Welcome back Friends!  

 MyThanksgiving was cozy, chaotic, and full of pie (exactly how it should be). Hope yours was just as delicious and drama-free (or at least the good kind of drama). 

How are you holding up now that we’re officially in the “Christmas music in every store” season? 

Every Coloradan eventually hits that glorious turning point when holiday vibes level up from:

• SantaCon pub crawls → 11 a.m. cookie crawls in fuzzy slippers
• Tequila-fueled open-mic nights in LoDo → fireside hot-chocolate caroling in a Longmont park.

One day you’re shot-skiing with strangers downtown, the next you’re comparing notes on the best marshmallow-to-cocoa ratio while belting “Jingle Bells” with your kid’s preschool parents. Same state, same flannel, slightly earlier bedtime. 

Boulder:

Lights of December Parade: Boulder’s annual hometown parade meanders through downtown  

6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, 15th and Walnut Streets, Boulder; boulderdowntown.com.

Chanukah on Pearl:  Jewish Festival of Lights Event 

5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15, Pearl Street, Boulder; boulderjcc.org.

Longmont:

Holiday Plaza Lighting:  See all of the twinkling floats.

  5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, Longs Peak Avenue, Longmont; downtownlongmont.com.

Santa Crawl: Downtown businesses will host another Dress Up Downtown Costume Crawl.

5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, downtown Longmont; downtownlongmont.com.

Erie: 

Parade of Lights: Join this dazzling parade as it travels through downtown Erie.

4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, downtown Erie, Erie; erieco.gov.

Lafayette:

Holiday on the Plaza: Enjoy a visit and photos with Santa, live carolers, artisan vendors and the annual tree lighting.

 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, Festival Plaza, 311 S. Public Road, Lafayette; business.lafayettecolorado.com.

Louisville:

Parade of Lights: This Louisville holiday tradition has been going strong for over 30 years.

5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, Main Street, Louisville; louisvillechamber.com.

Superior

Winter Festival: Attend a captivating holiday experience that immerses participants in the spirit of the season.

 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, Downtown Superior; superiorchamber.com.

Boulder Valley Weather: Dec 1-7, 2025

Mon 1: 38° | Mostly sunny, cloudy PM | 10% precip

Tue 2:  36° | Partly cloudy, breezy | 15%

Wed 3: 40° | Sunny | 5%

Thu 4:  42° | Mostly cloudy | 20%

Fri 5:    39° | Overcast, flurries | 25%

Sat 6:   37° | Clearing skies | 15%

Sun 7:  41° | Partly sunny, mild | 10%

We are Boulder Valley!

• Home to CU Boulder, NOAA, NCAR, NIST, and a dozen national labs — more PhDs per capita than almost anywhere.
•  
• Yet the culture is dominated by dirtbag climbers, trail runners, and pro cyclists, not suits. You’ll see Nobel laureates in Patagonia puffies grabbing coffee next to sponsored ultra-runners. How cool is that! 🤓
•  

• 300 sunny days a year, low humidity, mild winters compared to the mountains, and you’re still 25–45 minutes from legit ski resorts (Eldora is practically in town).

•  

• Powder days in winter, wildflowers in spring, perfect 70s in summer, golden aspens in fall — plus “shoulder seasons” that are often the best weather of all.

•  

In short: stunning nature slammed right up against a smart, active, slightly eccentric town that somehow makes the combo feel totally normal. Once you live here a while, everywhere else feels like it’s missing something.

We had a lot of laughs this Thanksgiving playing Mr. Bendy.  If you've never played it, it's basically guaranteed silliness-the kind of game where everyone ends up laughing whether they want to or not.  It was such a simple moment, but honestly one of the best parts of the holiday.  I love sharing little traditions like that, and maybe it'll inspire you to bring out a new game at your next gathering.  

