Lone Tree's First December Weekend: Merry Days on Friday, Austrian Christmas on Saturday
Lone Tree's holidays start with two free events on back-to-back days. The Merry Days Holiday Tree Lighting is Friday, December 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lone Tree Arts Center. Schweiger Ranch's 10th annual Austrian Christmas follows on Saturday, December 5, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
On Friday the celebration runs across the street into the Lone Tree Library and MorningStar Senior Living. On Saturday you leave your car in a light rail garage and cross Havana Street with a safety officer. Once you know which building and which garage, the rest of the weekend is easy to plan.
| Merry Days Tree Lighting | Austrian Christmas | |
|---|---|---|
| When | Friday, Dec. 4, 6 to 8 p.m. | Saturday, Dec. 5, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| Where | Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St. | Schweiger Ranch, 10822 S. Havana St. |
| Cost | Free | Free, no registration |
| Where to park | Arts Center lot south of the building, or the Target parking structure across the street | RTD RidgeGate Station garage, fees waived |
| The big moment | Tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. | Santa's real reindeer, all day |
The city's Merry Days page lists three partners alongside the city: Lone Tree Arts Center, Lone Tree Library and MorningStar Senior Living. The tree and the outdoor festivities are at the Arts Center. The library and MorningStar each run their own part of the evening across the street. If you only stand by the tree, you'll miss two-thirds of it.
At the Arts Center, the city has planned a hot cocoa and s'more bar, holiday music from The Denver Dolls, roaming holiday characters, a holiday market and Santa with his reindeer. The E-470 Public Highway Authority is the official s'mores sponsor for 2026. According to the September/October issue of the city's Timberlines magazine, this year also includes "a special fireworks display."
Across the street, the Lone Tree Library is offering holiday stories, hands-on crafts and "a lil' something sweet." MorningStar Senior Living is hosting a Gingerbread Village where kids can write letters to Santa and decorate cookies. It also has a photo booth and a Holiday Bazaar.
Two moments are on a fixed schedule:
The event runs only two hours, so here's a workable plan for families. Arrive around 6 for cocoa and the market. Watch the lighting at 6:30. Then walk across the street for one of the three story times and finish at MorningStar's Gingerbread Village before 8. The city's page lists a heading for holiday market vendors, and cityoflonetree.com has the full Merry Days schedule as the date gets closer.
Lone Tree Arts Center has a free on-site lot just south of the building. For sold-out events, the Arts Center points visitors to the free Target parking structure across the street. A free community tree lighting will probably fill the lot faster than most shows do.
You can also take the light rail. The Arts Center's visitor guidance suggests riding RTD light rail to Sky Ridge Station and catching a free Lone Tree Link pickup from there. On foot, the station is about 15 to 20 minutes away.
Austrian Christmas uses the same approach: the parking is across the street from the venue. Schweiger Ranch sends general parking to the RTD RidgeGate Station parking garage directly across from the ranch, entered from the north entrance. RTD parking fees are waived for event guests. You cross at the RTD south entrance driveway, where a Lone Tree Community Safety Officer directs foot traffic. The ranch asks guests to cross only in designated areas.
If a long walk is hard for anyone in your group, golf cart and shuttle service runs from the RTD south surface lot, the handicap parking area and the main gate entrance. Handicap parking is in the ranch's own lot, just inside the driveway.
Gates open at 11 a.m., and the ranch says there's no early admittance. Getting there early just means a longer wait in the garage.
According to the ranch's posted schedule, everything runs at the same time from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.:
The carriage rides pause now and then so the horses can rest. If a ride is the main reason you're coming, get in line early in the day so a pause doesn't cut your visit short.
The ranch describes its vendors as selling "handcrafted items made special for the event." Here's the vendor list posted on the ranch's Austrian Christmas page:
Between Kogler's, Andy's Kitchen and Tall Tales Ranch, you can make lunch out of the market. Plan on that, because the event runs straight through midday.
Leave the dog at home. Livestock live on the property, so only licensed service animals are allowed. You don't need to register for the event or any of its activities. Outside alcohol isn't allowed, and any alcoholic beverages bought at the event have to stay in the event area. If weather delays or cancels the event, the notice will go up on the ranch's Austrian Christmas page.
Use that page, schweigerranch.org/austrianchristmas, for the date too. The city's Merry Days page still includes an older Schweiger Ranch listing for "Saturday, Devember 6," which was last year's date. The ranch's own 2026 listing says Saturday, December 5.
The setting is part of the appeal. According to the ranch's history page, brothers John, Joseph and Jacob Schweiger founded the ranch in 1874, and Douglas County named it a historic landmark in 2004. Austrian Christmas is a holiday event held on a homestead that's about 150 years old, and the light rail garage across the street makes it easy to reach.
If you'd like to help, the ranch is recruiting volunteers for short shifts. Jobs include carriage ride line manager, main tent oversight, Santa's helper, setup and teardown. Volunteers must be 18 or older, and parents can volunteer with one or two children aged 15 and up.
The Arts Center's holiday calendar starts the Sunday after Thanksgiving and runs until two days before Christmas. If you get to know the building's parking on Merry Days night, you'll already know the routine for the rest of December. Here's the 2026–27 Main Stage season holiday lineup:
In late October, the Arts Center's site already marked Kalani Pe'a and The Swingles as limited availability. If either one is on your list, buy tickets before Merry Days. The Dec. 8 sensory-inclusive concert is a good fit for households that want a holiday show in a more accommodating setting.
There may also be a new dinner option nearby by then. According to ColoradoBiz, Thirsty Lion plans to open its second Colorado location in December at 8335 Park Meadows Center Drive. The 7,900-square-foot restaurant is planned for 278 seats. As of the Sept. 30 report, it hadn't announced an opening day.
Here's the whole weekend, organized by where you'll park:
I love this weekend because it's Lone Tree doing what it does best. Neighbors share their buildings and their parking, and the whole city turns out for two free days. If you see me at the tree lighting or in the carriage line at Schweiger Ranch, please say hello. If a move in or out of Lone Tree is on your list for the new year, I'd be glad to talk through timing over a cup of cocoa. Vicki Zeeb is always happy to connect. Let's Connect.
This process should be exhilarating, not hard work! I will take the time to listen to your needs and wants and am committed to providing you exceptional service and an overall fun and exciting process.
VICKI ZEEB
THE AGENCY 255 CLAYTON ST STE 110 DENVER, CO 80206