Another great and informative blog from Helen of Chalets USA. Here she explains what you can look forward to if you decide to take the plunge and do Xmas skiing Stateside!
What happens at Christmas & New Year in Colorado USA ski resorts?
The ski resorts love having visitors at this magical time of year and work hard to make sure 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 & tends to take place early to mid Dec, completed with hot cocoa and carolers.
From then on the ski resorts burst with action: Vail hands out candy cane at its base areas and show movies suitable for all the family. Family Christmas themed activities occur in both Lionshead & 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, kids games for all ages & winter wonderland parades. In Aspen visiting Father Christmases real live reindeer can be a highlight of your trip, plus you’ll listen to Christmas carolers & can decorate cookies.
CHRISTMAS EVE
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 and sometimes even on skis and you can pat his reindeer. The Christmas Eve party is fabulous for families. Pop home and put your warm evening gear on and comfortable boots & then go to the bottom of the mountain to check out the dancing Christmas trees and Christmas Carollers around the bonfire. Before long the torchlit 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 light how march down the slopes, do 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 & white suit.
New Year’s parties abound in the ski resort of Colorado.
Aspen has legendary parties & nightlife all year but for New Year’s Eve they pull out all the stops & 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 & DJ to keep you entertained. A little later check out one of the many hot spots in Aspen – Belly Up nightclub for 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 & confetti snowstorm.
Has that whetted your appetite? Chalets USA can organize your holiday in top Colorado resorts, including Breckenridge, Vail and Aspen - check them out on Chalets Direct !