The Colorado Country Christmas Gift Show opened at the Colorado Springs Event Center on Friday for a three-day run featuring local artisans, Santa photo ops and a model railroad display. The show, which runs through Sunday at 3960 Palmer Park Blvd, brings together vendors selling everything from holiday décor to handmade jewelry under one roof just as Colorado Springs residents start checking off their gift lists.
According to the event's official listing on coloradogiftshow.com, the show is built around Artisan Alley, a section featuring creations from local artists, makers and craftspeople showcasing unique, handcrafted gifts. The event's own site lists the show's vendor offerings as spanning holiday décor, apparel, food, jewelry, toys and more, giving shoppers plenty of options to browse before the holidays arrive. As reported by FOX21 News Colorado, the show features over 170 vendors offering gifts, crafts and holiday-themed items, and tickets are available ahead of time through the event website or at the door.
The Colorado Springs Event Center lists the show's hours as running from 10 a.m. Friday through 5 p.m. Sunday, giving shoppers the full weekend to make their way through the floor. Families can also bring the kids to meet Santa and snap a photo with the jolly fellow, the organizer's site notes, a holiday tradition that tends to draw a steady stream of visitors throughout the weekend.
Model Trains and Hourly Prize Drawings
Beyond the shopping, the show features the Pikes Peak 'N'Gineers Model Railroad Club, a nod to the kind of hands-on attraction that keeps younger visitors entertained while parents browse the aisles. The event's show-features page also notes that visitors can enter to win at the show for a chance to win each hour, adding a bit of extra incentive to stick around between vendor booths.
For anyone who needs a breather after hours of browsing, the show has a shopper's lounge where visitors can take a break and get a drink, per the organizer's site. It's a small touch, but one that fits the show's broader pitch as a laid-back, family-friendly way to spend a weekend before the holiday rush really sets in.
One of Several Holiday Markets Around the Region
The Colorado Springs show isn't the only holiday market on the region's calendar this season. A Colorado Public Radio guide to local holiday shopping options describes the Colorado Springs Event Center market as having more than 160 participating vendors, along with an artisan alley, a kids market, live music and the model railroad display. The same guide lists adult admission at $5 to $12, with children 13 and under admitted free.
Whether the show's vendor count lands closer to the organizer's figure or the public radio guide's tally, the takeaway for shoppers is the same: a wide spread of local makers and holiday goods is set up through Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Colorado Springs Event Center, with Santa, trains and a lounge chair waiting for anyone who needs to recharge between stops.
