Let the holidays begin with tree lightings, ice skating shows and Santa in the Vail Valley this weekend
Tis the season to deck the halls and get those holiday trees all lit up in Vail and Beaver Creek
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Beaver Creek tree lighting and holiday activities
The holidays are officially here and to mark the occasion, there are several tree lighting ceremonies happening up and down the valley and events for the whole family you won’t want to miss. Beaver Creek has a ton of family friendly activities happening throughout the day on Friday before the annual tree lighting that night.
Get out on the ice for some free ice skating from 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at the Black Family Ice Rink in Beaver Creek Village. Santa will be available for visits in the village from noon to 3 p.m. Create some family memories while also creating holiday crafts at the Family Craft Workshop at Hawk’s Nest Cabin from 1-3:30 p.m. Over the weekend, browse artisan goods and shop for unique holiday gifts at The Holiday Market. Shop small this holiday season from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m.–5 p.m. on Saturday.
Once it gets dark, it’s showtime. Gather around the ice rink for festive music and a fantastic Ice Skating Spectacular, featuring skaters from the Denver Colorado Figure Skating Club. After the big holiday tree is lit, look toward the sky for a wonderful fireworks display. For a full schedule, go to BeaverCreek.com.
Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch tree lighting ceremony on Saturday
The public is welcome to attend some festive events throughout the day on Saturday at the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch. Complimentary cookie decorating and Santa visits will be hosted from 4-5 p.m. in the Howard Room inside the hotel. Members of the Vail Youth Ballet Company will perform excerpts from “The Nutcracker Ballet” with photo opportunities with the dancers that will take place at Salon I from 4:30-5 p.m.
Then, everyone is invited outside for carols and candles for a holiday sing-along at 5:20 p.m. in the porte-cochère. The annual tree lighting ceremony, complete with complimentary hot cocoa and apple cider, will commence at 5:30 p.m. Stick around for dinner at WYLD or Buffalos or grab a drink next to the enormous fireplace in the lobby bar. For more information and dinner reservations email RCBdining@RitzCarlton.com or call 970-343-1168.
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Lionshead holiday tree lighting ceremony on Saturday
Get ready to light up Lionshead Village for the season at the annual Lionshead Tree Lighting Ceremony this Saturday night. Come early for the free outdoor ice skating shows. These displays of athleticism and grace always offer high-energy ice skating entertainment. This winter, welcome back skaters from Team USA, Junior Grand Prix and the Olympics, who will dazzle audiences during the series which runs for six weeks during the holiday season. This Saturday, enjoy two free performances featuring:
- Emmi Peltonen: Finnish National Champion and Olympian
- Jordan Moeller: Former Team USA athlete (Jordan will perform three back flips during the show)
- Naomi Williams and Lachlan Lewer: Team USA Pair medalists and Junior World Medalists
- Michelle Lee: Team USA Athlete
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This week’s shows will be at the Arrabelle Ice Rink. The shows are each 15 minutes and start at 4:45 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. After the last skating show, view the lighting of the tree, which is in a new location this year. Head over to the arch at the entrance to Lionshead, across from the Lionshead Welcome Center and the Lionshead parking structure. Here you’ll find free live holiday music by the Fabulous Femmes and Jolly Ol’ St. Nick, who will light the tree. For full details, visit DiscoverVail.com.
Smile with Santa in Vail and Lionshead Village
Santa plans on making quite a few visits to Vail between now and Christmas Eve, so tell your kids to get their wish lists ready. Smile with Santa allows you to get photos with the man in red and this week Santa will be at the Lionshead Tree Lighting on Saturday from 3:30-5:30 p.m. near the Lionshead Arch. On Sunday, Santa will be located on the International Bridge in Lionshead from 3:30-5:50 p.m. For more information, go to DiscoverVail.com.
Photos with Santa and shopping
Another opportunity to get photos with Santa will be at Skipper & Scout in Vail Village from 3:30-5:50 p.m. on Friday. Capture the moment with photos by local photographer Sloane Thompson and have a keepsake for this upcoming season. While you are there, do a little shopping as well.
Vail Stoke Sessions
Skiing and live music go hand in hand, so after you get off the slopes this Friday, head to Vail Village for some drinks and dancing in this week’s installment of Stoke Sessions, a live free music series in Vail Village.
Local group The Runaway Grooms will bring a refreshing take on contemporary jam band music, while also bringing roots, rock, jazz and folk music into the mix. The band has opened for such acts as Trombone Shorty, JJ Grey and Mofro, Twiddle, Leftover Salmon, Umphrey’s McGee and more.
The Runaway Grooms just released its first film, “Ride,” and are doing a few shows surrounding the film’s release. While Friday’s show is just a concert, the band will perform at the Vilar Center in Beaver Creek on Tuesday and screen the film.
Discover Vail brings many food and beverage partners to this party. Grab a bite to eat or sip on drinks from El Segundo, Root & Flower, Yama Sushi, Two Arrows, the Sitzmark and Vail Brewing Company has released a specialty brew for the occasion – Stoke Sessions IPA, which is available exclusively during the Stoke Sessions concert series.
The party goes on at Checkpoint Charlie from 4-7 p.m. with Almost Utah opening the show, followed by The Runaway Grooms from 5:30-7 p.m. Learn more at DiscoverVail.com.