Every big night on Downtown Littleton's holiday calendar this year falls inside an active construction window. The City of Littleton started work this fall on the Prince Street Link. The project rebuilds South Prince Street between West Lake Avenue and West Alamo Avenue and includes "a major reconstruction of the Prince/Church intersection." The city's October 2 project update puts traffic impacts on that stretch "through Spring 2027."
That end date has already moved once. In mid-September, the city's Littleton Links newsletter said work would "continue through February 2027." It also warned that "some impacts will occur during the busy fall and holiday season and continue into the winter." Two weeks later the city's estimate had moved to spring. Neither update mentions a pause around Thanksgiving or the Candlelight Walk. So plan this year's downtown evenings around a partly rebuilt street grid.
What's being rebuilt on Prince Street
Prince Street was chosen because of what it connects. The city describes the project as a link between Downtown Littleton and three destinations: Arapahoe Community College, the Colorado Center for the Blind, and the RTD Littleton/Downtown Station. The work covers:
- Reconstructing portions of the roadway and sidewalks
- Wider, more accessible sidewalks where possible
- ADA-compliant curb ramps and new bicycle lanes
- Upgraded traffic signals with more crossing time for pedestrians
During construction, the city says to expect "lane and intersection impacts, and possible delays along South Prince Street." It hasn't published a lane-by-lane closure plan. The Prince Street Link project page lists the project as under construction, with a Fall 2026 start and Spring 2027 completion. The city updates its Cone Zone page weekly, so check it before you head out on a busy night. You can reach the Public Works project team at 303-795-3863 or [email protected].
The bridges were built with this season in mind
A second downtown project is closer to the finish and more directly tied to the holidays. Three bridges carry traffic into and out of downtown over the BNSF tracks and RTD light rail: Alamo Avenue, Main Street and Prince Street. Each is getting new fencing, replacement monuments and retaining wall maintenance. The Main Street and Alamo Avenue fences are also getting decorative metalwork.
According to the bridge project page, new conduit and electrical receptacles along the tops of the Alamo and Main Street bridge fences "will be utilized primarily to power the decorations placed during the holiday months." The work is paid for with 3A funds.
The schedule was Fall 2025 to Fall 2026. As of the October 2 update, the city called the project "nearing completion, weather permitting." It said it would post on social media once the temporary fencing on the Main Street bridge comes down. When that fence comes off, the bridges should be close to ready for holiday decorations. The city hasn't said whether this season's decorations will run on the new outlets.
The season, date by date
Even with work on Prince Street, the calendar is full. Here's everything downtown and nearby with a confirmed 2026 date:
| Date | Event | Where | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu., Nov. 5, 5:30 p.m. | Art Gallery reopening reception | Littleton Museum | David Ocelotl Garcia exhibition opens Nov. 6 |
| Fri., Nov. 20 | Pink Friday | Downtown Littleton | Local shopping stroll with promotions |
| Fri., Nov. 27, 5:30 p.m. | Candlelight Walk | Main Street, Bowles Plaza | Parade at 6:30 p.m., tree lighting, drone show |
| Nov. 27 to Jan. 3 | Hudson Holidays | Hudson Gardens | Opens the same night as the Candlelight Walk |
| Sat., Nov. 28 | Small Business Saturday | Downtown Littleton | All day |
| Wed., Dec. 2 | Sensory-friendly night | Hudson Gardens | Part of the Hudson Holidays run |
| Thu., Dec. 3, 6 to 8 p.m. | Yule Log Creations Class | Bridget's Botanicals | Listed on the DDA calendar |
| Dec. 4 to Dec. 20 | Holiday Book Sale | Bemis Public Library | During regular library hours |
| Sun., Dec. 13, 5 to 8 p.m. | Holiday's Evening | Littleton Museum, 6028 S. Gallup St. | 19th-century farm holiday program |
The Littleton Museum Art Gallery has been closed for heating and air-conditioning work, so the November 5 reception is also the gallery's reopening. The museum's page gives the exhibition's run as starting November 6 but lists two different January 2027 end dates, so check before planning a late visit.
According to the DDA's event listing, Small Business Saturday is organized by Historic Downtown Littleton, and 2516 Main St. is the listed location. Neither that listing nor the Pink Friday listing names participating shops or store hours. The Friends of the Littleton Library and Museum run the Bemis book sale. At Holiday's Evening, the museum's living history farms host wagon rides, live music, cornbread, cookies and hot cider, plus costumed interpreters giving demonstrations. The ticket covers all activities and refreshments.
November 27 is the busiest night of the season
The Friday after Thanksgiving brings the season's two biggest events together, and they now overlap with the construction.
On the City of Littleton's Candlelight Walk page, the event starts at 5:30 p.m. at 2250 Main St., and the parade begins at 6:30 p.m. Santa lights the big tree in Bowles Plaza, and then a drone show flies over the Melting Pot at the west end of Main Street. The page also promises carolers, dancing Christmas trees, hot cider and Santa's reindeer. The listed end time depends on the source. The city lists 7:30 p.m., Visit Littleton lists 5 to 8 p.m., and the DDA calendar lists 5:30 to 7 p.m. The city and the DDA both list a 5:30 p.m. start, and the city puts the parade at 6:30 p.m., so plan around the parade.
Visit Littleton says this year's "Know Before You Go" guide is still coming. The version online now covers the 2025 walk, so its street details may not hold with Prince Street under construction.
That same evening, Hudson Holidays opens its run at Hudson Gardens. The show runs 5 to 9 p.m. and closes early on December 24. Tickets go on sale before Thanksgiving. Presale runs from November 6 at 10 a.m. to November 8 at 11:59 p.m., and dated tickets open November 9 at 10 a.m. If you'd like to see both events the same weekend, buying lights tickets for Saturday or later leaves Friday free for Main Street.
Getting downtown while Prince Street is torn up
The basic parking setup hasn't changed. According to the Littleton DDA's getting-around page, on-street parking downtown is free, with two-hour limits on some core streets. There are two RTD lots, one at Rio Grande and Main and one at Prince and Alamo, plus several paid lots. The Prince and Alamo lot sits at the West Alamo Avenue end of the construction segment. Of the two RTD lots, the Rio Grande and Main lot is the one that isn't on the Prince Street work zone.
You can also take light rail to Littleton/Downtown Station. The city hasn't announced Candlelight Walk shuttles or other event-specific transit. The city's Downtown Parking Map says mapped areas are approximate and "may change without notice." With a construction crew working nearby, follow the posted signs.
New stops worth adding to the walk
A few businesses have opened or come back to the downtown area this year, which gives you new places to stop between events.
- Leaves on Main, 2699 Main St. The Littleton Independent reported it opened September 5, "tucked away at the end of Main Street, just before The Melting Pot." It sells indoor plants along with books and goods for plant lovers. It's also right under the drone show.
- Tonic Zero Proof Bar, 5767 S. Rapp St. It serves mocktails, kava drinks, coffee and cold brew, and the Littleton Independent covered its opening in a story its business index lists as updated May 19, 2026. It's a warm-up stop for anyone skipping the cider.
- Lewis and Cluck, 5827 S. Rapp St. This chicken-feed and supply shop moved back to downtown Littleton from South Broadway, according to a Littleton Independent story its business index lists as updated July 16, 2026. Backyard-flock owners have a downtown supplier again in time for Small Business Saturday.
The bridge work has a funding source and is close to finished. The Prince Street work runs through the season and into spring 2027.
At Colin & Company, we keep track of the dates and street changes that shape a downtown weekend, Prince Street included. If you'd like to know what's changing around your part of Littleton heading into 2027, let's connect.
