There's no official date for when Vail's village decorations go up, but the holiday calendar starts in mid-November. For the 2026–27 winter, Vail Mountain plans to open on November 13, the Vail Après series runs November 13 to January 3, and Kringle Crossing, a holiday village of decorated chalets with twinkling lights, runs November 14 to January 4 in both Vail Village and Lionshead. That makes Kringle Crossing the first dated holiday feature, opening the day after the mountain.
What the 2026–27 calendars show
| When | What is listed | Source note |
|---|---|---|
| November 13, 2026 | Vail Mountain's planned opening day, subject to weather and snow; Vail Après begins | Vail Resorts' August 2026 opening-dates release and Discover Vail's Après series page |
| November 14 to January 4 | Kringle Crossing, a holiday village of chalets with lights and decorations in both Vail Village and Lionshead | Discover Vail; it describes visits from Santa, carolers and seasonal treats |
| November 27 to December 22 | Smile with Santa at Kringle Crossing, scheduled on November 27 and 29 and December 13, 20, 21 and 22 | Discover Vail's Kringle Crossing schedule |
| December 31, 6 p.m. | New Year's Eve fireworks, visible across the valley floor | Discover Vail's fireworks listing, which also carries a note that a torchlight ski-down was cancelled for lack of snow |
The Lionshead tree lighting
The Lionshead Tree Lighting is part of Vail Après, with a free 15-minute figure-skating exhibition on the Arrabelle rink, live music and a visit from Santa. The 2025 lighting was on Saturday, November 29 at 6 p.m., the Saturday after Thanksgiving, at a new location by the Lionshead welcome arch, across from the welcome center and next to the main bus stop. Check Discover Vail's events calendar for the 2026 date. The Lionshead Village listing has more on the area.
Other holiday events
- Vail Kris Kringle Market: a holiday market of Colorado artisans, baked goods and glühwein in Vail Village. It ran December 11 to 14 in 2025; check Discover Vail for the 2026 dates.
- Ice-skating shows: free skating exhibitions run at the Arrabelle and Solaris Plaza rinks as part of Vail Après, and the guide to what to do in Vail in December covers December events.
- Torchlight ski-down: Discover Vail's holiday guide describes it as a New Year's Eve tradition at Golden Peak, with ski instructors skiing down with torches before the fireworks. Its fireworks listing notes a cancellation for lack of snow, so whether it runs depends on conditions.
Discover Vail's holiday guide also points to the lit covered bridge over Gore Creek, with bars on the far side including The Red Lion, and to Garfinkel's and Bart & Yeti's in Lionshead, which serve holiday cocktails slopeside. Hours and menus change, so confirm before you go.
Which dates suit which visit
Discover Vail treats mid-November to about the third week of December as the quieter early season, with shorter lift lines, more space on the trails and lodging at a fraction of holiday and peak-season rates. For lodging by area, the guide to hotels in Vail Village is a starting point, and the guide to Christmas activities in Vail covers the season itself.
