8 Fun Ways to Celebrate the Holidays at the Ski Resort

There are few better ways to celebrate the holidays than spending them on the slopes, especially if Santa decided to deliver a Christmas pow day. Serious skiers know that Christmas morning can be a great time to hit the hill before the holiday rush, since most families are still opening presents when the lifts start spinning. But spending Christmas (December 25) or Hanukkah (December 23-30) away from home certainly doesn’t mean you have to miss out on holiday festivities. We’ve rounded up some of the most unique events at mountains across the country to help you plan your December ski getaway.

All lift ticket prices listed below require advanced purchase. You’ll usually pay 5-15 percent more if you buy your ticket at the resort, so we recommend buying online as soon as you’ve figured out your holiday plans.

Holiday Cabaret

Telluride Resort, Telluride, Colorado

Most kids nowadays are probably unfamiliar with the term cabaret, so treat the family to tickets to Telluride ’s massive holiday Cabaret show, running December 20-24. Featuring a variety of holiday-themed music, dance and stage performances, it’s sure to be an entertaining night. Plus, it’s at the Sheridan Opera House, a historic theater that looks downright stunning covered in holiday lights.

Christmas Day lift ticket rate: $149 adults/$85 kids

Ski With Santa

Homewood Resort, Homewood, California

Homewood Resort combines the best of Christmas morning with a morning spent skiing with their Ski with Santa Christmas event. If kids want a gift, they’ll need to track down Santa as he skis across the resort’s 1,260 acres. If they find the jolly man himself, they’ll be able to ask for a treat from his bag of gifts. Santa hits the slopes 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., December 21-24.

Pro tip: Santa could be anywhere on the slopes, but you’re more likely to find him on family-friendly terrain.

Christmas lift ticket rate : $73/adults, $42 kids

Caroling and Gingerbread House Building

Sugarbush Resort, Warren, Vermont

The weekend before Christmas has something for everyone in the family in Vermont. On Saturday, December 21, the Yale Whiffenpoofs – the country’s oldest a cappella group – will perform at the Sugarbush base lodge. Later that night, adults can compete in the Castlerock Pub’s ugly sweater party. And on Sunday, December 22, families can test their artistic skills with a gingerbread house making workshop. And if you’re on the fence about staying all week, this may change your mind: the following Saturday (December 28) is the date of Sugarbush’s Blizzard Boogie, an all-out, all-ages dance party that fills the village. Bring your beanie (and your best moves)

Christmas Day lift ticket rate : Starting $83/adults, $70 kids

Christmas Snowshoe Tour

Steamboat, Steamboat Springs, Colorado

If you’re after a change of pace on Christmas Day, swap the skis for snowshoes and sign up for Steamboat ’s guided snowshoe tour. The route is about a mile long and ends with a luxurious brunch. A glass of wine, snowshoe rentals, and the gondola ride up and back are all included in the cost of the activity. The tour ends around 1 p.m., and since Steamboat offers night skiing, there’s plenty of time to make some holiday turns afterward (if you’re not too full after brunch, of course.)

Christmas Day lift ticket rate: $155 adults/$89 kids

Glow Nights

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Teton Village, Wyoming

Be at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort on December 21 to catch the opening night of the Glow Nights celebration, during which the resort illuminates massive works of art for the first time across the village. There are also art projections, food and drink, live music, and a joyful festival atmosphere as the annual event to celebrate winter begins. That’s also the first day of the resort’s holiday event programming, with a full schedule of events like ornament making, snow dog meet ‘n’ greets, and free ice skating .

Christmas Day lift ticket rate : $158 adults/$95 kids

Live Holiday Performances

Beaver Creek Resort, Beaver Creek, Colorado

Beaver Creek has a reputation for being a luxury resort, so it’s no surprise that they’re celebrating the holidays with stage performances. Come for the holidays and catch the Boulder Philharmonic performing Handle on December 21, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas live on stage on December 23, and superstar Judy Collins on December 26. You’ll want to buy tickets to all shows in advance.

Christmas Day lift ticket rate : $169 adults/$117 kids

Vermont Holiday Festival

Killington Resort, Killington, Vermont

Skiers trying to get a jump on holiday celebrations should head to Killington Resort in early December as the town celebrates the Vermont Holiday Festival December 6-7. Held at the Killington Grand Hotel, the celebration’s main draw are the nearly 100 decorated trees displayed around the large ballroom available for guests to win. There’s also “Santa’s Workshop” craft station, live music, local vendors and even horse-drawn sleigh rides.

Christmas Day lift ticket rate: $116 adults/$89 kids

Torchlight Parade

Copper Mountain, Frisco, Colorado

Light up the night at Copper Mountain with their Christmas Eve torchlight parade and fireworks show. When the sun goes down on December 24, grab a glowstick and snag a seat on the side of the road as a massive parade goes through downtown, filled with music, dancing, and kids and adults looking forward to seeing what Santa brought them just a few hours later. The parade ends with a huge celebration and fireworks show in Copper Mountain’s Center Village.

Christmas Day Lift ticket rate : $109 adults/$84 kids

While these are some of our favorite holiday celebrations, it’s certainly not an exhaustive list. We recommend visiting the events page on your favorite resort’s website, where they usually list resort celebrations. And whatever you do, remember to buy your lift tickets in advance to both save money and save time when you get to the resort on Christmas morning. Happy holidays!