Celebrating Christmas traditions across Colorado Springs

After the holidays have passed, it’s family traditions that stick with you.

In Colorado Springs, families from all over do some of the same things every single year.

At Garden of the Gods, the parking lot was packed full and drivers were slowly going through the one-way road in the park.

Mike Russel said he got outside today because “we just wanted to get the family out cause it was a gorgeous day and our kids are visiting from Chicago.”

In Acacia Park, young kids and their families filled the ice rink. Irvin Martinez said he was, “just ice skating today, having fun with my cousins.”

Another big tradition for some families is getting more popular. In the normally quiet downtown, a bright red-light that read, “OPEN,” made for a packed dining room inside the Hunan Springs Chinese Restaurant.

Their bartender, Matthew Neufeld, said they’ve received “reservations and phone calls for reservations and [people] asking if we’re open when we’re open until. It’s been going nonstop.”

It’s also a busy night for movie theaters, especially the Kimball Peak Three Theater.

Kevin Kolozsy, who was there to watch a movie with his sons, said, “it’s just a nice way to relax after spending time with family, something different, get out, hit the movies.”

Whatever way someone is spending their Christmas Day, it’s those traditions that keep the holiday sprit alive.