Christmas lights are almost as synonymous with the holiday as the man in the red suit. Candles were originally placed on trees dating back to 17^th-century Germany. One can only imagine the number of resulting fires, which became so prevalent that insurance companies ceased covering claims related to Christmas candles in 1908.

Luckily, by that time, there was another option. In 1882, Edward H. Johnson, inventor and business associate of Thomas Edison, became the first man to use electric lights to decorate a Christmas tree giving fire fighters worldwide a reason beyond the season to celebrate. While his original strand was wired by hand, pre-wired strands became available starting in 1903.

It didn’t take long for advances in lighting to be applied to the sparkling strands. Blinking lights came to the scene in the 1920s, sound effects were added by 1965, and LED lights became all the rage in the 1990s. From wreaths and garlands to trees and houses, from the America’s most famous Christmas tree in Rockefeller Plaza to Denver’s own Mile High Tree boasting a 60,000 LED lights synchronized to music, the holidays are literally illuminated by multiple colors, shapes and sizes.

This year, Denver residents and visitors are in for an all-new holiday lighting show with the Mile High Holiday’s Nightly Drone Spectacular. For 40 nights running from November 22 through New Year’s Eve, 400 drones will take to the sky to create dynamic holiday displays and performances. Each show will last 15 minutes as the aircraft rise 400 feet in the air and span 500 feet.

According to event producer Visit Denver, “Viewers might see a variety of holiday-themed animations and Denver icons, as well as scenes depicting Denver’s favorite winter moments, mountain activities and animations paying homage to our professional sports teams.”

The drone show was created by Denver-based Brightflight Drone Shows and features more than two dozen scenes. The free display can be seen from throughout downtown Denver.

WHERE TO WATCH

• Sculpture Park at the Denver Performing Arts Complex
• Ball Arena Parking Pot
• 54thirty Rooftop at the Le Méridien Denver Downtown
• Peaks Lounge at Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center
• The terrace at Denver Art Museum’s Lanny & Sharon Martin Building (the museum is open until 8pm on Tuesdays)​

DETAILS:
Nov 22-Dec 31 at 7pm*
*Special shows on Dec 2 at 5:20pm only, Dec 3 at 5:30pm, and Dec 31 at 5:30pm only.