The holiday season arrived early for those in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday, with several events kicking off the festivities despite unseasonably warm temperatures soaring into the 70s.   

To kick off the morning, several people dressed up in character costumes such as Santa, Buddy the Elf and more greeted the storefronts and stopped for some photos with excited children also donning festive gear. 

Carrie Simison, director of communications for the Downtown Partnership, said the character walk is one of her favorite holiday traditions, saying it marks the start of the season.  

“It’s the holiday tradition people look for in downtown Colorado Springs. We supply the magic and people just come out to interact with it,” Simison said. “And one thing we aim to do in the holiday season and all the time in downtown Colorado Springs is to make it a unique experience.”  

It was a warm day downtown Saturday, with temperatures reaching the low-70s by the noon hour. While some still were still decked out in holiday sweaters, the temperatures were warm enough to switch out the hot chocolate stand across from the park to a milk chocolate one.  

There were mixed thoughts on the heat, but Simison said she was grateful for the sunshine.  

“It’s 70 degrees, and people are like, ‘Is that weird?’ I say no, we’re lucky enough to have 70-degree weather and be celebrating the holidays,” Simison said. “There are very few places you can do that.” 

On the other hand, those dressed up in costumes and character suits were a little warmer. Kiffin Irwin, who wore a Grinch costume for the children, said it didn’t really feel like the holidays yet due to the weather. Nevertheless, it was still a fun day being able to entertain the kids.  

“(My favorite part) honestly has been the varied reactions of the kids. Some of them are really into getting a photo with me, and other ones are terrified,” Irwin said. “It’s just fun to see that different energy.” 

According to the National Weather Service in Pueblo, the average high for mid-November is around 54 degrees, marking Saturday’s temperatures as “unseasonably warm.”  

Meteorologist Mark Wankowski said the warmth could be attributed to an upper-level range of high pressure that’s been across the area for a good chunk of the month.  

“We’re looking for cooler temperatures all next week. We’ve got a couple of weather systems moving across that will bring us back closer to normal,” Wankowski said.  

For Sunday, the highs will likely be in the upper-60s, with Monday bringing the temperatures back down to the lower-60s. Tuesday’s high temperature will be around the mid-50s, Wankowski said. Cooler temperatures are expected to continue into the later part of the week.  

While some think November is too early to start the celebration, Kimberly Armstrong, who brought along her 7-year-old daughter to take advantage of the photo opportunities, said celebrating early means she gets to do it longer.  

“We’ve started sooner and sooner each year, but we get to enjoy it longer. We get to decorate the house and enjoy our decorations longer,” Armstrong said. “We get to plan more time with our friends and family, and that’s why I love the holidays.” 

Throughout the day, a group of carolers with the Soli Deo Gloria Choir took to the streets to sing holiday songs with smiles on their faces. Soli Deo Gloria Choir is a nonprofit, non-audition-based ensemble that offers free performances across the city throughout the year. 

Being the largest choir in Colorado Springs, the group has nearly 160 members, according to member Pam Barnett.  

“This is a favorite time of year, it builds community. This is what we’re about. Building community and fellowship,” Barnett said. “We’re the jewel of Colorado Springs.” 

In addition to the other events in Acacia Park, the ice-skating rink opened on Friday for its 13^th year of business, hosting several sessions throughout the day Saturday.

“It might feel too early because it’s 70 degrees and sunny out, but there’s a commercial cooling system, so the ice is hard, the ice is solid,” Simison said. “You can pretend you’re an Olympic skater and do some spins. It’s a really great time, and it’s great for all ages, too.” 

The ice rink was relatively packed by Saturday afternoon, with lots of children still hanging around from the character walk. One parent, Amber Welch, said she prefers a cooler winter, but was taking advantage of the warmer temperatures to get some holiday festivities checked off the list.  

“I heard we’re supposed to get colder temperatures soon, so we’re definitely just trying to get out while it’s nice,” Welch said.  

Later in the evening Saturday, the 41st annual Trees of Life ceremony, hosted by the Pikes Peak Hospice Foundation, took place with hundreds of lights and candles decorating the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum south plaza. 

It was an emotional scene ahead of the reading of names of lost loved ones and the official lighting of trees for the season. According to the organizers, the lights “represent the memory of those who have touched our lives and are no longer with us.” 

“There is a community need to bring people together at the start of the holidays because oftentimes holidays trigger grief in people,” said Dawn Darvalics. president at Pikes Peak Hospice and Palliative Care.

“We want them to feel like they’re connected in this Colorado Springs community, so they don’t have to feel alone and sad and isolated,” Darvalics added.