Visits with Santa, ice skating stars and holiday concerts kick off the holidays in Vail
From Brunch and storytime with the man in red to live music featuring the sounds of the season, it's the perfect time to be in the Vail Valley
Vail Apr猫s events for the holidays
After the slopes close, the fun doesn’t end. Check out Vail Apr猫s, which is a series of happenings that will excite the whole family. Vail Apr猫s has been going on since Vail Mountain opened on Nov. 15 and has included tree lightings and plenty of merriment, and it’s going to continue through early January. Here’s a look at the events over the next several days:
- Smile with Santa 鈥� Head to the Kringle Crossing mini holiday village on the International Bridge in Vail Village on Sunday and Monday from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Free photos will be available and can be shared with you digitally or printed on site.
- Silent Disco 鈥� Groove to some tunes to stay warm on the Winter Solstice Eve on Friday from 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. in Lionshead Village.
- Art Workshops 鈥� Share your creative side this holiday season by participating in the Vail Apr猫s Art Workshops offered by Alpine Arts Center. These free sessions are 30 minutes long at 4:30, 5 and 5:30 p.m. and are open to all ages and abilities. The next one will be held on Dec. 26 at the Colorado Snowsports Museum and the art project this week is painted picture frames.
For more details and activities go to .
Vail Ice Spectacular
Throughout the ski season we’ve seen ice skating shows each weekend, but this weekend is the ultimate skating extravaganza. The Vail Ice Spectacular returns to Dobson Ice Arena this Sunday and Monday. This is truly a showcase of talent as the program will feature some of the hottest skaters on the ice today.
Come see true athletic greatness with stars like Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who are five-time U.S. National Ice Dance champions, two-time World champions, two-time Grand Prix champions and Olympic Team champions. Ilia Malinin, also known as the “quad god,” is the current two-time U.S. National champion, current World champion and current two-time Grand Prix champion. Amber Glenn is the current U.S. National champion, World Team member and current Grand Prix champion. She won this two weeks ago and is the first woman in 14 years to win the Grand Prix final beating the three-time World Champion. Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea are your current U.S. National champions in Pairs, World Team members and Grand Prix finalists. Also returning will be Jason Brown, an Olympic medalist, former U.S. National champion and crowd favorite.
There are two shows that go from 6:30 to 8 p.m. each night with an intermission in between the two sets. This will be a high energy show and the second set’s theme is “Songs from the Movies,” so you’ll hear some familiar tunes and during the second half, there are no announcements so it will be 35 minutes of nonstop skating action.
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What’s also cool about this show is seating is available right on the ice. On-ice seating is $98 for first row and $88 for second row, which is elevated five inches. Bleacher seating is $68 and is general admission. Eddie Shipstad, longtime producer of the event, has a pro tip for fans: Get the tickets at the ends of the rink since, where most of the difficult elements are performed. For more information, go to .
Brunch with Santa
Get some quality time with the man in red this Sunday while enjoying a delicious brunch in Beaver Creek. The recently renovated Charter Steakhouse is hosting a Brunch with Santa this Sunday. Seek out your favorite brunch classics and some fun, new dishes at the buffet from the team at the Charter Steakhouse from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Santa will visit from 9 a.m. until noon. Ring in the holiday season with a festive cocktail or mimosa.
Reservations are required for this event and the price is $45 for adults, $25 for kids and kids under 4 years old are free. Call 970-445-5995 or email staliento@EastWest.com.
Time for Three plays a holiday show at the Vilar Performing Arts Center
Get into the holiday spirit with Time for Three this Sunday night at the Vilar Performing Arts Center. When you hear that this trio consisting of Nick Kendall and Charles Yang on violin and Ranaan Meyer on double bass, you may think this is part of the Vilar Center’s classical music series, but this talented trio also sings and borrows from the Americana genre and merges other elements to come up with a musical feast for your ears.
Hear holiday classics like the famous piano number “Christmas Time is Here” from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” in a whole new way or revel in how Time for Three blends “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” and the “Little Drummer Boy” and other mash ups. Anything is possible with this Grammy and Emmy-winning group that has taken songs by Kanye West and Guns ‘n Roses and made them their own.
Join the trio at the Vilar Performing Arts Center this Sunday at 6:30 p.m. as a great way to get you ready for the holidays. This show features reserved seating and a special price for children. It’s also part of the Vilar Center’s 3/5/8 Ticket Package where the more shows you buy the more you save. Go to for more information.
WhoVail at the Four Seasons Vail
You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch, but you sure have a cool house. Check out the gingerbread house at the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail that houses the star of the Dr. Seuss classics, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” At 10-feet tall by 8-feet wide, it provides the perfect backdrop for holiday photos for people of all ages. The structure is known as WhoVail at the Four Seasons Vail and the town of Vail has even dedicated a day as WhoVail Day in honor of this gingerbread creation.
“It took around 60 hours for our pastry team to create this and we used roughly 200 pounds of powdered sugar and 50 pounds of egg whites to make about 250 pounds of icing”, said Shawna MacDonald, executive pastry chef at the Four Seasons Vail. “We also used Isomalt sugar to create the Christmas lights and the ornaments and the gingerbread for the bricks and accents weighed about 100 pounds.”
Each season the setup gets a refresh and is revealed during a festive celebration for the public and for a few weeks guests can visit WhoVail. The WhoVail reveal event happened on Dec. 18 with a performance by the Vail Mountain School Choir and hot chocolate and included desserts decorated in the holiday theme and sugar cookies that looked like the Grinch.
The location of WhoVail has changed this year. Instead of being in the lobby level of the Four Seasons, guests will travel down to the third floor to the Meadows room. Bring your camera for pictures.
Santa Story Time
The Bookworm in Edwards is doing a storytime with Santa on Saturday afternoon at 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Santa has some of his favorite stories that he wants to share with the little ones. He will also be able to take some time to pose for holiday photos and listen to the long list of things kids want for Christmas. Cookies and hot apple cider will be provided. Need some Santa-themed books? The Bookworm has you covered with plenty of curated reads with colorful illustrations that are sure to become a tradition each year. Go to .
