The Story of the Nutcracker - MAPAC Children's Theater
When: All day
Where: Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, 1103 Arapahoe Street, Golden, CO
When Marie's gift from her Godfather Drosselmeier on Christmas Eve gets broken, she tries to find and fix the Nutcracker. Instead, he comes alive, and a story-within-the-story begins! Beome a part of the Nutcracker tale and see if everyone gets to live happily ever after.
The Story of the Nutcracker - MAPAC Children's Theater
When: All day
Where: Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, 1103 Arapahoe Street, Golden, CO
When Marie's gift from her Godfather Drosselmeier on Christmas Eve gets broken, she tries to find and fix the Nutcracker. Instead, he comes alive, and a story-within-the-story begins! Beome a part of the Nutcracker tale and see if everyone gets to live happily ever after.
Letters to Santa
When: All day
Where: Golden Welcome Center, 1010 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO
Drop off your letter to Santa Claus at the Golden Welcome Center! Be sure to include a return address because any letters "mailed" before December 15th will receive a response from the man in red himself!
CURRENT EXHIBITS AT THE MUSEUMS
When: All day
See all events from the Golden Cultural Alliance.
THE BUFFALO BILL MUSEUM AND GRAVE
987 1/2 Lookout Mountain Road (map)
303-526-0744
CLOSED Monday, New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas
The Buffalo Bill Story, Buffalo Bill's Death, The Americans, A Visit to the Wild West, Firearms, Kid's Cowboy Corral
COLORADO RAILROAD MUSEUM
17155 W. 44th Avenue (map)
303-279-4591
CLOSED Monday, New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Year's Eve Day
UPPER GALLERY
Center for Railroad Photography & Art Winners
The winners of the Center for Railroad Photography & Art’s 2025 John E. Gruber Creative Photography Contest have been announced, and these award-winning images are now on display at the Museum.
Black Diamonds and Steel Rails
This fascinating exhibit delves into the rich history of coal in Colorado, examining its crucial role in fueling locomotives, driving industrial growth, and shaping the state’s railroads. Learn about the mining industry, the challenges faced by miners, and how this powerful resource connected communities across the Centennial State.
LOWER GALLERY
Traqueros: Mexican Trackworkers and the American Railroad
(through August 2026)
This powerful display explores the invaluable—yet often overlooked—contributions of Mexican and Mexican American laborers who built and maintained America’s railroads.
FOOTHILLS ART CENTER - ASTOR HOUSE
1133 Arapahoe Street (map)
303-279-3922
CLOSED New Year's Day, President's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve Day
50th Holiday Art Market
(through December 29, 2025)
Features works from over 100 Colorado artists in this festive Foothills Art Center tradition.
GOLDEN HISTORY MUSEUM & PARK
923 10th Street (map)
303-278-3557
(Museum) CLOSED Sunday, Monday, New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Year's Eve Day
Clear Creek Room: The Heart of Golden
Surrounded by North and South Table Mountains, Clear Creek has drawn people to this area for millennia.
We Are Still Here: The Endurance of Native Jewels
(through April 2026)
In this exhibit, we define jewel as both a precious item as well as a woman of strength and importance. Explore how Indigenous women have persevered through hundreds of years of oppression and numerous attempts to destroy their culture. Featuring modern Native fashions that utilize ancient Indigenous jewels, learn about prominent Native women in contemporary American society. Not only are Native Americans still here; they have endured, and they are thriving.
Discovery Awaits: Indigenous Connections, Epic Events, Legendary People, and the Touch Gallery. A new Jolly Rancher exhibit is in the works and will open in 2025.
Golden History Park (11th & Arapahoe): The outdoor setting re-creates the look and feel of a late 1800's mountain ranch complete with gardens, a working blacksmith shop, schoolhouse and chicken coop (chickens included).
