Celebrate! is a your guide to events, shopping, dining, and enjoying the holiday season in the Pikes Peak region.

It’s a party all holiday season in Downtown Colorado Springs! Enjoy free metered parking on the following Saturdays: November 28, December 5, 12, 19. The meters are always free on Sundays.

Through January 18

Skate in the Park

Open ‘til 9 most nights, seven days a week in downtown’s Acacia Park, off Tejon Street, between Bijou Street and Platte Avenue. Colorado Springs’s only outdoor ice rink is a great reason to get out of the house this holiday season and enjoy sunny, winter days. Visit downtowncs.com for a full schedule and pricing and to learn about themed skate events, like Skate with a CC Tiger and SkateFest with the U.S. Figure Skating Association.

November 28

Small Business Saturday

This year – shop small! Head downtown to support the local businesses that bring life and individuality to our community. Grab your shopping bags and Christmas list and look for participating shops selling everything from organic spices to handcrafted pottery, locally made clothing to home décor and sporting goods. Visit cssbdc.org/events/Saturday for more information.

December 4 & January 1

First Friday Downtown

Galleries open throughout downtown until 8 p.m. Enjoy all the culture our arts community has to offer with a browse through the downtown galleries. Buy beautiful pieces to gift your loved ones this Christmas. Visit csdowntown.com for more information.

December 5

Festival of Lights Family Fun Day

10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, 215 S. Tejon Street. Free for all ages. Enjoy a full performance schedule and participate in activities led by a variety of community organizations. Don’t miss this special tradition that’s brought magic to the Pikes Peak region for over 20 years! Visit cspm.org/festivaloflights for more information.

Empty Stocking Shuffle 5K Glow Run

4 p.m. packet pickup; race starts at 5. Pick up packet at The Mansion, 20 N. Tejon St.

Pre-race day: $30, race day: $35, Students: $25, free for ages 12 and under. Grab your friends and family and help support the Empty Stocking Fund! With your registration, you’ll receive lighted gloves and Race bib to run Downtown amid the Festival of Lights Parade pre-party. You registration will help ESF provide resources for 20 local health and human services agencies. Thank you for your generous contributions – see you at the race! Register at csgrandprix.com.

31st Annual Festival of Lights Parade

5:50 p.m., parade will move south on Tejon Street, from East St. Vrain to East Vermijo Avenue; free to all ages. The Festival of Lights Parade is a nonprofit organization established to ensure people of the Pikes Peak region can enjoy this wonderful local tradition each December. This year’s parade theme is “Songs of the Season.” To make a donation to keep the FOL Parade going, please visit the website. Stop by the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum afterward for free cookies and hot cocoa! Visit coloradospringsfestivaloflights.org for more information.

Starts December 5

Holiday Nights Light Show

Nightly, projected on the west side of the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, 215 S. Tejon Street. The Museum will become an illuminated canvas for an animated light show during the holiday season. The 3-minute Holiday Nights show is precisely choreographed with music and features 3-D imagery including dancing colors, historic photos of holiday-time in Colorado Springs, and of course, Santa himself.

December 9

Holiday Stroll

Downtown stores open until 8 p.m. Join the strolling carolers for music, refreshments and one-night-only specials in beautiful downtown! Visit the downtowncs.com for more information.

December 12

Ugly Sweater 5K Run

11 a.m. at America the Beautiful Park, 123 Cimino Drive. Rummage up the ugliest sweater you can find and celebrate the holidays by participating in the merriest 5K of the year. Join thousands of runners, walkers and prancers from around the nation as The Ugly Sweater Run tours North America. Register at theuglysweaterrun.com/locations/coloradosprings-colorado.