Holidays in Vail is an annual celebration, presented by the Town of Vail, welcoming the Holiday season. This year, the event is beginning a bit earlier than in past years, to encompass the Thanksgiving weekend through New Years Eve.
New this year is the addition of two weekends of a Holiday Fair, offering unique gift items from artisans and craft vendors. On November 27-28 from 3-7 pm on Meadow Drive in the Village Inn Plaza, visitors will have the opportunity to sample unique food items, purchase gifts from Holiday-themed vendors, stroll through the many shop and galleries located on Meadow Drive and in the Village Inn Plaza. The second market is on December 18-19 in Lionshead/Arrabelle Square from 3-7 pm. Free entertainment and children’s activities will be available at all markets.
Vail’s tradition Tree Lightings in Vail Village and Lionshead will be on Saturday, November 28, connected with a children’s parade along Meadow Drive. The event begins in Vail Village at 5:30 pm with the parade beginning at approximately 6:15 pm, winding along Meadow Drive into Lionshead with the Tree Lighting at 7:00 pm. Free entertainment will be presented at both Tree Lightings.
“There are so many things happening in Vail during this time period,” said Laurie Asmussen of Eagle Valley Events, the event organizer. “From the Snow Daze list of concerts and events to the dining event the Chamber is putting together, there is truly something for everyone during the holiday season. This year the Town and merchant community wanted to be sure we had lights on, trees lit and activities happening the week of Thanksgiving and leading up to the Hanukah, Christmas and New Year’s holidays,” stated Laurie Asmussen, event organizer. “It is important to help support our shops and restaurants in promoting the many things that are unique to Vail and be sure people know about it.”
The Vail Chamber presents “Savor the Season” a holiday dining event that runs from November 28-December 18 throughout Vail. There are 28 participating restaurants with a variety of special offerings and holiday cocktails:
Billy’s Island Grill
Blu’s Restaurant
Bully Ranch
Fitz Lounge at Manor Vail Lodge
JP’s Old Forge Pizza
King’s Club @ the Sonnenalp
La Tour
Lord Gore Restaurant
Los Amigos
Ludwig’s
Marketplace on Meadow Drive
Ore House Restaurant
Pepi’s Restaurant
Restaurant Kelly Liken
Rimini Gelato
Russell’s
Sapphire Restaurant & Oyster Bar
Sandbar Sports Grill
Swiss Chalet
Terra Bistro
The George
The Tap Room
Up the Creek
Vail Blue Moose
Vail Chophouse
Vendetta’s
Xpresso Drive Thru Café
Children will have the opportunity to visit with Santa & Friends, presented by the Vail Chamber and the Vail Recreation District. Each Wednesday in December from 3-6 pm, a different part of Town will host children with crafts, decorations, and a visit with Santa! Free gift wrapping will also be available.
The dates and locations are as follows:
December 2: Santa & Friends at Lodge at Vail Gift Wrapping at The Colorado Ski Museum
December 9: Santa & Friends at Vail Plaza Hotel Gift Wrapping at Kidsport
December 16: Santa & Friends at Blue Moose Gift Wrapping at General Store
December 23: Santa & Friends at Holiday Inn Gift Wrapping at Millennium Bank
Vail Snowdaze is scheduled December 7-13 with an entire line-up of activities and events. For a complete schedule, please visit www.vailsnowdaze.com.
The Vail Skating Show presented by the Skating Club of Vail will take place at the Dobson Ice Arena on December 28-29. For more information, please call Dobson Arena at 970-479-2271.
New Year’s Eve, December 31, the Torchlight Ski Down and Fireworks will take place at Golden Peak beginning at 6:15 pm. The event is free and open to the public. From 7:30 – 10:00 pm, the Arrabelle at Vail Square will host Vail First Night Family Event with ice skating, children’s activities, and entertainment. Come watch the “Ball Drop” in Times Square on the big screen in a family-friendly, non-alcohol atmosphere!
For an updated schedule and additional information, please log onto www.vailgov.com or call the Holidays in Vail office at 970-477-3699.
A complete event schedule is as follows:
Nov 27-28 Holiday Market on Meadow Drive 3 – 7 pm Free
Nov 28 Tree Lighting at Slifer Plaza, Vail Village 5:30 pm Free
Children’s Parade, Vail Village to Lionshead 6:15 pm Free
Featuring Bernese Mountain Dogs
Tree Lighting in Lionshead Mall 6:45 pm Free
Free ice skating in Arrabelle Square 5:30-7 pm Free
Nov 28-Dec 18 Savor the Season Holiday Dining Event
Nov 30 Gift Making Day/Vail Library All Day Free www.vaillibrary.com
Dec 2 Santa & Friends/Lodge at Vail, Vail Village 3-6 pm Free
Free Gift Wrapping/Colorado Ski Museum 3-6 pm
Dec 7-13 Vail Snow Daze www.vailsnowdaze.com
Pub Crawl, Free Concerts, Vail Mountain contests plus much more!
Dec 9 Nordic Town Race Series/Vail Nordic Center 4 pm $10 www.vailnordiccenter.com
Dec 9 Santa & Friends/Vail Plaza Hotel, Meadow Drive 3-6 pm Free
Free Gift Wrapping/Kidsport, Meadow Drive 3-6 pm
Dec 9 Vail Library Book Discussion: Freakonomics 5:30 pm Free www.vaillibrary.com
Dec 11 Ski Club Vail-Friday Night Flights Rail Jam 5 pm www.skiclubvail.org
Dec 16 Santa & Friends/Blue Moose, Lionshead 3-6 pm Free
Free Gift Wrapping/General Store, Lionshead 3-6 pm
Dec 17 Family Fireside Party/Vail Library 5 pm Free www.vaillibrary.com
Grand Ice Menorah Lighting/Lionshead 6 pm Free
Dec 18-19 Holiday Market/Arrabelle, Lionshead 3-6 pm Free
Dec 22-23 Skate with Santa/Dobson Arena 6:30-8 pm www.vailrec.com
Dec 23 Nordic Town Race Series/Vail Nordic Center 4 pm www.vailnordiccenter.com
Santa & Friends/Holiday Inn, West Vail 3-6 pm Free
Free Gift Wrapping/Millennium Bank, West Vail 3-6 pm
Dec 24 Vail’s Annual Matzah Ball Party/Tap Room 9 pm www.jewishvail.com
Dec 28-29 Skating Club of Vail “Under the Sea” Show/Dobson 6 pm $10/$15 www.skateclubvail.com
Dec 31 Torchlight Parade & Fireworks/Golden Peak 6:15 pm Free
Family First Night Festival/Arrabelle, Lionshead 7:30-10 pm Free | 
