December in the Denver metro area means the 9NEWS Parade of Lights downtown, holiday lights on neighborhood blocks across Englewood, and houses full of guests. It’s also the busiest month of the year for home fires, package theft, and guest injuries. A little planning keeps the season about family, not claims.
Heading to the Parade of Lights
The Downtown Denver Partnership lists the 52nd 9NEWS Parade of Lights for Saturday, December 5, 2026. If you drive downtown, park in a lit garage, keep gifts and bags out of sight, and don’t leave the car running while you wait for passengers. Items stolen from your car are generally covered under your homeowners or renters policy, not your auto policy, and only above your deductible. Riding RTD light rail from Englewood Station avoids the parking question entirely.
Fire Safety With a Full House
- Water live trees daily and keep them at least three feet from heat sources, including fireplaces and space heaters.
- Use LED lights and replace strands with frayed wires.
- Turn off decorations and blow out candles before bed or when you leave.
- Have your chimney inspected if you haven’t used the fireplace since last winter.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms before guests arrive. Furnaces and gas fireplaces run hard in cold snaps.
A standard homeowners policy covers fire damage to your house and belongings, minus your deductible. The bigger question for many Englewood homes is whether your dwelling limit still reflects today’s rebuilding costs. December is a good time to ask.
Guests, Ice, and Alcohol
Homeowners liability coverage helps if a guest slips on your icy front steps or is injured at your party. Clear and de-ice walkways before guests arrive. Colorado’s dram shop law generally protects adult social hosts from liability for what an adult guest does after drinking, but hosts can be held responsible for knowingly serving alcohol to anyone under 21. Families who entertain often, have teen drivers, or own a pool or trampoline should consider an umbrella policy, which adds $1 million or more of liability above your home and auto limits.
Packages and New Gifts
Package theft is covered under the personal property section of your homeowners or renters policy, but many deductibles are $1,000 or more, so a video doorbell, a package locker, or delivery to work is usually the more practical protection. Expensive gifts such as engagement rings, watches, and e-bikes may need to be scheduled, since standard policies limit coverage for jewelry theft to a small amount.
Traveling for the Holidays
If you’ll be away, keep the thermostat at 55 degrees or higher, have someone check the house every day or two, and arrange for snow to be shoveled. A sudden Front Range cold snap can freeze pipes in an empty house, and an unshoveled driveway tells everyone no one is home.
A Quick Holiday Checklist
- Smoke and CO alarms tested
- Tree watered and away from heat
- Steps and walkways de-iced
- New jewelry or electronics added to your policy
- House checked and driveway shoveled while you travel
Sources
- Downtown Denver Partnership, 9NEWS Parade of Lights
- National Fire Protection Association, winter holiday safety
Have questions about your coverage? Call Johnson Insurance Agency at 303-768-8130 or stop by our office at 14 Inverness Dr. E, Suite G236, in Englewood. We compare coverage from multiple carriers for families and businesses across the Denver metro area and Colorado.
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