MINES MUSEUM
Colorado School of Mines
1310 Maple Street (map)
303-273-3815
CLOSED New Year's Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving and Christmas
The main floor exhibits feature specimens from many Colorado mining districts, other global localities and an introductory video on area geology. The Special Exhibit Room hosts prominent precious metal and invited displays. The main gallery also showcases historic mining murals by Irwin Hoffman.
The basement contains numerous exhibits regarding radioactivity, fossils, basic geology, gemstones, meteorites, ultraviolet minerals and underground mining illumination. The outdoor geologic trail features seven outcrops with various geologic and paleontological points of interest, including fossilized dinosaur tracks, logs and leaves.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN QUILT MUSEUM
200 Violet Street, Unit 140 (map)
303-277-0377
CLOSED New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas
MAIN GALLERY
Quilts Inspired from Down Under - a solo exhibit by Bonnie Murphy
(through January 17, 2026)
Drawn to reproduction fabrics and patterns based on historical quilts from the 19th century, Bonnie began to notice most of her quilts were designed by Australian designers, Di Ford Hall, Margaret Mew, Susan Smith and Sandy Cousins, just to name a few! Although hand quilting her first quilts, Bonnie discovered she loved the look of machine quilting and found some very talented ladies who now longarm quilt her creations.
NORTHEAST GALLERY
The Grandeur of the Moment - a solo exhibit by Linda Anderson
(through January 17, 2026)
Linda Anderson tells compelling stories of people in many cultures around the world, many images gathered from her travels. Everyone, everywhere, has a story. Her realistic depictions celebrate the ordinary moments that often go unnoticed, capturing the essence of the humanity we all share. Facilitating that connection visually and highlighting the splendor of the commonplace is her goal.
See all events from the Golden Cultural Alliance
The Story of the Nutcracker - MAPAC Children's Theater
When: All day
Where: Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, 1103 Arapahoe Street, Golden, CO
When Marie's gift from her Godfather Drosselmeier on Christmas Eve gets broken, she tries to find and fix the Nutcracker. Instead, he comes alive, and a story-within-the-story begins! Beome a part of the Nutcracker tale and see if everyone gets to live happily ever after.
Golden History Tours
When: All day
Golden History Tours offers Wild West Walking Tours, Pub Crawls, Ghost Tours, and more! If you don't see a scheduled tour on a particular date, you can book a tour at a custom time.
More information
Golden Sports
When: All day
Check out the sports schedules for our local teams:
Colorado School of Mines
Golden High School
Bell Middle School
Saturday Morning Run and Social Walk
When: 8AM
Where: Golden History Park, Arapahoe and 11th Streets, Golden, CO
Join the Foothills Running and Cycling Club for a morning run and social walk every week!
For more info, visit our website: www.memberplanet.com/foothillsrunningandcyclingclub
Brunch at the Rose
When: 10AM-3PM
Where: Buffalo Rose, 1119 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO
The Rose will be hosting brunch every Saturday and Sunday. Come enjoy our delicious brunch menu, along with signature cocktails.
Music from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Reservations
Foothills Art Center - Holiday Art Market
When: 10AM-5PM
Where: Foothills Art Center, 1133 Arapahoe Street, Golden, CO
The annual Holiday Art Market (HART) at Foothills Art Center in Golden, CO is a premier holiday venue for fabulous fine art and craft made in Colorado. Visitors are immersed in a unique holiday marketplace featuring an array of handmade gifts for everyone on their holiday gift giving list. Over 100 Colorado artists offer ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, paintings, woodworking, photography and much more. Plus, your purchases of these one-of-a-kind treasure helps support both local artists and Foothills Art Center!
Admission and activities are free (donations accepted). 303-279-3922.
M-Sat: 10am – 5pm
Sunday: 12- 5pm
With these holidays:
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas Eve
- Christmas Day
Visit www.foothillsartcenter.org.
