Holiday Guide 2018: Everything you need to know about celebrating the holidays in Colorado

It's the holiday season. The most wonderful time of the year.

And so to help make sure you make the most of it, we've put together this guide to make sure you know where to find Santa, the best places to celebrate the season and when to ship your gifts so they arrive on time!

Start making your plans now! From holiday markets to Christmas concerts, there's a lot going on this in Denver and around Colorado this holiday season.

FESTIVITIES | 9Things to do in Colorado: Dec. 21-25

MAP | Where to find the best Christmas lights in Denver and Colorado; an interactive map

LIST | A list of all the Christmas shows you can attend this holiday season

LIST | The best Colorado mountain towns to visit this holiday season

DETAILS | Drive-through Christmas display opening Friday at Water World

VIDEO | Take a virtual reality drive through 1.5 million Christmas lights

LIST | A look at metro Denver holiday activities that won't break the bank

DETAILS | Christmas-themed pop-up bar returning to Denver at new location

LIST | A list of outdoor ice rinks in Colorado

DETAILS | You can visit Santa's Village without leaving the Denver area

DETAILS | Colorado Springs hotel builds 13-foot tall replica out of gingerbread

Would you rather spend your holiday season snuggled up under a blanket with a mug of hot chocolate watching movies? Here's what will be on.

VOTE | National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is named the best Christmas movie by 9NEWS viewers

GUIDE | Hallmark releases 2018 Christmas lineup with 37 new movies

GUIDE | Freeform's '25 Days of Christmas' movie lineup is here

MUSIC | Listen to this playlist of Colorado Christmas songs to get in the holiday spirit

Getting the perfect gift for that special someone or the person in your family who is difficult to shop for can be stressful. But picking out thoughtful gifts should be fun! Here are some tips and resources to keep it that way.

LIST | Get unique gifts at these Colorado holiday markets

LIST | The 16 best places to shop local in Denver, according to Yelp

IDEAS | Unique, local gift ideas for everyone on your list

IDEAS | From Netflix to Denver Zoo memberships, here are 9 gifts that aren't toys

IDEAS | Stumped on what to get someone? Here are some gift ideas from 9NEWS

The holiday season is a wonderful time to give back to people in your community. Here are some ideas.

LIST | Here are some ways to help others this holiday season

DIY | How to make Blessing Bags for the homeless

We've also got all the details to make sure your holiday goes smoothly. From how and where to go if you want to cut down your own tree, to travel tips, to when to ship packages so they show up on time, find all the information you need here.

INFO | When you need ship gifts to make sure they arrive by Christmas

GUIDE | Where and how to cut down your own tree this Christmas

TIPS | Headed to DIA? Here's where to park when the airport lots are full

TIPS | You can now check your bags at DIA’s Pikes Peak and Mt. Elbert lots

TIPS | Uber, trains and automobiles: How much does it cost to get to DIA?

Food is also a big part of the Christmas season. Here are some recipes to try this year.

IDEAS | Easy, creative ideas to decorate cookies for Christmas

RECIPE | Biscochos, traditional Mexican cookies for Christmas

RECIPE | Grammie’s Christmas Wreaths

RECIPE | Festive, easy Christmas tree pull-apart bread

RECIPE | Buttery Christmas 'spritz' cookies

RECIPE | How to make peppermint Oreo truffles

TIPS | Fact or Fiction: How drinking and diet affect your health