Best Day Ever Coffee & Crepes

Best Day Ever Coffee & Crepes in Longmont, Colorado, it's a gem of a café that's all about creating meaningful jobs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (their "Besties," as they're affectionately called). Founded by the Truitt family (including their son Seth, who has Down syndrome), was opened in late March 2025 at 516 Coffman St., right in the heart of downtown. Their mission? To shine a light on hidden talents through training, mentorship, and a super welcoming environment. It's not just a business—it's a feel-good revolution, one crepe at a time. 

When there try a homemade oat milk Chai latte and a delicious Cinnamon Roll crepe. Out of this world! I go there whenever I can.

The Postman's Knock

I created this little envelope design after learning it from the Postman's Knock.  I also purchased the watercolor kit and the calligraphy kit-both of them make wonderful gifts.  Check it out here. She also offers lots of free stuff.  Lindsey, the owner, resides in Boulder.

Tell her you heard about her from Life in Boulder Valley newsletter.

Do you have an exciting fundraiser coming up? We want to help spread the word and make your event a success!

Let your Community Know:  Simply  email us your event details and we will share them with our community superheroes.

The Best of Boulder

Looking for a Realtor to Feature!

If you're a local Realtor interested in reaching Boulder Valley residents, I have this spot available. Email:  Support@lifeinbouldervalley.com

Why did the Colorado Rockies baseball team go to therapy?

Because they had issues with their pitching!

 24 days to Christmas!  

Boulder Valley's gearing up for that cozy holiday shift—think twinkling lights, festive markets, and a dash of mountain magic.

Motiv

Mobile Detail Services

Boulder, Colorado

I'm Chase, an 18-year-old mobile auto detailer proudly serving the Boulder, Colorado community. I'm entering my 7th year in business, and I'm excited to offer special holiday savings on my Full Detail Package.

For 50 years, the Dark Horse bar has been a cherished spot for University of Colorado students and Boulder locals.

Now, it's relocating as part of the approved Williams Village II project, blending nostalgia with urban renewal.

This development will transform Baseline Road with 427 new residential units, including student housing, on nearly eight acres.

Developers plan five buildings, expanding commercial space to over 58,000 square feet for shops, a grocery store, and eateries.

The project shifts from strip mall aesthetics to a connected community with parks, bike paths, pedestrian plazas, trees, and a pool.

While demolishing some structures, it preserves key elements and adds green features.

The bar will move to a new 6,000-square-foot space within the complex, possibly by next year, after initial construction phases.

Local officials highlight its role in addressing Boulder's housing crunch amid growth.

Community reactions mix excitement for accessibility with sentiment over losing the bar's quirky charm.

Ultimately, this evolution aims to make Williams Village a vibrant hub for living and leisure in the college town.

Donate to help the animals this Holiday season at the Longmont Humane, please!

In Boulder County, the Blue Envelope program is transforming interactions between police and residents with disabilities, promoting safer encounters.

Autism advocate Josh Tarrant highlighted its value after using it as a crime victim, allowing officers to better accommodate his needs.

Introduced this year, the initiative has quickly spread to nearby areas like Longmont and Broomfield, with thousands of envelopes now in circulation.

Families express relief, noting how the tool conveys conditions such as anxiety or sensory issues without verbal explanation.

One parent shared it brings peace of mind, ensuring her child can communicate effectively in her absence.

Law enforcement emphasizes specialized training to avoid escalations and build trust.

As adoption grows across Colorado, supporters call for increased awareness and comprehensive disability education for officers.

This program represents a vital advance in inclusive community policing, enhancing safety for vulnerable residents.

I'm happy to answer any and all questions-feel free to reach out anytime! Contact Michele

Secret Santa… but for Random Acts

 Pick one night in December where the whole family/friend group anonymously does tiny kind things around town: pay for the car behind you at the Dutch Bros, leave $5 Starbucks cards on windshields in the King Soopers lot, tip the carolers at the Pearl Street Mall $20. Feels like elves live among us.

Lukes Scoop Troops

Jalisco Painting

Have a question or want to be featured? 

Email me