FRIDAY
A beautiful night in the park, Bear Creek by Candlelight is the holiday hike down trails lighted by moonlight and luminarias. Then music, chili, crafts, wolf dogs, Search and Rescue and stories with Santa, 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Bear Creek Nature Center, 245 Bear Creek Road. $7-$8. Register: 719-520-6387,elpasocountynaturecenters.com
FRIDAY-SATURDAY
First weekend of three for the Friday-Saturday Christmas at the Ranch, a real ranch with more than 200,000 lights everywhere. Candy Cane Lane, long roller slides, lighted tractor rides and visits with the animals including Mini Highland cows, alpacas, Watusi cattle, goats, sheep, ponies and a whole lot more. Colorado Kids Ranch, 2205 E. Colorado 105, Monument, $12, ages 3 and younger free. coloradokidsranch.com
SATURDAY
Take a Yuletide Stroll in Peyton Junction, shopping all along Front Street “Where Friendly Hangs Out.” Saturday from 2 to 8 p.m. in what the folks in Peyton call their town: “small, vibrant and quirky.” Horse and carriage rides, treats and baby animals. facebook.com/peytonjunctionmarketplace
SATURDAY
The finale for the YMCA Run Series and lots of reindeer and Santa runners. The Jingle Jog 5K and Kids’ 1K Reindeer Run begins at 10 a.m. with the free kids’ run, then 10:30 a.m. for Jingle Jog (“Oh What Fun it is to Run”). Location is Fountain-Fort Carson High School, 900 Jimmy Camp Road, Fountain. For cost and registration: ppymca.org/raceseries.
SATURDAY
For those facing addiction or recovery and families of addicts, this is a personal evening, Second Chance Comedy: A Standup Comedy Show about Addiction at Ent Center for the Arts, Chapman Foundation Recital Hall, 5225 N. Nevada Ave., 7 p.m. Saturday. The comics are all dealing with sobriety and it’s a benefit for Sobriety House in Denver, the state’s oldest licensed substance use treatment center. Tickets $28, tickets.entcenterforthearts.org/5308/5309
SATURDAY-SUNDAY
A holiday treat, the Holiday Express Trains between Colorado and New Mexico, Antonito and Chama, part of the historic Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. Amazing views of the mountains along with Santa and his helpers, hot cocoa, cookies, candy canes, Cinder Bear and the elves. $20-$30. Reservations: cumbrestoltec.com.
FRIDAY-SATURDAY
Musical Postcards from the North Pole will be sent by the Out Loud Colorado Springs Men’s Chorus, Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., First Congregational Church United Church of Christ, 20 E. St. Vrain St. Tickets $25 at outloudcsmc.com/events
SATURDAY
A beautiful candlelight night of music and spoken word, “Wintersong” is a longtime community tradition in historic Shove Chapel on the Colorado College campus. Featuring the a cappella Colorado Vocal Arts Ensemble Saturday at 4 and 7:30 p.m., 1010 N. Nevada Ave., suggested $10 donation. cvae.org/wintersong.
SATURDAY
The Old Colorado City Holiday Tree Lighting in Bancroft Park is 5:30 p.m. Saturday, opening with Christmas carols, Santa and music by Jahida Esperanza and Christmas Brass. Lights go on at 6. shopoldcoloradocity.com/events/holiday-tree-lighting-celebration