Christmas in Vail is built around the two villages: lit streets and a covered bridge, free skating exhibitions on outdoor rinks, a European-style holiday market in mid-December, sleigh ride dinners down the valley, and skiing on a mountain that has usually been open for weeks. Vail Mountain plans to open for 2026-27 on November 13, 2026, weather permitting. Event dates below are labelled by year, because most of them shift.
Lights, trees and the covered bridge
Vail Village and Lionshead are both decorated, and walking them after dark costs nothing. The lit covered bridge over Gore Creek is the natural stroll, with bars and restaurants on the far side. The season starts with the Lionshead Tree Lighting at Sunbird Park: in 2025 it was on Saturday, November 29, with a free 15-minute figure skating exhibition on the Arrabelle rink, live music and a visit from Santa. For how the decorations roll out, see when Vail decorates for Christmas.
Ice skating in the villages
| Rink | Where | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Solaris Plaza rink | Vail Village | Outdoor rink beside the Solaris building, set against Vail Mountain |
| Arrabelle rink (also called the Alderhof Ice Rink) | Lionshead Village, at The Arrabelle at Vail Square | Skate rentals in all sizes; a good post-dinner option |
| Dobson Ice Arena | Lionshead Village | Indoor arena, scheduled to reopen in November 2026 after a renovation; the first event is a hockey tournament on November 6 to 8 |
As part of Vail Après, free 15-minute exhibitions of elite skating run on the outdoor rinks from November 27, 2026 to January 2, 2027, with two performances each night. All the outdoor rinks have skating-assist devices. For hot chocolate afterward, cross the International Bridge to Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Each rink sets its own hours and rental prices.
Kris Kringle Market
The Vail Kris Kringle Market is a few days in mid-December, not the whole month. In 2025 it ran December 11 to 14 in Vail Village near the International Bridge, with Colorado artisans, handmade baked goods, artisanal food, kids' activities, live music and gluhwein. The 2026 dates are announced on the Discover Vail event calendar. If handmade and made-in-Colorado shopping appeals, the Vail shopping hub lists the year-round stores.
Sleigh ride dinner
4 Eagle Ranch in Wolcott runs a traditional winter sleigh ride and dinner, with a team of Percheron draft horses pulling the sleighs; the ride goes to the historic Nelson Cabin, dating to 1890, for a roasted chicken dinner by an open-hearth fireplace. Sleigh rides in the Vail area run from November to mid-March, and Bearcat Stables in Edwards also offers them. Book early in the holiday season. Reservations for 4 Eagle Ranch are on its website or at (970) 926-3372.
Hot chocolate and a drink
The Haute Chocolate at The Remedy, inside the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail, is made with Valrhona chocolate and steamed milk, churned at the table in a French hot chocolate pot and topped with a house-made marshmallow and a chocolate lattice. Across the covered bridge, Red Lion is one of the Vail Village bars for a holiday drink. For more, see the Vail nightlife hub and the 40 best restaurants in Vail.
Skiing over Christmas week
Vail bills itself as Colorado's largest ski resort, with 5,317 acres. By Christmas the season is well under way: in 2025 the mountain opened on November 14 with 80 acres, and terrain expands as snow allows. Christmas week is one of the busiest of the year, so buy lift tickets, lodging and dining early. The guides to what to do in Vail in December and how much lift tickets cost cover the planning side.
Family options beyond skiing
Skating, the villages' lights and the market are the dependable family options. Tubing is the exception: the tubing hill at Adventure Ridge, now marketed as Epic Discovery at the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola, has not run in recent winters. Vail Mountain chose in 2023 to focus staff and snowmaking on skiing and snowboarding. For winter tubing, Sage Outdoor Adventures in Wolcott is about 20 minutes away, and there is free sledding at Ellefson Park. The Adventure Ridge guide covers the summer attractions, and what to do in Vail with kids has more.
Spa afternoons and holiday concerts
The RockResorts Spa at The Arrabelle at Vail Square is a 10,000-square-foot facility with a relaxation lounge and steam room, and a second RockResorts Spa at The Lodge at Vail has whirlpools, a steam room and a dry sauna. More options are in the Vail spas and wellness hub.
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For holiday concerts, the Vilar Performing Arts Center at 68 Avondale Lane in Beaver Creek Village runs seasonal programming, a drive from Vail. Its calendar has the current lineup.
New Year's Eve, and where to stay
Vail's New Year's Eve fireworks in 2025 went off at 6:00 p.m. on December 31 and were visible across the valley floor, from Vail Village, Golden Peak, Lionshead and West Vail. The torchlight ski-down at Golden Peak, a Vail Après tradition, was cancelled that year for lack of snow, so it depends on conditions. To choose a base for the holidays, see the best hotels in Vail.
