In 1936, the volunteer firemen of Castle Rock Hose Co. No. 1 hauled steel rods up the Rock and welded them together. Local businesses donated the gas and electrical supplies. George P. Stewart donated the site, and men from the Works Progress Administration drew up the design. According to the Douglas County archival history, the goal was to draw travelers and lift spirits during the Great Depression.
Ninety years on, the fire service still owns the star. Firefighters maintain it all year, firefighters run the chili supper that anchors the afternoon, and a firefighter flips the breaker that lights it. On Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, the town gathers downtown for Starlighting, and the Castle Rock Professional Firefighters will serve their 90th Annual Chili Supper at Fire Station 151. Plan the day around the firehouse schedule and the rest of the evening falls into place.
A landmark the fire service never handed off
The Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce started the Starlighting festival in 1962. By then the star had been lit for more than 25 years. In the decades before the street party existed, the star had already been through a lot. At the end of World War II its bulbs spelled out a "V" for victory, and afterward the town went back to lighting it for the holidays. The Town rebuilt it in 1949 to make it "safer and sturdier." Speaking to council about how the star began, Fire Chief Norris Croom said, as reported by the Castle Rock News-Press, "The Rock used to be private property, and this gentlemen was kind enough to donate it."
The star has also tracked the town's history outside of December. The Castle Rock News-Press has recounted several of those moments:
- 1963: the town delayed the ceremony after President Kennedy's death.
- 1970s energy crisis: the star was limited to 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- After Sept. 11, 2001: it was relit for weeks.
9NEWS adds that the star was relit in March 2020 during the pandemic, along with the Broncos-color years after the 1998 and 2015 Super Bowl celebrations.
This summer Castle Rock Fire and Rescue lit the star red, white and blue for America's 250th anniversary, keeping those colors through Colorado's 150th anniversary on Saturday, Aug. 1. The department told 9NEWS that "For nearly 90 years, the Star atop the Rock has been a symbol of hope for the Castle Rock community." It also said a new bronze sign about the star's history and the Starlighting tradition had recently been installed.
The Keepers who get it ready
The department told 9NEWS it cares for the star through "our dedicated Keepers of the Star crew, who work year-round to maintain it." CBS Colorado has described that work in detail. The year-round upkeep means replacing wire and sockets, and before Starlighting the crew hikes to the base, climbs the Rock and goes up the star itself in harnesses. On the day of the event they do a final check and put the last bulbs into the bottom half of the star. That evening, when the crowd shouts "Light the Star," one of the Keepers flips the breaker. Through the season they take turns watching for burned-out bulbs and replace them quickly. CBS Colorado also reported that the Keepers recently made structural upgrades an engineer recommended and started switching some bulbs from incandescent to LED.
Starlighting day, hour by hour
The Chamber lists the event as free, running 2 to 6 p.m. across Historic Wilcox Square, downtown and Festival Park. Its 2026 listing promises four stages of live entertainment. Biff Gore is booked for music on the main stage. The Chamber still shows the full entertainment schedule and the maps as "Coming Soon."
| Time | What happens | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | Street closures begin | Downtown core |
| 1:30 p.m. | Free shuttles start running | Three outlying lots |
| 2 p.m. | Festivities open; 90th Annual Chili Supper | Wilcox Square, Festival Park, Fire Station 151 |
| 5 p.m. | Ceremony on the main stage | Main stage |
| About 5:30 p.m. | Star lighting, then fireworks if weather and conditions permit | The Rock |
| 6 p.m. | Festivities end | Downtown |
| 8 p.m. | Shuttles stop; streets reopen | Lots and downtown |
From 2 o'clock on there are carolers, dance groups, Santa and Mrs. Claus, a Kids Zone, booths from nonprofits and sponsors, hot chocolate, adult beverages and food trucks. The firefighters serve beef chili, nachos, hot dogs, drinks and desserts. The ceremony starts at 5 p.m. on the main stage, and anyone who wants a spot with a view of the Rock should be downtown well before 5.
Getting downtown when the core is closed
From 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., the Chamber's 2026 page closes these streets:
- Perry Street from 5th to 2nd
- N. Wilcox Street from 5th to 3rd
- 4th Street from Jerry to Perry
- 3rd Street from Wilcox to Perry
- 2nd Street from Wilcox to Perry
These are the same segments and hours shown on the 2025 event map, so anyone who drove around the closures last year will recognize them.
Free shuttles run from 1:30 to 8 p.m. from three lots:
- AdventHealth Castle Rock, Alexander Parking Lot, 2350 Meadows Blvd., drops off at Fifth and Wilcox.
- Douglas County High School, south building, 2842 Front St., also drops off at Fifth and Wilcox.
- Douglas County Fairgrounds Lot 5, 500 Fairgrounds Drive, drops off between South and Phelps streets near Eternal Rock Lutheran Church and Folkestad Fazekas.
Return trips pick up where you were dropped off, and each route serves only its own lot. Before the fireworks start, remember which lot your car is in, because a Fifth and Wilcox shuttle will not take you to the fairgrounds. If you would rather drive in, the Chamber lists downtown garages at Wilcox and Perry, by Encore, and at 3rd and Jerry.
The switch is up for auction until Nov. 6
One person gets to light the star this year, and it goes to the top bidder. The Chamber's "Flip the Switch" auction opens at $2,000, takes bids in $250 increments and closes Friday, Nov. 6. Proceeds support Chamber programs, including Veterans Alliance and Tours for Teachers. That leaves about a week after this post goes up to place a bid.
The season the switch starts
Once the star comes on, 9NEWS reports, it stays lit until the National Western Stock Show ends in January. Several local events cluster around it on the calendar.
Saturday, Nov. 14 has two warm-ups a week early. Grace Chapel Castle Rock holds its Christmas Market Fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 933 Evalena Road, with free entry and arts-and-crafts vendors. That evening, Outlets at Castle Rock holds its free Tree Lighting Concert & Celebration from 4 to 7 p.m. Live music is confirmed, and the lineup has not been announced yet.
Saturday, Dec. 5 brings the Town's free Festival Park Starlight Market, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 300 Second St. The listing promises more than 40 vendors, a decorated 40-foot tree, hot cocoa, food trucks and holiday music. The tree is the same height commonly given for the star above it.
Saturday, Dec. 12 is Santa at the Castle Rock Museum, 10 a.m. to noon at 420 Elbert St. The Castle Rock Historical Society and Museum offers Santa visits, family photos and complimentary hot chocolate and cookies. The museum tells the town's history, and a December morning there fits a season that began with firemen carrying steel up the Rock.
The Chamber's Starlighting page will post the entertainment schedule and maps when they are ready. Check it the week of Nov. 16, before you choose a shuttle lot.
At Corken + Company, we know Castle Rock through events like Starlighting as well as through its streets and listings. If your family is weighing a move in or around town this winter, we can help you plan it around the dates that matter to you. Schedule Your Concierge Consultation.
