Christkindl will return It’s official: The Old Colorado City Christkindlmarket will return in 2026. The Colorado chapter of the German American Chamber of Commerce made the announcement in a Wednesday news release, citing the December festival’s extreme popularity. The 2025 event, held at Bancroft Park, drew thousands of holiday revelers to Old Colorado City, officials said. “The incredible turnout and community support have affirmed our commitment to making the OCC Christkindlmarket an annual tradition in the Colorado Springs area,” said Barbara Wittmann, GACC-CO board president. “The Market highlights our commitment to fostering valuable connections that fuel long-term economic impact in Colorado.” The December Christkindlmarket featured 14 local vendors offering a variety of German-styled wares, including handcrafted apparel, spices, personalized ornaments, pretzels, bread, roasted nuts and imported German cookies. The inaugural Old Colorado City Christkindlmarket is modeled after Christkindlmarkets in Germany. Courtesy German American Chamber of Commerce Traffic deaths Following two years of declining fatalities, traffic deaths in Colorado increased in 2025. Data released last week by the Colorado Department of Transportation shows 701 people were killed on Colorado roadways in 2025, up from 689 in 2024. Biggest increases were seen in Bicycle deaths, which at 18 was a 29% increase from last year, and impaired deaths (235), which saw an 11% increase. New Colorado stamp The U.S. Postal Service commemorated the 150th anniversary of Colorado becoming a state with the issuance of Colorado Statehood, a Forever stamp featuring a photograph of Jagged Mountain by nature photographer John Fielder. The first-day-of-issue event was held on Jan. 24. The stamp unveiling was being held in conjunction with History Colorado Center’s opening of the “Mountains Majesty: On the Summit with John Fielder” exhibition. Education accolades Payten Smith of Manitou Springs earned 2025 fall semester academic honors at Nebraska Wesleyan University on Lincoln, Neb. Luke Crowley of Divide was named to the dean’s list for the fall 2025 term at University of Maryland Global Campus. ...read more read less