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
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
Church Services
When: All day
The following Golden churches have information about services on their websites:
Calvary Episcopal Church
Dwelling Place
Fairmount Bible Church
Faith Lutheran Church
First Baptist Church
First United Methodist Church
Flatirons Community Church
Golden Church of Christ
Golden Church of the Nazarene
Golden Presbyterian Church
Golden Seventh-Day Adventist Church
Hillside Community Church
Jefferson Unitarian Church
Reedemer Golden
Rockland Community Church
St. Joseph Catholic Church
If your Golden church/mosque/temple would like to be listed, please let us know, and we will add you.
Pleasant View Santa
When: 9AM
Where: Pleasant View
Santa and his elves will be riding around Pleasant View on the fire truck starting at 9:00 a.m.! You can see his route here.
If you hear sirens, you know they’re getting close! If you’re new to Pleasant View, Santa on the Truck is a community tradition every holiday season
/*Events*/.
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
Holiday Market
When: 11AM-5PM
Where: New Terrain Brewing Company, 16401 Table Mountain Pkwy, Golden, CO
Come by and enjoy local handmade goods, jewelry, apparel, local art, home decor, bodyworks, and more in our Terminus room from 11am - 5pm. Ugly sweater contest, too! Support local at this free event.
More information
Free Motion Quilting with Your Machine
When: 12PM
Where: Golden Quilt Company, 1108 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO
Do you want to improve your free motion quilting skills or learn how to come up with your own continuous line designs? Then this class is for you. We will practice quilting using our domestic machines focusing on leaning to coordinate our hands and feet to get even stitch lengths and then move on to curves. We will also practice different continuous line designs and discuss how to make your own designs.
$50
Register
Foothills Art Center - Holiday Art Market
When: 12-5PM
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.
Finals Relief
When: 12-5PM
Where: Golden Library, 1019 10th Street, Golden, CO
Drop in for a quiet, supportive study space during finals. Enjoy healthy snacks, yummy treats and relaxing background activities. Attendees are invited to add to our community affirmation board to hype up fellow students!
Can’t stay long? We’ve got you covered! Swing by for a to-go coffee and a grab-and-go selfcare kit. The event is exclusively for teen and adult students. Please honor the age limit to ensure a productive environment for participants.
More information
/*Arts and Culture*/ /*Events*/
Holiday Market
When: 12-3PM
Where: Cannonball Creek Brewing Company, 303 N. Washington Avenue, Golden, CO
Holiday shopping made fun and easy! Grab a pint and check out unique products from local artists and small business owners!
More information
Foothills Art Center - Holiday Art Market
When: 12-5PM
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.
7th Annual Holiday Market
When: 12-5PM
Where: Mountain Toad Brewing, 900 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO
Join us for our 7th Annual Holiday Market! We are excited to bring back some of our favorite vendors and add many new vendors as well!
Shop a variety of bespoke gifts from handmade wooden toys to vintage jewelry to textile art to handcrafted body products and more while enjoying a favorite Mountain Toad craft brew.
Colorado School of Mines Philharmonic Orchestra Fall Concert
When: 2PM
Where: Colorado School of Mines, Green Center, 924 16th Street, Golden, CO
Masakazu Ito - Music Director and Conductor
- A. Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man
- P.I. Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet Overture
- L. Van Beethoven: Symphony No. 5
There are no tickets, and admission is free.
For more information, send email to: mito@mines.edu
It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
When: 2PM
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: 2PM
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
Golden Death Cafe
When: 3-4:30PM
Where: Vellichor Coffee Roasters (formerly Bean Fosters), 720 Golden Ridge Road, Golden, CO
Enjoy deep, rich, compassionate, free and open conversations about death and dying, along with a great cup of coffee or tea & delicious fresh pastry!
More information
Board Game Night
When: 5-9PM
Where: Mountain Toad Brewing, 900 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO
Sunday Board Game Night 5pm-Close! Bring in your own or play one of ours. $1 pints while you are playing!
Stocking Stuffers
When: 7:30PM
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: 7:30PM
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
