated in period-correct Victorian greenery.
- Hamill House: This is where the wealthy mine owners lived. They do a "Christmas at Hamill House" event that’s separate from the market but usually happens around the same time.
- Georgetown Loop Railroad: If you can snag tickets, do the Santa North Pole Adventure. The train leaves from the Devil’s Gate station just up the road. It sells out months in advance, though, so if you haven't booked for 2024 yet, check for cancellations daily.
A Note on the 2024 Vibe
Every year is a bit different. In 2024, there’s been a massive push to support the local Clear Creek County artisans even more than usual. After some of the economic swings of the last few years, the town is leaning hard into its identity as a "living museum." You’ll notice more "Made in Colorado" tags than ever before.
It’s also worth mentioning that this isn't a "pet-friendly" event in the way a park is. The streets get incredibly crowded. Between the horse-drawn wagons, the small kids, and the snow piles, bringing a large dog is usually a recipe for stress—for you and the dog.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're planning to attend, here is your game plan:
- Check the Weather: If a storm is hitting the Eisenhower Tunnel, I-70 will be a mess. Check the CDOT "COtrip" app before you leave Denver.
- Cash is King: While most vendors take cards now, the cell service in the canyon can be spotty when 5,000 people are all trying to use the same tower. Bring a hundred bucks in 20s just in case.
- Book the Train Now: If you want the train ride, check the Georgetown Loop website immediately.
- Stay Overnight: If you want the best experience, book a room at the Georgetown Mountain Inn or one of the local B&Bs for Saturday night. Walking the streets at dusk after the day-trippers have left is when the town feels most magical.
The Georgetown Colorado Christmas Market 2024 isn't just a place to buy ornaments. It’s a place to remember that the holidays don't have to be loud and neon. Sometimes, they can just be a quiet horse-drawn ride through a snowy mountain pass.