Christmas and New Year are truly special times of year, particularly for families with children. Experiencing these festivities in a stunning mountain setting makes memories that can last a lifetime.
New Year is also naturally a great time to celebrate and welcome in the New Year with style. The ski resorts love having visitors at this magical time of year, and work hard to make sure that their guests have a wonderful time and want to come back year after year.
Here are some of the events you can expect if you decide to spend Christmas or New Year in the Colorado ski resorts, USA:
Pre-Christmas
A tree lighting ceremony kicks off the festive season in many ski resorts, including Vail and Breckenridge, and tends to take place early to mid-Dec, complete with hot cocoa and carolers.
New Year is also naturally a great time to celebrate and welcome in the New Year with style. The ski resorts love having visitors at this magical time of year, and work hard to make sure that their guests have a wonderful time and want to come back year after year.
Here are some of the events you can expect if you decide to spend Christmas or New Year in the Colorado ski resorts, USA:
Pre-Christmas
A tree lighting ceremony kicks off the festive season in many ski resorts, including Vail and Breckenridge, and tends to take place early to mid-Dec, complete with hot cocoa and carolers.
From then on, the ski resorts burst with action: Vail hands out candy canes at its base areas and shows movies suitable for all the family. Family Christmas themed activities occur in both Lionshead and Vail Villages, including concerts and the famous "Winter Solstice on Ice" ice skating show.
Beaver Creek has "Winterfest", which lasts until New Year's Day, and you can help Santa out in his cottage, create your own personalized elf hat, and gawp at the characters meandering around Beaver Creek base village. There are also ice skating shows, a skate night for teens, kid's games for all ages, and winter wonderland parades.
In Aspen, visiting Father Christmas' real live reindeer can be a highlight of your trip, plus you'll listen to Christmas carolers and can decorate cookies.
Most ski resorts have evening celebrations leading up to the big day for all the
family, so you can keep the kids occupied. Winter Park ski resort, for example, has Santa strolling around the Village, sometimes even on skis, and you can pat his reindeer.
The Christmas Eve party is fabulous for families. Pop home, put on your warm evening gear and comfortable boots, and then go to the bottom of the mountain to check out the dancing Christmas trees and Christmas carolers around the bonfire. Before long, the torch-lit descent will begin with the ski patrol and ski instructors skiing or boarding down the main slope, Hughes, with their flaming torches. Santa can usually be seen coming down the mountain too, complete with his sleigh. The finale is the dancing snowcats lit up with fairy lights, marching down the slopes and doing some twirls before slowly disappearing.
Christmas Day
Christmas morning can be a fantastic time to ski if you happen to be up early or the kids have woken you
up. Slopes are relatively un-crowded until lunchtime, while others are opening their gifts. Or perhaps you prefer to relax over breakfast or brunch, and then stroll around the resort at your leisure. You may see Father Christmas on skis on Christmas Day, so watch out for the traditional red and white suit.
New Year's Eve
New Year's parties abound in the ski resort of Colorado.
Aspen has legendary parties and nightlife all year, but for New Year's Eve, they pull out all the stops and the bubbly is free flowing. Pick one of Aspen's many restaurants – there are many to choose from,
both fine dining and the more affordable. Then head to see the fireworks from the park in the center of Aspen. This family friendly event has a bonfire to keep you warm and a DJ to keep you entertained. A little later, check out one of the many hot spots in Aspen – Belly Up nightclub provides live music, Eric's
often has a DJ, and the Regal Watering Hole has a New Year's Eve gala and dancing.
Vail is another focal point for New Year's Eve celebrations, and this year, the Dobson Ice arena will be transformed into Vail's largest nightclub. Celebrations at midnight include champagne, traditional ball drop,
and confetti snowstorm.
family, so you can keep the kids occupied. Winter Park ski resort, for example, has Santa strolling around the Village, sometimes even on skis, and you can pat his reindeer.
The Christmas Eve party is fabulous for families. Pop home, put on your warm evening gear and comfortable boots, and then go to the bottom of the mountain to check out the dancing Christmas trees and Christmas carolers around the bonfire. Before long, the torch-lit descent will begin with the ski patrol and ski instructors skiing or boarding down the main slope, Hughes, with their flaming torches. Santa can usually be seen coming down the mountain too, complete with his sleigh. The finale is the dancing snowcats lit up with fairy lights, marching down the slopes and doing some twirls before slowly disappearing.
Christmas Day
Christmas morning can be a fantastic time to ski if you happen to be up early or the kids have woken you
up. Slopes are relatively un-crowded until lunchtime, while others are opening their gifts. Or perhaps you prefer to relax over breakfast or brunch, and then stroll around the resort at your leisure. You may see Father Christmas on skis on Christmas Day, so watch out for the traditional red and white suit.
New Year's Eve
New Year's parties abound in the ski resort of Colorado.
Aspen has legendary parties and nightlife all year, but for New Year's Eve, they pull out all the stops and the bubbly is free flowing. Pick one of Aspen's many restaurants – there are many to choose from,
both fine dining and the more affordable. Then head to see the fireworks from the park in the center of Aspen. This family friendly event has a bonfire to keep you warm and a DJ to keep you entertained. A little later, check out one of the many hot spots in Aspen – Belly Up nightclub provides live music, Eric's
often has a DJ, and the Regal Watering Hole has a New Year's Eve gala and dancing.
Vail is another focal point for New Year's Eve celebrations, and this year, the Dobson Ice arena will be transformed into Vail's largest nightclub. Celebrations at midnight include champagne, traditional ball drop,
and confetti snowstorm.
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