Foothills Art Center - Holiday Art Market
When: 10AM-5PM
Where: Foothills Art Center, 1133 Arapahoe Street, Golden, CO
The annual Holiday Art Market (HART) at Foothills Art Center in Golden, CO is a premier holiday venue for fabulous fine art and craft made in Colorado. Visitors are immersed in a unique holiday marketplace featuring an array of handmade gifts for everyone on their holiday gift giving list. Over 100 Colorado artists offer ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, paintings, woodworking, photography and much more. Plus, your purchases of these one-of-a-kind treasure helps support both local artists and Foothills Art Center!
Admission and activities are free (donations accepted). 303-279-3922.
M-Sat: 10am – 5pm
Sunday: 12- 5pm
With these holidays:
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas Eve
- Christmas Day
Visit www.foothillsartcenter.org.
Small Business Saturday
When: 10AM
Kick-off the holiday season in Golden on Small Business Saturday. Shop and dine in Golden to support our local small businesses.
More information
Family Time - Registration Required
When: 10:15-10:45AM
Where: Golden Library, 1019 10th Street, Golden, CO
It’s reading fun for everyone! Gather the whole family for engaging stories, dancing, singing and rhyming.
Registration required
Walk With a Geologist
When: 12-2:30PM
Where: Dinosaur Ridge, 16831 West Alameda Parkway, Morrison, CO
Ready to really nerd out with a deep dive into the geology and paleontology at Dino Ridge? Our Walk With a Geologist tour is a 2.5-hour (1.5 mile) guided walk across Dinosaur Ridge led by a professional or highly knowledgeable amateur geologist. In addition to the interpretation of the dinosaur track and fossil sites, the tour includes an in-depth discussion of the geology and changes to the Denver area through time. Designed for participants ages 16 and older.
Register
Stocking Stuffers
When: 2PM
Where: Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, 1100 Miners Alley, Golden, CO
From the outrageously funny minds behind THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL comes a brand-new, adults-only holiday comedy! This sharp, side-splitting musical is the perfect antidote to the overly sweet holiday fare—packed with heart, a healthy dose of irreverence, and songs you'll be humming all season long. It's big laughs with a holiday twist, and we can't wait for you to be the first to see it.
Tickets
Stocking Stuffers
When: 2PM
Where: Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, 1100 Miners Alley, Golden, CO
From the outrageously funny minds behind THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL comes a brand-new, adults-only holiday comedy! This sharp, side-splitting musical is the perfect antidote to the overly sweet holiday fare—packed with heart, a healthy dose of irreverence, and songs you'll be humming all season long. It's big laughs with a holiday twist, and we can't wait for you to be the first to see it.
Tickets
Golden American Legion Dinner
When: 5-6:30PM
Where: American Legion Post 21, 500 9th Street, Golden, CO
Every Saturday the Post has a home cooked meal at 5:00 p.m. and Queen of Hearts progressive raffle at 6:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome as guests of American Legion Post 21. Please sign our guest registry located to the left as you enter through the door. www.goldenpost21.org /*Events*/
Harleys After Dark
When: 5-8PM
Where: Avalanche Harley Davidson, 18425 W. Colfax Avenue, Golden, CO
Join us for Harleys After Dark! Let's enjoy an evening of live entertainment, free dinner, and drinks. It's a free event, but you must sign up to attend!
Sign up
It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
When: 7:30PM
Where: Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, 1100 Miners Alley, Golden, CO
Step into a 1940s radio studio where IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE is brought to life before your eyes—complete with vintage microphones, live sound effects, and a cast playing dozens of characters. It's nostalgic, theatrical, and full of heartwarming charm. A timeless story told in a fresh, inventive way.
Tickets
It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
When: 7:30PM
Where: Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, 1100 Miners Alley, Golden, CO
Step into a 1940s radio studio where IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE is brought to life before your eyes—complete with vintage microphones, live sound effects, and a cast playing dozens of characters. It's nostalgic, theatrical, and full of heartwarming charm. A timeless story told in a fresh, inventive way.
Tickets
