Deck the halls, Bucket Listers. It’s almost December! We hope you had a happy Thanksgiving and are looking forward to a joyful holiday season. The holidays can be tough on some, so be sure to be kind to your neighbors. This year, please remember community journalism during your holiday giving. We’ve raised $6,738 of our $15,000 fundraising goal. We’re still trying to get the most individual contributors before November ends, so we have a shot at an additional $2,500 from the Colorado Media Project. Even $5 makes a difference. Also, remember everything you give is doubled by our friends at the Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Please contribute today.
Denver Zoo Lights Is Back For 35th Holiday Season
One of the metro area’s largest light displays is once again open. This season, Denver Zoo Lights celebrates 35 years of glowing nostalgia, and our reporter Lily Delgado beautifully captured the wonder’s generational appeal. Over three million lights illuminate the 80-acre campus, creating a winter wonderland with a carousel, train and winter market. To learn more about the popular event, we spoke with both first-time attendees and those who consider Zoo Lights to be a part of their holiday tradition.
Take Pride in Shopping Local This Small Business Saturday
Small Business Saturday is tomorrow, a nationwide reminder that local shopping is community investment in its purest form. This week, we published an op-ed by National Federation of Independent Business State Director Michael Smith, who discusses why he believes it is critical to shop small this year and what else needs to be done to help local businesses. In Smith’s words, “when Main Street prospers, we all prosper.”
Stuff We Noticed
State Sen. Faith Winter killed in I-25 crash. Colorado lost State Sen. Faith Winter in a five-vehicle collision on I-25 near Dry Creek Road in Centennial on Wednesday night, with three others injured. Gov. Jared Polis and the Senate Democratic Caucus praised her lifelong advocacy for families, women, transit and climate, ordering flags lowered to half-staff. Her voice shaped Colorado policy for over 12 years, and the shock is still rippling across the state.
Thanksgiving Travel at DIA Climbs 10%. More than 845,000 travelers surged through Denver International Airport this Thanksgiving window, marking a 10% jump from last year. Sunday, Nov. 30, is expected to be the busiest day yet, with over 96,000 passengers being screened.
Denver Shoppers Slash Holiday Spending. A Deloitte survey of Denver consumers shows 81% bracing for higher prices and 67% convinced a recession is coming soon, leading many to budget 14% less on holiday shopping than last year. More than half plan to make DIY gifts instead of splurging on big-box sites. Translation: this year the season of giving will be more personal, handcrafted and very, very price-checked.
Have a nice weekend, Bucket Listers. Hopefully, we’ll see snow soon, and we’re also wishing lots of contributions fall from the sky over the next month. Dec. 2 is Giving Tuesday, or as we say in the journalism world, Giving News Day. Please give generously to Bucket List Community News at Colorado Gives so we can keep bringing you free hyperlocal neighborly news and community connection in 2026. See you next week!
Warmest Regards,
Toni Tresca
Editor/Bucket List Community News
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