Popular holiday drive-through experience welcomed more than 40,000 visitors in 2025 and invites Northern Colorado nonprofits to share in this year’s holiday giving
Colorado Youth Outdoors (CYO) is preparing to light up the holiday season with the return of NoCo Winter Wonderland, which will open Thanksgiving night and run through Dec. 31. The event features more than 500,000 lights, 22 moving displays and a one-mile route that takes approximately 15 minutes to complete, with colorful displays and holiday scenes reflected across CYO’s 12 ponds.
Located east of Fort Collins, the experience offers families a chance to take in the sights and sounds of the season from the comfort of their vehicles. The annual holiday attraction has become a favorite tradition for families throughout Northern Colorado. In 2025, more than 9,700 vehicles carrying over 40,000 visitors traveled through NoCo Winter Wonderland, making it one of CYO’s most popular events.
This year, CYO is adding something new to the holiday celebration: an opportunity for other Northern Colorado nonprofits to raise funds by inviting their supporters to experience NoCo Winter Wonderland. Through the new fundraising initiative, nonprofits in good standing can register to receive a unique promotional code to share with their donors, volunteers, employees, community partners and supporters. For every vehicle ticket purchased using the organization’s code, CYO will donate $5 to that nonprofit.
Visitors enter the code when purchasing their $25 vehicle ticket online. Following the conclusion of NoCo Winter Wonderland, CYO will calculate the number of tickets purchased using each organization’s code and mail a check for $5 per qualifying ticket.
“We’ve always believed in the power of bringing people together, and NoCo Winter Wonderland gives us another opportunity to do just that,” says Luke Brough, executive director of CYO. “This year, we’re excited to extend that spirit of giving to other nonprofits in our community. When families come out to enjoy the lights, they can also help support an organization that’s making a difference right here in Northern Colorado.”
To participate, Northern Colorado nonprofits must email their Certificate of Good Standing, organization logo and mailing address to Heidi Warren at [email protected] by Nov. 18.
Creating a holiday experience of this size takes tremendous effort, and volunteers play an essential role in making it possible. Already this year, volunteers—including employees from Phillips 66, Chevron, OtterBox, U.S. Bank, Hewlett Packard, Encore Electric and Western Midstream—have contributed more than 250 hours toward preparing NoCo Winter Wonderland. CYO estimates that nearly 1,000 staff hours will also be dedicated to preparing the displays and getting the property ready to welcome visitors.
The annual event raises funds to support CYO’s mission of building stronger relationships between children and parents through traditional outdoor recreation. This year’s expanded giving initiative will allow the holiday celebration to benefit additional nonprofit organizations throughout Northern Colorado.
2026 event details
- Dates: Thursday-Sunday evenings beginning Nov. 26; open nightly Dec. 17-31
- Hours: 5:15-8:15 p.m.
- Admission: $25 per vehicle
- Tickets: Available beginning Nov. 1 at coloradoyo.org/events
- Location: Colorado Youth Outdoors, located at 4927 County Road 36 near the intersection of Larimer County Road 5 and Kechter Road
