Holiday Events

The City of Montrose sponsors and coordinates a full schedule of annual holiday activities. Go to VisitMontrose.com/Events to view a calendar of community events that are scheduled to occur throughout the year.

Annual Tree Lighting - Day after Thanksgiving


Be dazzled at the festive tree-lighting event in front of the historic Montrose County Courthouse (320 South First Street). Enjoy a reading of T’was the Night before Christmas, enjoy live music and sing carols, and sip on complimentary hot cocoa! We’ll welcome Santa Claus to town and take a short walk with him as he opens his cabin for the season in the Uncompahgre Events Plaza (502 South First Street). Brought to you by the City of Montrose and the Office of Business and Tourism.

Santa's Cabin - Grand Opening following the Tree Lighting


Santa’s Cabin, located in the Uncompahgre Events Plaza (502 South First Street), is a tiny home Santa uses to visit Montrose each holiday season. Santa opens his doors to kids and families starting the day after Thanksgiving and each weekend in December, offering complimentary family photos with Santa. See VisitMontrose.com/Events for a complete schedule. 

Santa’s Cabin is a program of the City of Montrose and their Office of Business and Tourism and its success is made possible with the support of a number of community partners.

Montrose BUCKS Holiday Promotion


During the Montrose Office of Business and Tourism’s annual Montrose Bucks holiday promotion you get an extra $20 to spend in town when you buy $100 in Montrose Bucks! Information about the annual promotion is published in advance on social media and on this website.

Montrose Bucks are available year-round, but without the extra $20 for every $100 purchased. Learn more about the Montrose Bucks program.

Parade of Lights - First Saturday in December


The traditional Parade of Lights illuminates Historic Main Street. A fun, annual event designed to bring holiday cheer brought to you by the City of Montrose, Office of Business and Tourism.

Past Grand Marshals


  • 2017: Montrose High School Marching Band
  • 2016: Public Lands Organizations (National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife)
  • 2015: Black Canyon National Park
  • 2014: Office of Business and Tourism's TRAC Team (Tourism Retail Advisory Committee)
  • 2013: VFW Commander Randy Leonard, DAV Commander Gary Gratton, VFW Commander Hal Emick

Past Parade Themes


  • 2017: Do You Hear What I Hear?
  • 2016: Winter, Land of Wonder
  • 2015: Starry Nights, Holiday Delights (honoring Black Canyon National Park certification as International Dark Sky Park)
  • 2014: Christmas Stories: Portray a holiday story from a favorite movie, book, or song
  • 2013: 12 Days of Christmas
  • 2012: A Wild West Christmas
Do you have exceptional photos of this year or past years? Upload your photos to Instagram or Facebook with #montroseco!